Hardware That Actually Survives Arcade Life
Your unique control scheme deserves hardware that lasts through thousands of plays. We build prototypes that work reliably in real arcade conditions, not just laboratory testing.
Back to HomeWhat Custom Hardware Brings Your Project
Controls That Match Your Vision
Your game concept shouldn't be limited by standard joystick and button layouts. Custom hardware lets you create the exact input experience your gameplay demands, whether that's specialized wheels, pressure sensors, or novel control schemes.
Reliability You Can Trust
Your hardware will survive months of commercial use without the constant repairs that plague poorly designed prototypes. We test components under conditions that match real arcade environments, not just ideal workshop settings.
Maintenance That Makes Sense
When something eventually wears out, you'll have clear documentation showing which part needs replacement and where to source it. Operators appreciate hardware they can maintain without specialized knowledge or impossible-to-find components.
Production-Ready Designs
Your prototype won't need complete redesign when moving to production. We document the build process, identify reliable suppliers, and create specifications that manufacturers can work from without constant clarification questions.
You'll launch with hardware that operators trust and players enjoy using. The reliability means fewer service calls and better location relationships, while the unique controls help your game stand out on crowded floors.
Why Custom Hardware Fails in Arcades
Consumer Components Don't Last
Parts designed for home use fail quickly under arcade conditions. That button rated for 100,000 presses might work fine in a controller that gets used a few hours per week, but in an arcade it fails within the first month. And finding matching replacements becomes your ongoing problem.
Prototypes That Can't Be Manufactured
Your working prototype might depend on hand-assembled components or specialized fabrication techniques that don't scale. When you're ready to build 50 units, you discover the prototype design requires complete rethinking, wasting months of development time and budget.
No Clear Maintenance Path
Operators need to fix problems quickly with parts they can actually obtain. If your custom hardware uses obscure components with long lead times or requires specialized skills to repair, locations will choose games with simpler maintenance needs instead.
Players Who Don't Treat Equipment Gently
Arcade players push buttons harder than necessary, yank controls when frustrated, and generally test every mechanical limitation. Hardware that feels solid in your workshop might reveal weak points within the first weekend of location testing. Those failures damage your game's reputation with operators.
The difference between hardware that works in your shop and hardware that works in arcades isn't obvious until you've rebuilt prototypes multiple times. We've done that rebuilding already, so your project doesn't have to.
Our Hardware Development Approach
Commercial-Grade Component Selection
We source components rated for industrial use rather than consumer applications. Buttons rated for 5 million cycles instead of 100,000. Potentiometers designed for continuous operation in harsh environments. Connectors that handle repeated plugging and stress.
The price difference between consumer and commercial components seems significant until you factor in replacement costs and operator complaints. We spec hardware that lasts rather than hardware that just barely works.
Stress Testing That Mirrors Real Use
Our testing simulates months of arcade play compressed into weeks. We don't just press buttons normally - we test with excessive force, rapid inputs, and the kind of treatment frustrated players deliver. Mechanical components get cycled through thousands of operations while measuring performance degradation.
Temperature cycling tests how components perform when cabinets heat up during operation. We check electromagnetic interference that might occur near other arcade equipment. The goal is finding weak points before operators do.
Maintainable Design Philosophy
Every custom component includes documentation showing how to disassemble, diagnose problems, and replace parts. We design with standard fasteners that operators already have tools for. Electrical connections use labeled connectors rather than soldered joints.
The maintenance manual includes part numbers, supplier contacts, and estimated replacement schedules based on our testing. Operators can order parts proactively rather than waiting for failures.
Production-Oriented PCB Design
Our circuit board designs use components with multiple reliable suppliers and reasonable lead times. We avoid parts that might become unavailable or require expensive minimum orders. The layouts work with standard assembly processes rather than requiring hand-soldering or specialized equipment.
