How critical is using an 8 way joystick for games that require a 4 way???

[zzsprade]

This is a question out of curiousity. How critical is the difference between using an 8 way joystick in 4 way games? Can anyone share their experience?

In Australia, growing up in the 80s all I can remember is cocktail tables fitted with MCA joysticks that were all 8 ways. This also included for all games that required a 4 way. So as a result I don't think I have ever experienced the difference.

Cheers guys!

-Alex

[Gromet]

While building my control panel I had the 8 way joysticks wired up but haden't gotten around to the 4 way yet.  My wife fired up a game of Ms. PacMan and She started complaining almost right away...  She was having problems finding tru u/d/l/r.  The diagonal basically cancels out what direction you are trying to get to until you are only in the correct possition.  A true four way and there is Zero response problems...

[Bill_S]

Donkey Kong is even harder to play with an 8-way.  Oscar's restrictor plate did the trick for me, though.

[allroy1975]

Donkey Kong is even harder to play with an 8-way.  Oscar's restrictor plate did the trick for me, though.

I agree 100%

it's not even worth playing IMO without the restrictor plates.  yet another great product from oscar.

there are a lot of games like this.  Burger Time might have been the one that made up my mind to put down the cash for restrictor plates.  

[ErikRuud]

The only game that I seem to have trouble with using an 8-way is the LightCycle part of TRON.

I play PacMan with my daughter all the time.  We never have trouble because of the 8-way.  

[Howard_Casto]

The real question is how steady is your hand?  And I just don't mean in normal circumstances, I mean when a ghost is closing on your butt and you have to go up NOW!  

In theory, at least you can play any 4 way game on an 8way.  In practice, however, people tend to over-exaggerate their movements when they are excited.  In the case of 4 way games, this means a person presses up down left and right so irratically that they often hit a diagonal by mistake.  

In other words this is a dumb question to ask as the answer depends upon you.  Go play them, if you do alright then maybe you don't need a 4way.  

[eightbit]

Another option is the switchable joysticks. I love my T-stick (got mine from ultimarc). Some people don't like the short throw.

The cab I built with that stick looks good with one joystick and it plays good in either mode.
People that don't know the difference complain when I have it in 8 way mode when playing 4 way games. I reach in through the coin door and flick the switch and they always say that its a lot better.  Most of the games that get played on that cab are the old 4 way games.

Its not as good as a dedicated 4 way or a good 8 way but I think its an excellent compromise.

[grafixmonkey]

I have major probs playing any Bomberman game with the 8-way stick.  The guy just wants to go his own little direction whenever he feels like it.  This has trapped me behind many, many of my own bombs.

[Apollo]

Yeah I get exactly the same problems playing Bomberman.

[rockhopper]

I'm from Aus too, and I got my 8ways from Ozstick (not sure what brand they are though). As I haven't finished my cab yet, I've only used them on a test panel, but they seem pretty good for 4way games such as pacman and dk (haven't tried with bomberman though). So maybe it also depends on the type of 8way you buy?

[jerryjanis]

I haven't wired up my 8way ever...  You can switch the Happs between 8way and 4way mode.

Typically, we'll be playing a 4 way joystick game for a while with the 8way, and after a certain number of unnecessary deaths we realize that we need to switch the joystick...  So we switch it and say, "that's better, but still not perfect"...  The Happs joystick in 4way mode is probably at the halfway point between 4way and 8way in terms of how well it works, and an 8way borders on useless.

By the way, Tron used an 8way joystick...  The difference is that the diagonals were made so that it takes a bit more effort to reach them than with most 8ways.

[paigeoliver]

Some 8-way sticks are "OK" in 4-way games because they have small diagonals, and are nice and stiff. Wico 8-way leaf sticks are like that, assuming you adjust them correctly.

But, a real 4-way stick just beats every other option hands down.

[telengard]

The only game that I seem to have trouble with using an 8-way is the LightCycle part of TRON.

I have the exact same issue using an 8 way leaf trigger stick.  I just zig zag all
over the place.  I believe the Tron joystick was an 8 way but used a diamond
type opening which restricted diagonals somewhat.

[grafixmonkey]

I haven't wired up my 8way ever...  You can switch the Happs between 8way and 4way mode.

