Best Controls for Shmups?

[SithMaster]

Have only played on my keyboard and want to make a shmup for my top favs and was curious as to what buttons and joys work best.

If it helps im looking to play games like don don pachi, giga wing, and gunbird so i think the basics would be an 8 way and 3 players controls each for a 2p cp.

thanks.

[brendz]

You want sanwa JLF-TP-8YT or seimitsu LS-32 for joysticks and sanwa OBSN/OBSF-30 or seimitsu PS-14-K clear (cause they look slick) for buttons.

[kowal]

You want sanwa JLF-TP-8YT

Sanwa sucks: engagement is late, long throw. Seimitsu is good, Mag-stick or Sanwa Flash (optical) +octagonal .Optical joysticks are the best to shumps. You can to think about P360 and to install him in metal panel. Using Metal slaeve for metal panel. (to to reduce throw).


Standart buttons Sanwa/Seimitsu they are not good to shumps. They die after half year. They hold with time. This causes unwanted the activations of shield (Giga Wings, Mars Matrix)
The best to buy RG series ( they are very dear:( )
http://www.akihabarashop.com/catalog.php?sanwa-OBSN30RG

[Minwah]

I disagree, I like Sanwa J-Stiks (no idea what part no. these are derived from) for schmups.  I like the light action for fast movements, and flipping the restrictor over reduces the throw.

[destructor]

I disagree, I like Sanwa J-Stiks (no idea what part no. these are derived from) for schmups.  I like the light action for fast movements, and flipping the restrictor over reduces the throw.

I thought the same when installing J-Stik first time but it was false.

I play on shmups. Yesterday I finished Cyvern on 1 credit.
http://marp.retrogames.com/index.cgi?mode=search&short=^cyvern$
First time I used T-Stik, next J-Stik and I say - what excellent controller for shmups! But not, manoeuvre  in hail of bullets is impossible with J-Stik. I change joystick to T-Stik again and I finished this game.

OK, the end of story, now about joysticks.

I tried shmups with 3 joysticks: X-Arcade, J-Stik, T-Stik.

X-Arcade - totally crap for shmups, too long throw
J-Stik - crap for shmups, good diagonals but throw is too long still
T-Stik - good (not excellent) for shmups. Short throw - excellent for manoeuvre in hail of bullets, but spring is too hard, you must use too much strenght for manipulate this stick

I didn't test Mag-Stik, P-360 and Seimitsu.
I prepare P360 in this week for Donpachi.

If you are interesting on MARP are bounties for some shmups:
http://forums.marpirc.net/viewtopic.php?t=12297

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm still partial to Wico leafs.
They have a round restrictor, and are adjustable.

The round restrictor prevents overtravel in the diagonals, and allows for very smooth transitions from one direction to another.
The adjustable leafs allow you to set the joystick as sensitive as you want it.

[Minwah]

First time I used T-Stik, next J-Stik and I say - what excellent controller for shmups! But not, manoeuvre  in hail of bullets is impossible with J-Stik. I change joystick to T-Stik again and I finished this game.

Joysticks are always a matter of opinion, but I stick with mine that J-Sticks are great.  I certainly preferred them over T-Sticks for schmups...I like having a little extra throw.

[destructor]

I'm still partial to Wico leafs.

Yes, I forgot about Wico leafs. I want to test them too but first I must buy it

Joysticks are always a matter of opinion, but I stick with mine that J-Sticks are great.  I certainly preferred them over T-Sticks for schmups...I like having a little extra throw.

J-Stik is very comfortable, light, excellent for relax. But for 'real' play on shmups is not good.

[Minwah]

J-Stik is very comfortable, light, excellent for relax. But for 'real' play on shmups is not good.

Well I could be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure a lot of (Japanese style) schmup cabinets use Sanwa sticks...

[markrvp]

I would think your whole arm/shoulder would hurt terribly after playing shmups with a T-stick for an hour.

[SithMaster]

im looking for something that is comfortable for extended periods of play (like 4 or 5 hours) and has decent throw so it doesnt hurt the arms for joys.

buttons well whatever lasts longest and is quick to register.  not sure if this has a name but i dont wasnt the buttons to be stiff.

