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Re: X-Arcade + Ms Pac-Man Joystick Feedback?
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jpittman:
Hey all,

I've finally decided I've had enough of playing MAME with the keyboard and want to get a dedicated control panel that will work via a USB connection so I can use it with my laptop (no PS/2 port) as well as my desktop computer.  It looks like the X-Arcade Dual Joystick ($129.95) is the best option and a comes with a lifetime warranty.  The only real downside to this unit is the 8-way joysticks aren't very good for playing my two favorite games: Pac-Man & Ms. Pac-Man.  I have read the sticks can be changed to 4-way mode but are still not that great.  So I'm also going to order a Ms. Pac-Man stick from Tornado Terry's and replace one of the X-Arcade sticks with it.  From what I've read this is pretty close to an ideal setup for playing old 4-way games like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man.  This way I will still have an 8-way stick on the CP as well as a dedicated 4-way to maximize enjoyment on my favorite titles.

I would love to get some feedback/opinions on this strategy before I get out my wallet and pull the trigger -- especially from folks who have replaced an X-Arcade joystick with one of the Ms. Pac-Man sticks from Tornado Terry's (I assume I need the one for a "wood control panel").  You can see the proposed replacement stick here: http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm (scroll down about 2/3 of the way and look for "Ms Pac Man Stick" for $22.95).

I'm not particularly mechanically-inclined, so I would really appreciate any info regarding how easy/hard replacing the joystick will be.  What will I need beyond a screwdriver?  A soldering gun perhaps?  Any additional parts/adapters necessary?

Thanks in advance,

-J
AdvancedArcade:
You will have some problems. You have a 2 player setup. If you change the 1st player to 4 way the 2nd player will be 8 way. But how will you be able to play 1 player 8 way games?  Well then you would have to map player 2 controls to player 1 in MAME. Now you cant play 2 player 8 way games (like fighters, neo geo etc). If you say, that doesnt matter.... then you are paying a lot for 8 buttons you will never use.  There is no easy answer to this problem.  I installed 3 joysticks in my mame and I still wish I had another with a trigger.  I find the "Perfect 360" joysticks handle 4 way games pretty good.... but they need a 5v source.  Sorry not to give you a "good" answer... but just want you to be aware of the pitfalls.
jpittman:

--- Quote from: AdvancedArcade on January 27, 2011, 09:31:56 pm ---You will have some problems. You have a 2 player setup. If you change the 1st player to 4 way the 2nd player will be 8 way. But how will you be able to play 1 player 8 way games?  Well then you would have to map player 2 controls to player 1 in MAME. Now you cant play 2 player 8 way games (like fighters, neo geo etc). If you say, that doesnt matter.... then you are paying a lot for 8 buttons you will never use.  There is no easy answer to this problem.  I installed 3 joysticks in my mame and I still wish I had another with a trigger.  I find the "Perfect 360" joysticks handle 4 way games pretty good.... but they need a 5v source.  Sorry not to give you a "good" answer... but just want you to be aware of the pitfalls.

--- End quote ---

Thanks for the feedback!  In my case, I have no need for 2 player support (my wife has exactly zero interest in old video games) so the idea is for me to have both an 8-way and dedicated 4-way stick (one that is close to the original Pac-Man ball stick with a short throw) available on the same CP.  It's true I will have more buttons than I will ever need (in fact most games I play use two buttons or less) but the X-Arcade Dual is only ~$30 more than the single stick model and allows me to have one of each stick on the same console.

-J
jipp:
im not sure how the xarcade is wired up.. on my control panel.  i have a 8 way and a 4 way plugged into the same inputs for joystick 1.  so, they both will move whatever.. but this works perfect for 4 way games, and 8 way.. i keep the main stick 8 way and the stick towards the middle is a 4 way..

maybe you could just replace the joystick with one of groovy gears 8/4 way sticks.. looks like all you do is slide a slider to the left or right and it turns it into a 8 or 4 way. here is the stick im speaking of:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=292


either way should work tho. id probably just go with 8 way on player 1 side, and 4 way on player 2 and have them both plug into player one on the x-arcade keyboard encoder. 


chris.
Donkbaca:
If you just want a 1 player stick get a hori ex2 xbox 360 stick. They are compatible with windows and cost 40 bucks at amazon or buy.com.  Then all you need to do is drill 4 holes in a sanwa 4 way restrictor and swap it with the hori restrictor. easy to do. Will cost you 50 bucks in total and all you need is a drill and a screw driver. You can even get a second one and leave it as is for a 8 way stick
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