Best joysticks for a classics/puzzle game panel?

[nitz]

I'm building a 2 player panel to play mostly vertical classics and puzzle games. Trying to decide what I need for joysticks. I already have a 4 way leaf pro from GGG which I haven't had a chance to try yet, but I figure that should set me up for 4 way games. I also have 2 Happ Comps and while I like them for fighters, I don't like how they feel on puzzle games or vertical shmups.

I'm thinking an 8 way for each player certainly, but I'm a little worried about how that would handle on the puzzle games since a lot of them are likely 3 way or 4 way. I'd also like to be able to play Q*Bert half decently, which might be ok with using the diagonals on an 8 way depending on the stick. And a short throw stick is best for puzzle games. I could probably live with a short throw on most other 8 way games, but I think a long throw sucks for puzzle games.

I'm feeling like maybe I need a couple of U360s if you can get a restrictor plate with a shortish throw. That would set me up for puzzle games, Q*Bert and maybe even 4 way games as well if I can get used to the feel of no physical restriction. In that case I'd probably just save the 4 way leaf pro for another project or sell it. But I'm not sure I want to spend the money as I'd be looking at $120+ just for the sticks.

Not sure what to do, trying to find that balance between being able to play lots of games, and being able to play them well.

[Necro]

I like my U360's with octagon restrictors.  Throw is short, you get the feel of each direction, but it still works very well across different control types.

[amendonz]

read up on sanwa jlw's.. excellent stick, switchable 4/8 way, fairly cheap, great quality.

[mgb]

Definitely the JLWs are nice.

I have a JLW set up with the extra stiff spring and the cherry switches that are used in the Happ Super. I have the restrictor setup for 4-way (diamond shape) but it actually still hits the diagonals.
so its wierd, I can use it as an 8-way but it works great for Pac-Man too.

[yotsuya]

Definitely the JLWs are nice.

I have a JLW set up with the extra stiff spring and the cherry switches that are used in the Happ Super. I have the restrictor setup for 4-way (diamond shape) but it actually still hits the diagonals.
so its wierd, I can use it as an 8-way but it works great for Pac-Man too.

Interesting. I did the same switch swap when I read about it here, but because I could still hit the diags, I swapped them back. Can you go into it a bit more on how it feels in 4 way and 8 way games?

[equlizer]

Some 4 way games don't like diagonals too much. Some of them even stop movement when doing so like Kung Fu.  And some ignore last movement like the pacman series. I'm switching to circle gates today and hopefully that fixes most of the problems.

Diagonals are hit very easily I find with the square gates. 

[nitz]

OK, thanks guys, I'm leaning toward the JLWs, though not counting out U360s yet. If I got the JLWs, I'd probably just have one for each player always in 8 way mode, plus my dedicated 4 way in the center.

I guess my concern is how the JLWs would handle in 8 way mode on games like Tetris and other puzzlers where you actually want a 3 way or 4 way stick. I can't see myself going under the panel to switch them to 4 way and back all the time.

Diagonals are hit very easily I find with the square gates. 

What do you mean? Are you talking about an octagonal restrictor plate? I definitlely want diagonals to be easy to hit. I've played on some sticks where diagonals were so tough to hit that at first I thought it was a 4 way.

[mgb]

As far as my 4-way goes, Its fine in games like Pacman but it takes a little more careful movement in games like Donkey Kong when coming off a ladder. I really just wanna creat some kind of restrictor to add whan needed and just use circle gates.

For my 8-way stick, I use a Jlw, also with heavy spring and Happ super cherrys, along with a circle gate. This stick is awesome for vertical shooters and I love it for Gyruss.

[yotsuya]

As far as my 4-way goes, Its fine in games like Pacman but it takes a little more careful movement in games like Donkey Kong when coming off a ladder. I really just wanna creat some kind of restrictor to add whan needed and just use circle gates.

For my 8-way stick, I use a Jlw, also with heavy spring and Happ super cherrys, along with a circle gate. This stick is awesome for vertical shooters and I love it for Gyruss.

Thanks for the info. I have a JLW set to 4 way with the stiff spring and like it on a dedicated 4-way vertical cab I built. I put the Super switches on it but since I could hit the corners, I put the stock ones back on. I'll probably get another JLW and do the Super mod for 8-way games eventaully.

[nitz]

I'm almost sold on the JLWs, but the Ultimarc site describes them as having a "longer throw". I think I'd like something with a shorter throw. Anyone have any experience with this:

http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/joysticks-trackball/241-seimetsu-ls-32.html

Says it's got a short throw and Seimetsu is a trusted name. What do you guys think? And would a short throw be difficult to play fighters with? I'm mostly wanting classics and puzzlers, but ideally I'd like a stick that will play any 8 way game decently. Though I realize that it can be hard to find controls that'll play 'em all.

[mgb]

The Seimitsus are a very well liked stick. I especially hear people saying how good they are for vertical shooters.
I definitely plan on trying one out one of these days soon.

[LeedsFan]

The best "all round" stick that can cover all the bases you mentioned (including Q-bert) is the U360. But you would need to buy the round restrictor to go with it. Basically with the round restrictor you get a similar feel for all the games. Both 4-way and 8-way games play nice but the feel of the gate isn't totally authentic. The long throw of the U360 with any restrictor is definitely reduced.

I would also say that the JLWs would be a good choice provided you have easy access to the adjustable restrictor. And even then Q-Bert will not feel right in either mode.

Alternatively you could fit 2x 8-ways for the P1 and P2 and have a dedicated 4-way in the middle of the panel. Dunno if you have room for that. I can't think of any 4-way games that would have simultaneous play for P1 and P2 so that wouldn't be an issue. But again Q-bert would not feel right at all with this set up. How important is Q-Bert to you?

I can testify that the Seimitsu sticks are brilliant for SHMUPS. I have the LS-32 variant. Shorter throw than the U360 and very precise. But changing the restrictors on these between 8-way and 4-way requires a screwdriver to reposition the restrictor gate underneath. If you have room for 2x 8-ways and a dedicated 4-way in the middle this could be an option. But again... Q-Bert?

The Seimitsu's are a very good stick to play fighters with. But the general opinion with the hard-core fighter players is to go with the Sanwa JLF. However the JLF has such a feather like touch that many classic gamers do not like them at all. The Seimitsu is kind of a half-way house between the two and is still very light to control.

[nitz]

Thanks LeedsFan, that clears things up for me.

Sounds like the Seimitsus with a 4 way in the middle is my best bet.

I do like Q*Bert, but I'll sacrifice having authentic controls. It would be somewhat playable using an 8-way or even 4 buttons. It's a game I'd like to play half decently, but it's not my favorite game ever or anything, so I can't really justify getting a U360 or putting in a diagonal 4-way just for that. Everytime I'm not playing Q*Bert I'm just gonna think "Why do I have this expensive joystick (or diagonal 4-way)"?.

I can't think of any 4-way games that would have simultaneous play for P1 and P2 so that wouldn't be an issue.

There are some puzzle games which are 3-way which is reason enough for me to get U360s if money were no object. But I'm thinking I'll just play 'em with 8-ways and will just have to be a bit deliberate and precise. I suppose it's all about tradeoffs when building a multigame cabinet.