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Before the Segas, Playstations
and Nintendos became the videogame outlets for gamers,
people were running left and right to their local
arcade to get their gaming fix. I know, because I
was one of them. So many games to play, and so little
money to play them was the recurring theme for me
when going to these arcades, but it never stopped
me from coming back. And that was before the Street
Fighter/Mortal Kombat era. But when having a console
to play these games became cheaper than spending money
at the arcades, many like myself wasn't visiting the
arcades as frequently, except when a game looked absolutely
amazing. Then the Playstation came along, and just
about silenced all of the thunder that the arcades
possessed. Since then, the arcade-style games still
have been coming, but gamers with true arcade skills
were forced to settle with sub-standard controls to
play these games. Arcade joysticks were available,
but they didn't fully translate that arcade feel to
the consoles or PC.
Nowadays, PCs and consoles
are more powerful than before, and ports of arcade
games are becoming even easier. For some time, the
HotRod arcade stick was the only solution in town.
And to this day, it is an excellent arcade stick to
have. But its run may have come to an end with XGaming's
X-Arcade.
First, let's examine
the X-Arcade. This two-player unit is about two feet
long and about a foot wide. The base of the X-Arcade
has a slanted base, which is only four inches high.
Besides the first and second player start buttons,
each players has access to eight buttons, with an
addition button on the side. The back of unit features
Keyboard In, System Out, and Memory Switches. Everything
is quite big so, you won't ever have to worry about
fumbling around to find a switch.
 The
X-Arcade functions as a keyboard emulator instead
of a full-functioning joystick on the PC, it requires
no software. All you need to do to connect it to your
PC is to attach the serial cable with the PS/2 connector
into the keyboard port on the PC. Now we definitely
don't want to keep pulling out the cords whenever
we want to use the keyboard. Thankfully, the X-Arcade
serves as a keyboard pass-through, so you can keep
both devices connected at all times. A nice way to
see if everything is working ok, is by checking the
little LED at the top right of the unit. This will
let you know if there is any power coming to the unit
at all.
Because there is no software needed for this device, you are going to have to become familiar with how to program the X-Arcade. There are four memory banks that will save your button configurations. But only three of them can be changed (Mode 1 will always have the default configuration). Once you switch to which mode that you wish to program, you basically hold the button in the back of the unit, and also the button on the X-Arcade that you wish to program. While you are holding both buttons on the unit, you must press and hold the keyboard button until the LED light starts to blink. And that is all you have to do to reprogram one button on the X-Arcade. Once you have finished reprogramming all of your buttons, then press the back button again to save all of your reprogrammed keys for that mode. Until you have this method down to a science, you may want write down all of the functions on the keyboard, and where you want them to be on the X-Arcade before you start programming. It all may sound difficult to understand, but after a few times it should become almost second nature to you.
Now it's time to put this to the test. Using PC ports of Arcade games, as well as popular emulators such as MAME, we were able to put this device through the wringer. And I am happy to say all of the games that we tried passed with flying colors. Games that required extensive use of all of the buttons like Street Fighter 2 and Mortal 1, 2, and 3 couldn't even put a dent into the X-Arcade armor. But the tests don't end there. Because of the X-MS (Xgaming Multiple System) technology, this device can also be used on most consoled. That means that via of an adapter, this device will work with all of the current consoles on the market (though I should point out that there were no adapters for the N64 or older consoles). With the Dreamcast and Playstation 1& 2 adapters, we decided to put the X-Arcade through some more tests. Since the Dreamcast was well known for its fighting games, Soul Calibur and Street Fighter Alpha 3 were used for this machine. And because the PS/PS2 is home to many of the more popular sports games, we decided to use Tony Hawk 3 (PS2), NBA Jam TE (PS1), and NFL Blitz 2002. Now as for the fighting games on the Dreamcast, up until I received the X-Arcade, I never really had the chance to play either Soul Calibur or SFA3 on the Dreamcast with a joystick, so I didn't know what to expect. But once I fired up the games, I was blown away. In the case of Soul Calibur, because of the lack of attack buttons, I had to re-adjust to the control layout, but about five minutes into playing the game, it was pure gaming bliss. All of the attacks were way to easy to pull off, and the sidestepping moves that were never used because of the difficulties pulling them off on a DC controller quickly became a part of my primary arsenal. I was amazed at how this game more fluent and smooth after using this device. In the case of the SFA3, it was like me returning to my roots. Because I grew up on playing through all of the Street Fighters in the arcade, the default layout was instant nostalgia. Pulling off super moves was never this easy. I am quite sure I lost a couple of days of sleep playing this game on with the X-Arcade.
 Now
in the case of the PS2, my choice of games was on
purpose. I had a hunch that pulling off the new Revert
move and special moves in Tony Hawk 3 would be complemented
well by the X-Arcade. And boy, was I right. THPS3
feels like a whole new game when used with this device.
All of the special moves are easier than ever to pull
off, and executing manuals can now be done effortlessly.
I am definitely going to be using this when I compete
online. Now before the consoles were given Midway's
latest titles, they were one of the main reasons arcades
managed to stay above water through the late nineties.
NBA Jam: TE is one of the all-time arcade greats,
and NFL Blitz was the next-generation of arcade sports.
So if you loved to play those games in the arcade,
then you will find equal satisfaction here. Using
the X-Arcade provides such an advantage over your
opponents who don't use a joystick when playing this
games that it isn't even funny.
However, all is not
well within the world of the X-Arcade. My main criticism
has to do with the design of the unit. I am going
to guess that whoever tested the initial designs were
quite thin in the arms, because the distance between
the first and second player controls is very short.
Considering that the average gamer (arcade gamers
in particular) has medium-to-massive size arms and
hands, players are going to be very close when playing.
And sure enough during tests, everyone that played
was forced to play at an angle, just to keep from
invading the other players "space". Had they moved
the joystick and buttons to the ends of the unit by
at least 1.5 inches, this problem could have been
avoided. But unless you are of the meatless build,
you will be playing at an angle.
Overall
If you and your friends can get past the narrow spacing between the player controls, then you will find that the X-Arcade is an outstanding product that will more than meet all of your expectations. With plenty of buttons, and an excellent joystick, players of all skill levels should feel right at home with this product. With its additional compatibility with current consoles, the X-Arcade should have a long and prosperous lifespan on all platforms.
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