SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON · REAL PARTS, NAMED
We Don’t Cut Corners On Parts. See The Difference For Yourself.
Every Xtension controller starts with Cherry/ZF switches and IL competition joysticks as the baseline, with genuine Sanwa available on the Pro Edition. Here’s exactly how the Xtension Upright compares to Arcade1Up and Game Room Solutions — part for part, dollar for dollar.
THREE WAYS TO BUILD A HOME ARCADE
Same general price range. Very different parts inside.
We pulled these specs directly from each company’s own current product pages, so you can check our work. Arcade1Up’s Mortal Kombat II Deluxe ($549.99) and Game Room Solutions’ Arcade Cabinet Kit ($749.99–$1,399.98 depending on configuration) are the closest points of comparison to our Xtension Upright.
| Arcade1Up | Game Room Solutions | Rec Room Masters | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 17″ LCD, fixedper Arcade1Up’s own product page | Up to 32″monitor not included | Up to 32″monitor not included |
| Game library | Fixed, ~14 licensed titlesclosed system, not expandable | Depends on your own PC/software | Unlimited via MAME/RetroArch, or any console |
| Joysticks & buttons | Brand not discloseddescribed only as “real-feel” | Generic “Zippy” brand standardgenuine Sanwa costs +$30–$90 | Cherry/ZF switches + IL joysticks standardgenuine Sanwa standard on Pro Edition |
| Encoder | Not disclosed, closed system | Xin-Mo USB encoder | iPac encoder — 3 switchable modes |
| Real console support | None | Depends on your own setup | Optional — Xbox, PlayStation, Switch via Pro controller |
| What’s included at that price | $549.99, fully built-ingames + hardware, nothing to add | $749.99 cabinet onlycontrols, marquee light & coin door are separate add-ons | $1,095, cabinet + wired controllerbacklit marquee included standard |
| Build | Mass-manufactured overseas | USA (Oklahoma), DIY kit | USA, handmade, flat-pack + pre-wired controller |
WHY THE PARTS MATTER
Real arcade-grade parts, not press-fit plastic.
Every Xtension controller starts with Cherry/ZF microswitches and IL competition joysticks — the same category of parts serious MAME builders buy separately and wire in themselves. No cheap knock-offs to quietly replace six months in.
- Cherry/ZF microswitches standard The same switch technology used in real, old-school arcade cabinets.
- IL competition joysticks Rec Room Masters’ own comparison: “better than Happ.”
- Upgradeable to genuine Sanwa The Pro Edition controller steps up to Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons and JLF-TP-8YT joysticks.
- iPac encoder, 3 switchable modes Keyboard, DirectInput, or XInput — works across PC, Mac, and Raspberry Pi.
“I did a lot of research before deciding to go with Rec Room Masters… they don’t use cheap parts like some of the other companies I was considering, which means I don’t have to spend time and money replacing the components on my own.”
— Jeremy, verified Rec Room Masters customer
NOT LOCKED TO ONE GAME LIST
Play anything — not just what it ships with.
Every Xtension Upright is pre-configured for MAME straight out of the box, so you’re never limited to a handful of licensed titles. Want to plug in a real console too? That’s a controller choice, not a cabinet limitation.
- MAME-ready on every controller Emulator Edition and Plus controllers run MAME, RetroArch, and Hyperspin out of the box.
- Real console support with the Pro Edition A Brook UFB Fusion board adds Xbox, PlayStation (PS3/PS4/PS5), Switch, and Wii U.
- Also runs Raspberry Pi & Pandora’s Box Bring your own emulation box, or use ours — the cabinet doesn’t care.
ONE CABINET, SEVERAL SETUPS
Swap controllers in seconds. Move it in two halves.
Every Xtension controller hot-swaps onto the same cabinet, and each one also works as a stand-alone tabletop controller if you ever want to take it to another room. The cabinet itself splits into two halves for assembly and moving, and removing the top section turns it into a pedestal.
- Swap Emulator, Plus, or Pro controllers on the same cabinet No tools, no rewiring — the connection is designed for hot-swapping.
- Doubles as a stand-alone controller Disconnect it and use it as a tabletop unit for a PC or laptop elsewhere in the house.
- Becomes a pedestal cabinet Remove the top marquee section for a lower-profile, seated-height setup.
- Assembles — and moves — in two halves Easier to get up stairs and into a finished basement than a one-piece cabinet.
“We bought RRM arcade machine for our game room and it is one of the absolute best purchases we have ever made… Assembly was a breeze and the quality is top notch.”
— Juan, verified Rec Room Masters customerHONEST PRICING
What’s flat-pack, what’s pre-wired, and what it costs.
The cabinet is a flat-pack build like every Xtension cabinet we make. The controller is the one part that ships ready to go — pre-wired and plug-and-play.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Questions people actually ask
The two biggest differences are size and game library. Arcade1Up’s cabinets use a 17″ LCD in a fixed, officially-licensed game list — usually somewhere around 14 titles, per their own product listings. The Xtension Upright is a full-size cabinet that fits up to a 32″ display and runs MAME, RetroArch, and Hyperspin out of the box, so the game library isn’t fixed at all. The parts are also a step up: Cherry/ZF switches and IL joysticks standard, upgradeable to genuine Sanwa — Arcade1Up doesn’t publish a component brand for comparison.
Game Room Solutions offers a DIY kit — you get the cabinet parts and assemble everything yourself, including wiring. Their base kit starts at $749.99 but doesn’t include controls, a marquee light, or a coin door (those are separate add-ons). The Xtension Upright ships with a pre-wired controller and backlit marquee included in the base price. Parts-wise, GRS uses generic “Zippy” brand joysticks and Xin-Mo encoders, while the Xtension starts with Cherry/ZF switches, IL competition joysticks, and an iPac encoder.
Only with the Pro Edition controller. The base Emulator Edition and Plus controllers are designed for MAME and PC emulation — they don’t natively support game consoles. The Pro Edition adds a Brook UFB Fusion board that makes it compatible with Xbox, PlayStation (PS3/PS4/PS5), Switch, and Wii U. It’s a $100 upgrade from the base price.
Yes — the cabinet fits up to a 32″ monitor or TV, but it’s not included. This is standard for full-size arcade cabinets in this category (Game Room Solutions doesn’t include one either). The advantage is you choose your own display — whatever brand, resolution, and refresh rate you prefer.
Yes. Every Xtension controller works as a stand-alone tabletop unit — just disconnect it from the cabinet and plug it into any PC or console. It’s designed to hot-swap, so no tools or rewiring needed.
The cabinet ships flat-pack — you assemble the wooden cabinet body yourself (video instructions included). The controller arrives fully pre-wired and ready to plug in. You don’t need to solder, wire, or configure any of the controls — just mount the controller on top of the assembled cabinet and connect the USB cable.
HANDMADE IN THE USA
See what a full-size cabinet actually feels like.
Starting at $1,095 with a MAME-ready controller included, or $1,195 with real console support.
See The Upright Xtension →