What should I look for in joystick and buttons? I like tactile feed back.

[Locke141]

I need to order my buttons and joysticks in the near future.

I am building a 4player pedestal and will be adding two more players for the 6 player x-man at some point. I am open to the Idea of using two higher quality Joysticks for the two mane 6 button players, as long as they all look the same on top.   

I will need 6 joysticks (starting with 4) and 38 buttons so price is a bit of an issue, but I want something that will work and feel good. I don't need them to be 4 way restricted but it would be a plus if they could do both.

This machine will be mostly used for beat them ups. I am shore it will see lots of fighters as well. 

Are any of the cheep joysticks on ebay even worth considering?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-HAPP-COMPETITION-8-WAY-JOYSTICK-ARCADE-JAMMA-MAME-tm-/260824777265?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cba5e4231

[BobA]

If you want good feeling controls do not get the Xgaming bundle.  They are cheaper copies of regular controls made for their control panels.   Don't know what you are looking for in tactile feedback.  Do you really want to feel or hear the click of the microswitches?

[BadMouth]

Same price from groovygamegear and you can get a different color for each player:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65&sort=20a&page=2

Cheap buttons too if you're ok with convex ones: http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=73&sort=3a&page=1
EDIT: they are indeed concave like normal old-school buttons.

The owner is a member here and backs his products.

Same goes for:

http://www.ultimarc.com/  (In the UK, but very fast shipping)
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/ (although not as active on here lately)
http://www.arcadeemulator.net/ (only ships once a week, but can get any parts on the Happ website and doesn't soak you with shipping charges like Happ does)

[BadMouth]

Wherever you order from, order a pushbutton wrench!

[Locke141]

If you want good feeling controls do not get the Xgaming bundle.  They are cheaper copies of regular controls made for their control panels.   Don't know what you are looking for in tactile feedback.  Do you really want to feel or hear the click of the microswitches?

I don't need to feel an actual click or hear it, but I don't think I want a super "soft touch" feel. This is my first billed, I believe I am looking for what is called the "American stile".

 I am basing my preference for controls off my preference for key boards (IBM Model-M). It's to long since I last played in an arcade to remember what I would like. I'm Living in Tanzania and can't find a local assortment of arcade cabinets to get a feel for what I would actually like. I'm open to using soft touch if there is a compelling reason to do so, particularly for beat them ups and fighters.   

P.S. I would rather spend more to get a good product. Even if it means the Vinyl will have to be put off till my next trip back to the USA.

[Locke141]

Same price from groovygamegear and you can get a different color for each player:
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65&sort=20a&page=2

Thanks,
I guess you think theses are decent?

[sandheaver]

Ultimarc has fair controls.  The buttons have a definite threshold between "unpushed" and "pushed" and you can feel it if you want, and it's easily ignorable if you don't.  Wooden control panels all but mute the clicking sound (Again, you can hear it if you listen but it's ignorable.)

I prefer Ultimarc's J-Stik but some people like the elongated "bat" style handle instead.  It's more expensive than a Happ Competition, though apparently the Happ Competition sticks are unparalleled.

X-Arcade is right the hell out if you want quality. 

[paigeoliver]

If cost is an issue you may want to seriously examine how much extra you are going to spend building a 6 player machine versus a 2 player or 4 player machine.

90 percent of the time it will probably just be you playing. Playing all six players on X-Men is something that literally might only happen once in your lifetime.

[Locke141]

If cost is an issue you may want to seriously examine how much extra you are going to spend building a 6 player machine versus a 2 player or 4 player machine.

 It's starting off life as a 4 player. it's based off the plans for the control panel of the 6 player x-man cabe so there is room for two more. The plane is to add on the 5 and 6 player one day. I just don't want to pay to get more then what I need. 

[mamenewb100]

90 percent of the time it will probably just be you playing. Playing all six players on X-Men is something that literally might only happen once in your lifetime.

Unless his house is a hot party spot or something. Or you just happen to have a bunch of gamer friends or nostalgic arcade enthusiasts, where you specifically set up game nights or something. Then it could be worth having 4-6 Players. If not then it may only get used a few times ever.

