Help Identifying Joystick

[yotsuya]

This weekend, I played 1942 at my local arcade and really liked the 8-way stick that was on the machine. The performance on it was great, even though I could tell by the clicks that it was microswitch-based. Can anyone identify it? I've attached a photo.

[Nephasth]

Looks kinda like Randy's Omnistick... kinda.

[BadMouth]

It's a Suzo.

Probably Suzo STC 500 (sold by RandyT as the Omni-Stick).
Short throw makes it popular with the shmup crowd.

[yotsuya]

Yeah, I thought it looked like the Omni-Stick (I checked GGG first before posting). He's all sold out. Any sources?

Edit... I see Andy has them. Might need to get one to play with!

[BadMouth]

Emphatic did an article about mounting one in his candy cab:

http://www.emphatic.se/?p=646

GroovyGameGear's versa-ball shaft will fit it if you want a more traditional look.
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=381

[RandyT]

While the Omni / Suzo sticks are used often and favored by SHMUPS entusiasts, I don't believe the item shown is one of those sticks.

The first clue is the base color.  The Suzo's are always black.  The second is the ring at the base.  This one has a fairly pronounced rounded lip, and is larger than the Suzo.  And the shaft isn't the same.

I recall from a discussion a while back on these boards, that these were an Australian made stick with a similar appearance.  But take that for what it's worth

*edit*

Found them.  They are an MCA stick, and apparently used widely there (but not much anywhere else.)  Not sure whether they are actually produced there, but the data seems to point in that direction.


RandyT

[yotsuya]

You rock, Randy! Thanks!

[Gray_Area]

The second is the ring at the base.  This one has a fairly pronounced rounded lip, and is larger than the Suzo.  And the shaft isn't the same.

Man, all this dirty talk today!

Looks they borrowed the Zippy stick's restrictor idea. OH, forty bucks?! Hellll noo.