new to joysticks, do i really need to buy one for 27$ ?

[doronwalla]

hi,
so im starting my build.. and starting offcures from buying everything i need !!: )
first thing is the buttons and joysticks,
i want 8 way joystick, and for it not to be small (not long shaft but not a small one somewhere in the middle)

i saw the OMNI2 joystick, the problem is it cost 27 $ for one !!! (and i need 3 of em..)
isn't there a good 8 way joystick with a normal length shaft that's less then 27$ ? ? ?

are joysticks really that expansive ?

i'm just new and i don't know the prices...

[Fursphere]

Get the IL (Happ) sticks for $8

But if $27 is too expensive for you, you're in the wrong hobby...   

[JDFan]

The Omni2 are more expensive because they are switchable 4\8 way sticks - if you want 8 way sticks there are alternatives like the Happ Competition stick that run about $8 -- Also on Ebay you can find kits with 2 joysticks and 14 buttons for around $40 shipped For example : ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-HAPP-Kit-14-Long-Arcade-Push-buttons-2-Competition-Joystick-Choose-Colors-/251343306708?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a853a7fd4 )

[yotsuya]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

[Slippyblade]

I'm ordering 3 of the Zippyy sticks from Groovy Game Gear.

Zippyy™ Arcade and Fight Stick

The reviews on these are pretty decent, they come with a restrictor for 8/4/2 way operation, though the forums say it needs a bit of a hack to be smooth on the 4 way.  They're only about 9 bucks.  They are going into my kid's cab that I am building so they don't need to be super smooth, but they DO need to be durable, and from what I've read, these fit the bill.

[Nephasth]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

Buying parts is like buying oats. If you want quality oats, you have to pay a fair price. If you want oats that have been through the horse already, well, those are a little cheaper.

If you want horse ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, buy horse ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

[Fursphere]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

I put $35 MagStik Pros in my cabinet.  My brother put $8 Happ IL sticks in his cabinet.

We both like the Happ's better than the MagSticks.   Probably because so many on location arcades had Happs when I was growing up.

[Brian74]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

I put $35 MagStik Pros in my cabinet.  My brother put $8 Happ IL sticks in his cabinet.

We both like the Happ's better than the MagSticks.   Probably because so many on location arcades had Happs when I was growing up.

I have the same joys and I have to agree! I don't like the short throws. Games I remember playing were not like that. Only good thing about the magstick+ is that they can be switched from the top.

[Slippyblade]

Cheap and inexpensive are completely different beasts.  Just because a product is inexpensive doesn't make it cheap, and I've bought a few things in my life that were expensive that turned out to be cheap as hell.

Good quality and inexpensive simply means that the product doesn't have some of the "features" (i.e. bells and whistles) that or more expensive product has.  That's why I'm a firm believer in looking for reviews, reading forums, etc.  I searched a couple different forums before deciding on the Zippyy's.  The only thing I found derogatory was in regards to the 4-way restrictor and it was found that a simple modification fixed the problem.  So I am going with those.  While I may end up being fooled, I will have spent less for 3 of these sticks than for one of the more expensive ones...  that I may have not liked either.

[thehammer12]

But if $27 is too expensive for you, you're in the wrong hobby...   

I hear origami is making a come back haha.

[WindDrake]

My 4-Player cab uses four IL Eurosticks (the Original Happ Competition stick) at $12 a piece. They are fantastic bat-top sticks if you like that kind of thing. I love them, and my guests are big fans.

My 2-Player cab uses two Happ mechanical Rotary Sticks (based on the Happ Super Joystick) that run ~$55/ea. Great sticks for beat-em-ups and rotary stick games. Not so great for fighters, but workable for everything else.

I just spent $100 putting two GGG Super-Pro's with Versaball2 shafts on my Multi-Williams, which lets me reproduce the playability the 80's Era Wico 8-Way Leaf Joysticks would have had.

It's all about preference.

[Louis Tully]

.

