X-arcade Tankstick

[moycon]

Just curious if anyone here has one of these arcade sticks?

 

X-Arcade Tankstick + Trackball

Indestructible Home Arcade Joystick

 

Get your nostaligia fix with this authentic arcade panel and trackball designed to inject the arcade experience into any home computer or video game console. , Play side by side your closest friends and family, no quarters needed!

 

I remember in the past other people were making sticks like this, some with spinners even. Can't seem to find them anymore. Was just curious what peoples opinion was. Do these X-arcade sticks really make you feel like your playing on a classic arcade game?

[Rex Dart]

They aren't bad, just overpriced in my opinion.

[akator]

I love my Tankstick. I sold off the dual joystick and trackball mouse. I will never sell off the Tankstick, ever. It is amazing for MAME. Not perfect, because some games like Tempest need spinners, but you can set MAME to use the trackball instead of a spinner. Not perfect, but still awesome.

 

The one time I had a button wear out/go bad, X-Gaming sent me a new one free of charge. All of the X-Arcades have a lifetime warranty.

 

I don't work for them or anything like that, but I'm a huge fan. I've had their controllers since 2003 and have never had a regret.

 

And... the Tankstick is just awesome

[tz101]

Does it have a multi-system plug, and for what systems?

[+save2600]

Does it have a multi-system plug, and for what systems?

You can get adapters from X-Arcade for just about any system.

 

I'm not a fan of micro-switches at all (especially in a joystick) , but I like my Tankstick well enough for what it is. There's even a function that allows you to program, remap and macro the buttons.

 

 

 

[moycon]

I'm thinking of getting the 360 adapter (which in turns requires the PS2 adapter to make work)

The tank stick has buttons on the sides I'm guessing to emulate the feeling of a pinball machine. I am thinking that could be very cool when playing Pinball FX. I also have a BUNCH of classic Live arcade games as well as about a dozen games in the Game Room. Has anyone used one of these with the Xbox 360?

[jaybird3rd]

I have my eye on the X-Arcade Solo, a smaller and cheaper model which uses the same arcade-grade parts. I usually use a PlayStation controller with a USB adapter for emulation, but I've been looking for something better. Judging from user testimonials, the X-Arcade sticks are among the best.

 

[Cynicaster]

I don’t own one personally, but my brother does (two-player, trackball version). He’s had it for almost two years and it has taken a lot of use and abuse.

 

My personal recommendation to anybody looking for an “arcade experience” would be to obtain (or build) a full cabinet. Lots of time and work, but well worth it if it’s important to you.

 

Obviously the full cabinet is not an option for everybody due to available space/cash/time, and if it is not an option, then this product is a very good choice, IMO.

 

You will be able to play thousands of different games using real arcade-style controls. There are plenty of buttons for each player, so you’re never going to run into a game where you don’t have enough buttons to play (well, an arcade game anyway, don’t know about consoles). But no controller can be all things to all games, so a multi-purpose controller is by definition a compromise. The main “limitations” I can think of with this product are:

 

- joysticks and buttons are all digital controls, meaning games that required analog joysticks back in the day (e.g. Sinistarr, Paperboy, Tron) will not feel very authentic. They can still be played, but it will suck if you’re used to the original.

- no rotary style controller (spinner, steering wheel) for driving games and spinner games like Tempest, Avalanche, and Breakout (although you can use your trackball to achieve analog control in e.g. Pole Position, Hang On, Championship Sprint, Star Wars, etc. and it’s actually still pretty fun if not at all authentic)

- the joysticks are dedicated 8-way sticks, which is what you want for the vast majority of games, but some classics like DK, Pac-Man series, most “maze games”, Frogger, etc. actually used 4-way joysticks. The latter games can still be played with 8-way sticks but since the games are only designed to “understand” 4 directions, the behaviour of your character can be unpredictable when you hit a diagonal (and this often happens accidentally). For example, rapid hopping side to side on the road in Frogger, you’re likely to jump into traffic above or below you when you didn’t mean to, which is quite frustrating.

