SMASH IT UP! Video Contest

Contest Extended Until May 31st

Arcade-in-a-Box Smash It Up Contest!

Arcade-in-a-Box will be holding a contest and will be giving away a complete Arcade-in-a-Box solo console arcade controller to the winner. More prizes will be added as the contest progresses. New sponsors and prizes will be added to this post including other prizes for Arcade-in-a-Box, Gameroom magazine and more.

For the contest we are asking contestants to enter videos showing them destroying gamepads in the most creative ways possible. We just ask that you be safe, be smart, and don’t injure yourself in the process.

The contest will last until the end of May, at which time our panel of judges will pick the top 10 videos. Once those videos are selected, there will be a website created where users can vote on their favorite video by DIGGing them. The winners will be determined by the amount of DIGGs each video gets.

We have a youtube group created for you to upload your videos.
http://www.youtube.com/groups_layout?name=smashitup

We just have a few simple rules.
No nudity
No drug use
Nothing illegal
Must be a United States Resident

That’s it, now get out there and Smash up those wussy gamepads ;).

Prizes: (More prizes are coming - Updated March 18th)
1st Place -

• Arcade-In-A-Box Solo Arcade controller built to order.  You choose the system, button type, layout, Joystick type and artwork.
  
• 1 Year Subscription to ConsoleClassix
• 1 Year Subscription to GameRoom Magazine
• Construction Plans for the Ultimate Arcade I or II Cabinet from Mameroom

2nd Place -

• $75 gift certificate towards the purchase of an Aracde-In-A-Box Solo Arcade Controller
  
• 1 Year Subscription to ConsoleClassix
• 1 Year Subscription to GameRoom Magazine

3rd Place -

• $25 gift certificate towards the purchase of an Aracde-In-A-Box Solo Arcade Controller
  
• 1 Year Subscription to ConsoleClassix
• 1 Year Subscription to GameRoom Magazine

4th-10th Place -

• 6 month subscription to ConsoleClassix
  

A New Direction

I have decided that it's time for a change.  Arcade-in-a-Box is moving in a new direction and I will be concentrating creating the best console arcade controllers I can.  This decision has been a very hard one considering the Arcade-in-a-Box Home Arcade Console was the staple of this company, it was the product that started this company and has kept it alive for the past 8 years.  However, due to very low sales over past year, it is apparent there is a shift in the market for the home arcade enthusiast.  

When we launched the press release just 5 months ago about the release of the Xbox 360 solo arcade controller, I was not prepared for what was about to happen.  The amount of sales I got in that short time was overwhelming.  Since then I have realized the absolutely amazing community of gamers out there that desire a good arcade stick for their home consoles.  Whether they are competitive tournament players or casual players.  The embrace I got from that community just blew me away.  Then came the very favorable reviews from sources like Official Xbox Magazine and IGN to name a few.  This community of enthusiasts is one of the main reasons I am making this change.  Without them stepping up and purchasing a product from a virtual unknown company in console arcade controllers was amazing.  I realized then that this was a special community that I had to be a part of.

I continue to search for feedback and new ideas from this community, and I won't stop.  On top of that, this amazing community has also contributed artwork for use on my arcade controllers, and new artworks is pouring in all the time.  I don't know what to say besides thank you.

So what will the changes be?

• The Arcade-In-A-Box and Jamma-In-A-Box systems will no longer be sold.  Of course I will fulfill any current orders and will continue to support my customers that have purchased those items in the past.
  
• The Arcade-In-A-Box building plans will be made available for free in a downloadable PDF file.
• Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Playstation, Playstation 3, and GC/Wii controllers will all be made available very soon.  These will compliment our 360 controller.
• Two solo stick designs.  One for those that like to play with the stick sitting on a table or chair (the current design) and one that will be designed for lap players.
• Box colors will be offered in more than black.  Blue, Green, Red, White are a just a few examples of what is to come.
• We will continue to accept new artwork to our collection to make sure we always have something for everyone.
• A new design will be coming as well.  The old style will still be available as many people seem to like it, but the new design will be moving the joystick and button up on the stick to allow more wrist room.  It will also move the non Play buttons to the side of the controller.
• We will also offer a service upgrading your old arcade controllers (X-Arcade, SFII Anniversary Stick) for use with the 360

I think that's all for now.  Thank you for your continued support for Arcade-In-A-Box and I look forward to building more arcade sticks.  A lot of changes are taking place, so please be patient while arcadeinabox.com is updated.

Ed Farias
Owner
Arcade-In-A-Box: Hold Your Own!

First 360 Arcade Stick Review

CyberAthlete over at gamertagradio.com has posted the first review of our Xbox 360 Arcade Stick. You can read it here.

http://www.gamertagradio.com/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=5824

A few interviews

I've done a few interviews over the last week in regards to the Xbox 360 controllers.

The first was an email interview with John Yan from GamingNexus.com
You can see the interview here:

The second interview was a phone interview with the guys at GamerTagRadio.com
That interview can be heard here: Episode 120

The third was another email interview, this time with Dan Keener from XboxAmerica.com
It can be seen here:

I want to all the websites for giving me the opportunity to answer questions.

Ed

XBOX 360 Controllers

XBOX 360 Controllers are here

We are glad to finally announce our line of XBOX 360 arcade controllers. We currently have 2 models, the picture above shows the Dual controller with no overlay options. The image below shows the Solo controller with a custom overlay. For more information, please visit our online store at http://www.arcadeinabox.com/

Jamma-In-A-Box Deluxe (On Hold)

This is the ultimate arcade supergun. Not only will this system play your standard Jamma PCBs, but it will also play most version of Golden Tee, including Golden Tee Fore. Visit our online store for more information.

EDIT: Due to some issues getting Golden Tee to sync right with older Televisions using S-video and Composite video, we are putting the sales of this item on hold until we can rememdy the issue.

Jamma-In-A-Box Deluxe

Arcade-In-A-Box At CGE 2007

July 28th & 29th 2007

We will be attending the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. We plan to have both a Jamma-In-A-Box and Arcade-In-A-Box setup and running for all to enjoy. The Arcade-In-A-Box will be setup on a 70" screen. Come by our booth and have some fun.

Here is a little more information about the show.

• Classic Gaming Expo enters its tenth year as the world's first and largest event paying tribute to the people, systems and games of yesteryear. This year's event will be the biggest and best ever, with lots of surprises to be announced as the show draws near!
• The show is open to the public, gamers of all ages are welcome.
• Meet the Legends of video gaming! Dozens of video gaming's "alumni" will be present. In recent years the show has featured dignitaries such as Nolan Bushnell, Ralph Baer (the "father of home video games"), Al Alcorn (the creator of Pong), Don Bluth (former Disney artist who crafted Dragon's Lair and Space Ace), David Crane (Pitfall!, Dragster), Katz, Kunkel and Worley (Electronic Games, Sega Visions), Jay Smith (designer of the Vectrex), and many more.
• Live musical entertainment, featuring some very talented artists who bring classic game themes to life, past events have included the talents of 8-Bit Weapon, Tony Fox NYC, The Minibosses, FirestARTer, and the C-Men.
• Prizes and tournaments at every turn, including special events sponsored by Intellivision Productions and Digital Press.
• A live auction is held on Saturday night after the show, where many rare and one-of-a-kind items are put on the block. You could end up getting the deal of a lifetime!

Hope to see you there.