Best 4 Way Joystick

[needlesmcgirk]

Alright, so it looks like I am going to need a dedicated 4 Way joystick since Ms Pac-Man and the rest are so high up on my list.  Which 4 way is regarded as the best for these games (especialy Ms. Pac-Man), and what do you guys prefer?  Thank you so much for all your help!

[AE35]

Well, I might not be any expert, but I REALLY like the Sanwa in 4-way mode!!

I have two of them on my 4-way cab, with purple ball-tops.

http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/ebay/sanwabluebig.jpg

I really had my doubts, but we love them!!

Thanks,

Nicholas

[MaximRecoil]

I'm partial to Nintendo's joysticks, though no one else seems to be.

They are probably the most bulletproof joysticks ever built.

[pointdablame]

Wico. 4-way.  Leafswitch.  Joystick.


End of story   It is by far my favorite 4way.  I also really like the Ms Pac Reunion stick that Happ sells now, but the Wico is much better IMO.

[ahofle]

Haha, this is why this damn question pops up once a day.  3 responses, 3 different joysticks. 

[needlesmcgirk]

Does the ms. pacman reunion really feel and perform like the original ms pacman joystick?  That's what I'm really looking for.

[AtomSmasher]

Does the ms. pacman reunion really feel and perform like the original ms pacman joystick?  That's what I'm really looking for.

I have no idea, all I know is I love mine.  I never played much of the original ms pacman, but I played a lot of Galaga and the short throw on the reunion stick feels just right to me.

[CheffoJeffo]

Wico. 4-way.  Leafswitch.  Joystick.

Best. Stick. Evar.

 

Cheers.

[Kremmit]

Does the ms. pacman reunion really feel and perform like the original ms pacman joystick?  That's what I'm really looking for.

No.  It's a totally different stick, the only similarity is that they're both 4-way restricted.  The Reunion is a nice enough stick, but it will feel plenty different than the original.

If you want something that performs like an original pac stick, then you're off to ebay for an original pac stick.  Also likely need a replacement grommet to go in it, which can also be had on ebay. 

[markrvp]

I've got two original Pacman joysticks for my Pacman cocktail table and they are hands down the best 4-way stick I've ever used and that includes the WICO and the REUNION stick.

[destructor]

Sanwa has excellent 4-way mode. Seimitsu LS-32 has 2 modes 4-way and is excellent to but in standard 4-way mode is too loud, second modified mode is on diamond restrictor as in Sanwa. Later I will check throw.

[brophog]

I thought LS32 had a 2,4,8 way restrictor.

[Searcher7]

Going by feel there is no "best" because everyone doesn't like the same thing.

Now can someone say what exactly is the difference in "feel' between the reunion and the original?

Thanks.

Darren

[Zakk]

The reunion is a microswitch stick, unless the one I played the other night had a replacement (I doubt it), and originals had rubber grommets.  I'll take a grommet any day over a microswitch, the old sticks were smoooooooth as glass for playing ms pac.  Remember you can't have it catching on a corner, or Blinky will get ya.

[Kremmit]

It's hard to describe the actual difference in feel, because trying to describe the feel of a stick in words is like trying to describe a particular dog over the phone.  You know what your dog looks like, and could look at another dog with similar markings and still know it's not him.  But try getting somebody on the phone to do the same trick, just with a verbal description- Good Luck.

What I can do, is describe the physical differences between the two sticks.  Hopefully, this will give you some idea of the ways the feel will differ, based on your own experiences with different sticks.  (If you have no experience, than forget the dog analogy above; it's like describing "Green" to a blind man in that case.)

 An original Pac stick has a very short handle, uses a rubber grommet for resistance & as the pivot point, and activates smooth, silent leafswitches. 

A Reunion, on the other hand, is basically a 4-way restricted Super with balltop handle.  It uses a spring for resistance, and a plastic cone for a pivot point.  It activates standard clicky Cherry microswitches.

[destructor]

I thought LS32 had a 2,4,8 way restrictor.

Yes, LS32 had a 2,4 and 8 way restrictor. But when you remove this restrictor you have second restrictor -> square, and you can rotate him 45 degrees for diamond. Otherwise you don't mount first restrictor then.

[nostrebor]

Based on your application (Ms Pac) The original Pac stick is by far the best. IMO the closest second in original feel is the Wico 4-way leaf, only because it is leaf/grommet just like the Pac. The throw is not the same but it plays the Pac games quite well. A beat to death worn out stick wont cut it, for the Pac games try to find NOS, at least for the base and grommet on the Wicos. Third choice is the reunion, but it is definitely not the same as the original. I have no experience with the Sanwas, so ?? on those.

[MaximRecoil]

Based on your application (Ms Pac) The original Pac stick is by far the best. IMO the closest second in original feel is the Wico 4-way leaf, only because it is leaf/grommet just like the Pac. The throw is not the same but it plays the Pac games quite well. A beat to death worn out stick wont cut it, for the Pac games try to find NOS, at least for the base and grommet on the Wicos. Third choice is the reunion, but it is definitely not the same as the original. I have no experience with the Sanwas, so ?? on those.

What was the original Pac-Man joystick, i.e. who manufactured it and what other games was it used on as OEM?

[Kremmit]

Midway games was the OEM.  Lots of Midway games of the era used the same sticks, but you have to be careful to find one from a 4-way game, not an 8-way game, as the 8-ways have a round restrictor plate instead of the diamond one you want.

Here's one:
http://www.quarterarcade.com/GamePicture.aspx?c=&g=6336&o=1&m=0