 

As for price, I know some people think it’s overpriced, but I’m not sure I agree with that. It may not be the deal of the century, but the total cost to order all of the parts individually would probably be over $200, and then you’d have to design and build the thing.

Edited June 30, 2011 by Cynicaster

[NightSprinter]

Well, thankfully from what I've seen X-Gaming actually will allow (and even encourage) modding. So addressing a few of these issues are pretty simple. One can get a switchable 4/8-way stick (I know there are some companies that sell ones you can pull up and twist to switch), spinner can be modded in (as believe it or not, Pole Position's "wheel" is an over-sized spinner), analog pots for paddle games. It's really up to the owner what they want to do.

[moycon]

Ordered one with the 360/PS2 adapter.

I will say one thing. These guys are quick! If you order before 10am, they ship that day!

I'm hoping to have it in the next few days.

[Rex Dart]

Well, thankfully from what I've seen X-Gaming actually will allow (and even encourage) modding. So addressing a few of these issues are pretty simple. One can get a switchable 4/8-way stick (I know there are some companies that sell ones you can pull up and twist to switch), spinner can be modded in (as believe it or not, Pole Position's "wheel" is an over-sized spinner), analog pots for paddle games. It's really up to the owner what they want to do.

 

Mount a pair of buttons vertically on the sides for pinball games...

[Underball]

I have this:

 

Which is on par with the X-Arcade stick in terms of components, although I replaced the stick itself with a Steel shaft/Red Ball top from http://www.dreamarcades.com/. It's a Universal, so it has jacks for PS2/PS1, XBox, and Nintendo Gameqube. I modified the Xbox connector to be a standard USB jack, and use it with the Xbox Windows drivers. I also use a PS2 to USB adaptor to use it on the PS3 from MAME/Emulators and Mortal Kombat.

[moycon]

Mount a pair of buttons vertically on the sides for pinball games...

 

They actually already come built in, two on each side! That's why I was wondering if it worked in PinballFX.

I'm hoping you can map the buttons on this thing. That would be awesome to play PinballFX or the Williams Collection using the side buttons!

[Hatta]

I have both the dual stick and the trackball. I can recommend the trackball without hesitation. The dual stick, I'm not so keen on. Mostly because the sticks are not arcade authentic. In fact, they're mushy crap from China. You'll want to replace the sticks with Happ or Sanwa parts, get a Hanaho Hot Rod (which is made with Happ parts), or just build one yourself (with an i-pac).

[moycon]

I have both the dual stick and the trackball. I can recommend the trackball without hesitation. The dual stick, I'm not so keen on. Mostly because the sticks are not arcade authentic. In fact, they're mushy crap from China. You'll want to replace the sticks with Happ or Sanwa parts, get a Hanaho Hot Rod (which is made with Happ parts), or just build one yourself (with an i-pac).

 

Can you provide a link to the parts? I've never worked on an arcade stick before. Is it difficult to swap them out? I wouldn't mind getting swappable 4 way and 8 way sticks if possible.

[NightSprinter]

Only real question I have is games like Smash T.V. How do you do the 2-player mode on it? (especially for Midway Arcade Treasures for PS2/GC/xbox)

[HatefulGravey]

I picked up a used track ball from them on the market here a while back. I have plans to up it in my custom panel for my MAME machine and haven't yet had time. The track ball has been very nice and I have no reason to bad talk it at all.

 

As for the tank stick. I have used one in the past and wasn't really pleased with it for the price. That being said I am spoiled by the custom panel I put together a while back and my Street Fighter IV sanwa stick so take my opinion with a grain of salt. The thing is you can build a pretty nice custom job for simular money and have something that is exactly what you want. If you have the tools that is.

 

It is certainly better then playing with most controllers you can buy for the PC. Those are generally pretty bad. The 360 controller works well, but a real stick is better for real arcade games.

