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your thoughts on current 4-way joysticks please
pbj:
I'm just happy when a joystick works when it hits every direction. Not my usual experience in the arcade.
Jimbo:
Whilst waiting for the last few joysticks to arrive, I thought I'd share some info on what I'm hoping to achieve, and also show some progress in the setup.
The point of this is for me to get to know a bunch of 4-way sticks and figure out (mainly for myself) which ones I like best for which types of games. I understand that this will be highly subjective, but perhaps some commonalities of feel will present themselves, and if people end up using this as at least a starting point then I will be glad I helped someone. The aim is not to find one or two "winning" sticks that suit all 4-way games, but I will probably end up recommending one or two for those that just want a single 4-way for, say, a vertical classics cab.
As I've said before, I'm planning on doing this as a video. I'll start by looking at each of the 12 sticks in detail one by one, then will go through a number of 4-way games, one at a time, playtesting every stick before moving onto the next game. I am no expert in the chosen games, so this will more be a "layman" comparison about what feels good and what doesn't, highlighting any problems any sticks have with certain games along the way. For each individial game, I'll try to rank the sticks in order of how suitable they are. I may also enlist the help of my boy to test the sticks, and (pandemic permitting) maybe another gamer friend or two.
As I plan on building a vertical classics cab in the near future, I'll use the bits I have already for that: a Ryzen 5 3600 Groovymame PC connecting via an Ultimarc J-Pac to a Hantarex Polo/3 CRT. I'll be using as high a frame-delay as possible to minimise any input lag. My supergun recently died so I have ended up making a custom jamma harness just for the bits I need for this test (video, gnd, coin/start/button1/button2/up/down/left/right). I'll connect all the individual joystick directions together using a stripboard, then connect that to the jamma direction inputs on the harness. This'll mean I can use all the joysticks as if they were one. Once the joysticks are mounted in the panel, I'll wire them all up to the stripboard.
I've cut all the shaft holes for each of the joysticks, and the mounting holes for the joysticks that I have. 3 more to come soon. I've also made some basic CP mounting blocks from some 2x4 and put some button holes in: 3 sets of 2 buttons for ease of reaching when moving from stick to stick, and 3 buttons at the top for coin, start and exit.
Will be really interesting testing out all the sticks, figuring out what feels best for specific types of games. I'll post another update when the remaining sticks come and I've got it all wired up and ready to test. :cheers:
MartyKong:
Very cool of Jimbo for doing this. A good 4 way comparison will be helpful to all. I have the Happ/Pac reunion stick which I found reading older threads/comparisons like your doing now. I had to adjust the spring to feel looser on it. Other than that I don't hit diagonals but only use it on 4 way games. The 4 way gate sometimes could feel a bit smoother but I guess I'm used to it. Look forward to reading your findings. Marty
Cynicaster:
--- Quote from: leapinlew on March 20, 2021, 11:52:05 am ---For games that I've sold, I've used a HAPP super with a 4 way restrictor (https://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=310) and a ball top replacement.
--- End quote ---
^ This is my preferred MAME cabinet 4-way solution right here. I hate bat tops so the ball top mod is just as important as the restrictor.
I know microswitches are typically deemed rather unsexy, especially when the focus is a generation of games that predominantly used leaf switches. So, if someone has a microswitch aversion, then a ball top and restrictor are not going to change their mind; I understand that.
But the way I look at it is, most MAME cabinets are inherently multi-purpose so "authenticity" for specific games kind of goes out the window anyway, so why fuss over it? Instead, I look for a joystick that is comfortable to use and makes my character reliably go where I want it to go in the widest possible range of 4-way games.
Not sure if this "test" is still planned or ongoing, but other games I'd recommend trying are Nibbler and Frogger. The former to test the stick's ability to accuratey register multiple direction changes in short succession; the latter to test the stick's ability to accurately (and comfortably) register multiple taps in the same direction.
Jimbo:
--- Quote from: Cynicaster on May 06, 2021, 12:54:32 pm ---
--- Quote from: leapinlew on March 20, 2021, 11:52:05 am ---For games that I've sold, I've used a HAPP super with a 4 way restrictor (https://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=310) and a ball top replacement.
--- End quote ---
^ This is my preferred MAME cabinet 4-way solution right here. I hate bat tops so the ball top mod is just as important as the restrictor.
I know microswitches are typically deemed rather unsexy, especially when the focus is a generation of games that predominantly used leaf switches. So, if someone has a microswitch aversion, then a ball top and restrictor are not going to change their mind; I understand that.
But the way I look at it is, most MAME cabinets are inherently multi-purpose so "authenticity" for specific games kind of goes out the window anyway, so why fuss over it? Instead, I look for a joystick that is comfortable to use and makes my character reliably go where I want it to go in the widest possible range of 4-way games.
Not sure if this "test" is still planned or ongoing, but other games I'd recommend trying are Nibbler and Frogger. The former to test the stick's ability to accuratey register multiple direction changes in short succession; the latter to test the stick's ability to accurately (and comfortably) register multiple taps in the same direction.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the info. Good shout on Frogger and Nibbler, I'll make sure to add those into the testing.
I won't be testing the happ super, I don't have one and can't get hold of the 4-way restrictor as I'm in the UK. I have 12 sticks to test though so it should be a thorough enough comparison for most people.
I am waiting on 3 sticks to arrive from the US, then will be able to wire up the behemoth control panel and get my teeth stuck in. Looking forward to it. Maybe in the mean time I should brush up on my Pac-man so I don't look like a complete numpty! :cheers: