[mew barios]

well that and some 10k ohm resistors, 8 of them would put you back another 25 cents or so.

the cheapest i've seen for arcade parts is 20 buttons for $20 and 2 joysticks for $20, microswitches included. they're kinda cheapy and i don't know how well it would hold up. happ sells buttons for 2.50 so i guess i'd consider that the high end. none of that may seem like very much but i use almost exclusively harvested parts and $40 sounds like an incredible amount for something i'm making myself. if people know good deals on things i will accept advice :o