T-Stik Plus vs. OmniStick Prodigy?

[megashock5]

Hello,

Just getting started, but I'm trying to decide which of these 4/8-way switchable sticks to put on my cabinet.

Anyone have any opinions on one versus the other?

thanks in advance!

[NoOne=NBA=]

I didn't like the following things about the Prodigy sticks, so I went with T-stiks.

1) They have that big switch that sticks up out of the CP, instead of just the stick.

2) The handle looks funny to me, with the tapered shaft and the hump that sticks up at the bottom of the stick.

3) You HAVE to top mount them, so you can't adjust stick height, etc...

[flampoo]

T-Stick plus is less visually intrusive.
The Prodigy is a lot easier to switch between 4/8 way.
They both work great.

[NoOne=NBA=]

ALOT easier?

I'm hoping you don't ever have to use any of those REALLY complicated hand tools--like a screwdriver.  

Seriously though, you pull up slightly, and twist.
It's that simple, and works perfectly--all without the visual intrusion of that big switch thing.

[Stingray]

I've never used the T-stick, but I have a Prodigy. It works great in 4 or 8 way mode. I love the feel and look of it. I also like the switch, since nobody knows what it does, I get to make up all kinds of goofy stuff to tell people that it does. My current favorite is that it's the cab's self destruct switch.

-S

[megashock5]

Hmmm. Sounds like I really can't go wrong with either. The T-Stiks are a little cheaper, but I'm slightly worried about the lift-twist system of switching wearing out or something after doing it too many times.

[patrickl]

Hmmm. Sounds like I really can't go wrong with either. The T-Stiks are a little cheaper, but I'm slightly worried about the lift-twist system of switching wearing out or something after doing it too many times.

I don't see how it's different. You lift the stick so it grabs on to the lever and then you turn it to twist the lever. I don't see the lifting itself add any wear and tear.

I went for the T-Stick mostly because of looks. I personally like the looks of a red ball handle stick best (this costs a lot extra though) I never cared much for the tapered shape of the omnisticks. Apart from that, I couldn't figure out how to cleanly mount the stick with the lever sticking through the cover.

[mahuti]

is it so bad if the mechanism wears out after a year of hard use?

It's all down to taste, but I just don't like the look of the Omni-sticks enough to even worry about how long the t-sticks will last.

Anyway, a year or 2 from now, there will be some newer cooler stick that I'll replace the t-sticks with anyway.

[PaulG]

I don't see how there's any difference either?  Whether it's the switch that's triggering the the inside to switch, or the twisting, the innards are both being subjected to wear and tear.  Unless the Prodigy's are constructed of higher quality, it really seams like a wash to me.

[mahuti]

I don't know much about the omnisticks functionality, but I will be surprised if the t-sticks method holds out. That being said, I would still by the t-stick over an over.

It's that nice.

[JoyMonkey]

Firstly, I have never used either one, but here's my thoughts...

I think I prefer the look of the T-Stik, but I like the fact that you can clearly tell what mode the Prodigy is set to before you start playing;
I'd imagine there's a little confusion using a T-Stik when you start an 8-way game not realising the stick is in 4-way mode.

I've used the original, unmodified Prodigy sticks quite a bit (they're STC 500 joysticks) and like the feel of them for both 8 and 4 way play.


Edit: I just noticed that KevSteele has updated his Joystick reviews with a Prodigy review - might be helpsul.

[NoOne=NBA=]

One spin of the joystick before coining up will take care of that.

[spidermonkey]

http://www.groovygamegear.com/

Just in case some of you missed it click on the shopping cart icon on his site to enter his store. He does have optional balltop handles in many sizes and styles so you're not tied down to just the ball/bat hybrid handle that comes standard on the Prodigy. I think Randy-T needs to label that shopping cart icon so that people know that they have to click on that to enter his store which is where the majority of his products are. I think some people are missing it and skipping right over it. His front page only displays a fraction of the stuff he offers.

[Tiger-Heli]

1) They have that big switch that sticks up out of the CP, instead of just the stick.

To me, this would be an advantage, as you know what mode the stick is in before you start.

2) The handle looks funny to me, with the tapered shaft and the hump that sticks up at the bottom of the stick.

The looks take some getting used to, but I like the idea that it works like a bat top or a ball top, depending on how you hold it.

[mahuti]

I think it is an advantage to have the switch showing, but it doesn't make it pretty... same with the ergo factor.. might enhance game play, but doesn't have the classic feel. If other tops are available, that point is moot, however.

