U360s; Anyone use WITHOUT restrictor plates?

[idsane]

Just got mine and my first reaction is that it feels totally weird! I put on the stiff spring (couldn't even imagine trying to use it with the free one, sooooo light), but the long throws and having no restrictor guidance make it very hard to use. I mainly got this so that I could play any game with it, but now I feel like it would make most games harder to play. Star wars is the only analog game that I have to have, so would a restrictor plate impede full range aiming in this game? What other analog games are there that need large analog movement?

On a side note, is the following normal: When I move the stick to the far corner (and when watching it's movement in the game controllers app) and I get it almost all the way to the corner it registers being all the way in the corner, but then when I truly get it to the corner, it moves slightly back towards the center?  I notice this in star wars game play too.

[LeedsFan]

To play normal classic games with a U360 you really do need ot use a restrictor. I found the circular restrictor to be the best all round for classic games. There is a check box in the options setup for the u360 where you tell the software if you have a restrictor fitted. This enables the software to make the map smaller. You still get the same "range" but in a smaller space. But this does mean that playing true analog games with a restrictor means your movements will be much smaller and more twitchy due to the more confined space.

The behavour you mentioned regarding Star Wars... I don't know anything about that sorry. I've yet to use any of my U360s solely as a true analog so haven't come across that.

[PsychoMikey]

I have used them for around a 6months without restrictors and now for 6 months with circular restrictors installed. I wouldnt want to change back for anything in the world. I does depend somewhat on what type of games you like to play. For arcade games in general, restrictor is the way to go in my opinion. I removed most of the more modern console games from my cabinet beceause nobody liked  diden't like the way N64, psx, ps2 games played on my cabinet anyway. 4way/8way games for the win

[Woodshop Flunky]

I was very concerned when I got my U360.  The large throw range made me think I had blown my money.  I got a 4/8 and round restrictor plate, and it made ALL the difference in the world.  Finally, I picked up the octagonal restrictor plate and I'm glad I did.  I don't know how the restrictor plates will feel for analog games, but for 4/8 (which is 100% of the games I have loaded) it is perfect.

[rbarr110]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the new front mount restrictor plate?   It appears to be easily swappable/removed freely so you can switch to standard 4-way, 8-way, 4-way diagonal or full analog in a matter of seconds if I understand it correctly.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but was wondering if anyone had any experience with the new front mount restrictor plate?   It appears to be easily swappable/removed freely so you can switch to standard 4-way, 8-way, 4-way diagonal or full analog in a matter of seconds if I understand it correctly.

I got one, but I won't be using it on my final CP.  My decision was mostly aesthetic... I didn't like the restrictor being ~1/8 inch proud of the CP face (and no practical way to use a dust washer).  Functionally, it seemed to work as advertised.

[8BitMonk]

I used mine without restrictor plates for about a year and then added octagonal restrictors. I prefer the restrictor plates except for pure analog control where the extra throw is moderately better. That's a minority of what I play so not a concern. I specifically like the octagonal restrictor vs. the circular because you can feel the direction points as you roll the joystick. Plus it's more expensive so it must be better right? 

[Tumerboy]

What games actually use analog sticks besides Star Wars?

[VanillaGorilla]

Sinistar

Road Runner

Tail Gunner

Afterburner

Gauntlet

Blaster

NFL Blitz

NBA Showtime

Pigskin

Arch Rivals

Thats a few..

[Koolbrez67]

I do use without the restrictor plates for about a year. I would like to get the stiffer spring and a 8 way Restrictor plates. I find that I have to clean out my u360s about every 2 to 3 months as the joystick sticks or seems like it becomes restricted by grim. I do find metal fillings as well every time I have to clean them. It's been a love hate thing for me with them. I can play a ton of games but fighter games would play much better for me with a stiffer spring and a restrictor plate. Heavy use of fighter games causes me to have to clean the U360s more often than I think I should have to. I'm starting to think about trading up for some 8 way happ joysticks. But Like I said it's a love hate thing with me.

[idsane]

So it seems that no one is using them without once they tried the restrictors. I have been playing with it a bunch and don't like it for 4 way, 8 way, or even analog right now. Star wars is actually very tough to play with it since the stiff spring returns it to center too easily, but I couldn't imagine playing 4 or 8 way with the soft spring. I guess my question now changes to ....did anyone like the 360ss off the bat without getting used to them first? Right now I am staying away from it and going to my regular 4 and 8 way stick. Also, what does the octagon plate do that the 8 way one doesnt? Is it better for a certain type of games?

