Arcade Stick

[Aikouka]

Well, I finally understand why people gripe over the 360's D-Pad. I got Tekken Tag Tournament 2 the other day, and I kept trying to use the joystick, because the D-Pad just wasn't that good. Now, I know that a good arcade stick is a fairly pricey investment, and if I'm going to spend over $100 on a fancy, limited-use controller, I want it to be good! I'd also prefer black and no game logos on the controller. Black matches my 360s and game logos or characters just look tacky. Yeah, I can be a bit picky. :$

Any recommendations? I saw that Mad Catz and HORI seem to be the most popular mainstream brands, but there also appear to be a few smaller companies that also sell high quality arcade sticks. I found this one company called EightArc that also looks good. EightArc looks like it has the benefit of being usable on the 360 and the PS3. I do have some PS3 fighters as well as 360 fighters, but I do prefer to game on the 360.

 

[purbeast0]

if you are going to buy one, DEFINITELY the Madcatz TE sticks. those things use true arcade parts and are very good joysticks.

if you want to go the fun route, you can build your own. i have built my own from scratch and modded an SF:AC joystick from back in the day to work on both PS3 and 360, and they both have true arcade parts.

but as far as purchasing them, i can't stress how solid the madcatz TE is. they have coupons regularly as well, especially during tournament weekends. it's pretty regularly that you can find the TE for $100.

 

[smackababy]

The Madcatz TE sticks are known as the best. I have two and I also have a Hori Real Arcade Pro VX SA (HRAP). I prefer the TE, but either are great in my mind.

If you can wait for a major, you can get a TE for around $100. However, they are like $140 right now on Amazon.

If you plan on buying one for just a single system, I'd buy the Xbox 360 version because it is easier to dual mod later.

 

[TecHNooB]

+1 for hori. I got the umvc3 edition for 130 when it was on sale. cheaper and about the same sturdiness as matcatz te.

 

[Aikouka]

Hm I think I get a discount from being a MLG Gold member, and I think I saw something about HORI being their new partner. I know I saw a MLG-branded arcade stick on Amazon.

I could most likely give up PS3 capability. I used to play Tekken on the Sony consoles, and I can't recall ever having such difficulty with the directional pad like I do on the 360. So, not having PS3 capability may not even be an issue. I just had so many problems trying to get a combined direction (e.g. Left + Down), and I noticed that it was hard to manually combine attack buttons. I normally map things like LK+RK to the shoulder buttons, but I was being lazy. I found that almost every time, TTT2 kept interpreting my attempt at LK+RK as LK -> RK unless I put my finger directly in the middle of both buttons and pushed.

Oh, and waiting isn't an issue. I've been spending a bit more than I prefer this month, so I'd prefer to put it off until next month anyway. I think MLG Dallas (Fall Championship) isn't until November, but there should be an Arena event probably in October?

 

[weirdichi]

Hmm.. when, where, and what is MLG? I wouldn't mind attending it just to snoop around. And what's Arena?

 

[Aikouka]

Hmm.. when, where, and what is MLG? I wouldn't mind attending it just to snoop around. And what's Arena?

MLG stands for Major League Gaming (website), which is pretty much an organization dedicated to eSports (pro-gaming) in various games. At least from what I know, they do a lot of StarCraft II, League of Legends, Mortal Kombat and Soul Calibur. There are four tournaments each year (based on the seasons) which are usually held in the same cities: Columbus, OH; Charlotte, NC; Dalas, TX; and Anaheim, CA. The arenas are a bit more low key than the tournaments and are held in New York City.

You can see the schedule here:
http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/mlg/2012-pro-circuit-schedule

 

[purbeast0]

Aikouka by a "major" he wasn't talking about MLG, he was talking about the "Road to Evo" tourneys.

next major is seasons beatings in 2 weeks.

http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.ph...-5k-each-minimum-cleveland-ohio-44131.164784/

guaranteed to have discounts during that time on TE's since madcatz will be a sponsor.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I got a madcatz stick with all sanwa parts but I modded the stick with a seimetsu bubble top and spring to give slightly more tention and better looks and I swapped the buttons for sanwa trans base/orange plunger.

Very good sticks. If you want to build one check out www.focusattack.com. they have everything you need and even sell complete sticks.

 

[I4AT]

If you're lucky Gamestop might have some old WWE Brawl or SFIV MadCatz SE's (the lower end version). I think they were clearanced out for like $18-20.

