Well, I must give credit where credit is due. This controller just
flat out rocks! I really don't know where to begin so I guess I'll
start here:
THE STORY
On a whim I decided to purchase Pop N Music 6 back in 2002. I thought
if I love Beatmania IIDX then I'll like this. After realizing that the
PS2 controller is very difficult with this game I just tossed
it in the corner. I was disappointed at the result of the purchase but
I still bought the next installments of 7, Best Hits, 8 , 9 on their
release just because I love to collect Bemani games. Five games sat in
the dark begging to be played.
Then a shinning light came from the South...err I mean...then came
along this Air Random thread about PNM controllers. Someone was making
unofficial PNM controllers that cost half the price of the official
ones? The official ones can only be obtained in Japan and run about
$450 after shipping. That is a big chuck of change for someone on a
limited budget. Although nicer in looks it by no means out performs
the Ransai ones. Now onto the heart and soul:
POP N MUSIC (GRADE = A+)
If you are new to the scene or just didn't care Pop N Music is yet
another music game that requires rapid button presses to
unlock/advance the game. Nine buttons are laid out in a triangle type
fashion that have to be pressed as notes fall from the screen. When
the note hits the bottom line you tap the button and get ranked on the accuracy of the press. Sound simple? Well it takes forever to master. Give it a
try and get back to me. This game is much harder then IIDX if you are familIar with that game. IIDX is now my #2 Bemani game thanks to PNM. Problem is this game was meant to be played on an arcade
type controller and until now you didn't have many options. Spring
for a Japanese one ($450), work with a mini sized button controller,
or use a PS2 controller. Nothing can replicate the feeling of a life size control panel.
SHIPPING/PACKAGING (GRADE = A+)
Shipping was ultra fast I had the unit in two days after my order! Luckily he had an extra one on hand because someone didn't claim it...LUCKY ME! The item was shipped priority mail well packaged, bubble wrap, with optional insurance. I usually take a million pictures, this one slipped by me but trust me...well packaged.
FIRST IMPRESSION (GRADE = A+)
When I signed for the box I thought "OK this doesn't look like much."
Then again it's what inside that matters? Opened the box
and...OH MY GOD! Is this thing for real? I felt like a little kid
at Christmas holding up his present for the camera. It is a very
sturdy well crafted piece of PNM bliss that weighs in at around
ten pounds. The laminate is well done and uniform around the unit and the
traces of actual wood are nonexistent.
The wood is made of 1/2 inch plywood which can only be seen when the bottom is removed. The underside
is a pegboard type wood that pops off removing the 8 screws. The way I
look at it if it's out of site who cares what type of wood it is. No, I'm not going to stand on it or throw it at a wall to determine the durability like some claim to do. In a realistic setting like dropping it on the floor it's not going to hurt it in the least. This is not the type of controller you want to be playing while it's sitting on your lap. I suggest a keyboard stand or something because the unit is big (L)29.5 X (W)11.5 X (H)2.5. I'm thinking about dropping some PNM vector art on top and the sides for fun.
THE UNDERSIDE/WIRING (GRADE = A+)
After popping off the pegboard we get into the center of the activity.
It's not much really...just a bunch of ground wires run in parallel
and hot wires soldered to the PS2 controller. Soldering was top notch
and the wires were a decent length. You really shouldn't have any
reason to be in here except to light the buttons which I will cover
later.
THE BUTTONS/LAYOUT (GRADE = A+)
These babies can take a beating. Some people test things more then others and I was a little timid at first. After all it's just a plastic button. As time passes you get very comfortable at how you come down on them. Then you just totally forget about them and go crazy. I was never afraid to slam the
buttons fearful of them breaking or cracking. Simulating a non-player wasn't hard at all because that was me. Ten minutes later I noticed a huge improvement in game play from my twenty minute total time with PNM on a PS2 controller. The spacing is as good as you can get beside the arcade...very impressive layout. The unit comes with 11 total buttons (four white, two yellow-blue-green, and one red) Nine buttons are for the main game and two at the top are for start and select. The start/select buttons are rectangle and out of the main playing area.
Not sure where exactly he gets the buttons. My hunch is either:
CoinopExpress
sells buttons for $4.53 each but the catch is you have to buy 1200 buttons which is a minimum order! WOW! This number was in reach when it was 80 minimum...now it's not even feasible. You would have to sell 133 units to rid yourself of the extra buttons. Each button comes with a 12-volt lamp and illumination device, without micro switches. They can be purchased at a minimum
1000(@.46) order. On top of that they are based in Hong Kong which mean major importing fees. More of a mass quantity dealer then an individual based company. I swear that Happ Controls buys these from CoinopExpress.com and marks them up to $28 a button.
WICO
buttons are within reach at a nice price of $10 each. They include
illumination, micro switch, and mounting hardware. All buttons come
with an outer ring which adds an inch to the height. If you want it to be just like the arcade you should remove this ring and toss it. The button will still sit flush with the control panel without it. A screw type washer locks it in place from the underside similar to a normal push button.
