Sanwa Joysticks vs. Happs

[Cowboy Mac]

although there are 'best joystick threads' i couldnt find a Sanwa vs Happs thread so here one is. Ive just purchased a Sanwa J-Stik from Ultimarc and have also read someones comparison to them vs. happs stating Sanwa are much more responsive and better to use. I was planning on purchasing 2 happs joys but i may just purchase some more Sanwa's instead. any of you out there own a Sanwa and a Happs to give a comparitive review?

thanks.

[MKL]

Are you sure the E-Stik is made by Sanwa? I don't see it in their parts catalog:

http://www.sanwa-d.co.jp/parts_menu.htm

Maybe the J-Stik...

[m3talslug]

There's a jap arcade near my house where ALL their sitdown cabs use sticks from Sanwa.... I can't get used to them <-- since I've played on American controls all my life.  THe throw is short, and it feels very square.

HOWEVER, the Japanese have beat the americans in EVERY SINGLE STREET FIGHTER tournament by a landslide and they can only play on Jap controls (Sanwa)  <-- so based on performance I would think that their controls would be better.

although there are 'best joystick threads' i couldnt find a Sanwa vs Happs thread so here one is. Ive just purchased a Sanwa E-Stik from Ultimarc and have also read someones comparison to them vs. happs stating Sanwa are much more responsive and better to use. I was planning on purchasing 2 happs joys but i may just purchase some more Sanwa's instead. any of you out there own a Sanwa and a Happs to give a comparitive review?

thanks.

[MKL]

There's a jap arcade near my house where ALL their sitdown cabs use sticks from Sanwa....

There's also another brand, seimitsu , that makes that kind of sticks...

They look better than Sanwas, you can even change the guide from square to round...really nice option.

[Grasshopper]

The E-Stik and T-Stik are both manufactured by www.industrias-lorenzo.com.

If you want to try out the japanese joysticks then the best thing to do is to play a game such as Virtua Tennis on a Sega Naomi cabinet at your local arcade. Most of them use joysticks made by Sanwa or Seimitsu.

My own opinion of the japanses joysticks is that they are very well made, but the springs are too weak for my taste.

[Smittydc]

I've been using the e-sticks and am pretty happy with them.  Very easy to install.  Very easy to switch 4-way/8-way/and q-bert way.  Game play is smooth...

Just ordered some happ competitions and wico 8-way leafs, for a Mortal Kombat specific CP.  I'll post some comparisons after trying 'em out.

I think I remember seeing a post on the ultimarc.com forum that the e-sticks are from industrias-lorenzo.

[MKL]

heh...first you said you had an E-Stik, now you say it's a T-Stik...make up your mind, cowboy...well, you're wrong in any case because what you have is a J-Stik with oval top:



and yes these are made by Sanwa, unlike the E- and T-Stiks (made by IL).

[eightbit]

Heres the t-stick-


Heres the e-stick-


Cowboy my friend I think MKL is right and your slightly confused.

[Cowboy Mac]

sorry guys for some reason i thought it was the t-stick, i wasnt looking properly at all. i did order the j-stick. sorry about the confusion there. back to the original topic, anyone able to give a comparison between sticks?

[hyiu]

I got J-stick, Super and competition.  I like competition the best. (I'm a fighter gamer... and also old gamer...)

J stick.... in 8 way mode... it is quite square....
that means.... if you go up, the travel is short...
if you go diagonal, the travel is significantly longer...

for competition, its kinda square... but the travel btw
straight and diagonal somehow doesn't feel that much difference...

when I first start playing j-stick, when I try to push up, I sometimes will push too hard and ended up pushing diagonal... (needs some used to...) but now... its ok...

construction and quality wise, J-stick is very nice, the mount size is the same, but I like J-stick's construction the best...

btw, I have a ball top j-stick....

and for 4 way games... its good...

also... I'm using 3/4 plywood + lexan.... (routed a bit on the bottom...) and its enough clearence.......

does this help ??.... or do you want more info on some specific comparsion ??.. if so,  plz let me know...

