The Legendary Doug Johnson in his shop hard at work.

“Only thing I left out was I’m a Vietnam vet. United States Marine Corps. I was an engineer. I blew shit up and loved it” — Doug “FoeHammer” Johnson

So I got a chance to catch up with the man behind FoeHammer Custom Joysticks. Doug Johnson is an incredible builder, and with the help of his son, Sheppard, He’s an even better designer. I had to interview Doug because of his incredible attention to detail, and fascinating luxe design aesthetic. Doug is a vet in the game and probably makes some of the best looking fightsticks to date— he’s even offering to teach young people how to make their own.

Him: Can you introduce yourself to the readers who may not be too familiar with your work ? Tell us a little about yourself.

Doug: I been around the FGC since 2010, use to be owner of Dough Johnson Enterprises a custom furniture and cabinet shop in Colorado. Been cabinet maker fo 35 years and enjoy working with wood & the designing end of it.

Him: So I gotta ask, your’e obviously an expert craftsman , how did get into doing fightsticks?

Custom Guile Fightstick for Client

Doug: Long story short a local gamer mom brought the kid into my shop which we recently had move to. He shows us what he bought online: a 6 button fight stick. [This particular custom] looked like a first attempt, and [the kid] told me he paid to have it made and then a light came on. From there the young man educated me on the FGC saw some tourneys and that was it, Called Sheppard my son and we formed up FoeHammer Custom Joysticks. Sheppard to this day is a key element in the design and artwork development of it.

Custom Chun Li Fightstick for client

Him: Do you have a favorite game ?

Doug: Honestly i’m not a real gamer but when I would go to EVO I was always watching Street Fighter. I did like Killer Instinct a lot. I still suck at gaming needless to say.

Him: How has the public response to your been ? Mostly positive?

Doug: For the most part the gaming community has been great but i can’t say there hasn’t been any negative talk. Some gamers have outright told me to go away but here I am going onto 70 years old and still supporting the FGC the best way we can with some low costs sticks and some killer art.

Him: Wait — Why are people in the FGC telling you to go away?

Doug: Because they think I’m not relevant to the gamer, But I am they just don’t get it. Sheppard and I have gone as far as to not raising our prices in the last six years just to keep it easy for the young folks to get into it. We’ve had so many price increases on materials we use but not once have we raised prices. We absorbed the increased cost which inevitably cost us. We’re still here cause we like what we do.

Him: Wow

Doug: Sorry don’t wanna sound whinny. They also I guess just don’t like old guys in the game. Who knows

Him: You think they are intimated by the price?