Evercade Alpha looks ridiculous, let me explain

The Evercade Alpha is a fully assembled bar top arcade that plays capcom games as well as  Evercade carts. It has switchable marquees.  it’s $250  but there’s a limited fun stock edition which costs nearly 300.  Evercade Alpha seems kind of outrageously priced.
#evercade #evercadealpha #evercadearcade

[@GameFreak1976]

Thanks for the shoutout brother! You are correct, I’m definitely not interested in the Alpha at all. That price point is highway robbery. The arcade cabinet I built that’s powered by my VS definitely cost me under $200 to build (and mine a full size cabinet). I 100% agree with everything you said. I just recently made a video that compares the dimensions of the Alpha to a couple of my bartop arcade 1ups. It’s literally the same size as the Ms Pac-Man bartop arcade cabinet (and that was only $99 lol) ….it’s definitely not big lol. Great video! You’re spot on!

[@PKInTheUniverse]

No problem, man. You were the first person I thought of when this was announced because of your Evercade arcade and how much you like the Evercade purple cased games. I did see that video the other day and gave it a like ( i’m really bad about leaving comments because I mostly watch KZbin on my TV). That was very informative I was curious about the size . Thanks man!

[@CrowContinuum]

Blaze is kind of going off the deep end a bit with the Evercade Alpha. One of the reasons I started collecting Evercade stuff was because it was pretty affordable. Like I can buy every cart that comes out at ~$20-$25 a piece and because they don't come out that frequently, it hardly matters to my wallet. I didn't think they would put out hardware in the $200+ range. That being said, I did preorder an Evercade Alpha (Deluxe Edition no less), because I happen to like these mini arcade devices and I think it's pretty cool that it'll play all the carts I already have. If I was going to build one from scratch though, I'd put a mini-pc or a raspberry pi or something in it, because why limit myself to only the games on Evercade... but I'd probably spend more money building it than the cost of the Alpha. Even taking an Evercade VS and turning it into an homemade bartop arcade unit would probably cost more than $200. The VS itself is about $100 and an 8 inch IPS screen is about $60-$80 (Maybe around $40 if you go on aliexpress). Then you've still got to get a joystick and buttons as well as a USB interface for the controls. Then you'll need speakers and an audio interface and you'll also need to source or build the mini cabinet frame itself. It all winds up being not as cheap as you think it might be.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

It’s definitely kind of expensive for what it is and i got into Evercade for affordable gaming as well .But I get why people would want to order it , there is a curiosity about it and it’s cool that It’ll play Evercade cartridges . The game freak posted a comment and he made his for 200 bucks and it’s a full-size cab. I think he has like a 32 inch screen as well. Then again, making a full cab would be a tall order for most people.

[@Katattsu]

I think Blaze is making a mistake and angering most customers. At least they have me with one foot off the boat.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

I feel this! Sometimes they do things I like , and sometimes they do things I’m like…why 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@danielcaetano5251]

I saw the announcement of the Alpha. Felt FOMO for a few minutes, then decided it was time to invest in an arcade stick (I never owned one). Got the Mayflash F300 . Works flawlessly. Having a blast playing games on it. The best thing is that the arcade stick can sit comfortably on my lap while I play on a big TV. So... Yeah... The Alpha is for the extreme collectors with expansive game rooms to fill.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Exactly! I’ve heard good things about the arcade sticks from Mayflash. Very well said!

[@MasterSystemMarceau]

As an Evercade VS owner, I 100% agree with you. I'd have bought an Arcade stick but won't be buying this.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, an arcade stick would’ve been intriguing to me, especially with Evercade menu function

[@Martin-gf1hh]

I would love to have the alpha arcade in my camper especially when it’s raining give the kids something to do since space is so limited

[@OM19_MO79]

It’s not portable. About the limited space, it will be perfect for you.

[@BuddyYellek]

This console would be perfect for you Marty . I heard Blaze is marketing this console specifically towards massive cry babies such as yourself. 😏

[@retromegabitsegadude]

It's nice to see an option with an arcade stick and 6 buttons we can reach. Also great that you can plug in a USB Arcade stick for 2-player gaming. Huge miss that the Alpha doesn't have HDMI out. Would have been super cool if you could link two Alpha's and play together, each person with their own screen and control panel. I'm also really tired of games only being built into hardware and not on cartridges. This is really starting to hurt Evercade. Alpha is too expensive for me but I am happy with my Evercade VS.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, the VS and just buy arcade sticks makes way more sense to me. I feel like they only did this because they had the capcom license to do it.

[@kevinjrpiedr2490]

If they did a Sega edition that's a day one for me!

