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Joysticks: Optical versus Microswitch?
mwoody:
I'll be ordering a Slikstik Quad unit in the next week or so. I've decided to splurge, so cost isn't an issue. My question, though, is which joystick is the best choice: the standard Happs competition sticks, or the pricey optical perfect 360 upgrades?
I've read some very good reviews of the 360 - the retroblast guy was practically drooling ;D - but my question is about its "feel": will this be a good stick for true arcade gaming? I've always been a fan of tactile feedback, evidenced in my love for those old-school IBM keyboards. Will this stick feel too "soft" in the absence of actual switches inside?
I play a wide variety of MAME titles, from side scrollers to fighters to puzzle games to the classics (though I'll have a 4-way for the older stuff). Though, to be honest, it's been quite a few years since I've played many of these on an actual machine; am I just misremembering what a real machine feels like? What style stick most closely resembles the "real thing"?
Essentially, I guess what I'm asking is: "I know the reasons the 360 is better than the Competition. Can someone give me reasons the Competition is preferable to the 360?"
Thanks!
JODY:
Some will have different tastes and preferences but I've got several Competition sticks and Perfect 360s and the main differences are:
Competitions are not as stiff.
Competitions are cheaper.
Competitions click while 360s are silent.
I've seen the 360s on sale for less than $30 each several times the last few years. Bought mine when on sale. I prefer them to the competitions but if they weren't on sale I'd settle for the Competitions.
They are both very nice.
enchntr:
This post may not be of any help to you, as I only have the 360s and a Wico 4-way leaf.
I absolutely LOVE the 360s. They have a great feel to them and are completely silent. Extremely good in fighting games, and not bad overall in 4-way (set up as 8-way).
I'm very glad I got them...don't know if I would like the clicking that the competitions have.
Ed
Minwah:
Does anyone *like* the clicking of microswitches?? It seems most don't, but I do - you can hear when you hit a direction. Not quite sure why I like that ;D
Dekelia:
--- Quote from: Minwah on September 28, 2004, 03:12:16 pm ---Does anyone *like* the clicking of microswitches?? It seems most don't, but I do - you can hear when you hit a direction. Not quite sure why I like that ;D
--- End quote ---
I totally agree. I have always liked the clicking sound. I feel like I have better control of where the stick is when I hear it (and feel it to some extent). For 8 way games, it seems almost nessesary.