Andy's joysticks, feedback

[DeafBug]

It has been 15 days since Andy started selling those 4/8-way switchable joysticks.  I am wondering if anyone has tried them and can give a feedback on how they are.  I am still stuck between two joysticks.  Should I make a 4-way (with ms pacman) control panel with a hack gamepad or use the 4/8 switchable in the two player control panel.  The thing is that the 4-way control panel is used mostly on games that only one player can play at a time.  So it doesn't matter if there is two control panels lying around.  But the point is the arcade feel !!  The two player control panel is based on IPac.  I haven't order anything yet but I want to soon.   I thought about the oscars restrictor plates.  I looked at the close up picture and it is not a true diamond like the 4-way is.

[BASSOFeeSH]

I got one of the ball-top j-sticks, & the switching takes less than 5 seconds.  That's assuming you have easy access to the bottom on your control panel of course.

[Carsten Carlos]

I got one of the ball-top j-sticks

Do they feel good? I'm stuck between the J-Sticks & T-Sticks. Both look pretty good, but I wonder how good they feel and if they fit good in a wood controlpanel.
Is it easy to hit the diagonal corners?

[BASSOFeeSH]

To be honest I haven't been able to mount anything yet.  But this is only because of time constraints.

As for being able to mount it on wood...well...the shaft is plenty long, & Andy himself said that it's not a problem.  And from the mock-ups I've made it doesn't seem like it will be a problem.

[botez]

I would like to know if the switching on the T-Stik is as easy as advertised.

I know you didn't ask about the E-Stik, but I bought one from Andy and here are my opinions on it.

First, it is very easy to mount, since all you have to do is drill a button-sized hole for it.  It is also very easy to switch from 4-way to 8-way mode.  The joystick works very well in both modes.  

The only problem I have had is that it just barely is mountable on a 3/4" panel.  I had to take the washers off in order for it to mount.  Also, since it is just held to the wood by ring nuts, it will sometimes need adjusting.

I might try the other joysticks offered by Andy to see which ones I like best, but for now (I'm just making a prototype of the CP for my real cab) the E-Stik's work fine.

[Carsten Carlos]

I would like to know if the switching on the T-Stik is as easy as advertised.

I'm very sure that it is - I just can't decide if I should like the ball-grip or the oval-grip more. The ball-type looks a bit cooler in my opinion, but I'm not that sure what feels better after some hours of intense gameplay.

[BASSOFeeSH]

The ball-top unscrews, so I'd guess that the oval top does also.  Perhaps you could ask if you could buy both styles of top for the j-stick.

[Carsten Carlos]

The ball-top unscrews, so I'd guess that the oval top does also.  Perhaps you could ask if you could buy both styles of top for the j-stick.

Whee, this would be a perfect solution, thanks, have to ask Andy about this!

[DeafBug]

Any more feedbacks?  

[hyiu]

Hi all:

If anyone have mounted the ball top J-Stick and played, I really would like to know how it feels.  Also, how much is shipping (I'm in NYC, USA)... I visited the web site because I would like to buy it and try it out myself... but then it turns out that the stick will cost $15 and the shipping is marked at $22 !!... its a little too much for just trying a stick.... so, I hold back for now.  Is there any way I can order in US so the S&H is less ??

thanks for any info,

- Henry.

[ophtho]

I bought the J-stick and I am pretty happy with the feel of them. Pretty standard travel and click. Shaft is a bit thicker than my current sticks. The oval top does indeed screw off. I still have to mount them, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I am a little skeptical of the 4/8 switch as with all of these I've seen, it doesn't really prevent from moving into diagonals, and when moving along diagonals you still activate the switches. So I guess I'm saying, I don't really see the point. I am probably going to mount a 4 way dedicated stick to avoid this whole mess.

[BASSOFeeSH]

Did you rotate the restrictor correctly, becuase my J-stick does NOT allow me to move in the diagonals.

[ophtho]

Yes, I have the restrictor rotated correctly. And yes, it does partially  prevent you from moving in an absolute strict diagonal. However, if you are just slightly off diagonal, the stick is only partly prevented from moving there, and you still will get button activation on the microswitches.  This is not a problem with Andy's joystick's per se, but all joysticks I have seen with the 8/4 switch on them. They are not, and never will be true 4 ways, restrictor or no restrictor. You need something that only activates microswitches when you are full on up, down. left, or right and does not activate them in any other positions. These joysticks do not do that.

[Elkor]

I have the tsticks and you CANNOT hit diagnals in 4way mode.

[Elkor]

actually, when I got them, the sticks were assembled incorrectly.  and it produced results similar to what you described.  I took them apart and flipped the actuator over and now everything is aok  

[1UP]

They are not, and never will be true 4 ways, restrictor or no restrictor. You need something that only activates microswitches when you are full on up, down. left, or right and does not activate them in any other positions. These joysticks do not do that.

Actually, that's incorrect -- true 4-ways arent supposed to keep any ONE switch from being tripped when you're not in "full on up, down. left, or right" positions.

[cody]

it turns out that the stick will cost $15 and the shipping is marked at $22 !!... its a little too much for just trying a stick.... so, I hold back for now.

[ophtho]

I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying this.

Actually, that's incorrect -- true 4-ways arent supposed to keep any ONE switch from being tripped when you're not in "full on up, down. left, or right" positions.

[1UP]

BTW, I just got my E-stick, along with my Opti-Pac.  The rotating restrictor seems to work correctly, I can tell that one switch disengages slightly before the next one in 4-way mode, just like the Ms. Pac/Galaga replacement.  The construction seems sturdy, and the nifty 45 degree rotation of the switchplate does indeed work.  Just rotate the restrictor to 4-way, rotate the switchplate, and you're ready for Q-bert!  Since I plan to use this as a dedicated 4-way, I'll leave the restictor set, and just rotate the switches as needed.

The spring tension feels about the same as the Happ Ms. Pac-Man stick I've been using, but the bat-type stick is a little more comfortable than the traditional ball-top.  I like it!

Now I just need my Oscar Pro!!  

[DeafBug]

Thanks 1UP and others,   I was leaning on getting the E-stick or J-stick but wasn't too sure.  I do want a 4-way joystick that was easy to mount unlike the Ms Pacman/Galaga one.  But I didn't want to be limited in case I need to have a 8-way.  

I do want to get the IPac but I wasn't willing to spend high shipping cost so I wanted to know everything and make one order.  I think a group order sounds good.

[Andy Warne]

We are aware of the shipping cost problem on small joystick orders. We are in the process of negotiations with Airborne Express and hopefully will be able to completely re-work the shipping. All our orders will go out Airborne Express and based entirely on weight rather than a fixed price, so small orders won't be loaded. This should happen in the next few days.
Andy