Home page
Cabinet
Versão Portuguesa
Construction
Controls
Costs
Hardware
Links
Software
A Trackball added to the X-arcade control Table.
In the arcade games emulator MAME
exists many games that for a decent
gameplay needs a trackball or a spinner,
games like Arkanoid or Missile Command, the problem with the x-arcade is that there isnīt many space to install a conventional arcade trackball, so I decided to use a regular PC trackball the Microsoft explorer, a desk optical trackball, with a USB connection.
I acquired it at a cheap price from an action in the internet. Itīs small enough
to fit inside the X-arcade and big
enough to get a good control for the
games.
Before I started to remove the
X-arcade buttons, I tested the
cuts, the hole size and the
placement of the trackball in a
wood plate similar to X-arcade
Of course when I opened a
new hole in the  X-arcade i lost
the warranty, but its so easy to
replace a  button or a joystick for
a new one that I didnīt mind.
Removing  the X-arcade insides is easy, just disconnect all the micro-
switches from the buttons, thereīs no need to unplug the cables, its
a good idea to mark the micro-switches with the respective number or
letter to an easy replacement..The cut of the trackball hole should be
made from inside, so you get a cleaner cut outside of the X-arcade.
No need of a new hole for the USB cable, it fits perfectly on the side of
the original X-arcade keyboard connection. The support of the Trackball
itīs in a transparent red plastic, when itīs on gets a red light effect, that combines perfectly with the X-arcade control table.