[LeedsFan]

The octagon plate just makes the 8-way games have a less "square" feeling to the gate. Some people prefer the square gate of the standard 8-way restrictor, some people prefer the octagon where they can feel the slightly more rounded gate. I myself went for the circular for all games and it worked well.

You really cannot beat the U360 as an all rounder for classic games. I preferred the softer spring as I like my stick to have a soft feel... but not as soft as the Sanwa JLW.

And as far as Star Wars is concerned I really think you are pissing in the wind trying to play that game with anything but a proper yoke controller. It can be played with joysticks and even mice... but it sucks donkey balls as you are finding out. Believe me I tried other ways as well and there was just no satisfaction to the game with such huge compromises.

[Woodshop Flunky]

I prefer the octagonal because the 8 way restrictor produced a very strong mechanical feedback in the corner positions, and no feedback on the flats.  Now, with the octagonal restrictor, I get a small feedback at each position, and the throw is equal at each position.

[VanillaGorilla]

Gotta get the restrictors...If you are classic era gamer, get the round, if you're next-gen, get the octo.

[8BitMonk]

If you're used to the mechanical click of a microswitch on other joysticks the U360's will take a little getting used to but it feels natural after awhile.

I chose them because to me they are the best all around joystick when dealing with multiple types of game controls. The ability to switch maps on the fly from an FE's command line was a big draw for me. I like that I don't have to think about it being Analog for Sinistar, 8-way for a fighting game, 4-way for Pacman or jumping the right way in Qbert. It just works. I also don't have to explain to guests what an 8-way vs. 4-way joystick is and how and when to switch it or take up CP space to fit in a separate 4-way and/or Analog stick.

Now would I choose a U360 if I were building a cab I knew I was only going to play just 4-way games in? No. The U360 is a small compromise in feel though I think it's benefits in a multi-game environment (like a Mame cab) outweigh that.   

[idsane]

I would say I play mostly 4 and 8 way games from the 80s and little to no mid 90s and up games like fighters. In this case, do you think the round is my best option or the octagon? Is the u360 really for me if this is all I play? Where is the option to have a front end remap for each game? Is this in mala or mameui32?

[8BitMonk]

My vote would still be for the Octagonal. Personally I like some physical feedback from the joystick to let me know when I'm in each of the 8 positions. With the round restrictor there is no notch so you don't get the physical feedback but it rolls the smoothest. With the 4/8 switchable restrictor it flips from being a diamond (in 4-way mode) to a square (8-way mode) so you'll have notches in only 4 of the 8 positions.

Re: Switching U360 maps through your front end. I'm not sure about Mala or front-ends other than Hyperspin or GameEx. I currently use Hyperspin and have formerly used GameEx. Both do auto map switching on the U360's. There are a couple ways to do it in Hyperspin, I use LEDBlinky in conjunction with Hyperspin to set the maps.

If you're only concerned about playing 4/8 way games and like the feel of a micro-switch have you considered Ultimarc's Mag-Stik Plus? It switches easily with a lever underneath and is also a great joystick. I installed these on a friend's cab and he likes them.

[Gray_Area]

Gauntlet is not analog.

What is 4-way operation like with the octagonal restrictor?

[VanillaGorilla]

Gauntlet is not analog.

Technically, neither is sinistar, they both used 49-ways. So they are matrix based; IE supporting acceleration in movement as the stick is pushed increasingly to the outer regions of its travel. An 8-way stick will not be able to replicate this behavior. A u360 will.

[idsane]

I'd like to try both, but $14 a piece? Yikes! Guess I need to something though b/c I can't stand it now. I did buy a ms+ as my second stick and really like it so far. If only it had a little longer throw it would be perfect! I definitely need something that can go 4 way only as having the happ comps and supers did not work well for the classic games.

[Gray_Area]

Gauntlet is not analog.

Technically, neither is sinistar, they both used 49-ways. So they are matrix based; IE supporting acceleration in movement as the stick is pushed increasingly to the outer regions of its travel. An 8-way stick will not be able to replicate this behavior. A u360 will.

Oh. I don't recall that, as I only played the game in the arcade once or twice. There is no 'analog' type feature in MAME in-game options, and there seems to be no difference in movement when I use the analog map.

I'd like to try both, but $14 a piece? Yikes!

Check out Lizard Licks.

[ragnar]

I still want some restrictors to be made that have more freedom of movement.  I tried no restrictors but I had problems with extreme joystick positioning (diagonals for exmaple) giving strange results.  the anal,og values would go from 0 to 128 for example but if you moved it further it would start dropping from 128 to maybe 64.

I would buy new restrictors in a heartbeat that gave a range of motion between no restrictor and current restrictors