I highly recommend building one, personally. As I've been researching prices and options, I've been concluding more and more that it's a much better way to go.
First, you get to decide EXACTLY how you want your buttons laid out.
Two, you get to decide EXACTLY what parts you pay for - if you want different buttons/sticks than the fighting stick you buy has, you'll shell out extra cash and end up wasting money.
Three, you can get the same quality use out of a homemade one as you can from a manufactured one, since you can put the same parts into a homemade one. Or better.
Four, it's turning out MUCH cheaper. Since you can shop around for your various parts, you can find everything you need to make an eight-button (four face, four shoulder) Xbox 360 fightstick (complete with start, select, and guide buttons as well) for less than $90 (not including shipping).
Five, you're not restrained to a single console. Mine will be compatible with Xbox 360, PS2, GCN/Wii, and Dreamcast. All of 'em.
Six, if this goes well, I'll begin building these fightsticks to sell. If you like what mine turns out as, let me know and I can figure out a price-point and see how things go. It'll probably be a couple weeks to a couple months before I can complete it, though. Bills and all take precedence.
SW-5120-1900-6153
