1 - What you expect from HotRod?
The HotRod Joystick is just the 1st product in a line of products for the home market that we hope to be doing. Since we introduced the HotRod Joystick, many many doors have been opening up, and it has taken us in many new directions. We intend to keep working within the home market, and continue with some great new products.

2 - Lol, why Kinox didnt received his own hotrod? :)
I would love to send them to everyone, but as you know.. that's a though decision... I can think of 40 great emulation sites out there.. In order to get some media attention, we formed a committee to evaluate certain target market areas. The committee analyzed these target markets, and came up with what it believes as the "most bang for the buck"as far as beta distribution.. [follow Richard their target are CompUSA, Ingram Micro and Microsoft, good lucky]

3 - I only can buy HotRod from HanaHo site?
At this time yes, but we're currently in talks with a few retailers, and it's quite possible that you could find the HotRod Joystick in a store near you one day.

4 - HanaHo is working in a wheel joystick?
Our lab is working on a few items right now. One of which is a spinner and a trackball setup.

5 - HotRod was designed especially for emulators?
Yes. Pretty much around MAME. However, we've since started to try to expand this to include not only other emulators, but commercial retrogames too.

6 - When was your first contact with arcades?
1978. There was this little Arcade around the corner from me called the ™ff Beat Arcade". I remember the sounds, the looks, and even the smells.. :)

7 - What do you think about emulators?
Emulators are fantastic! They allow us to relive our past, and serve as a way to bring back our youth. Ever time I play with various emulator programs, I am truly at awe with the incredible amount of work that emulator authors have gone though to recreate these "blast from the past". Emulation authors have achieved this without any technical support or documentation from the game company itself. It truly amazes me overtime I think about it.

8 - There is under development a new OS, called GameOS. It's designed only for games, you can check an interview by me at Kinox (which was a success!), what you think about it?
This is the first time I've heard of GameOS to be honest with you. I did go find the GameOS web site, and took a look. Looks like a good idea.

9 - Why this name, HotRod?
The name HotRod came about late one night working on the prototype at my buddies machine shop. My friends wife actually came up with the name, and I thought it implied a high performance ring to it.

10 - Some projects coming soon?
Tell me more about them! We're just about to release the details on another long awaited project called the ArcadePC. The ArcadePC is basically a mini MAME cabinet that comes complete with a real arcade monitor. HanaHo Games, has been making real arcade cabinet for near 20 years. We think we can build a better arcade cabinet for the home use, at an excellent price! We also have some other items in the works like full size cabinets, and cocktail tabletops.

11 - HanaHo has distributors in America (South America?
) HanaHo is primarily a manufacture. We have received a lot of interest from various distributors inquiring about distributing HotRod Joysticks, and we are still negotiating in this area.

12 - You had contact with CAPCOM?
Tell me more about it HanaHo has a very good relationship with Capcom games because we've been building Capcom game cabinets for years. If you've played Streetfighter, you've played on one of our cabinets!

13 - What's the best game in your opinion?
Oh that's a hard one..I could name just one. I personally prefer the older video games. Pacman, Defender, Crazy Climber are among the greatest games ever in my opinion!

14 - What's your dream?
Using the feedback from our customers, we would like to keep producing as many kewl products as we can!

th Visitor