Flight Stick...enough games to justify one?

[AE35]

Hi all.

Do you think that there's enough good games to justify a
flight stick?

And which one should it be for MAME? Just a regular 8-way
or analog? Should it go to the IPAC or USB?

Thunder Blade is a must!

All advice welcome!

Nicholas

[GGKoul]

If you like those games then YES.. if not.. then NO

[Havok]

AfterBurner - one of my favorites...

[Farmboy90]

And which one should it be for MAME? Just a regular 8-way
or analog? Should it go to the IPAC or USB?

All advice welcome!

Nicholas

The Star Wars games are my favorite (and the theme of my cab actually).  I played Paperboy last night with it.  Love that game too.

Get analog since that is really the only point of a flight stick.  I just hooked mine up last night actually.  I used Dave's AKI board.  It couldn't have been easier.  You wire the stick to his board and then plug his board into your USB hub.  XP auto detects it and you are then ready to rock.

I didn't even have to do any config changes or anything.  I just hooked it up and fired up Sar Wars and was instantly blasting Tie Fighters.   Then after blowing up the Death Star a few times I played a little Paperboy.  Worked fine there as well.   

Here is the stick I use (the one from the Star Wars Trilogy arcade): http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95006500.htm

[ahofle]

Holy Shnikes, $230.   

[Farmboy90]

Holy Shnikes, $230.   

Well I didn't pay quite that much.  I didn't get the PC version either.  I went the AKI board route, and for that all you need is the cheaper  one.  And go through a reseller like Tornado Terry or PonyBoy or something.  Then it'll "only" cost about $170 or something.

Still a ton of money though I admit.

[ahofle]

That joystick is pretty much exactly what I want.  Two of em would make fine controllers for Vindicators or Assault.  O well, someday perhaps.

[RayB]

That joystick is pretty much exactly what I want.

[ahofle]

I know, but tank style controllers with two buttons on it would be good.  With the added bonus of working with analog games.  Are there any digital alternatives besides the top fire joysticks? 

[RayB]

OK. The point I was making was that if you don't go analog, the cost of similar trigger stick is much less. But if you want the luxury of both... Maybe you can buy just the handle shells and attach them to a use Sidewinder?

[Farmboy90]

A lot of guys here seem to have luck with things like the Dual Strike hack etc...

This can be done SUPER cheap and should satisfy your needs.

I however am made out of money  (just kidding) and wanted a pimped out arcade version.  Seriously, since my cab is Star Wars themed I *had* to buy this.  It just wouldn't have seemed right without it.

That said, the stick and AKI board  I got cost about as much as the rest of my entire control panel. 

But it is sick! 

[ahofle]

Looks nice.  Although did it not come with a protective collar like the other sticks to hide the hole? 

[Farmboy90]

Looks nice.  Although did it not come with a protective collar like the other sticks to hide the hole? 

It doesn't come with one.  It is normally top mounted, and as such wouldn't have this problem.  The throw is just waaaay too long for me this way.  I am going to get a dust cover/washer thing for it though since I bottom mounted mine.

I just took that picture last night since it is mostly done.  As you pointed out though, not 100% yet. 

I am trying to find a good solution.  I am thinking of cutting one out of a little sheet of black rubber...  At any rate, it will be covered soon.

[Havok]

Looks great. Do you have sideart for it yet?

[Farmboy90]

Looks great. Do you have sideart for it yet?

Thanks!  No, no sideart yet.  In fact the guy who did the CP artwork hasn't even finished my marquee yet.  I am not sure if I will do side art yet though.  Still debating....

[Minwah]

Here is the stick I use (the one from the Star Wars Trilogy arcade): http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95006500.htm

How do you like this stick?  I never liked the feel personally, they seem too light and a bit vague - maybe that was due to the game tho.

[Lilwolf]

One thing to mention.  You can (or used to be able, haven't looked recently) get analog controls on ebay very very cheap.  Most people can't use them, so they dont' have much of a resale value.

So 30-70 bucks depending on how good it looks should be pretty easy. 

$230 is a price is a bit high for home use for a controller thats not all that useful... (but listen to me... I bought a 720 controller for almost 100 years ago)

[Farmboy90]

Here is the stick I use (the one from the Star Wars Trilogy arcade): http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95006500.htm

How do you like this stick?  I never liked the feel personally, they seem too light and a bit vague - maybe that was due to the game tho.

I have only used it for 20 minutes since I just finished the cab.  But I am in love so far.    Nostalgia is talking though I am sure.

Setting that aside for a moment, the stick seems fine to me.  I only chose it since I love the Star Wars and Trilogy arcade game and that is what it uses.  I don't have much else to compare it to either I guess.

Did you get rid of yours and replace it with something else?

[Minwah]

Did you get rid of yours and replace it with something else?

No I don't have one, just played on the Star Wars Trilogy game.  I did have one very similar, but the centering mechanism was different (worse probably) - it used a big spring underneath the stick housing to centre it.