[Silverwind]

I got J-stick, Super and competition.  I like competition the best. (I'm a fighter gamer... and also old gamer...)

J stick.... in 8 way mode... it is quite square....
that means.... if you go up, the travel is short...
if you go diagonal, the travel is significantly longer...

for competition, its kinda square... but the travel btw
straight and diagonal somehow doesn't feel that much difference...

when I first start playing j-stick, when I try to push up, I sometimes will push too hard and ended up pushing diagonal... (needs some used to...) but now... its ok...

construction and quality wise, J-stick is very nice, the mount size is the same, but I like J-stick's construction the best...

btw, I have a ball top j-stick....

and for 4 way games... its good...

also... I'm using 3/4 plywood + lexan.... (routed a bit on the bottom...) and its enough clearence.......

does this help ??.... or do you want more info on some specific comparsion ??.. if so,  plz let me know...

how do you like the super compared to the other two sticks you own?

[hyiu]

Super is like competition except it is perfect circle...

if you're playing 4 way games... you'll like Super better than
competition... (of course... J-stick 4 way mode is the best for 4 way...)

if you use Zangief in SF.... (need to turn 360 for super moves...) then I think you'll like Super better...

1 thing I don't like about Super is... you need to be precise... when you go diagonal, you need to push the stick accurately at 45 deg up or else your char will just jump up or walk forward (in terms of fighting game...)

for competition, when I push diagonal, since there is some corner feel.... I KNOW if I'm hitting diagonal or not... but for Super, I don't.... that's the only thing I don't like about Super...

otherwise, its good....

ps: also... Super is a little shorter then Competition in terms of the shaft length..... I'm using 3/4 ply + lexan.... (routed bottom a bit...)

still playable.... but since you ask the difference...

hope it helps....

[Nyrine]

I am about to place some orders for some joysticks - I was thinking of the Happs Super.

The T-Stick seems good since it has the ability to be switched from 8way to 4way from the top, which has an obvious appeal.

How do they feel compared to one another ?

[CthulhuLuke]

HOWEVER, the Japanese have beat the americans in EVERY SINGLE STREET FIGHTER tournament by a landslide and they can only play on Jap controls (Sanwa)  <-- so based on performance I would think that their controls would be better.

Except when the US team went over for Marvel vs Capcom 2, the japanese didn't care for that game, so the US team actually kicked ass, although it's full of glitches, infinites, and such, and the US team knew them allll.  The new MvC2 players in japan are way good though, but they're about as rare as a good player at alpha 3 at arcades around here.
    I personally like those japanese sticks on the cabinets, the short throw makes moves pretty easy to do, and the capcom cabinet's (the green ball joysticks) joysticks feel great for fighting games.  I might try the J-stick sometime when I get some money, but for now I haven't tried them yet.  They look cool.
     -CthulhuLuke

[eightbit]

I am about to place some orders for some joysticks - I was thinking of the Happs Super.

The T-Stick seems good since it has the ability to be switched from 8way to 4way from the top, which has an obvious appeal.

How do they feel compared to one another ?

Happs super is far different from the t-stick.

When you say switch from the top you mean from under the control panel right? The T-stick is easy to switch and I like the action in 4 way mode. I usually leave mine on 4 way. I play the fighters on my other cab. The T-stick has a very short stiff throw. Its one of the reason I like it. It requires deliberate moves to use it. I don't like it for fighters, I love it for Mr Do.

Most of the 4/8 way switchables don't feel like a 4 way when they are in 4 way mode. They only prevent the stick from registering the diagonals they still allow you to move the stick diagonally. Most also require either partial dissasembly like the super or screws loosened to rotate a restrictor plate.

The supers are easier to mount in wood panels.

Theres some reviews on this site of some of the sticks you should check them out.