4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet

[gedman]

The MAME cabinet I'm building will be used for games needing a 4-way joystick (ie Pac-Man) and games needing and 8-way joystick (ie Defender).

If I install an 8-way joystick, how annying is it when playing games that need a 4-way joystick? What happens in the game if the user pushes the joystick into the corner (hitting two microswitches)?

Ultimarc makes a dual 4-way/8-way joystick that can be toggled without needing to reach inside the cabinet. (Apparently, the user toggles by pulling up on the joystick, turning 45-degrees, and releasing the joystick.)  Is it worth the money to get this type of joystick?  I don't want my kids reaching inside the cabinet to flip a switch or a lever when they need to toggle.

Thanks!

[ZoOl007]

I have 2 ultimarc servostiks and I am very happy with them. Several automation mechanisms exist to switch between 4 and 8 way.

[ger]

Me2 works very good the ultimarc servosticks. Q-Bert is diff to play;-))

[Titchgamer]

I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.

[syntax_x]

I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.

You can actually put up with using those horrid things???
I've got a set here that I purchased years ago and put them in storage the second I felt them.
Went to put them on ebay but didn't think anyone would actually buy them.

Short clunky throw, and that awful feeling from the pivot being this big flat magnet which pulls off the base magnet to give you a variable shaft length during gameplay.

I would never recommend a Magstick to my worst enemy.

**EDIT** Just took these out of storage, they are worse than I remembered lol. Ebay time.

[paigeoliver]

I have also in the past just installed a 4-way stick next to an 8-way stick.

[Titchgamer]

I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.

You can actually put up with using those horrid things???
I've got a set here that I purchased years ago and put them in storage the second I felt them.
Went to put them on ebay but didn't think anyone would actually buy them.

Short clunky throw, and that awful feeling from the pivot being this big flat magnet which pulls off the base magnet to give you a variable shaft length during gameplay.

I would never recommend a Magstick to my worst enemy.

**EDIT** Just took these out of storage, they are worse than I remembered lol. Ebay time.

I like the short throw, but wouldn't call them clunky.

I have the mag stick plusses I think they are called where they can be adjusted from the top of the CP so dont know if they are different in feel to the original?

I did have to swap the switches out because the standard ones were stiff.

But after that and some tweaking yeah they work great.

[danny_galaga]

Another thumbs up for Servostiks. They have a few little niggles that need to be sorted out when you install them, but it really is a trivial matter.

Oh, and isn't Defender a two way?

[paigeoliver]

Another thumbs up for Servostiks. They have a few little niggles that need to be sorted out when you install them, but it really is a trivial matter.

Oh, and isn't Defender a two way?

I believe there is an 8-way hack for it.