RetroBlast! reviewed Afterburner from ThurstVector Controls and concluded that “I think the Afterburner is a great product which could do well for a specific market. I think the Afterburner will sell great for younger arcade-heads who are more heavily into games like frenetic Japanese shooters, or crazy combo fighting games, or arcade hobbyists who want a very specific customizable level of control. Unfortunately, nothing is ever black and white. Basically, the Afterburner has a lot of nifty features that I know a lot of people will love, and considering what you get, the price is very fair. But if you are putting together a simple MAME set up for the classics, look elsewhere.”
Pros
- Insane level of customization for Macros and Autofiring
- No Ghosting
- HID-Compliant – no drivers to install
- Encodes input into keyboard or joystick input
- Save up to 96 configurations (with added Expander)
- Configurations are non-volatile (Still saved after you power it down)
- Sleek LCD Screen
Cons
- Most expensive encoder on the market (excluding ones that carry video signals)
- All programming of the Afterburner must be done with the included LCD screen
- No mounting hardware for LCD Screen, Pots, or Sliders, or PCB feet