You'll receive complete Gerber files, bill of materials with supplier part numbers, and assembly instructions that PCB manufacturers can follow without engineering consultation. This makes small production runs practical and cost-effective.
Firmware With Diagnostic Features
The software running your custom hardware includes diagnostic modes that help identify problems. Operators can test individual inputs, check sensor calibration, and verify communication without needing oscilloscopes or specialized knowledge.
We provide firmware update procedures that work reliably, documented clearly enough that technically-minded operators can perform updates if needed for bug fixes or feature adjustments.
The Hardware Development Journey
Understanding Your Control Requirements
We start by discussing what your game needs from the hardware perspective. What actions do players perform? How precise does input need to be? What's the expected play style - gentle and careful or aggressive button mashing?
You'll leave the initial meetings with our assessment of which approaches make sense for your control scheme, preliminary component recommendations, and an honest evaluation of technical challenges.
Proof of Concept Prototype
Within four weeks, you'll have a functional prototype demonstrating the core control concept. This version prioritizes proving the approach works rather than final aesthetics or packaging. It lets you test whether the controls feel right for your game.
We iterate on this prototype based on your feedback about responsiveness, tactile feel, and ergonomics. Most projects go through 2-3 proof of concept iterations before we're satisfied with the basic functionality.
Durability Prototype and Testing
Once the basic controls work well, we build a durability prototype using commercial-grade components. This version goes through extensive stress testing - thousands of button presses, extreme temperature cycling, drop tests for portable components, and electrical stress analysis.
You'll receive testing reports showing performance metrics and any component failures we discovered. We redesign around weak points before finalizing the specification.
Production Documentation Phase
The final phase creates complete documentation for manufacturing and maintenance. This includes PCB design files, assembly instructions with photos, firmware with source code, calibration procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
We test the documentation by having someone unfamiliar with the project attempt to build a unit following only the written instructions. This reveals unclear steps or missing information before you try to manufacture production units.
Optional Production Run Support
If you need help with small-scale production runs for location testing, we can coordinate with our manufacturing partners. This includes quality control procedures, incoming component inspection, and functional testing of assembled units.
We stay available for consultation during early production to address any issues that arise when moving from prototype to multiple units. Sometimes subtle problems only appear at scale.
Investment and What's Included
Complete Hardware Prototyping
Design and Prototyping
- Custom PCB design with component selection
- Controller housing design and fabrication
- Firmware development with diagnostics
- 3-5 functional prototypes for testing
- Cabinet modification specifications
- Wiring diagrams and electrical schematics
Testing and Documentation
- Durability testing simulating 6 months use
- Temperature and environmental testing
- Manufacturing documentation package
- Maintenance manual with troubleshooting
- Replacement parts list with suppliers
- 90 days post-delivery support
Understanding the Investment
Hardware prototyping costs more than software development because physical components and testing equipment represent actual material expenses. The price includes multiple prototype iterations and the commercial-grade components needed for reliable testing.
Testing time is significant - durability analysis alone requires weeks of continuous operation under stress conditions. We're compressing months of real-world wear into controlled testing so you don't discover problems after operators have your hardware.
Consider that a single hardware redesign after production would cost more than proper prototyping up front. Finding weak points through testing is far cheaper than dealing with field failures and angry operators.
Payment structure: 35% at project start, 35% at functional prototype delivery, 30% at final documentation completion. This aligns payments with major deliverables and spreads the investment across the project timeline.
How We Validate Hardware Reliability
Testing Protocols We Follow
- • Mechanical cycle testing: 50,000+ operations per moving part
- • Temperature cycling: -10°C to 50°C ambient conditions
- • Vibration and shock testing for cabinet-mounted components
- • Electrical stress analysis under varying power conditions
- • EMI testing near other arcade equipment
- • Connection reliability after repeated plugging cycles
What Testing Reveals
Stress testing identifies which components will fail first and under what conditions. This lets us redesign around weak points or specify higher-grade components before you commit to production quantities.
