This new feature to the site will present a controller; either one I’m currently working on, just shipped, or one from the archives accompanied by pictures and if necessary, a backstory.

This week, I am presenting one of my favorite pieces that our artist Sarah has ever done, and you can own this controller at a $50 savings!

This controller was commissioned by a customer, completed, and then through an accident with emails, a misunderstanding took place which ultimately put me in possession of the controller. As much as I love the design (and Katamari!) I already have a personal Pop’n Music controller, so I do not want to keep it, especially if I can find someone who can give it a good home and appreciate it for what it is: a one-of-a-kind, beautiful Pop’n Music controller!

With all that said, here is a picture of it (Click to enlarge):

This bright, colorful, and beautifully detailed controller has been sitting in my workshop long enough, and because I want to find a good home for it ASAP, I am offering it at a very good price. This controller would be $300 normally ($275 + $25 shipping normally) but I will offer it THIS WEEK ONLY for $250 shipped and it can be sent within a few days of receiving payment!
(Free shipping is only within the Continental US. If an international customer wants to buy it, I will slash $25 off the shipping cost, but you need to pay the difference on shipping). This controller does not currently have LEDs or a USB board, but one or both can be added for their normal cost. (Adding either option will add a week or two to delivery time)

If you are interested in purchasing this or any other controller, please email me at Steve@desktoparcade.com .

Until next week where I’ll feature another controller, thanks for checking out the site!

(And a big “hello” to everybody else, too!)

So after 6 years of exclusively making Bemani controllers, I have finally decided to create beautiful, high quality joysticks in a very attractive and solidly-constructed form-factor.

Those of you who are finding this page from our flyer at AnimeNEXT probably tried one of the joysticks we have set up in AnimeNEXT’s video game ballroom, and if you are here, chances are you may be interested in buying one! To prevent long wait times for joysticks , I am shifting more to a commission based order queue system which will be focused on this contact form, and those who email me through more traditional methods to inquire about ordering. When enough orders come in for a time period, I will reply to order inquiries with details and price quotes, but I will only take a non-refundable down payment to purchase the materials for your joystick (and to begin constructing it).

Check out pictures from the weekend and my other work at my flickr page, right here!

Order inquiry form. Reserve your spot in the order queue today!

I figured that I would give everyone who might be curious about the building process I go through, since I am sure some of you are curious as to how I make my Pop’n Music controllers.  These controllers were done over a weekend during the summer, and many of them are still available for sale.

First we take the wood…. (two 8′X4′ pieces of 1/2″ birch plywood, cut up to 6 sizable pieces to fit in my car)

Then we cut 16 tops (Also pictured, my protective gear)

Then we cut 32 long side pieces (this part is a pain!  Also pictured is my beverage.)

Then I take the 16 tops and 64 sides and lay them out stacked on top of each other, making sure each pair of short and long sides are the same length.

Then we glue!

And we glue some more! (And I need to clean this area, as you can see the clutter of spray paint and random scrap wood)

This is what’s left to glue. I give the current batch that’s glued 3 hours for the Gorilla Glue to cure, then I unclamp them and work on as many of these as I can do at one time.

The finished shells.

I just created a page with some Pop’n Music controllers I have in stock and on hand. I worked on these along-side the 6 or so owed Pop’n Music controllers, which will begin shipping, which should make those of you currently waiting very happy. :) Here’s a link to the (currently barebones) in-stock controller page.

You’ll also notice on the Pop’n Music product page I added 10 common countries, and its shipping price, as a drop-down menu that can be added to your cart. This means that international customers can now order without waiting for a shipping quote from me!

Also, don’t forget to check out the Desktop Arcade Flickr page, where you can see the pile of Pop’n controllers I built a couple of months ago while I was waiting for my buttons to arrive from China. You can also browse a huge selection of past solid color controllers, and most past art controllers. (There also might be a secret project or two on there. Shhhh!)