[@PKInTheUniverse]

If they made an Outrun arcade with a wheel I would have to rethink my stance 😁

[@OM19_MO79]

@@PKInTheUniverse They are still thinking about implementing analog control support _with_ third party controllers, so I would not count on it... unless you want a wheel to make believe you have analog controls over SNES games like PIKO did last month.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

So I’m being told these MegaMan games are actually on arcades. I didn’t know that ,that’s pretty interesting. That’s what I like about these conversational videos is often you learn something new from people commenting.

[@Gametester110-qf8vs]

I was hoping these had HDMI output. Which would turn these things into stylish, VS consoles. It doesn't appear to.

[@OM19_MO79]

@@Gametester110-qf8vs They have to, that’s the only way to play two player games, unless you always plan to have two pads attached so both can look at the tiny screen.

[@jimpacersfan]

Interesting take on the Evercade Alpha. First, regarding Capcom carts. It appears this is about licensing and money, IMO. Second, Evercade Alpha is targeted to someone like me. I am new to Evercade and the Alpha will be my first product from Evercade. I really like the arcade recreation with swappable lit marquees.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

The swappable Marquees are pretty cool. But I don’t see the point in that price when you could buy an Evercade VS and an arcade stick and get pretty much the same experience ( minus the Capcom games ) .

[@CathrineMacNiel]

I could imagine when you already have a VS, and are willing to do DIY. you could potentially build a full arcade cabinet for that money.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Exactly!

[@CZpersi]

Sadly, many of us do not have the equipment and skills, which creates a niche market for such prebuilt devices.

[@MIKandJEAN]

The Game Freak's setup which he calls the Freakade was handmade and has a 32" screen, a Mayflash arcade stick powered by a VS console. His setup is the original Alpha, the Big Bad Wolf! 😎👍 You can't win whatever you do if you had to pick one but one thing is for sure, The Game Freak is a Winner with his setup! 🏆🏁😁

[@PKInTheUniverse]

💯 on that ! The Game Freak has a far superior set up. I didn’t realize how big his screen was.

[@jayme69]

Great video as always PK. You can pretty much use any arcade stick with the VS and it supports TATE Mode so you've really already got everything you need to get that arcade experience. I'm saying I won't get one but ask me again in November :-)

[@PKInTheUniverse]

@jayme69 thank you. Yeah exactly we have everything we need for an arcade experience with Evercade.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

@@VEGANVANIA an interesting point

[@jayme69]

@@VEGANVANIA My Arcade sticks are recognised immediately and just like any third party controller used on the VS you really just need to configure it once to suit your preference.

[@jayme69]

@@VEGANVANIA Yes, most of my arcade sticks connect directly with only a couple needing something like a Mayflash adapter. I can get them all to work but as you say, using an adapter can introduce some unexpected results :-)

[@RT-bt5ql]

First is Capcom arcades, then taito and another company. I'm kinda interested but I'll wait for reviews to see it size etc. I miss the arcades but I was mid to late 90s arcade

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how these actually look and what size they really are for comparison.

[@pauleckert4321]

​@@PKInTheUniversefor me if they did a San Francisco rush one I would love that.

[@TheLastLineLive]

I never was a huge fan of the evercade products but at least I could understand the niche and appeal. I don’t with something like this, who even likes these things?

[@PKInTheUniverse]

I’ve never understood the appeal of arcade one ups, I certainly don’t need it. That’s for sure.

[@eddierosa5416]

My opinion on the alphas wish they would have just put the games on carts. Then released the barcades with a front door that you could open and just hook your VS to it would of cut down on the cost plus we all already have VS that can play all the games and hook up to a Tv. That really would of kept it in the evercade Ecco system.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

I think that definitely would’ve been a better option. I wonder if people will try to make their own custom marquees this thing.

[@Bionicleforever]

As a mega man fan I might be interested since these are niche arcade games that I wouldn't think they'd make a cab of, can see from someone invested in evercade would be annoyed looks like capcom has some licensing agreement to not make carts. You can never trust these companies on rereleasing games for affordable prices

[@PKInTheUniverse]

It’s so expensive for what it is

[@Ziggy7800Pro]

Good points, disagree with others. I am not getting one right now. If I did, I would get the mega man one, and I did see mega man the power battles in an arcade back in the day. We will see if this dose well for blaze. I think they are cool. I also don't have space for one right now.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, I think I’ve heard of these mega man games but I never knew they were actually on arcades. I can definitely see people thinking this thing takes up too much space for what it is.