[brophog]

I would think your whole arm/shoulder would hurt terribly after playing shmups with a T-stick for an hour.

I recently put the lighter switches in mine, and I like it an awful lot for schmups.

[markrvp]

I would think your whole arm/shoulder would hurt terribly after playing shmups with a T-stick for an hour.

I recently put the lighter switches in mine, and I like it an awful lot for schmups.

Did you see the thread where Randy loosened the screws holding the plate to the base, expanding the spring to lighten it?  If so, have you tried this too?

[brophog]

No I havent. One thing I noticed though is that, with the new switches the player 2 stick seems to drift to the upper left diagonal. I'm gonna swap it out with the player 1 stick and see if it's the stick or the way I have the cabinet built or the way we're standing.

[kowal]

Well I could be wrong here, but I'm pretty sure a lot of (Japanese style) schmup cabinets use Sanwa sticks...

Yes then truth... they are in Japanese CandyCab because this Japanese joysticks -Nationalism These are contract 2 firms:
Sanwa - Taito, SEGA, Sammmy
Seimitsu - SNKPlaymore, Capcom
MCDonald - coca cola.... KFC - Pepsi. Believe me players not May here nothing to saying.  I had Sanwa JLF and JLW. Sanwa then joystick for 3Dfighter games. This never be done for shootings. Personally prefer Mag-stick Balltop (Light Action Switches) or my modded P360 (I altered pivot, spring and shortened stick)

[Silhouette]

Suzo System 500 european style balltop 8-way leafswitch stick
Happ competition convex buttons

Eurosticks have an extremely tight feel and short throw, and convex buttons are just better.

ps: Japanese sticks are horrible.

[destructor]

I would think your whole arm/shoulder would hurt terribly after playing shmups with a T-stick for an hour.

Yes, but not after hour Maybe 3-4 hours.

[ahofle]

If you are interesting on MARP are bounties for some shmups:
http://forums.marpirc.net/viewtopic.php?t=12297

Oooh, sounds like I need to come out with an updated Toobin inp.

[Gh0sty]

Suzo System 500 european style

i use Suzo 500 Sticks, and i'm a Shmups fanatic.

[farmecologist]

I just installed a MAG-stick plus, and am very happy with it.   Probably the best stick I have used so far for games that require quick response. 

   

[destructor]

Suzo System 500 european style

i use Suzo 500 Sticks, and i'm a Shmups fanatic.

Did you tried other joysticks?

Maybe go to shmups forum:
http://shmups.system11.org/forum/index.php

[SithMaster]

Im been checking some reviews and the happ super seems to be responsive
http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/happsuper.html

for buttons though the happ convex are the way to go then?

[kowal]

he works similarly how X - aracde but it is very harder.  HappSuper has long throw hard spring 450g.
to shootings joystick should have short throw, fast engagement and soft spring.
the angle of inclination should not be greater how 8 degrees. 5 degrees are ideal.

Mag-stick 5 degrees, 3 degrees engagement, super soft 175g
T-stcik has 5 degrees, but they have hard spring 350g
Suzo system 500 (omni stick) 5 degrees, but they have hard spring 350g

Seimitsu LS32 is good also he has larger angle (7-8 degress) but balltop it is short. assembles him in metal panel.

do not buy X - aracde, HappSuper, Competion, Ultimate joystick. May attempt how carousel. Total crap...
choose Mag-stick or SeimitsuLS32
http://www.akihabarashop.com/products.html
http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

[destructor]

Maybe Sanwa buttons, kowal?
If you want to use normal arcade buttons (Happ, Ultimarc) for shmups then here more important are switches than buttons. Use Cherry switches with blue plunger for shmups. Cheery switches with red plunger aren't for shmups.

[destructor]

After test P360 on some shmups, especially Donpachi I can say that this stick is excellent for shmups.
My configuration P360 is: ball-top from SlikStik, and I have modified stick which is shorter than original stick for ball-top from slikstik. Actuator has smaller diameter than original Happ 8-way actuator.

Excellent, really excellent.