[RJ]

I got the X-Arcade Dualstick (the next model below the trakball model) & everything pretty much has been said already above. No complaints here, I find it very favorable. The kids can wrack on it w/ no negative effects (so far- but there's a lifetime warranty on it). Shipping is only 1 day as said, UPS or FedEx IIRC. Good email communication too!

 

I misread their site when they said "USB PS/2 adapter included"- I thought that meant the adapter was for PlayStation & PlayStation 2 (which is what Im using it on) but thats apparently some computer term. They cleared it up & sent the req. 5-in-1 console adapter I needed (Gamecube, Dreamcast, Xbox, PS1/PS2) via USPS Priority but didnt charge me.

 

Thumbs way up for this product line & company!

 

 

To play Smash TV (or Robotron or Black Widow etc) you use a certain button combo during gameplay- in my case for PS2 it's the left side "flipper" button + plyr 1's button #6 together. It's clearly explained in the included manual, diagrams & all. The only thing you have to watch out for (& they warn you about plenty) is do NOT dis/connect the unit from your console when it's on.

 

joysticks and buttons are all digital controls, meaning games that required analog joysticks back in the day (e.g. Sinistarr, Paperboy, Tron) will not feel very authentic.

 

According to their manual, you can set it to "true analog" mode if needed though I cant get Paperboy to work.

 

the joysticks are dedicated 8-way sticks

There's a note in the manual how to change the sticks to 4-way mode.

Edited June 30, 2011 by RJ

[SRGilbert]

I've had the original 2-player model since it came out and have always been pretty happy with it. Only complaint is that a lot of my favorites are 4-way games, and the sticks are a little sensitive. Obviously I could swap them out if I wanted, but I haven't really bothered.

[Cynicaster]

I have both the dual stick and the trackball. I can recommend the trackball without hesitation. The dual stick, I'm not so keen on. Mostly because the sticks are not arcade authentic. In fact, they're mushy crap from China. You'll want to replace the sticks with Happ or Sanwa parts, get a Hanaho Hot Rod (which is made with Happ parts), or just build one yourself (with an i-pac).

 

Can you provide a link to the parts? I've never worked on an arcade stick before. Is it difficult to swap them out? I wouldn't mind getting swappable 4 way and 8 way sticks if possible.

 

Start at www.ultimarc.com.

 

They have a product called Mag-Stik Plus which is a joystick that is switchable from 4- to 8-way simply by lifting up on the stick and turning it (or something similarly simple/convenient). I've never used one personally, but I strongly considered it when I was building my custom panel. The reason I decided against it was because I was reading online reviews and lots of people were saying that it was really good in one configuration but so-so in the other (forget which was which). If I recall correctly, in the configuration that was so-so, the general complaint was that the throw was a bit short and clicky.

 

There are other products out there that are switchable but you need access to the underside of the joystick. To me, that was out of the question; I didn't want to be lifting up my control panel to switch stuff all time. So ultimately, what I decided to do was have two dedicated 8-way Happ Competition joysticks (for players 1 and 2), and a single dedicated 4-way stick. It clutters up the panel a bit but it's convenient to not have to switch anything. I don't know about you, but unless the "switching mechanism" is so simple that it can be done in 5 seconds or less, it's too inconvenient to be bothered with it.

 

To feed the joystick and button commands into your PC, you can use the Ultimarc iPac2. It's a so-called "keyboard encoder" that translates button presses into keyboard strokes your computer can understand. It's simple to wire up the sticks and buttons to the pre-labeled screw terminals and plug it in via USB or PS/2. I wired up both the player 1 8-way and the dedicated 4-way to the same terminals, so I have the choice of using either stick on any game without having to change or re-configure anything. Very nice.

 

For trackball, assuming you're not interested in attempting a mouse hack or something like that, you have two main options. You can either buy a standalone trackball and another encoder board (I think it's called OptiPac or something like that) that translates it into something your computer can understand, or you can buy a trackball that interfaces via USB right out of the box. The latter is what I did--a product called the Ultimarc U-Trak. It was pretty expensive ($100 or so) but it was very easy to both mount on the panel and connect to the computer. Not only that, but I'm very happy with its performance.