 

[Aikouka]

Any thoughts on this stick?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00752NGKW/

It's on sale for $100, which seems like an okay price -- in my opinion, not exactly lightning deal worthy. I would prefer not having any decals on an arcade stick... especially when it's for a game that I don't even play (I should get paid to advertise!), but logos are just logos.

 

[purbeast0]

any madcatz fight stick with true sanwa parts will be a legit arcade stick. it's the same stick i mentioned in the 2nd post in this thread just with a different layout and art.

if you like that button layout go for it.

you can remove the artwork very easily as well, it's just a sheet under the fiber glass or whatever the clear material is.

 

[Aikouka]

any madcatz fight stick with true sanwa parts will be a legit arcade stick. it's the same stick i mentioned in the 2nd post in this thread just with a different layout and art.

if you like that button layout go for it.

you can remove the artwork very easily as well, it's just a sheet under the fiber glass or whatever the clear material is.

Honestly, I know nothing about the different button layouts. I'd probably prefer the default layout, but if I had to, I could take the unit apart and move the buttons around? That depends on how it's constructed or just take the lazy approach and reconfigure the button layouts on my games.

 

[smackababy]

The button layout looks the same as any other TE. I could get a few of mine out and check it closer if you really wanted. Aikouka, most fighting games have adopted the TE layout and have an "arcade stick" option. If you get a Hori, however, the buttons are in a different layout as far as which are where. The physical placement is the same.

Also, $100 for a TE is a good deal. I paid $160 for my SF X Tekken stick and it is still on that price.

 

[purbeast0]

Honestly, I know nothing about the different button layouts. I'd probably prefer the default layout, but if I had to, I could take the unit apart and move the buttons around? That depends on how it's constructed or just take the lazy approach and reconfigure the button layouts on my games.

the layout cannot be changed. by layout i just mean where the buttons are placed on the panel.

the button layout on the soul calibur one is much different than the one on the street fighter one. the buttons on the soul calibur one are alligned as if you put your finger tips flat on a table, and the angle and layout of the buttons kind of conforms to the finger tips. the left one starts low, then the next 2 buttons are higher, then the last one goes back lower.

on the street fighter one the right 3 most buttons are all at the same height, and the left most button is offset to be a bit lower than the other 3. and it's just 2 rows of that on top of eachother.

its done that way simply because the way the game is designed to be played. street fighter was always 6 buttons, 3 rows of punches on top of 3 rows of kicks. and the street fighter TE's are made to match the SF4 arcade cabs.

soul calibur was designed to play with 4 buttons across, which is why they go to your finger tips like the original arcade cabinets did.

it is all just a matter of personal preference though, nothing more. that is why i built my own joystick to fit my personal preference. i like the 3 rows on top of eachother, but the TE's also have a small vertical offset as well which bothers me. i prefer the rows to be directly on top of eachother.

 

[Aikouka]

The button layout looks the same as any other TE. I could get a few of mine out and check it closer if you really wanted. Aikouka, most fighting games have adopted the TE layout and have an "arcade stick" option. If you get a Hori, however, the buttons are in a different layout as far as which are where. The physical placement is the same.

Also, $100 for a TE is a good deal. I paid $160 for my SF X Tekken stick and it is still on that price.

I think it's different; however, it's a little hard to see since you cannot zoom on the product images. It looks like the Soul Calibur V TE only has the A button on the bottom row where the other sticks have A and B on the bottom row.

I did buy it, and if I don't like, then at worst I just end up disappointed as I return it.

 

[Dari]

Do real arcade sticks exist for purchase? I'm not talking about an 8 way stick. I'm talking about an arcade stick that is buttery smooth when you turn it 360 degrees (as opposed to the ones that have eight very rigid slots). They've existed on real arcade boards for decades but nothing of the sort is available for Xbox or Playstation, as far as I've seen.

 

[smackababy]

Do real arcade sticks exist for purchase? I'm not talking about an 8 way stick. I'm talking about an arcade stick that is buttery smooth when you turn it 360 degrees (as opposed to the ones that have eight very rigid slots). They've existed on real arcade boards for decades but nothing of the sort is available for Xbox or Playstation, as far as I've seen.

I've never used, or don't recall, using an arcade stick without a gate. I suppose you could use one without, however, it would be strange because without the restriction you couldn't know the actual amount to move the stick to get the input.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_controller

Read the restrictor gate section.

I think it's different; however, it's a little hard to see since you cannot zoom on the product images. It looks like the Soul Calibur V TE only has the A button on the bottom row where the other sticks have A and B on the bottom row.

I did buy it, and if I don't like, then at worst I just end up disappointed as I return it.

