8 way and 4 Way Joystick compromise suggestions

[pixelpalace]

I need some suggestions on a joystick that works well with both 8 and 4 way.  I know they are completely different, just trying to find a compromise. I dont want to swap between the two. Just want a stick that will work well on both 4 and 8 way games.  I have used the ultimarc magstik but its just OK.

[Marsupial]

maybe this?
https://www.ultimarc.com/arcade-controls/joysticks/servostik/

[RandyT]

I need some suggestions on a joystick that works well with both 8 and 4 way.

There really aren't any.  That's not to say that there aren't sticks which work at varying levels of pretty good for both, provided they can be switched, but it's always going to be a trade-off.  And despite popular belief, it's not only due to the shape of the restriction, although that is a major part of it.  There are also the points at which the switches actuate, which ideally should differ between the the two types.

As for restriction, a rotatable square is usually necessary for a switchable stick and while these can sometimes do a pretty good job for a 4-way, barring the possible switch position issues, square restriction on an 8-way is far from ideal.  But it is very acceptable for a diagonal stick, due to the corner restriction.

If you must have a switchable stick, you'll probably need to try a few and see if you can find one which compromises in ways you can live with.  But the best approach will always be dedicated sticks for each of the two modes.  Oh, and the same goes for two-ways

[ic]

From my experience if you are mounting the joystick in a wooden panel these are decent:
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/Sanwa-JLW-TM-8-Ball-Top-Joystick.html
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/Sanwa-JLW-UM-8-Bat-Top-Joystick.html

If mounting in a thinner metal panel these work great in both 8 and 4 way. From 8 way games like Street Fighter to 4 way games like Tetris the Grandmaster, they hold up well.
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/Sanwa-JLF-TP-8Y-Ball-Top-Joystick.html
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/qanba-black-bat-top-handle-suitable-for-sanwa-jlf-joysticks.html (These are available if you like bat top joysticks)

There's also other options but I prefer the above.

The 1st Joystick I bought was a JLW which I stuck in an Xarcade, I never had any issues with it. Now I tend to mainly use JLF joysticks, I've tried Hori Hayabusa and Seimitsu LS-32 and always go back to Sanwa JLF.

[ericball]

In my vertical barcade I'm using a Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT with an octagonal restrictor.  Going from the square restrictor to the octagonal made a huge difference for 4-way games like Pac-Man.  With the square restrictor the joystick always wanted to slide into the corners.  The octagonal restrictor also works well for 8-way games - especially ones like Gyruss where you're rotating between adjacent directions.

The one place where the octagonal restrictor is weak is with 4-way diagonal games.  It was easier to hit the corners with the square restrictor; whereas with the octagonal restrictor the joystick has to be all the way into the corner to register.  However the improvement in normal 4-way games more than makes up for it.

[StefanBurger]

Free software is available to automatically switch orientation, based on selected game for...
- Windows platform (LaunchBox)
- Raspberry Pi (Retropie/ Emulationstation)

Planned to become a regular GRS product within this calendar year.

[Bambam1963]

I need some suggestions on a joystick that works well with both 8 and 4 way.  I know they are completely different, just trying to find a compromise. I dont want to swap between the two. Just want a stick that will work well on both 4 and 8 way games.  I have used the ultimarc magstik but its just OK.

The ideal solution is at least one 8-way stick and another Pac-man 4-way stick.  You will not regret going this route.

[Howard_Casto]

I need some suggestions on a joystick that works well with both 8 and 4 way.  I know they are completely different, just trying to find a compromise. I dont want to swap between the two. Just want a stick that will work well on both 4 and 8 way games.  I have used the ultimarc magstik but its just OK.

The ideal solution is at least one 8-way stick and another Pac-man 4-way stick.  You will not regret going this route.

The idea solution is to have a dedicated cabinet for 4 way games and another for 8way.   You WILL regret putting too much crap on a single control panel.   

[J_K_M_A_N]

It probably won't be popular, but I am really liking the U360 for both. When in 4 way mode, it works great for me. I play a lot of Donkey Kong with it (and Donkey Kong II). And it has the added bonus of having a 2 way mode for games like Joust and having a mode for Q*Bert and Sinistar. I used to make 1 player controls with a 4 way (MS Pac Man/Galaga 20 year reunion stick) and an 8 way but I like this much better.

J_K_M_A_N