I hate doing that!  I have to go under the panel with pliers, compress that tough spring to get the plastic out of the way, yank the locking washer off, flip the plastic over, and hurt my thumb getting it back on.

and even if you do that, it just makes the diagonals a little bit less sensitive.  You don't get the physical locking into the directions.  I'll have to look at those oscar restrictor plates.  I got a "universal" joystick, but planned the hole it was gonna go into wrong, so it's sitting on the table and a TFB joystick is in its place.  I don't wanna clutter my panel with a fifth joystick, esp. since I would need a sixth to play bomberman two player, and an eighth to have what I really want, 4-player bomberman.

Maybe I'll make a dedicated 4-way cab sometime.

[jerryjanis]

I hate doing that!  I have to go under the panel with pliers, compress that tough spring to get the plastic out of the way, yank the locking washer off, flip the plastic over, and hurt my thumb getting it back on.

Oh yeah that's true...  And when I take the washer off with a screwdriver it invariably flings itself in a random direction and I'm always amazed when I actually find it...  One of these days it's gonna be gone.

[zzsprade]

The real question is how steady is your hand?  And I just don't mean in normal circumstances, I mean when a ghost is closing on your butt and you have to go up NOW!  

In theory, at least you can play any 4 way game on an 8way.  In practice, however, people tend to over-exaggerate their movements when they are excited.  In the case of 4 way games, this means a person presses up down left and right so irratically that they often hit a diagonal by mistake.  

In other words this is a dumb question to ask as the answer depends upon you.  Go play them, if you do alright then maybe you don't need a 4way.  

Howard_Casto,

Unfortunately mate, and this is on my behalf, during the 80s, from memory, all games in Australia that would have required a 4 way came with an 8 way. Hence, I don't believe I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing a true 8 way. This is something I stated in my orginial post.

Secondly, living on the other side of the world it is not as if we have the same luxury of being able to obtain most of the arcade parts that you most probably take for granted. Now building a cocktail table for this project I am deciding which way to go, as to import this stuff from the US is not exactly the cheapest of exercises. Call us disadvantaged mate... which we are. Just don't say that this is a dumb question.

So I have to thank both yourself and everyone else for their feed back. Cheers guys!

-Alex

[TalkingOctopus]

I have a 4 player cab w/o a 4 way joystick.  Some 4 way games play allright on an 8-way, others like Q-bert just don't work at all.  I think if you really want to play 4 way games, a 4 way joystick would be an excellent investment.  I am a little disappointed that I was unable to find room for one on my cp.

Good Luck!

[Frostillicus]

Best 4-way around is the Happ mspacman reunion replacement.  The base is the same size as other happ sticks, but the joystick is a tiny stick that is faithful to the 4-way heritage.  Good stuff.

[menace]

I went with the t-stick which switched between the two--like the other guy was saying--maybe not the best stick ever but a decent compromise and it switches between the two very easily and quickly--wouldn't have player 1 any other way since the missus loves her q-bert  --And I agree--there is no such thing as a dumb question--you're here to learn--just like the rest of us.

[Aceldamor]

I use Oscar's 4 way Plate...works beautifully (sp?)

[REBIRTH]

In other words this is a dumb question to ask as the answer depends upon you.  

Howard,

I've seen some people complain about your "abrasiveness", so to speak, and never quite understood what all the fuss was about.  You couldn't be more gentle in your answers on this board.  

Doug

[Chris]

Oh yeah that's true...  And when I take the washer off with a screwdriver it invariably flings itself in a random direction and I'm always amazed when I actually find it...  One of these days it's gonna be gone.

Before you lose it, take it down to Home Depot, find a match for it and but a couple of spares.  They'll be in the "specialty hardware" drawers in the fasterners aisle.

--Chris

[u_rebelscum]

Oh yeah that's true...  And when I take the washer off with a screwdriver it invariably flings itself in a random direction and I'm always amazed when I actually find it...  One of these days it's gonna be gone.

Before you lose it, take it down to Home Depot, find a match for it and but a couple of spares.  They'll be in the "specialty hardware" drawers in the fasterners aisle.

--Chris

"A couple spares"?!?  How about a good dozen or a 50 pack.

HD/Lowes/Ace should have them for cheaper, but you can look up & buy the clip direct from happs too.  Just in case you do lose all your current ones and don't have one to compare while shopping at HomeDepot.