Best mechanically restricted 4-way stick for all-round 4-way gaming?

[Jimbo]

I'm looking for a 4-way stick for my dedicated 4-way panel in my rotating CP project.

I want to play a big variety of 4-way games including Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Mikie, Kung Fu Master, Mr Do!, RallyX, Rolling Thunder, Pitfall II, etc. etc.

I have a Pac-Pro from GGG, but it has a very strong spring and requires some effort to move/hold in a direction... strong force back to center.  I'm not sure it's the best joystick for all round 4-way gaming.

Anyone have any suggestions for a good all-round mechanically restricted 4-way stick?  (with red ball-top, perfereably with a short-shaft)

Cheers

[BadMouth]

Sanwa JLW with the restrictor screwed down in the 4-way position.

It's getting harder to find, but there are a lot of knock-offs out there.
I don't know how the knock-offs compare as I haven't used any of them.

[Louis Tully]

.

[jimmer]

Jimbo,

I've got zippyys with custom restrictors.

But the JLF clone with custom restrictor is better, especially if you want a nice light action.

[yotsuya]

Pac-Pro all day long. The leaf switches outweigh anything dealing with the spring.

[Jimbo]

Pac-Pro all day long. The leaf switches outweigh anything dealing with the spring.

Interesting... is anyone using a Pac-Pro and can comment on how it plays for some of the games I mentioned above?

[jimmer]

Pac-Pro all day long. The leaf switches outweigh anything dealing with the spring.

Leafs aren't so big an improvement on a 4way compared to 8way, because on a 4way the microswitches don't distort the actuation pattern like they do on an 8way.

[chopperthedog]

wico 4 way /endthread.



good day.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I love the custom joy made by Tornado Terry's store.  It's worth checking out:  www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm

He makes two flavors of the stick: Long shaft for 3/4" wood panels and a shorter one for metal panels.  Both work great (I have two).  I bought mine in 2009 and they still work great!

Here's the longer wood CP installed on my horizontal machine (red ball):


Here's the metal CP installed on my vertical machine (green ball):


DeLuSioNaL29

[BadMouth]

I love the consensus of this thread. 

[yotsuya]

I love the consensus of this thread. 

It IS a pretty subjective question..... 

I've used all sorts of 4-way sticks, and the Pac-Pro is my favorite, especially for most of those games that you mentioned.

[wp34]

I'll second the Wico 4-way.  The rubber centering grommet is hard to beat.  That being said I bought a couple of Pac-Pro's and am anxious to give them a try in my next cocktail build.

[RandyT]

Leafs aren't so big an improvement on a 4way compared to 8way, because on a 4way the microswitches don't distort the actuation pattern like they do on an 8way.

Not true.  At least the part about a big improvement.  Leaf switches don't have the hysteresis associated with normal microswitches, which means that there can be a virtually zero reset distance if the player wishes to pause momentarily, but continue quickly in the same direction.  They are also much easier to tune to one's preference.

[jimmer]

Leafs aren't so big an improvement on a 4way compared to 8way, because on a 4way the microswitches don't distort the actuation pattern like they do on an 8way.

Not true.  At least the part about a big improvement. 

I didn't mention, let alone deny, a big improvement. So I don't follow what you are disagreeing with.

If you want to disagree with my statement you'll have to say that leafs give more of an improvement to a 4way than to an 8way, or that they give the same improvement in both cases.

[RandyT]

I didn't mention, let alone deny, a big improvement. So I don't follow what you are disagreeing with.

If you want to disagree with my statement you'll have to say that leafs give more of an improvement to a 4way than to an 8way, or that they give the same improvement in both cases.

Each stick, 4-way or 8-way, has it's own dynamic.  Obviously, concerns related to a specific dynamic may not be reflected in the dynamic of the other.  That, however, does not negate the overarching benefits of the same switches to that specific dynamic.  So my disagreement would be to state that they give the same amount of improvement to both 4-way and 8-way sticks, but possibly for different reasons.

[pbj]

Anything new you put in your cabinet will play better than anything you ever encountered out in the wild.

/my usual 2 cents

[ChanceKJ]

/causally waits for the obligatory "X2 wall of text"

...besides, you're all wrong: the best joystick ever came off a Namco Plug and play ($20). 





 

[Xiaou2]

/causally waits for the obligatory "X2 wall of text"

...besides, you're all wrong: the best joystick ever came off a Namco Plug and play ($20). 

 

 I think you are trolling actually...

 Its been too long since Ive used a 4 way stick..  but Id probably say that Id prefer the Original bally Pacman/Ms Pacman sticks.

 These were very large metal bases, and the bottoms are nearly identical to the Tron trigger stick.   Rubber grommets, short balltop handles, very smooth and precise action..  and quite robust in durability.

 Even though they will eventually wear out...  they usually held up much longer and better than a wico version.

The bally sticks also had replaceable plastic inserts..  however,  not sure if you can still find them available these days.

[Jimbo]

Cheers all...  wow a lot of opinions here   I guess it was quite a subjective question.

The zippyy sounds good, and as it's cheap it might be worth a go.  I'm also toying with getting a dominux8 and bottom mounting it to shorten the shaft, and add in the 4-way restrictor plate.  I love the feel of the rubber grommet so this could be worth a try.

[adder]

Jimbo i recommend listening to Jimmer, and buying one of his JLF clones with custom restrictor.
it's only a few pounds more than a zippyy, and miles better.

[yotsuya]

Jimbo, jadder sez Jimmer's JLF joy is joyous.

[Jimbo]

LOL

I've just tried bottom mounting one of my Dominux8's in 12mm ply to get a nice short shaft and it feels surprisingly good.  With the 4-way restrictor added I think it could be a great solution, albeit a more costly one. Argh, I can't make up my mind!!

[haynor666]

I'm still using U360.

[opt2not]

Subjective thread is subjective.

Just buy all of the ones listed in this thread, try 'em out, and pick the best one that suits your needs. You have a disposable income right?

[benarcade]

Original Pac-Man with a new grommet.

[Louis Tully]

.

[paigeoliver]

I have never been unhappy with the Namco reunion stick. (Make sure you get a real one, not a knock-off). Original pac-man sticks are great, but you rarely find a really nice one bouncing around loose. While I LOVE Wico products I don't actually like how their 4-way performs on speed up Pac-Man titles.

I also LOVE the Suzo Happ universal. It has nice solid 4-way performance and is the only way to play Q*Bert properly without installing another stick. It installs in a button hole with no screws and it is easy to rotate 45 degrees for Q*Bert if you don't torque down the mounting nut.

http://na.suzohapp.com/amusement_products/joysticks/50-6048-00

I have tried quite a few different Asian style sticks and while they all got the job done, none of them impressed me with their 4-way performance. I have not yet got a chance to try any of the new leaf sticks from our favorite vendors, so I have no comment on those yet.

[csnow]

I have never been unhappy with the Namco reunion stick. (Make sure you get a real one, not a knock-off).

What he said!  The reunion stick is flawless.  I didnt realize how bad my other 4 way was until I got my reunion cabinet.

[pbj]

I'm still using U360.

You're the only one.

[ChanceKJ]

I'm still using U360.

You're the only one.

I am too.