Posted by Lilwolf on 28, 2001 at 4:47 PM:
In Reply to: Stick-It posted by Karl on 28, 2001 at 3:58 PM:
pretty sure it's dead. They haven't replied to email in ages.
If you want a cheap solution, consider this.
search on ebay (category collectibles\coint-op, banks & casino\coin-operated\arcade) for control panels being sold. (I use "control panel -overlay -overlays -cpo -marque")
this is a list of arcade control panels. Most of them have all the parts on them. They go for about 10 bucks for joystick and buttons ones. Keep looking for a week or two and you can get some cool looking ones with two joysticks and buttons.
then.... finish it up. If you get a 'standard' control panel it will be the top and front. Get some plywood or thin strong boards and make a back, bottom and sides. Shouldn't be to hard.
So now you have a box with an original arcade control panel (looks and all). Now you need to hook it up to a computer.
Easiest way! Buy an Ipac keyboard encoder. (I think it's about $40) and wire it up (about an hour project connecting it. There is a few other great encoders out there, MK64s are great for large 4 player control panels. Cut some holes in the back for the keyboard and screw the keyboard controller to the bottom of the box. Your done
Cheapest way! Hack something. I wouldn't do a keyboard since you have to many things to go wrong (ghosting, matrix crap). But there are a bunch of joysticks that work well with a ton of buttons.
So now for $40 + $10-15 +some wood you have control panel that not only has an original control panel for cool looks, but saved you 50 to 150 bucks.