[mgb]

You're just getting started,
get the Happ Super for $8.50
later on you may wanna upgrade but come on, for a casual player, the super is fine.
The Omni2 is no engineering marvel. Its a Sanwa knockoff with a few extra 6-32 screws and nuts and a plastic nub.

[pbj]

Zippyy is too loose IMO, but works well as a 4 way once you grind/burn those nubs off.

I grew up on Happs Ultimate.  Probably why I like the XArcades...

[PL1]

Also, remember to get the switch upgrade kit.

GGG offers them as an installed upgrade option when you buy the Zippyy sticks here.

Paradise Arcade offers them as a separate set here.

Used them to upgrade all my Zippyy and Happ Super sticks -- definitely an improvement IMHO.




Scott

[doronwalla]

Everyone say to go with the Zippy's ...
i guess i should go with them ... but the thing is they have a major flaw...
if you get the long shaft upgrade... aren't they too long ? (and otherwize too short ?)

[Slippyblade]

The long shaft is for if you bottom mount them on a 3/4" wooden CP.  Top mount with short shaft is fine.  Or bottom mount with long, either way.

[PL1]

The long shaft ones are fine for undermounting without routing out a pocket for the stick.

If you want a clean undermount using a short shaft and a routed pocket, check out EMDB's shallow undermount method here.

Route a pocket on the bottom of the CP the size of the joystick mount plate.

Add support blocks.

Make a metal support plate to hold up the joystick and support blocks.
Instead of a square plate, you could just use 2 pieces of flat bar-stock to hold the support blocks and joystick in place.

Secure the metal support plate to the underside of the CP using 4 threaded inserts. (he went a little overboard )



Scott

[ark_ader]

Get stock xarcade joys.

Cheap and cheerful.

[doronwalla]

great
i'll get the zipp'y with the long shaft for mounting it easly on my CP !!!!
hope it won't have much of a throw though .. becouse of the long shaft
you guys are really aswsome.@
 

[DarakuTenshi]

If you are used to arcade gaming in the US and are looking for an 8-way and never 4-way I'd go with Happs Competition joystick. It's what I used on my first arcade cab and my Xbox 360 joystick. I'm having a hard time deciding on a specific joystick for my current build because I want only2 joysticks and something that will work great for 8 way games and at least good for 4-way.

[michelevit]

My preference is...
Happ competitions for bat tops.
Zippys for ball tops.

It all boils down to preference.
There is no right or wrong stick (or button for that matter. )

[ChanceKJ]

Money?  Heh, I had money once....

*sigh*

[deadmoney5]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

this..

and it goes ESPECIALLY for four-way games.  I cant tell you how much i wasted on those until I found one I liked.

[yotsuya]

Let me give you this bit of advice- the joystick is probably the single most important factor on whether or not you will enjoy your game. If you go cheap, well, ....

this..

and it goes ESPECIALLY for four-way games.  I cant tell you how much i wasted on those until I found one I liked.

Agreed. All joysticks are NOT the same.

[mgb]

I agree, all joysticks are not equal. Especially, as already said, when it comes to 4-ways.
  But there are some sticks that cost more than others but are not as good.

I used Zippyys in a customers machine (4 way with nubs shaved) and I thought they were sloppy.
The op here is looking for 8 way and I feel the the $9 super is a better choice then the $27 omni2.

[yotsuya]

I agree, all joysticks are not equal. Especially, as already said, when it comes to 4-ways.
  But there are some sticks that cost more than others but are not as good.

I used Zippyys in a customers machine (4 way with nubs shaved) and I thought they were sloppy.
The op here is looking for 8 way and I feel the the $9 super is a better choice then the $27 omni2.

I haven't used the Omni2, so I can't say if it's better. My advice to the OP, though, was really more about not getting hung up on the price. Don't buy the $8 Super just because it's $8. Buy it because you like the feel. Also, the Omni 2 has features that the Super doesn't have, contributing to the price. Any buyer should keep that in mind.

[mgb]

True, I can't argue with that.

[yotsuya]

True, I can't argue with that.