Analog joysticks

[jcroach]

Hey.  I've got a line on a used analog arcade joystick.  I could get it for about $40.  I'm not sure if that's a good price or not and I'm not sure how much I would use it.  How many of you all have an analog arcade joystick? Do you use it? What are some of your favotire games to play using it?

thanks

[Minwah]

Analog sticks are very handy.  Some games really need one to play properly, my favorites in this category are Space Harrier, After Burner, EPROM, Road Runner etc...some of these play OK with a 49-way stick, but some don't (the Sega ones I mentioned for example).  You can also use it for yoke games, like Star Wars.

I'd probably buy it for that price if it is a good stick and in reasonable shape.

[csete]

Dumb question... What is the difference between an analog joystick and something like http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/st290.htm.  It seems that the Saitek is capable of registering multiple "levels" in each direction, but there must be something more that makes an analog worth so much more?

[Minwah]

Dumb question... What is the difference between an analog joystick and something like http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/st290.htm.  It seems that the Saitek is capable of registering multiple "levels" in each direction, but there must be something more that makes an analog worth so much more?

That's an analog joystick, but not an *arcade* analog joystick.

PC analog sticks tend to be very plasticy and generally look like crap imo.  Arcade ones usually use a lot of metal and they are built to last.  That said a PC stick will do the same job, just won't look or feel quite the same.

[IntruderAlert]

When most people are talking about analog sticks around here they are talking about something like a 49-way stick with a GP-Wiz49  interface.

Just search for GP-Wiz49 and you'll find tons of info

[jcroach]

When most people are talking about analog sticks around here they are talking about something like a 49-way stick with a GP-Wiz49

[Minwah]

The one I'm looking at is a true analog with pots.  I would need to get a Sidewinder to hack or the AKI Analog Kontrol Interface or an A-Pac, right?  Anything else on the market?

Yep.  I've been using an AKI for a while and it's great.  I'm sure the A-Pac is excellent too, I've only recently noticed it!

Edit: real analog sticks are more useful than 49-ways IMHO, although I currently only have a 49-way since I couldn't find an arcade analog stick that I've been happy with.

[xonix_digital]

I just bought a two way analog for my Galaga box. These things are getting hard to find so I paid $26- on ebay. I was excited just to fond one that still works.

Much better feel than the happ microswitch reunion sticks. Gotta have the microswitch firebutton though.

[spidermonkey]

I've never heard of a 2-way analog stick. Are you sure you're not talking about a 2-way leaf switch joystick? Thats what Galaga and most 2-way games of the 80's used. Got a pic ?

[xonix_digital]

im sorry I thought analog and leaf were the same thing... were we talking about flight sticks??


- XD

[jcroach]

Flight sticks may be the most common type of analog sticks, like this one from Happ:



But there are other types of analog sticks, like these four from Happ:

[Rocky]

jcroach,

what kind of analog stick is it?

ball top (very rare)?

[jcroach]

jcroach,

what kind of analog stick is it?

ball top (very rare)?

[Minwah]

So, people are happy with use of the 49 ways instead of analog controls? I see a lot of people posting about them.

For some games yes, others no.  For example Road Runner plays pretty well, I could never get any where near as far without the 49-way.  I even tried a PC analog stick and it (or I) seemed worse.  On the other hand games like Star Wars, After Burner & Space Harrier could really use a 'real' analog stick.

[NoOne=NBA=]

What it comes down to is the type of control needed.

Using Star Wars as an example, the crosshairs need to move steadily throughout the entire game screen, for it to play well.
If you use a 49-way to play it, there are only 49 distinct positions on the screen that you can place the crosshairs, and they jump from one to the next.
Using an analog, you have THOUSANDS of positions for the crosshair, and the crosshair moves smoothly between them because the distance between them is much smaller.

Road Runner, on the other hand, has Fast/Medium/Slow in any given direction.
The 49-way works well because IT has Fast/Medium/Slow in any direction as well.