[BadMouth]

Well, you're probably not going to get a strait answer about joysticks.
Happ Comps are about as the American Style as it gets.
They are probably identical to what you remember from 90's beat 'em ups.

There has never been any consensus on what the best "all around" stick is.
Certain sticks work better for certain genres of games.
You'll do better in shmups with an extremely short throw and engage distance. (Seimitsu LS-56, Suzo 500)
For fighters, you'll pull off special moves more consistently with a longer engage distance and equal engagement areas for all 8 directions. (Sanwa JLF)
For classics, you'll be better off using a physical 4-way restrictor.

The closest thing to an all-arounder that most people agree on is probably a Sanwa JLW with the restrictor set up so it can easily be changed between 4 and 8 way.
Ultimarc sells it under the name j-stick.  Groovygamegear sells a similar one under the name Omni2, although I'm not sure if it is a genuine Sanwa or a knock-off.
The stock spring is probably too light to have the feel you are looking for though.  IIRC, the spring Ultimarc sells for the U360 will work in it.

I have Sanwa JLFs in my personal cab.  When I first got them, I described the feeling as "dainty".  The spring force was just too light for my taste because I was used to American cabs.  They've grown on me as I've heavily modified them with different balltops, springs, and optical switches.  I also had custom shafts made to add rotary function, but haven't got around to making the rest of the parts.  When all is said and done, I'll probably have $200 in them, but I enjoy the tinkering.

I have Happ Comps in the X-Arcade setup that my guests use.  It's about the feel most people remember.

My personal opinion is that the Happ comps are going to be closer to what you remember when playing Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, & beat 'em ups.
Are there joysticks out there that are going to hit the corners better and allow you to do the special moves more consistently? 
Yes, and they will have that "soft touch feel" you said you didn't like.

[BadMouth]

We're talking about $25 extra for the joysticks and buttons to add players 5 & 6.
Do it!  Do it just because nobody else on here has. 

[yotsuya]

We're talking about $25 extra for the joysticks and buttons to add players 5 & 6.
Do it!  Do it just because nobody else on here has. 

Why stop at 5-6? Add three screens and two computers and do 12 players. I haven't seen that one before.

[Unstupid]

Get the IL Eurostick instead of the Happ Competition.... Better!

[mgb]

I agree with getting Happ Competitions (or IL euro) or even Happ Supers.
Definitely gonna give you the American cab feel from the 90s.

If cost is a huge issue then building a 2 player control panel is better than cheaping out on controls.
But at least the comps or supers will save some money.

[paigeoliver]

Supers are the most game type neutral of the cheaper american style controls. They have a good feel, are quite balanced in diagonals vs. primary directions and have the circular movement pattern that many games need to play right. They aren't my favorite stick in the world, but out of the hundreds of machines I have owned I have never felt the need to switch out a super for something better.

[Thurman]

Limit the control panel to 4 players, then have 2 additional usb controllers that can be used for those rare occasions.

[Locke141]

If cost is a huge issue then building a 2 player control panel is better than cheaping out on controls.
But at least the comps or supers will save some money.

Cost is not a huge issue. I just didn't want people suggesting that I should buy 4 $80 joy sticks.

I was thinking preferably under $30s and I did not want to pay more for what I don't need. I am happy with all the recommendations.

Thanks to the great community here, I feel that I mush better understand what it is I am looking for and the trade offs.     

[nitz]

I'll just second using Happ Comps.

I've got a couple of them and I'd say they tick all the boxes for you - they're cheap, great for fighters and beat'em ups, have a tactile feel, and have the feel of a '90s American arcade cab stick (I'm in Canada, but all our machines were either imported or copied from the US market ).

My one gripe about them is that they're kinda meh for genres outside of fighters and beat'em ups. I don't think there's any 8-way game where they would feel unplayable, but they're just not the greatest stick for say, puzzle games or shmups. If that doesn't bother you though, I highly recommend them.