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Quick Jump:
XBox X-Citement (Consoles and the Quasicade)
Due to the XBox expansion slot and the ability to easily set up an XBox Live configuration, I'd definitely have to say that the Quasicade 2 shines best when used with an XBox console. Certainly, the merging of the two creates a great gaming system.
An XBox, installed and ready for gaming goodness
I've never been very excited about console gaming, and now I think I've discovered why: playing games on a TV while sitting on the floor or a couch just isn't conducive to real excitement. The immersion and "in your face" involvement just isn't there.
The Quasicade changes all that. There's just nothing like having a 27" screen just inches from your face to bring you into the game. In addition, I've always been a big fan of standing during gameplay: it seems to make me focus more, and there's something to be said for "body english" during gameplay. A larger controller that you can "manhandle" rather than finesse adds to the adrenaline factor, as well.
The sum of all these factors is a gaming experience that you'll never get from just a console alone. The marriage of a tried-and-true gaming form factor (an arcade cabinet) and modern cutting-edge console graphics and gameplay, the Quasicade produces a synergy of old and new to create something unique and fun, a gaming system that improves the game.
MAME and the Quasicade
So, the Quasicade is great for console gaming: how does it do for old-fashioned MAME gaming? Pretty well, actually, although there are some compromises.
The Quasicon controller, when fitted with the USB adapter, is recognized by Windows as a standard gamepad controller (no drivers required). The joystick shows up as a POV Hat, the two analog sticks show up as an X/Y Axis joystick and a Z Rotate/Axis joystick, and ten of the 13 buttons for each player are available for gameplay.
If you've played MAME with a gamepad, you're already aware of some of the limitations: there's no trackball or spinner available, for one. The analog sticks can emulate a trackball or spinner to a degree, but it isn't quite the same.
The lack of a true 4-way joystick also makes games such as Pac-Man difficult, especially since it is more difficult to hit accurate L/R/U/D directions with the Quasicon joystick than it is with most arcade joysticks.
One last compromise is the display itself: a television will never produce the sharp, high-contrast graphics that an arcade monitor or a PC monitor are capable of. It's still a good picture, but once you've seen MAME on an actual arcade monitor, it's very hard to accept anything less.
Quasimoto does provide special setup notes for MAME, and even provides an .ini file for MAME32 with the correct settings for the controller. While not the ultimate MAME solution, the Quasicade is certainly capable of delivering a good experience.
Conclusions
I keep coming back to consoles with this arcade cab, but that's because the Quasicade seems to be built primarily for console use. In fact, Quasimoto will shortly be releasing a "game switching system," which will allow you to plug all three supported consoles in at the same time, and switch between them with a simple turn of a dial.
Three consoles in one system
With the switcher, you can have a unique "universal" console system, one that's able to play nearly any game on the market. With the relatively low cost of a console system these days, this makes great sense. It's ironic that the least expensive component in the Quasicade is the console itself!
Quasimoto offers three different Quasicade cabinets: The Quasicade Jr., a "no frills" version with a 19" TV that retails for $1699, the Quasicade 2 "midrange" cab which retails for $2199, and the Quasicade Pro, the "high end" cab with retails for $3999 (with HD monitor).
The Quasicade Family of Cabinets
The price of the Quasicade 2 is quite reasonable for everything that you get: cabinet, 27" Television, and the Quasicon controller. Throw in a lifetime warranty and toll-free technical support, and you've got a great deal, in my opinion. Note that Quasimoto cabinets are sold through primarily through retailers: their web site has a locator function to help you find your closest Quasimoto retailer. They do allow purchases through their web site if you are unable to locate a local dealer, and even offer free shipping.
Whether it's worth it to you to invest that much into a cab when you can just use your own TV instead is another matter, but I'll state this much: playing console games on the Quasicade is an experience you will never be able to replicate with a regular console setup, not even with a big screen TV. Being an arcade junkie, I am obviously a bit biased, but even my kids love the Quasicade and will refuse to play if they are forced to use those "old" gamepads.
Is the Quasicade the ideal MAME solution? No, not really, but it's still quite good. Is it the ultimate console solution? Absolutely. Is it the best system if you want to do both MAME and console gaming? Once again, yes (the X-Arcade "cabinet" is currently the only competition for combo cabs, and it involves far too many compromises for both MAME and console play).
In the end, gaming is as much about the experience as it is about the game, and the Quasicade 2 delivers what I feel to be one of the most immersive console gaming experiences around. Highly recommended by RetroBlast.
Pros
- Fantastic quality and design
- Easy to assemble yet rock-solid
- Unique controller excels at console games
- Great display for console use
- Versatile "all-in-one" PC/Console system
- Lifetime warranty & 1-800 phone support
Cons
- Sound system a bit weak
- Some compromises for a MAME cab
- Controller a bit awkward for FPS-style action
- Controller not expandable or remappable
Quasimoto Interactive Home Page
