Joystick+Button info help!

[planbee]

Hi all,
I've decided on going for an illuminated quad control panel for my first cab, with the plans being bought from mameroom.com for their Ultimate Arcade II cabinet with the illuminated quad control panel. I am doing it as a DIY project with the plans to follow. My joysticks will be coming from retroarcadeslive.com, they offer multicoloured illuminated joysticks.. see link below ..
http://www.retroarcadeslive.com/webs...LL&category=86
My questions now lie in what type of base do I get. My thoughts at the moment are players 1 & 2 (2 middle joysticks) to be optical with the Happ 360° 4/8-Way Base and players 3 & 4 (2 outer joysticks) to be comp or super. Also going to add a 5th dedicated 4-way joystick at the top of the panel.
Can I hear what everyone thinks about this setup, I know it's a bit pricey for the 360's which is why I was going those for player's 1 & 2. Opinions wanted!!

Now with the pushbuttons, I was thinking of going with some Electric ICE 2 lightable buttons from GGG. Kind of the same situation as the joysticks, can I hear people's opinions on the different types of available switches for the pushbuttons, all which will be with the RGB lighting drive. Link below
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/i...roducts_id=238
I'd love to hear all opinions, suggestions, tips and advice.

Thanks very much, loving all things hyperspin!


Jason.

[Donkbaca]

That is crazy expensive considering you can get lit balltops from paradise arcade for 25 bucks each. I would honestly get 5 of those, they come with 4 and 8 way restrictors and would save you a ton.

I was using happ supers and just switched to the paradise ones. I like them, they are real sold and smooth.

[planbee]

Thanks for the reply,
I've seen those paradise arcade ones before but I'm not too keen on the "bubble" look which led me to the sticks at retroarcadeslive.com. I know it's more expensive but I'm going for a professional look so I don't mind working that extra bit and spending more cash, within reason ofcourse.
Thoughts on the 360 degree joysticks? Plus button switches?


Jason.

[Turnarcades]

The 'E-switch' replacements for the recently ended superb cherry red switches would get my vote. If going for a pre-fab or custom panel, try to avoid 'dedicated' sticks as this is the modern age and there are many sticks that will accomplish various gaming needs in one stick without the extra expense.

Be careful with lighted sticks as they are all custom jobs and can be fragile - one of our recent customers had some of those from Paradisearcade and they look a bit flimsy to me whilst handling them. Remember that sticks can be modified though so if you don't see exactly what you need, ask if they can mix them up a bit.

[Donkbaca]

Wait, is it that you don't want a ball top?  OR you don't want a bubble top?  If you want a solid color, I think its at least worth it to PM or e-mail Bryan to see if he's got any solid balls.  Like I said it would save you so much money.  To get 5 sticks from him it would be 125 bucks, from retroarcades, if you get 2 P360's and 3 supers.You are looking at 365 bucks plus shipping and handling, just for sticks!  That like 3 times as much!  But, hey  its your deal, personally, I think its a little much, especailly considering that essentially they are going to behave like Happs sticks that you could for under 150 bucks. 

Anyhow.  Have you ever played Mortal Kombat 2?  THey use p360's in those, I believe.  The p'360's are a little more of a pain to set up because they need a 5v connection to power the optical interface.  They are smooth, and not at all clicky.  Fight fans like them.

I would go Happ Supers on the other two.  People like Comps for fighters, but I think most would agree that supers are a better all around stick, and the 3 and 4 player aren't going to be used for fighters.

As for your 4 way, none of these are going to work well.  You need to find a physically restricted 4 way.  That's why I suggested the paradisearcadeshop sticks, they have 4-8 and even 2 way restrictors on them, so you could just get 5 of those.  If you are absolutely in love with these sticks, then for the 4 way, just order the handle, and order the Pac Man stick at Tornado Terry's.  That stick is a physically restricted Happs Super, I believe, and the stick should fit that base no problem.

[planbee]

I don't particularly like the bubble effect, I'm after the solid balls. I don't know if they offer a multicoloured stick though? I know it's crazy expensive just for sticks but I've been researching for a while now and with no disrespect intended, I don't like how some of them have been left looking like the bare minimum. I understand that it's just to play games but my project has more meaning behind the reasoning for doing this whole thing as opposed to just playing games. I plan to make it so I can always have it and be proud of, which is why I'm going the extra steps. I've known from the beginning that to get the end result I want is going to be quite expensive. C'est la vie!

