I want a more responsive joystick

[MagicMan]

I'm wondering if I have any options for a better joystick, or maybe the joystick isn't my issue afterall? 

Here is what I am currently running on my MAME machine with USB controller:
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/il-eurostick-joystick/107-il-eurostick-joystick.html

For example, when I am playing Street Fighter and doing moves such as Ryu's Hadouken it will not always register and I'll have to perform the motion a couple times or more to get it to happen.

Do I have any better 8 way, or more, joystick options?

[brad808]

Sure it's the joysticks fault

Some good options for street fighter would be happ super, or sanwa jlf.

My personal preference is the sanwa jlf with an octagonal restrictor. You can get others though, square, round. People that play different style characters tend to prefer different restrictor plates to best suit the style.

Just to rule it out, just double check all your inputs are actually registering properly in one of the game i/o check service menus.

Sent from my Desire HD

[MagicMan]

Sure it's the joysticks fault

Some good options for street fighter would be happ super, or sanwa jlf.

My personal preference is the sanwa jlf with an octagonal restrictor. You can get others though, square, round. People that play different style characters tend to prefer different restrictor plates to best suit the style.

Just to rule it out, just double check all your inputs are actually registering properly in one of the game i/o check service menus.

Sent from my Desire HD

From what I see, that joystick does not have exposed micro switches & has a circuit board with one connector. That won't work with my current controller. My controller is wired directly to each terminal on every micro switch.

[brad808]

What controller are you using? Does it not use common ground? The jlf connector is simply 5 wires, 1 ground and 4 directions, there is no funny business going on. The pcb is just a "cleaner" way of connecting the 4 microswitches.

Edit: i should also mention that jlf isn't a drop in as far as mounts go. Happ super is a drop in but has a similar feel to the competition (competition feels clunkier to me though). Happ super are easy for quarter circle characters like ryu if you "ride the rail" of the joystick because it's a circle.

Sent from my Desire HD

[MagicMan]

What controller are you using? Does it not use common ground? The jlf connector is simply 5 wires, 1 ground and 4 directions, there is no funny business going on. The pcb is just a "cleaner" way of connecting the 4 microswitches.

Sent from my Desire HD

The XIN MO controller
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/mame-arcade-parts/24-arcade-controller-to-usb.html

[Vigo]

I believe it should work with that encoder. With the JLF, it comes with a 5 pin cable. You need to get some male QD terminal ends and crimp one on each of the 5 wires. Attach the ground one end to the ground wire, and the other 4 to the up down left right wires.

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

[BadMouth]

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

Not sure about the Omron switches, but the zippy's are slightly narrower.  With the octagon and round restrictors, it makes the actuator catch on the edge of the restrictor and doesn't feel good.

The JLF usually comes with a wiring harness.  Don't be afraid to cut wires. 
(or you can just crimp male spade connectors on the end of the wiring harness and plug those into your existing connectors)

[brad808]

Yea that encoder uses a "daisy chain" on the ground so it's all technically the same ground, in other words it'll work. As long as you are willing to adapt your control panel to mount the jlf properly.

Sent from my Desire HD

[Vigo]

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

Not sure about the Omron switches, but the zippy's are slightly narrower.  With the octagon and round restrictors, it makes the actuator catch on the edge of the restrictor and doesn't feel good.

I believe the Omron is the switch that already comes in the JLF and that is why it is recommended, it fits in there right out of the box.

[Mental]

I believe it should work with that encoder. With the JLF, it comes with a 5 pin cable. You need to get some male QD terminal ends and crimp one on each of the 5 wires. Attach the ground one end to the ground wire, and the other 4 to the up down left right wires.

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

^ This ^

 You just crimp some male terminals onto the JLF cable. Makes it plug and play with what you already have.

[MagicMan]

I believe it should work with that encoder. With the JLF, it comes with a 5 pin cable. You need to get some male QD terminal ends and crimp one on each of the 5 wires. Attach the ground one end to the ground wire, and the other 4 to the up down left right wires.

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

^ This ^

 You just crimp some male terminals onto the JLF cable. Makes it plug and play with what you already have.

Anyone know which direction each color wire on the Sanwa is for?

[brad808]

I believe it should work with that encoder. With the JLF, it comes with a 5 pin cable. You need to get some male QD terminal ends and crimp one on each of the 5 wires. Attach the ground one end to the ground wire, and the other 4 to the up down left right wires.

If it is easier for you, you can swap in regular microswitches on the jlf. I believe that the Omron V series switches are recommended by people who do that mod.

^ This ^

 You just crimp some male terminals onto the JLF cable. Makes it plug and play with what you already have.

Anyone know which direction each color wire on the Sanwa is for?

Depends which way you mount the stick

Sent from my Desire HD

[mgb]

Just pin out the wires using a multi meter ( Home Depot had cheap ones if you don't have one)
Just meter between each conductor and ground to figure which is which

[PL1]

Just pin out the wires using a multi meter ( Home Depot had cheap ones if you don't have one)
Just meter between each conductor and ground to figure which is which

Harbor Freight has an el cheapo meter for $5.  (~$3 if you catch them on sale)


Scott

[fallacy]

I agree the Happ Competition is complete garage. It is literally the worst joystick\controller I have ever used in my entire life. The Atari 5200 joystick would be a better option.  It boggles my mind on why so many people think this is a good controller and will defend it and recommend it. Do these people also think McDonalds makes the best hamburgers? The controller is almost unplayable; forget about trying to pull off any moves in a fighting game. Have you ever tried playing a 4 way game with one of these forget about it.
Happ Perfect 360 is what you are looking for
http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50608300.htm
I don’t have really any experience with the other joysticks so I don’t know if there is a cheaper option that will work as good as the Perfect 360.