[@ClockworkBard]

Hardcore-ish Evercade collector here. Probably won't get the Alpha, but I'm not down on it. If I was in the market for an arcade cab, Evercade cart compatibility would be a huge positive. It's a known quantity, I own the carts, and I know the emulation quality will be better than most of the overpriced trash in the home arcade space. But I've got nowhere I'd be happy putting a bar top unit and I'm not buying one just to collect it. If they'd gone all in with a proper two-player upright home cab without the Capcom licensing to bloat the price, I'd clear out a corner for that. But I don't think they have enough confidence in their brand to do that. And they'd probably be right. I'd be stoked with a generic red and black cabinet sporting an Evercade marquee. But that Street Fighter logo obviously stands to sell more units, however little that may be. But at the same time, trying to sell on the strength of the license feels more like a Hyper Mega Tech thing. The "Evercadeness" of these cabs feels kind of secondary in both the marketing and discussions surrounding them. People are (rightly) judging them as Capcom arcade cabs first, and it's not been super flattering as a result.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, I’m perplexed why they didn’t make this a hyper mega Tech thing

[@keithmyers3027]

I believe they legally can't do a cart right now. Odds are they only got the rights to do a countercade type product.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

That’s what I gathered

[@ethacade]

Blaze is really spreading Capcom games everywhere besides the VS

[@PKInTheUniverse]

The VS will once again we remain Capcomless

[@ethacade]

@@PKInTheUniverse yes it’s disappointing to see

[@r9delta104]

There's a market for counter-cades, but this needs to be cheaper. You can sneeze and get the average arcade1up (not that i'd recommend them anyway, they feel like a toy because that's what they are) one of your choosing for like $150. I don't think having essentially a VS. built in that you're forced to play on an 8 inch screen is great nor justifies the premium. I want to be into this I really do, i'm the right kind of guy for it...i have a small selection of Evercade carts, i like the eco system, and I love the tactile feel 'of the arcade' but that price just isn't doing it for me for what it is.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

💯 on that !

[@jhirjee]

As long as these endeavours don’t send them broke then all will be good. Different strokes for different folks. With Capcom and Evercade it looks like either they can’t get a license for carts or at the price point that they could sell the cart. Clearly making hay while the sun shines with this license.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, it’s looking less and less likely we will ever see a Capcom cart.

[@punaforager]

All the points you made will make it a fun collectable, possibly laughed at now but sought after in the future.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

yup

[@crashline]

This is a pass for me. But I'll def take the purple carts that they'll make to go with it. I could not care less about the bartop arcade though.

[@crashline]

PS. Just buy the 8BitDo Fight stick for the evercade. Works great. I love mine.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Exactly, it’s just really not my jam

[@PKInTheUniverse]

If I ever get a fight stick, I’ll check that out

[@PKInTheUniverse]

@@VEGANVANIAnah

[@cooladee]

I think this is the greatest thing ever. I'm preordering it day one. Actually I have no plans on getting this. It is too silly for me.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Agreed ! I feel like getting a fight stick would be a better value

[@derekm573]

So you’re not a fan of the VS controller? (Maybe I misunderstood). I love the controller personally. Agreed about the Alpha though, not for me.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

My VS controller is falling apart, even the electrical tape won’t stay on and its shocked me.

[@chordsbyriku]

For the size I think its perfect. Arcade 1 up are too bulky. And their countercade are more expensive than this per ”cade” and play very few games. That means I have to buy several to get more games. On this I can add games quite cheap with the carts. This is the first Evercade I am actually interested in. Hopefully this also means they will put out newer carts with a stronger focus on pure Arcade Games.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

From what I understand, it’s actually bigger than a typical countercade arcade 1 up

[@chordsbyriku]

@@PKInTheUniverse yea little bit. The countercades are cool but I have to buy several to get more games which for me takes up too much space.

[@nsgames24]

I don't think this is dumb. While I like it, I don't have space in my house for something like this. Not to mention, the price point. I have every Evercade system (exceptions being the R versions of the EXP and VS) and I'm personally content with them.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

I think that seems to be the case with a lot of people is the space issue. Yeah I totally understand that if you already have the original versions, there isn’t much need to get the R versions.

[@obsoleteworlds]

The Mega Man games are 1-1 fighting games that were originally arcade games.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Never seen one in person

[@obsoleteworlds]

@@PKInTheUniverse there was also a version for the Neo Geo Pocket. It's on the recent Switch collection.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Sounds like it’s even more pointless than I thought

[@OM19_MO79]

This has had quite a bad reception from the average costumer, even on their own channel where they posted the announcement here on KZbin. They should have stayed with their original userbase up to the release of the VS and put their efforts on getting better software, which they did but they stuck with the same people since they began the computer series and terribly neglected the Arcade series. Then they’ve gotten too greedy with the impulse buy type of products. The pockets seem reasonable, mostly because of the built in games and the bonus feature to be able to play some of the Evercade library. But this is the complete opposite of that. I’d would have rather like the announcement of a digital storefront and the end of the cartridge line than this. I have the original handheld, will keep buying the carts until the bitter end and the new VS, but there’s no way I’m getting any of these cash grabs of unnecessary handhelds and minuscule arcade cabinets, I already bought several Capcom collections for three console generations, I don’t need more.