I haven't looked too much into the wiring up of the control panel as I'm taking it a step at a time. Can you tell me where you get the 5v supply from to power the p360's, do you have incorporate a small power supply of some sort or is there a 5v rail somewhere you can connect to?

The dedicated 4-way joystick is just a 4/8way base with the restrictor plate set for 4-way is it not?

Thanks for all the help,
I'm cutting the cabinet in the next few days so I have a bit more time to sort out more money for the control panel parts. I'll be documenting the whole process too so that should begin soon!


Jason.

[Donkbaca]

Best thing for you to do do, if you get the perfect 360's is to use a 5v sire from a molex on your pc power supply.  Since you are going to be tapping the 5v anyway, you should try and get 5v LED's for your buttons and sticks.

Yes, the difference between 4 ways and 8 ways is a restrictor, however, as far as I know, there are no restrctors that are sold for the happs stick, in order to have your 4 way match the other 4 sticks, you would need to get one from Tornado Terry.  He sells a pacman stick, which is a happs base, phsyically restricted to 4 ways.  Happs sticks aren't like the japanese sticks where you can just buy different restrictors for them as far as I know.

I hear you on going all out, that is why I put LEDS on my cab and got lit up sticks, but you don't have to blow a ton of money doing it! 

  I'll see if I can find you something cheaper...

[planbee]

Ahh I thought I could steal the power from the PC but wasn't sure how it was usually done, so thanks for that tip.

I think I understand about the 4-way's. You mean I could get any 4-way stick but to have it match the other sticks in my machine it would have to be a Happ, which means it has to be from Tornado Terry?

Would you mind posting up some pics/info on your machine? I take it you have the paradise arcade sticks? What buttons did you go with too?

All help is greatly appreciated, thank you.


Jason.

[Donkbaca]

haha,  My machine is a work in progress!

I was originally going to cannibalize my x-arcade, which has knock-off happs buttons and knock-off happs supers.  I LOVE those joysticks, They are beefy, and rugged and feel like the sticks I grew up with.

Then, I decided I was going to switch to lit up buttons.  Gameex, the front end I am using, has a plug-in that lets you light up only the buttons you use for a particular game, which I though would make my cab much more user friendly.  Buttons are easy to shop for, because they are cheap!  If you are trying to decide between different buttons, just order one of each type and try them out, after you figure out which one you want, then order a bunch!  Anyhow, I wanted lit up buttons, and I saw the paradise arcade buttons with the chrome bezel, and thought they looked cool, so I ordered some and swapped out the standard microswitch for their softer, 20g micro, and I liked them so much I stopped looking and just went with them.  I like them, and my bro in law, who is not a gamer at all, commented on how nice he thought they felt. 

I just got the sticks recently.  I wasn't sure if I wanted them, but a forum member was getting rid of a pair on here cheap, so I figured I would give them a shot.  Its a Japanese style joystick.  A ton of people on here rave about Sanwa and Seimitsu sticks, but I don't like them, they feel too dainty for me.  Well, to my surprise, the paradise arcade stick is actually pretty solid feeling.  i like it.  Its got a nice smooth action, and it has just the right resistance and centers perfectly. 

Like I said, I haven't finished my project, and so, I haven't tried these out with actual games yet, but I think I will like them very much.

The thing is though, like I said, so much about arcades is about personal taste.  In my opinion, there is not really a right answer to "what is best" it all depends on what you grew up playing and what type of games you like.

I would suggest you just order one button of each of the types you are thinking about installing them, they are like 1 or 2 bucks each, that way you can try for yourself and see what feels best.

As for joysticks, I know paradise arcade carries IL sticks, which are the same as the happs,  they have a super and a competition.  If you ordered the LED sticks and hated them, I am pretty sure Bryan would let you return them and you could get the IL sticks, they are cheaper than the bases for the happs and the competition on that other site, so it would be no money out of your pocket. 

I think that is what I would do if I were in your shoes.