We document failure modes when they occur. If a button eventually wears out after 45,000 presses, you know to specify that component for preventive replacement before complete failure.
Temperature testing reveals whether components drift out of calibration when cabinets heat up during operation. We adjust sensor selection or add compensation algorithms based on these findings.
Realistic Timeline
Weeks 1-4: Initial consultation, requirements documentation, preliminary design, proof of concept prototype.
Weeks 5-12: Functional prototype development, component selection, PCB design, firmware development. Most projects have 2-3 prototype revisions during this phase.
Weeks 13-20: Durability testing, stress analysis, design refinement based on test results. This phase takes longest but prevents field failures.
Weeks 21-26: Documentation creation, manufacturing specifications, maintenance manual preparation. Final delivery typically occurs between weeks 24-26.
What You'll Receive
Complete hardware design files ready for manufacturing, including PCB layouts, firmware source code, assembly instructions with photographs, and bill of materials with supplier contacts.
Maintenance documentation that operators can actually use, covering common problems, diagnostic procedures, and replacement part installation. The guides assume basic technical competence but not specialized knowledge.
Testing reports showing how your hardware performed under stress conditions, with recommendations for maintenance schedules based on projected component lifespans.
How We Protect Your Hardware Investment
Multiple Prototype Iterations Included
The price includes design revisions when testing reveals problems. You're not paying extra every time we discover a component that needs upgrading or a design element that requires rethinking. Iteration is expected and budgeted.
Working Prototypes from Week Four
You'll have functioning hardware early enough to test with your game software and identify integration issues. If the control scheme doesn't translate well from concept to physical implementation, we address it before extensive testing begins.
Free Initial Assessment
Before committing, you'll receive a 45-minute consultation where we discuss your hardware needs and provide honest feedback about feasibility. If your control concept won't work reliably in arcade conditions, we'll explain why and suggest alternatives.
Post-Delivery Support Period
The 90-day support window covers questions about assembly, troubleshooting early production units, and addressing any issues discovered during initial deployment. If testing missed something that appears under real-world conditions, we'll work with you to resolve it.
Honest Communication About Limitations
We'll tell you during consultation if your hardware concept has fundamental problems that make arcade deployment impractical. Better to have that conversation up front than discover the issues after months of development and significant expense.
Starting Your Hardware Project
Contact Us With Your Concept
Use the contact form to describe your control scheme needs. Include details about what actions players perform, required precision, and any special considerations. Photos or sketches help us understand your vision.
Free Hardware Feasibility Consultation
We'll schedule a 45-minute video call to discuss your hardware requirements. We'll explain what's practical, identify potential challenges, and outline how we'd approach the prototyping. You'll get useful feedback even if we don't move forward together.
Review Detailed Proposal
If the project seems viable, you'll receive a comprehensive proposal covering the development approach, component selection strategy, testing plan, timeline, and cost breakdown. Take time to review and ask questions about anything unclear.
Begin Prototyping
Once you're ready, we start the initial design phase. You'll see the first proof of concept prototype within four weeks. Regular updates continue throughout development, with opportunities to provide feedback at each stage.
The consultation helps both of us determine whether your hardware concept makes sense for arcade deployment. It's a discussion, not a sales pitch.
Build Hardware That Lasts
Your control concept deserves proper engineering and testing. We'll help you build hardware that survives real arcade conditions and makes operators confident in your game.
Discuss Your HardwareFree 45-minute consultation • Honest feasibility assessment • No obligations
Explore Other Development Options
We offer complementary services to support your complete arcade game project.
Stealth Arcade Game Development
Creating stealth mechanics that work in quick arcade sessions. We design visibility systems, patrol patterns, and risk-reward decisions that keep players engaged and coming back for more attempts.
Cross-Promotion Network Services
Connect your finished game with operators and players through our network of 430+ arcade developers. Strategic visibility planning and performance tracking across complementary titles.