Controller of the Week #2: Stick ‘Em up!
My friend Carlson runs Mad-Gear and sellsnew and used import and domestic games. He asked me to make some classic gaming themed joysticks for classic consoles since most of the older systems did not have real joysticks made for them. The only joysticks that the older consoles got were those crappy plastic joysticks that companies of the 80s and 90s thought would pass for the “arcade experience” because instead of having a D-pad, they had something that resembled a joystick handle and some buttons that were bigger than usual. There were no authentic arcade parts, there was no “arcade feel”… If you wanted to play home versions of arcade games, you had to do it on the plastic lump-of-crap “joysticks”.
Maybe now I can do something to change that. I asked him what system I should start with and because of the lack of authentic sticks but abundance of great arcade titles for the system, Carlson suggested that I do a Sega Saturn stick. So, after I spoke with him I set out to make a Sega Saturn joystick that was not only authentic, but looked great. This is the result:
(Click to enlarge.)
This joystick is made with high quality pine wood which was treated and then stained with a nice, even red mahogany stain. It uses black Seimitsu buttons and a red Seimitsu bubbletop on top of a standard Sanwa joystick assembly. I’m very happy with how well this controller came out and I cannot wait to make some more classic console joysticks!
If you want to purchase a joystick like this for any system, with just about any configuration you could think, send me an email to steve (at) desktoparcade (dot) com and I’d be happy to build you the joystick of your dreams!
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