There’s an easy high-level way to categorize arcade parts: Japanese and American.īefore we get into the nuances of different models of buttons and joysticks, there’s an easy high-level way to categorize arcade parts: Japanese and American. Here’s what we learned while researching our arcade controls. For the Tested MAME machine, that’s exactly what we wanted–something perfect for fighting games like Street Fighter, primed for SHMUPs like Ikaruga, and still able to handle classic 80s games like Pac-Man. Knowing the differences between these components enables building an arcade machine for exactly the kinds of games you want to play–or, by mixing and matching hardware, you can create a machine with inputs that are great for a wide swath of arcade genres.

There are just as many varieties of joysticks as there are buttons, each with their own nuanced feel.

But wading into the minutia of arcade parts unprepared feels like going up against a world-class Street Fighter player–while you’re clumsily figuring out how to throw a fireball, they’re stringing together moves you didn’t even know existed. When you’re building your own arcade cabinet, you want the best buttons for your games. But most importantly, there is the choice between Sanwa and Seimitsu manufactured buttons, Japan’s two juggernauts of arcade hardware. There are also smaller 24mm buttons, and buttons with clear tops or clear rims that can be paired with fancy LED lighting. Others are screw-buttons, which anchor into a wooden surface. Some are push-buttons, which install into an arcade panel with a simple snap. Here's what we learned while researching our arcade controls.Īrcade parts website sells 11 varieties of 30mm Japanese arcade buttons, and without some research, it’s hard to spot the minute differences that separate one from another. Knowing the differences between the many different kinds of arcade buttons and joysticks enables building a cabinet for exactly the kinds of games you want to play-or, by mixing and matching hardware, you can create a machine with inputs that are great for a wide swath of arcade genres.

6 button arcade template