2-way joystick question

[FractalWalk]

I want to use a true dedicated 4-way on my panel. However, my design would leave me without a 2-way (which is unacceptable). I know that I can always use my Oscar restrictors and Happ's supers but that means abandoning the idea of dedicated 4-way. So my question is, can a dedicated 4-way joystick be used as a 2-way without a restrictor or is it just two sloppy.

[2slk]

Fractal,

 If I understand your question, you want to have a dedicated 4-way stick that you can use as a 2-way. The OSCAR restrictor plates don't have to be used with Happ supers exclusively. They will fit just about any stick. As for the super itself, you can have it as a dedicated 4-way. It comes with an actuator plate that will go either 4 or 8-way. It's just a matter of flipping it over but it's not really easy or convenient to do it on the fly.

 While on the subject of sticks, take a look at Ultimarc's sticks. They are easily switchable 4-8 way sticks. If you add a restrictor plate, you have about the most versatile setup around. That is of course depending on what type of games you play and what type of feel you like in a stick. That is a whole different thread altogether though......

[_Iz-]

you can make any stick a 2 way. just use a toggle switch to disable 2 microswitches...

[MinerAl]

You can use a 4 way (or 8 way really) as a 2 way without any trouble.  The games are only looking for left and right and should ignore up and down completely so there aren't any corners to worry about.  There's no way to send left and right at the same time, so it shouldn't be a problem.

You might want to use OSCAR's restrictors, but they would only be necessary for your feel.  Ultimarc's T-Stick has a nice stiff action that doesn't feel at all sloppy, even in 8-way mode, when I play Galaga, Space Invaders, etc.

[FractalWalk]

Thanks for your responses.

Actually, I want to use a 4-way as a 2-way without restrictor plates. I know this is possible from a "logical" perspective, but I'm concerned about the feel.  For comparison, I know that using the supers as a 2-way is not good enough. The feel is just too loose. I'm just wondering if a true mechanical 4-way is any better.

If not, then I would use a restrictor, preferably on a real 4-way. Does the Oscar restrictor fit the Ultimarc sticks? I thought I read somewhere that the T-stick mounting is slightly smaller than supers and therefore smaller than the Oscar mounts (right?). I haven't read anything about the J-mounting.

Worst case scenario, I can use my Oscar's on my existing super, but the panel I am putting it on is not for 8-way games. Therefore, it would be more difficult to have to remove one set of plates and add another each time I wanted to switch games. It would be simpler to just add or remove the two-way plates when I needed them and thus the preference for a dedicated 4-way. If that 4-way can be used as a 2-way without restrictors, then there is no maintenance between games at all!