Ultimarc T-Stik

[Jakedakat]

I was just curious if anyone has any experience with this joystick if its worth the $20? I like the idea of switching between 4 and 8 way with a flick of a switch So if anyone has purchased this item and has some feedback please post...

Rob

[eightbit]

I like mine, I put it in my single player cab and leave it on 4 way. I've been spending more time player 4 way games on it then on my other cab. To me its a good compromise to get a 4 way stick. Its the best 4 way convertible one that I have used, plus I can easy reach from the coin door to switch it.

This cab will probably  eventually go to my in-laws cabin. If it wasn't next to my big
cab I'd probably be using the switch more often

[Smittydc]

I found the T-stick movement to be very stiff (compared to e-stick, competition, wico leaf).

And I think the e-stick 4-way to 8-way dial is easier to use than the t-sticks switch.

Just my opinions...

[eightbit]

I found the T-stick movement to be very stiff (compared to e-stick, competition, wico leaf).

And I think the e-stick 4-way to 8-way dial is easier to use than the t-sticks switch.

Just my opinions...

I like the stiff movement and short throw.

The e-stick's dial requires screws to be loosened, then tightened. Plus the e-stick doesn't feel like a 4-way. It doesn't block the stick from moving diagonally it just blocks diagonals from registering.

I can reach blind under my control panel and flip the t-sticks switch.

[Smittydc]

You don't have to loosen then tighten the screws.    

Just don't tighten them down all the way.  When I want to switch 8-4 way I just reach in and turn the restricter.

And I don't see why you consider the diamond shape restricter (as shown in your photo) not to be restricting movement diagonally.  Now as to how well that works compared to other joysticks, thats a matter for opinion.

[eightbit]

You don't have to loosen then tighten the screws.    

Just don't tighten them down all the way.  When I want to switch 8-4 way I just reach in and turn the restricter.

And I don't see why you consider the diamond shape restricter (as shown in your photo) not to be restricting movement diagonally.  Now as to how well that works compared to other joysticks, thats a matter for opinion.

Upon further review my e-stick doesn't have the white washers shown in that picture, if you don't tighten the screws down into the recessed holes on mine the restrictor plate will move. The white washers look like a good upgrade. A snug fit should hold it in place reasonably well enough. Though I'd still argue its relativly the same amount of effort to shift between 2/4.

Push the e-stick diagonally it moves, it won't quite reach the corner to register a diagonal but it does move diagonally. Most of the classic 4-way sticks were physically restricted to only move up/down/left/right. The t-stick is closer to reproducing that physically restriction feeling than the e-stick is. I'm sure a lot of that is also the fact that the t-stick has a very short throw to begin with.

The e-stick was easy to mount though, I'll definately give it that. I physically smashed one of my ultimates and replaced it temporarily with the e-stick.  I'm planning to get some supers.

[rhoelsch]

I know it's not the same, but I have a ball J-stik because I needed a dedicated 4 way, but also needed to be able to change to an 8 way for robotron, etc...switching's a heck of a lot easier than trying to switch a Happ's Super, I'll tell you that...it's been well built and responsive for me in both modes, no need to fiddle with the screws as they're just not 100% tightened...my J moves relatively loosely, so if feel matters for fighters and such, use discretion, but used mostly as a 4 way for me, it's absolutely been worth the price.  (I use the super for 8-way games, and it feels a lot better for these purposes; just don't try to switch 8/4 back & forth, it's a pain!)

[Grasshopper]

My provisional opinion is that it is the best general purpose joystick available. I love the feel and the easy 4/8 way switching.

I say provisional because although I have bought one (directly from the manufacturer), I have not yet fitted it to a control panel.

[BeBoxer]

I've got a couple of the J-Stick's in my project, and I've been pretty happy with them. They work great in 4-way mode with the stick falling into the 4 corners of the diamond in the plate. When it comes to 8-way, I've had problems in some games. It seems to want to hit the diagonals fairly easily, and the square movement of the stick doesn't work so well for some games (Gyruss, Robotron, etc.) in my opinion. I may end up getting some sort of true 8-way at some point. Something with a round restrictor instead of square.

On that note, has anybody tried the "Universal STC" joystick from Wico?http://www.wicothesource.com/new2/pages/page88.htm
It claims 2,3,4,5 or 8 way? I don't think it's as easy as just spinning the restrictor plate though. I'm tempted to try one, since I suspect I'll be getting a couple of the 2 1/4" trackballs from them anyway.

[Grasshopper]

I've got a supplementary question that perhaps deserves a thread of its own.

Has anyone seen a T-Stik in an arcade?

I've seen Virtually every other joystick that has been mentioned on this site at least once in an arcade but not the T-Stik.

[OSCAR]

On that note, has anybody tried the "Universal STC" joystick from Wico?http://www.wicothesource.com/new2/pages/page88.htm
It claims 2,3,4,5 or 8 way? I don't think it's as easy as just spinning the restrictor plate though. I'm tempted to try one, since I suspect I'll be getting a couple of the 2 1/4" trackballs from them anyway.

Check out this thread:  http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=3733.

In that thread is a link to a bunch of pictures and my preliminary review of the STC Universal/Suzo 500.

[BeBoxer]

Check out this thread:  http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=3733.

In that thread is a link to a bunch of pictures and my preliminary review of the STC Universal/Suzo 500.

Ah, that's exactly the info I was looking for. It's sounds like it would have almost the exact same feel in Gyruss as my J-Stick. Oh well. The 2-way plate is kind of a neat idea. It looks like you could switch it from a horizontal Galaga style to a vertical Defender style with only minor disassembly, which is kind of neat. I could imagine having one to provide a more authentic feel for those two games.