Joystick Options

[killbill]

Hi,

I'm at the point in my project where I need to decide on joysticks. First, a little about the project. It's a bartop with an auto rotating 20" 4x3 LCD monitor. Emulators include: MAME, DEMUL (Atomiswave, Naomi), Daphne, Sega Ring (via Teknoparrot) and a few classic consoles (NES, Sega Genesis) Looking to create standard two stick, 12 button cp plus P1 and P2 buttons. I plan to make a few attachable control panel additions: G27 wheel and another with trackball and spinner. These will slide up against the existing cp via a track underneath the bartop.

From the beginning I had decided on using u360s, but recently I have thought about other options. My intention is to play as many games as possible as well as possible, which is a fairly generic statement I know. I like platformers, schmups, fighting games, etc. The options I am currently thinking about are:

- U360s - on the plus - like the universal aspect, the mapping, etc. No encoder needed. On the downside - don't really like the top restrictor plate that sticks up through the control panel, not a huge fan of the "feel" also. Not really arcade authentic.

- Magstik Plus - on the plus - top switchable 4/8 way, no top restrictor plate needed. On the downside - very small throw, feel not very arcade authentic. Needs ipac.

- Sanwa or Happ 8 way sticks - then I would have to build a dedicated 4 way sticks add on panel, which is doable. Just not sure how much of a pain the switch out will be over and over again.

I know that this is a very subjective question, but I am truly unable to decide at this point and am locked in an OCD loop. I'm just looking for opinions from you experienced people here at the forum. I'm weighing enjoying less games with a more authentic feel and function, versus more games with the added compromises. Any advice or help is truly appreciated.

[yotsuya]

If you’re OCD, you will never be happy with whatever joystick you pick. Just accept that right now. :-)

[killbill]

Hey yotsuya,

Haha. What can I say, I'm a sufferer. 

[yotsuya]

If you don’t care about color, I still get the Happ supers. They’ee kind of the best mix of four-way and eight-way you’ll fine. Paige Oliver has stated this, and after testing it out myself, I tend to agree. They’re not the best sticks, but they’re very suitable.

[paigeoliver]

If you don’t care about color, I still get the Happ supers. They’ee kind of the best mix of four-way and eight-way you’ll fine. Paige Oliver has stated this, and after testing it out myself, I tend to agree. They’re not the best sticks, but they’re very suitable.

Right, Happ supers aren't the best sticks made, but they are the best cheap sticks that perform well in most varieties of games. I have never felt the need to rip them out of a game, as I often do with Ultimates and Competitions.

[PL1]

If you don’t care about color, I still get the Happ supers.

If you like the Happ Supers and do care about colors, try to find some "IL Compact" sticks if IL is still making them. 

http://www.industrias-lorenzo.com/en/joysticks/321-mando-compacto.html

Paradise Arcade Shop used to carry them, but I haven't found any vendors that currently stock/sell them.   


Scott

[Titchgamer]

I was in a similar boat to you a while back.
I dont consider myself a purist but I am fussy about the feel of a stick and more importantly its function.

Ive never tried a 360 so cant comment on those but:

I really like the mag sticks, They are what I have fixed to my MAME machine at the moment and I wrote a full review on them on here if you look for it.

I like the short throw, once I got used to it I found it snappier and more responsive but they did need some minor modding to get them the way I liked.

As for the Happ/Sanwa I didnt really like Happ comps, They were sloppy and had to much travel for my liking.

Sanwa JLF’s I love, and personally think are the best 8 way stick with a octagonal restrictor.
You can pick up all 8 directions with ease and flows well.

But I like to have true 4 way to play pac man so mag sticks were my final choice.

[big10p]

I like Sanwa JLF/JLW sticks with round gates. There are various mods available for JLFs, too. But yeah, joystick preference is completely subjective, really. You just have to find out which ones you like by trying them out over the years, really. Personally, I have no trouble playing 4-way games with my 8-way sticks and round gates.

[killbill]

Thanks for the input guys.

[DeLuSioNal29]

If you don’t care about color, I still get the Happ supers. They’ee kind of the best mix of four-way and eight-way you’ll fine. Paige Oliver has stated this, and after testing it out myself, I tend to agree. They’re not the best sticks, but they’re very suitable.

There are plenty of colors for Supers available at Tornado Terry's.  He even makes "competition looking" bat tops for Supers.  Ball Tops too.
http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm

DeL

[yotsuya]

If you don’t care about color, I still get the Happ supers. They’ee kind of the best mix of four-way and eight-way you’ll fine. Paige Oliver has stated this, and after testing it out myself, I tend to agree. They’re not the best sticks, but they’re very suitable.

There are plenty of colors for Supers available at Tornado Terry's.  He even makes "competition looking" bat tops for Supers.  Ball Tops too.
http://www.tornadoterrys.com/surplus.htm

DeL

Great link, DeL!