[megashock5]

Monkey,

Thanks for the link to the review - very helpful! It sounds like both of these options are good ones.

I do have a new question now though. In the review there's a link to a 'joystick roundup' chart. Under cost, it lists $24 + $6 for switches for the T-Stik Plus. Do you have to buy the switches separately for the T-Stik? That would make them much closer in price.

thanks!

[Tiger-Heli]

I do have a new question now though. In the review there's a link to a 'joystick roundup' chart. Under cost, it lists $24 + $6 for switches for the T-Stik Plus. Do you have to buy the switches separately for the T-Stik? That would make them much closer in price.

The $6 is for the quiet action replacement switches.  Someone on the board tried those and didn't like the change in the "feel" of the stick.  Might have been NoOne=NBA, not sure.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I didn't care for the feel of the quiet switches.
They made the joystick much less precise.

I like them with the stock switches, but wanted to at least try the quiet ones.
I only swapped one of them, and tried them both at the same time with different switches.
After deciding I liked the stock ones better, I swapped the other stick back to them.

Somebody also posted recently about swapping the switches out for Cherry switches, and really liked the feel, IIRC.
They said it made the stick feel a little lighter.

[Stingray]

From the Omnistick review:

Because of the integrated mounting plate and heavy-duty switching lever, this joystick is a tank. It is a large, sturdy, imposing piece of gaming equipment, which turns out to be surprisingly quick and responsive as a joystick.

I think this sums up the Omnistick nicely. I really can't say enough good things about this product.

-S

[Nailz]

I didn't care for the feel of the quiet switches.
They made the joystick much less precise.

I like them with the stock switches, but wanted to at least try the quiet ones.
I only swapped one of them, and tried them both at the same time with different switches.
After deciding I liked the stock ones better, I swapped the other stick back to them.

Somebody also posted recently about swapping the switches out for Cherry switches, and really liked the feel, IIRC.
They said it made the stick feel a little lighter.

I would second that opinion about the quiet switches, it felt to me like something wasn't right while I was playing....

I may have to try the cherry switch idea, I do like the T-stick, but it does feel pretty stiff.

[mahuti]

I didn't like the stock switches. They were so stiff, that 2 of them actually stuck in place, wtf? I guess you could say that they were just faulty, but the ones that weren't faulty didn't fee that great either. I bought some of the quiet switches & they're so loose that I can't really feel the 4 way very well. I hit wrong directions all the time. My business partner does too with the new switches.

To sum up. I will be replacing both sets of switches with some cherries when I get the chance.

[megashock5]

Stingray,

Good to hear your opinion. I'm assuming you have this stick - do you happen to have a pic of it on your CP? Just want to get a better idea how it looks, none of the pictures on their site show it installed.

[Tiger-Heli]

Stingray,

Good to hear your opinion. I'm assuming you have this stick - do you happen to have a pic of it on your CP? Just want to get a better idea how it looks, none of the pictures on their site show it installed.

http://www.groovygamegear.com/page14.html has installed pics, also
KevSteele has a preliminary pic of one installed here - http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/prodigy.html

Not sure why Kevin thought cutting a 4.25 inch hole made it one of the most difficult sticks to install, but anyway -

[djbriane]

I have the Prodigy installed on my cab, here are a couple of pics:

http://smoke.zoop.org/~havok/gallery/albums/arcade/control_panel.jpg

http://smoke.zoop.org/~havok/gallery/albums/arcade/cp_pic4.jpg

Have had them installed for about 5 months and they are holding up very well. Would recommend them for anyone who can spare the room for the mounting panel.

Brian

[patrickl]

Not sure why Kevin thought cutting a 4.25 inch hole made it one of the most difficult sticks to install, but anyway -

I guess he means it's difficult to install it so that it looks good. Just putting the mounting plate on top of a CP is easy (as he did in his review example), but it looks horrible. Flush mounting it (with artwork over it) is a lot more difficult to get right.

I wonder how Stingray mounted his prodigy stick, since his CP looks really good. I guess it has something to do with his CP being a metal one though.

BTW, I forgot (again), but you can also buy the prodigy with a proper joystick handle. For the "retro edition" you can select the ball type from a list.

[Nannuu]

I got the Omni so it would be easier for people to approach the cab and figure it out.  The frontend will display which way the mech needs to be rotated for each game.  I am assuming that people will be able to figure that out with a nice highlighted picture of the switch in a different position.  The Omni is a great stick, I was really impressed with it.

I got the retro edition and will be mounting it under the panel.  I will route the bottom so that the switch is easy to reach and the cone around the base is hidden.