best 4 way Joystick

[Producer]

what is it?  I am using a haps universal with the 4way option and it blows.  I want the perfect 4 way joystick!

[The cranky hermit]

I use the Happs Ms Pacman/Galaga 4-way, and I like it. You'll need a metal mounting plate in order to mount it on wood, and I had to bend back the microswitch levers in order to get it to feel right, but right now, I couldn't be happier with anything else for Pac-Man. Although some may prefer the Wico 4-way leaf. Personally, Pac-Man wouldn't be the same to me without the clickety-clackety joystick.

[Lilwolf]

I like my wico 4way leaf switch (good with wood panel) but I have to say, after trying a mspacman 4way (microswitch new one) I would vote for that.

[Tiger-Heli]

what is it?  I am using a haps universal with the 4way option and it blows.  I want the perfect 4 way joystick!

Been asked a lot before.

Board consensus would be the Happ Ms.Pac/Galaga stick, although if you read between the lines, I've seen that it can hit the diagonals - not good.

Personally, based on cost and from what I've read, I would check out the Omni-Stik from www.groovygamegear.com, aka STC 500.  Biggest complaint seems to be the short throw, but that is good for 4-way games.  Also, the Omni-Stik prodigy when it gets released.

The Seimitsu's are also good as a pure 4-way, but I think you can really only buy them on E-bay.

I can't really comment on leaf-switch 4-ways, but a lot of people really recommend them.

Next would probably be the Ultimarc/Happ E-Stick www.ultimarc.com (if you can deal with the cheesy plastic base plate) or the Ultimarc/IL T-stick (even shorter throw and stiffer spring pressure than the Omni-Stik.)

Lots of people will rave on the Sanwa/Ultimarc J-Stick, but from what I've read, it can hit the diagonals, and has a fairly long throw, both bad for a 4-way.

Search the board for more details on any of these.

[The cranky hermit]

Board consensus would be the Happ Ms.Pac/Galaga stick, although if you read between the lines, I've seen that it can hit the diagonals - not good.

All you have to do is bend the levers back. You don't even need pliars, although they help. No more diagonals. After bending them back, I tested it very thoroughly. I loaded up "The Simpsons" and mapped each coin to a diagonal. Then I moved the stick around and around for a good 10 minutes, and not a single coin input activated. Then I gave my 8 way a single 360 degree turn, and all 4 Simpsons lit up.
Finally, I loaded Pac-Man, and played it for the rest of the afternoon. It felt "right."

[Producer]

Thanks for the replies.  I assume the 4 way mspacman is http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/5060841125r.htm?  I like that one because I just played on a real MsPacman that has that.

Just looks tough to mount on http://www.imhz.com/mame/room/DCP02933.JPG.
Its replacing the blue one, and that wood is about an inch thick.

Where's that mounting plate?

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks for the replies.  I assume the 4 way mspacman is http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/5060841125r.htm?  I like that one because I just played on a real MsPacman that has that.

Where's that mounting plate?

That's the one.

Mounting plate - www.oscarcontrols.com  E-mail OSCAR, he was selling the bare plates without hardware for less money for the Ms.Pac mounts.

[Producer]

All ordered.  I went with Ms Pac man one with Oscars plate.

Omni-Stik, and Wico really interests me, but I have never tried them.  I just went with what I know.

Thanks for the Oscar referal, and shouts to all of you!  This place is the best for Mame hardware info.

[Jakobud]

Just looks tough to mount on http://www.imhz.com/mame/room/DCP02933.JPG.

Holy carpel-tunnel syndrome, Batman!! What angle is your control panel sitting at?

[Producer]

Its probably a 20% grade.  Why ya think thats bad?  Its pretty comfortable, especially from the bar chairs.