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Post by Buster Cannon on Dec 25, 2015 5:06:14 GMT -5
So I've gotten into making arcade stick art templates recently (read: yesterday). They're fairly simple to make, you start with a Photoshop template and add/remove layers as you see fit. As someone into fighting games who uses an arcade stick, I really like the idea of having your own personalized artwork. It's one of those things that gives an arcade stick more of an identity over a typical controller. Anywho, here's the one that I whipped up for myself:  Link to the template [PSD] that I used: www.madcatz.co.jp/files/PS4_PS3_TE2TemplateRGB.zipI'll probably post some more as time goes on. Also, feel free to whip up some of your own and post them here! Critique is also welcome! |
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Post by Buster Cannon on May 18, 2016 12:11:20 GMT -5
UPDATE! So I got the artwork printed and installed it, along with a new joystick ball top and buttons:  Really liking how the color scheme turned out. The original stick, for reference. |
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Post by Dashe on May 19, 2016 20:39:59 GMT -5
That's pretty awesome! You gonna use it all the time, or keep it as close to this condition as possible?
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Post by HF on May 19, 2016 20:47:08 GMT -5
UPDATE! So I got the artwork printed and installed it, along with a new joystick ball top and buttons: Really liking how the color scheme turned out. The original stick, for reference. Looks great! What kind of paper did you use to make this print? |
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Post by Buster Cannon on May 19, 2016 22:04:57 GMT -5
@ DasheThanks! I'll be using this as my main stick for both home use and tourneys. Sticks have a ton of longevity, so the condition itself will be perfectly fine; at the most I'll have to swap out some buttons in a couple years. @ HFI had the good guys at Tek-Innovations take care of the printing and cutting. You send them the image file (.PSD or otherwise) and they take care of the rest. As for the paper: I'd like to toy around with some more designs in the near future. Arcade sticks have such a high level of customization that really sets them apart from your run-of-the-mill controller. |
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Post by HF on May 19, 2016 22:25:43 GMT -5
I had the good guys at Tek-Innovations take care of the printing and cutting. You send them the image file (.PSD or otherwise) and they take care of the rest. As for the paper: I'd like to toy around with some more designs in the near future. Arcade sticks have such a high level of customization that really sets them apart from your run-of-the-mill controller. Thanks for the details! And you've definitely picked up a "competitive" joystick (I hear that recent Madcatz peripherals are great). I personally use a standard HORI Hayabusa V (works great with PS4/PC from playing so far), and I've even brought it to Japan when competing at home or at the office.  |
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Post by Chiz on May 21, 2016 17:37:24 GMT -5
You know, I'm not a fan of putting console artwork on arcade paraphernalia - that is what arcade artwork is for - but aside from that, the end result looks very good.
If I were building a themed joypad like this, I'm not sure if I would be satisfied with the white buttons and joystick topper, or if I would try to get ahold of translucent buttons that could have small labels inserted into them. The only thing that would stop me is that those buttons also often have an LED in them powered by a 12V rail, which you will not get over USB (only has 5V). Still, assuming these are generic Happ-style buttons, new buttons are like $0.75 a piece if you reuse the old microswitches.
Which model of joypad is that, btw? I see the Playstation button in the corner, which implies to me it's at least an unofficial PS4 controller...is that how it exposes itself to the PC, or is it more of a generic controller that just happens to work on the PS4?
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Post by Buster Cannon on May 25, 2016 9:28:04 GMT -5
@ Chiz These aren't really arcade peripherals so much as they are unofficial PS4 controllers. As for the buttons, they do have the translucent ones, but for my design I really didn't deem it necessary. There are cases where people have really pulled it off well, though. Also, Happ buttons/joysticks have really fallen out of favor over the years. Happ's concave buttons and bat top joysticks were a household thing around the days when competitive MvC2 was a thing, but when SF4 released Madcatz pretty much standardized the Japanese Sanwa parts. Square JLF joystick gates along with those ball top handles are what's "in" now. Seimetsu parts are seen every now and then, but you rarely ever see anything from Happ these days. @ HF So far, the best stick I've used is the Qanba Q4. The weight is perfect, and the multi-console compatibility is handy. I use it for a lot of my Steam games, and it even works as a legacy controller for SFV on PS4! |
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Post by Chiz on May 25, 2016 21:19:21 GMT -5
Happ buttons/joysticks have really fallen out of favor over the years Yeah, I know, but I meant "Happ-style" in the loosest sense, of a 3 piece plastic button + spring that hits a standard microswitch ( H| S) as opposed to a normal controller that has the microswitches/contacts built into a PCB ( DS3) preventing simple part replacements. You would think large arcade-like controllers would use proper arcade equipment, but some companies know no bounds when it comes to cheap peripherals. It looks like MadCatz have salvaged their brand in that regard. |
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Post by HF on May 25, 2016 21:37:00 GMT -5
It looks like MadCatz have salvaged their brand in that regard. I still read recent cases of Mad Catz Tournament IIs (among other of their peripherals) breaking or malfunctioning though; at least far more vocally online compared to other brands like HORI. Especially considering how much pricier their stuff is compared to other makers, you'd expect them to be "premium" not just in aesthetics but in function too especially if you're looking for one of those gaming peripherals that you want to invest in for a good 10+ years (making standard controllers dirt cheap by comparison). |
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Post by Buster Cannon on May 25, 2016 21:44:20 GMT -5
Ah, gotcha. You can find a wide variety of button styles and their prices here: www.focusattack.com/controls/pushbutton/ It looks like MadCatz have salvaged their brand in that regard. Lol yeah, the arcade sticks are the sole redeeming product that Madcatz has going for them. One member of the fighting game community joined up with them a while back, and was very instrumental in getting authentic arcade parts in their sticks. I'm glad that good parts are more common now, because I've seen some absolutely horrid attempts in the PS2 era. |
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Post by HF on May 25, 2016 22:13:35 GMT -5
Lol yeah, the arcade sticks are the sole redeeming product that Madcatz has going for them. One member of the fighting game community joined up with them a while back, and was very instrumental in getting authentic arcade parts in their sticks. I'm glad that good parts are more common now, because I've seen some absolutely horrid attempts in the PS2 era. Wow, that one's just plug and play console levels of horrifying. |
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Post by Chiz on May 26, 2016 4:37:56 GMT -5
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