 

Word of caution on buttons, if you're looking at building custom stuff. Do not buy the Happ buttons with the vertical microswitch--they absolutely suck. Go for the ones with the horizontal microswitch.

[moycon]

I've had the original 2-player model since it came out and have always been pretty happy with it. Only complaint is that a lot of my favorites are 4-way games, and the sticks are a little sensitive. Obviously I could swap them out if I wanted, but I haven't really bothered.

 

Wait did you read what RJ posted about there being a "note in the manual how to change the sticks to 4-way mode." ??

If that is possible, and is not too much trouble, I may just do that on certain games. I wonder if there is a list of 4 way controlled games?

[NightSprinter]

RJ, what if I were to get two tanksticks to have a second person join in on the total carnage (which, btw, I love it!)? I saw the console adapters plug into two ports at once. Could I leave one for each unplugged so two players can play at the same time?

[Underball]

My Trackball was the funnest part.

 

I modded an Atari 2600 trackball to be a Mitsui Serial Mouse. On the CX-80 model Atari trakball, teh Optics are connected to the main circuit board in the trakball housing by 4 conductor ribbon cables. You can cut/desolder these and connect thm directly the the solder points of the optics on a standard Mitsui brand PC serial mouse.

 

Cost me all of $20.

[cimerians]

I've had the original 2-player model since it came out and have always been pretty happy with it. Only complaint is that a lot of my favorites are 4-way games, and the sticks are a little sensitive. Obviously I could swap them out if I wanted, but I haven't really bothered.

 

Wait did you read what RJ posted about there being a "note in the manual how to change the sticks to 4-way mode." ??

If that is possible, and is not too much trouble, I may just do that on certain games. I wonder if there is a list of 4 way controlled games?

 

 

I got the solo stick and 4-way mode is just a pain in the ass to do (it doesnt really work the way they say it does). I cant get to X-Arcades support site ATM to give you a link but they have a video of one of their guys doing it and yes its easy to do but just one catch.

--> You have to bend the pins (on all four sides) because they usually (on my model) wont touch the connectors so you need to adjust them perfectly. Adjust-readjust to get them just right. Otherwise Pac-Man wont move or he will move just by you breathing on the stick.

 

I could not feel a difference either when I had it semi working. Left mine on 8-way and said to hell with it.

 

Im also too damn lazy to hook up all those damn adapters for the 360 and the PS3. Easier for me to use it on my PC.

 

So in a way I kind of wish I never bought it cause Im too lazy to really use it.

Edited July 1, 2011 by cimerians

[HatefulGravey]

Like Cynicaster I used the iPac2, in my next machine revision the iPac4 for 4 player games will be called for. Also like Cynicaster I decided to stay away from switchable 8/4 way sticks. I however used mostly happ controls. They have a pile of options for colors, shapes and sizes if you really want to get crazy. I used bat style sticks and convex buttons in a street fighter style set up. I put my 4 way and an extra button for it in the center of the panel for those games that need it. My main reason for the machine was for 4 way games like Donkey Kong so this was perfect for me.

 

Now, the trackball I will be putting in is the x-arcade trackball. I have a mounting kit for it from happ controls so it really just a matter of recutting the panel to add the track ball. I will have to move my 4 way a bit and this is why I'm dragging my feet. I also have light guns to add to the machine some time very soon.

 

I have plans for a showcase syle machine. It will use the moden 16:9 tv and scale older games as needed. I have the art work to fill the blank spaces on the tv with bezel art too so it will look real nice. Most of the software is already in place, the design is solid too. So now I need space to put the machine (in our next home we are in the market for now) when I get my game room I'll have that. This showcase machine will have 4 players set up for games that use that, the 4 way, the light guns and the trackball. The complete MAME machine is withing my reach.

 

If you are thinking of building a machine I can tell you this much. Very few people seem to build just one. They build one they like and then start thinking of ways to improve it and then comes the next version. Mine is already planned. Its a bug that gets you good when it gets you.