That might be different based on that stick, but I think all TE sticks have the same layout. I know Hori sticks are different. As far as button height, unless you have played extensively on a specific stick, using this one you won't notice. I'd say most people wouldn't notice. I have 4 sticks and if they are different I wouldn't know. They do feel a bit different, but I think that is mostly from weight and amount of use.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

This forum has all your questions answered:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,105534.0.html?PHPSESSID=v01hk6mb4gpj6dpim9k8o0k5c3

The link is to my build

 

[Dari]

I've never used, or don't recall, using an arcade stick without a gate. I suppose you could use one without, however, it would be strange because without the restriction you couldn't know the actual amount to move the stick to get the input.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_controller

Read the restrictor gate section.



That might be different based on that stick, but I think all TE sticks have the same layout. I know Hori sticks are different. As far as button height, unless you have played extensively on a specific stick, using this one you won't notice. I'd say most people wouldn't notice. I have 4 sticks and if they are different I wouldn't know. They do feel a bit different, but I think that is mostly from weight and amount of use.

I've used it many times to play SFII back in the 90s. Much better than the octogonal sticks IMHO.

 

[purbeast0]

Do real arcade sticks exist for purchase? I'm not talking about an 8 way stick. I'm talking about an arcade stick that is buttery smooth when you turn it 360 degrees (as opposed to the ones that have eight very rigid slots). They've existed on real arcade boards for decades but nothing of the sort is available for Xbox or Playstation, as far as I've seen.

there is a happ 360 degree controller that does not use microswitches. i had one in a custom stick i built back in highschool for psx. it actually felt weird and i prefer the microswitches because of the finite direction pushes. it still only did 8 way though, it was not like an analog stick.

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50608300.htm

i personally did not play any actual arcade game sticks that used it. all of the actual coin-op machines i played with growing up had the ones with switches in them.

after using sanwa parts though, i could never go back to happ parts.

oh and happ controls do not have gates at all. the circle gate for sanwa is the equivalent feel of a happ joystick as far as "riding the edges" is concerned. if you grew up in america playing arcade games, if they used happ parts, there were no gates in them.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

The Utlimark u360 is the de-facto standard analog stick in the arcade geek world:
http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html

It's pretty much as good as it gets unless you want a flight stick. I have it. It is OK. I'd rather have bought a 4-way/8-way stick.

 

[Dari]

there is a happ 360 degree controller that does not use microswitches. i had one in a custom stick i built back in highschool for psx. it actually felt weird and i prefer the microswitches because of the finite direction pushes. it still only did 8 way though, it was not like an analog stick.

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50608300.htm

i personally did not play any actual arcade game sticks that used it. all of the actual coin-op machines i played with growing up had the ones with switches in them.

after using sanwa parts though, i could never go back to happ parts.

oh and happ controls do not have gates at all. the circle gate for sanwa is the equivalent feel of a happ joystick as far as "riding the edges" is concerned. if you grew up in america playing arcade games, if they used happ parts, there were no gates in them.

The Utlimark u360 is the de-facto standard analog stick in the arcade geek world:
http://www.ultimarc.com/ultrastik_info.html

It's pretty much as good as it gets unless you want a flight stick. I have it. It is OK. I'd rather have bought a 4-way/8-way stick.

Thanks guys. Is there a complete arcade stick or would I have to make my own if I wanted these round ones?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I'm not sure if that u360 could be used to make an XBox controller. You would have to make it on your own. It is USB based so there is hope. Your best bet is to go to the forum I linked a few posts up and start asking questins there. Not really an XBox 360 support site though so you might not get much help. It is designed to work with a PC though so I can't imaging an XBox would be that hard to work with.

And a sorry. I thought this was a different thread of similar topic when I posted.

 

[purbeast0]

Thanks guys. Is there a complete arcade stick or would I have to make my own if I wanted these round ones?

you would probably have to build one to put them in. i know the mortal kombat joystick that came out with mk9 used happ parts but probably the 8way one with switches, and it also has the mk button layout which is odd for any game other than mk.

i have a street fighter anniversary collection joystick from like 10 or so years ago that i modded with real happ parts, so that is plug and play, but chances are you won't find one of those around now a days for cheap, but possibly could. it was also for normal xbox so i modded it to work on ps3 and 360. so that would require some work as well.

in general though i'd definitely recommend sanwa parts over happ parts. i used to be happ growing up with them as a kid in arcades, and built my joysticks with happ parts. but i decided to give sanwa a try and it felt different at first, but once i got used to it it felt much better. and now when i try using my happ sticks they feel terrible and overly bulky.