[BadMouth]

 



EDIT: BEWARE OF VENDORS USING WIRING HARNESSES THAT DON'T MATCH THE ORIGINAL JLF ONES.  USE THE POSITION OF THE WIRE IN THE HARNESS IF YOUR COLORS AREN'T IN THE SAME ORDER AS PICTURED ABOVE.

[Vigo]

Reminds me of the time I sold an encoder and the guy came back to me saying it was broken because the inputs for the joystick were inverted. Up was down, down was up. Left was right, right was left.

I had to find a nice way to tell him to rotate his joystick 180 degrees and try again. 

[MagicMan]

I'm not a tard I was just asking b/c I have not used that stick before. 

[rCadeGaming]

I think a stock JLF with slightly increased spring tension is the best for fighters hands down.  I play a lot of street fighter and other fighters, and most of the pros agree on the JLF.

It's not as great however for shmups and other things though.  This is a mod I created to reduce throw engage to fix that, if you're interested:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41451

It also mentions how to just increase the spring tension a little.

[MagicMan]

I think a stock JLF with slightly increased spring tension is the best for fighters hands down.  I play a lot of street fighter and other fighters, and most of the pros agree on the JLF.

It's not as great however for shmups and other things though.  This is a mod I created to reduce throw engage to fix that, if you're interested:

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=41451

It also mentions how to just increase the spring tension a little.

Thanks. I ordered a couple JLFs & octagonal restrictor plates today. I'll see how they perform in other games before I do anything. First, I need a new MAME PC. Ugh.

[rCadeGaming]

I prefer the square restrictor.  It makes blocking feeling very solid.  The octagonal makes the diagonal engage areas feels too small.

IMO:
-Stock JLF with increased spring tension is best for fighters, not so hot for shmups and other things. 
-JLF with my mod is best for shmups and most other genres; and it's still not bad for fighters so it's a great all around stick.
-I think my modded JLF is fine for 4-way games, but if you're really picky about this you might with a dedicated stick with a real 4-way restrictor, like an LS-32.

[emphatic]

Having both gates available to try is great when first trying a new kind of stick, so buying one is a no-brainer, really.

[BadMouth]

I liked the octagon for a while.  It's kinda like training wheels.
When you think you're moving it to the right position, it guides you in.
There's no doubt whether you are hitting left, down, or the diagonal.
When make a circular motion, you feel a bump at each of the 8 directions.
I also did better at 4 way games and qbert with it.

Eventually I moved on to the circular restrictor.
I like the smooth motion of it as compared to the bumpy ride of the other restrictors.

I hated my JLFs before I replaced the spring with a stiffer one.   
I have seimitsu LS-56 springs in them now, but next time I have a need for something at paradisearcadeshop.com, I'm going to get a selection of their springs to check out.
Also started out with bat tops, but they never felt right because they are much smaller than the happs I was used to.  Ended up with hand candy ball tops from groovygamegear and couldn't be happier.

[MagicMan]

I liked the octagon for a while.  It's kinda like training wheels.
When you think you're moving it to the right position, it guides you in.
There's no doubt whether you are hitting left, down, or the diagonal.
When make a circular motion, you feel a bump at each of the 8 directions.
I also did better at 4 way games and qbert with it.

Eventually I moved on to the circular restrictor.
I like the smooth motion of it as compared to the bumpy ride of the other restrictors.

I hated my JLFs before I replaced the spring with a stiffer one.   
I have seimitsu LS-56 springs in them now, but next time I have a need for something at paradisearcadeshop.com, I'm going to get a selection of their springs to check out.
Also started out with bat tops, but they never felt right because they are much smaller than the happs I was used to.  Ended up with hand candy ball tops from groovygamegear and couldn't be happier.

What plate is in the JLF from the factory?

[rCadeGaming]

Square, and I think the reason is that it's what the people who designed the stick recommend.  It gives an equal engage area to all the directions.

As emphatic says though, no harm in trying them, they're pretty cheap.  Just be careful when swapping them out, it's easy to break the two little tabs that hold the colored restrictor part in the larger clear assembly.

[BadMouth]

It's square so the center section can be rotated to make it a 4-way stick.  (squeeze in on the two tabs that stick up from the circular inset and turn)
It's not as convenient as the JLW and I've never bothered to test it much in 4-way mode, but it's there.  Presumeably as a selling point.

[mgb]

I've used the JLF as a 4-way on a previous build and found it to be not that great for 4 way. It sometimes seemed to hit diagonals.

[MagicMan]

Installed the JLF yesterday. I only played for a couple minutes with the octagonal & with the circle in there.

At first I didn't think the octagonal was going to work for games like SF, but then I started to do ok with it. I may leave the octagonal in there. I found it hard to do diagnoal jumps & such with the circle in there.

[rCadeGaming]

Yeah I prefer the stock square restrictor because of things like that, especially diagonal blocking.

[dendawg]

I'm not a tard I was just asking b/c I have not used that stick before. 

That's what she said.