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your thoughts on current 4-way joysticks please
Jimbo:
You won't be the first to say I'm mad, or the last, I expect. :laugh2:
I already spotted with the Sanwas that it seems you can hit the diagonals with the restrictor gate in the 4-way position. We'll see how that affects some of the games soon enough I guess.
I've got a 2lb and a 4lb spring on order for the JLF, and the kowal mod for shorter throw. I already don't like the stock throw of the JLF so I'm hoping the kowal mod will improve things. The Seimitsu LS-32 on the other hand has a lovely short throw, and you can't hit the diagonals.
But... I'll let the playtesting do all the talking, and not judge a book by its cover.
bobbyb13:
--- Quote from: Jimbo on April 23, 2021, 09:48:44 am ---
--- Quote from: Zeosstud on April 23, 2021, 09:13:29 am ---How is the comparison coming along?
--- End quote ---
Still waiting for a few sticks to come in the post. I've already drilled one massive metal test panel ready for them all (all 12 of them!). I figured I wanted ALL of the joysticks working and at hand when testing so I can quickly switch between them to try and notice any small idiosyncracies between similar sticks. Some might label me mad (me included). I figured I'd go the whole hog and it's a fun project anyway and I have a bit of free time. Plan is to do an in-depth comparison video.
I will have the following joysticks on the panel (all set to 4-way where needed): -
Wico 4-way leaf
GGG Dominux8
GGG Leaf Pro
GGG Pac-Pro
Sanwa JLF
Sanwa JLW
Seimitsu LS-32
Australia MCA
IL Mag-Stick
Nintendo DK stick
Happ/Midway Reunion
Tornado Terry's
Current game list to test is: -
Donkey Kong
Pac-Man
Bomber Man World
Pengo
Ghosts 'n' Goblins
Probably a couple of 2-ways (Galaga/Moon Cresta/etc)
Will be a few weeks yet by the time I've received the remaining sticks, wired them up and taken the video/done the comparison.
If anyone can think of other games that would be good to test with I'm all ears. :cheers:
--- End quote ---
The fine line between madness and genius.
Brilliant test idea.
Looking forward to hearing/seeing your results!
RandyT:
While I applaud the effort, given the entirely subjective nature of joysticks in general, I believe that outside of any of them being outright awful, your conclusions would be based very much on personal preference. Unless of course you plan to bring in a half-dozen or so other players from different backgrounds to assist in your endeavor. Some won't want to even bother using a spring-based centering 4-way, regardless of performance, while others won't care as long as it works. Others still, who have become used to the controls in the original games, won't even consider using something else. You get the idea.
Also, good 4-way sticks by their nature make pretty poor controllers for 2-way games. While they do offer better restriction than an 8-way, an 8-way is generally better for these, as restriction tends not to be as important for a two-way title. There's only two valid and very separated directions, and a properly mapped control can't help but hit them...quickly. The switch actuation can also be much tighter (very important for these) without concern for excessive "cross-over", which would destroy 4-way play.
There are a LOT of joysticks offered and used by a LOT of different people. If there were one, or even two "best" joysticks, this wouldn't be the case.
Jimbo:
--- Quote from: bobbyb13 on April 23, 2021, 01:07:03 pm ---The fine line between madness and genius.
Brilliant test idea.
Looking forward to hearing/seeing your results!
--- End quote ---
Thanks, it'll be fun!
Grasshopper:
--- Quote from: Jimbo on April 23, 2021, 11:26:22 am ---I've got a 2lb and a 4lb spring on order for the JLF, and the kowal mod for shorter throw. I already don't like the stock throw of the JLF so I'm hoping the kowal mod will improve things. The Seimitsu LS-32 on the other hand has a lovely short throw, and you can't hit the diagonals.
--- End quote ---
It might also be worth checking out a Seimitsu LS-32 fitted with a stiffer spring. I'm not sure whether you can buy the springs separately, but a Seimitsu LS-32 fitted with a stiffer spring is called a Seimistu LS-38.