[@OM19_MO79]

Just to give you an idea of how many times I’ve bought the same Capcom games that both the original EXP, Super Pockets and these mini arcades, here’s my list: Capcom Classics Collection 1 & 2 / OG XBOX, physical Capcom Arcade Cabinet / XBOX 360 BC, digital Capcom Arcade Stadium & Stadium 2 / digital, games scattered between XBOX ONE, PS4 and Switch. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection / Switch, physical Retro-bit Super Retro-Cade / Mini console, it doesn’t include the Street Fighter games but it allows me to read the rom sets on a SD. If I buy another mini arcade that will be almost always connected to my TV, it will be the Astro City Mini V, at least that has games I don’t have other ways to play legally.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

It really does feel like they’ve abandoned who they set out to make stuff for initially. I have mega man X and breath of fire on SNES and I have several ways to play street fighter 2 . I really don’t need Capcom games but I would’ve been pretty cool to have them on a physical cartridge , this whole thing has made me less excited for Evercade .

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, there’s just so many good options out there, I think the Capcom stuff brought some eyes to Evercade , but now at this point, it looks like they’re milking it.

[@OM19_MO79]

@@PKInTheUniverse Prior to this disaster, the community was already divided. It was those who already got the hang of it and knew what to expect from modest licensing and were OK as that meant we would be getting hidden gems as well as good known games and that we don’t need big names to make the system special. But then there were the ones who think everything has to be on Evercade, released on the same low price carts. Every time there’s an announcement like this or show a roadmap, they start with crazy wishes. They want The Cowabunga Collection, SNK and Sega carts (as if there’s no way to play those games), games from WB (because they think that since there are Atari Inc. and Corp. games, Atari Games arcade games come free) or Sega Saturn collections. One youtuber went as far to suggest one of the upcoming carts could be, a Nintendo cart!!! I think it will divide even further with these, especially from the latter. I’ve already seen comments of people who are willing to pay for all of this if that’s the only way to get big names on the ecosystem; I’ve also seen others who want them to go even crazier and sell more cabinets like this on all sizes. Some actually believe these are like the Arcade1Up ones and are planning to buy or make booster tables to reach the height of a real cabinet,

[@garrypeak4277]

I’m one of those ones who is pre-ordering day 1. Very few countercades here down under, so this will work perfectly for what I want.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

If you have evercade carts already it makes sense.

[@cooladee]

Evercade Omega.

[@HerrKeuner1948]

I will pass. Cartridges are the bread and butter of Evercade, for me.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Absolutely! This many devices from blaze will now have Capcom games on them, but no Capcom cart .

[@smokeymanson2191]

Why bring out arcade sticks when you can buy one right now from 8bitdo, making a more powerful handheld or vs would anger customers even more and completely make all there other hardware obsolete, this is a better quality product than the 1up countercade, you cant fit 4 blokes or kids around an 8inch screen and putting capcom games on a cart is still a no at the moment so its this or nothing.if you buy another arcade and throw roms on it whats the point of buying any evercade hardware you can buy any handheld or console and do the same thing cheaper.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

There really isn’t a point and that’s the point

[@jasonshiers5771]

Gotta be honest PK the Alpha has pissed me off , i'm getting to the stage where i'm actually just considering selling all of my Evercade stuff and calling it a day.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

I don’t blame you man. The fact that this is the only way we get to see Capcom on evercade is just puzzling. I actually sold off a number of my carts last month ( but not all of them) , but that’s a topic for a future video that I have in the works.

[@mtshark7]

I agree with you PK! This is a total cash grab and as someone who is sticking with collecting a full evercade set, the hardware I'm not. So I'll be passing on this. I made an exception with the super pockets. But the remade exp and vs and this I'll most likely skip. If anything I'll grab a vs-R to have a vs in the living room, besides the game room.

[@PKInTheUniverse]

Yeah, I’ve considered getting the EXP-R , but I might wait for reviews, I’m curious to how reliable the battery will be.

[@markpugh6808]

Not worth the money this one same as those pocket things they did

[@PKInTheUniverse]

At least the pockets were cheap, there is nothing cheap about this thing