Anyone using a joystick from Ultimarc? (Mag-Stik, etc..)

[Matt W]

Anyone using a joystick from Ultimarc? (Mag-Stik, etc..)  Read a review and I was wondering if they work well for fighting games (SFII, Mortal Kombat, etc...).  The ability to switch from 4 to 8 Way without opening your control panel is nice.

[leapinlew]

If you live in the states, and you've played fighting games at the arcades - the Magstick+ is nothing like those sticks. It has a short, firm throw - not the long sloppy throws your used to with those sticks. The Happ Supers, or p360's are more of what your used to.

I had some magstick+ and they are different than any stick I've used in the US. I ended up selling them. Changing from the top of the CP was a great feature, but I was the only one in my house that used it. No one else knew when to change it (as in, which games were 4 way, and which weren't) and many times people didn't care if they were playing frogger, or Ms. Pacman in 8 way mode.

[AKA Kaytrim]

I agree with LeapinLew.  I have two T-Stick+ joysticks and I have difficulties doing the special moves in the Street Fighter series.  The cardinal directions are also difficult to hit in 8-way mode, you have to be directly on to get them.  I am thinking on replacing them with standard 8-way sticks and get a dedicated 4-way. 

Groovy Game Gear is working on a 49-way similar to what Ultimarc has but they have not came out with it yet.  As most of my stuff comes from GGG I will wait and see how their new Joysticks work out.

TTFN 
Kaytrim

[chazbeenhad]

How is the mag-stik plus vs the Euro stick?

I put 2 joysticks similar to the euro stick in my cp. They are coin control and made in the USA. They look just like the Euro stick except for the restrictor plates on the very bottom. They have a very short, tight range
of movement. I actualy like them for all types of games but they are very short , sticking up from the cp. How tall does the mag-stik plus stick up?

Also how is the magnetic centering? is it strong enough? Does it "jitter" back and forth if you let go when holding it in a direction? (like an x-arcade stick)

My control panel is small so these 4 - 8 way switchable from the top of the cp seems to be what I need.

[Donkey_Kong]

Guys the Retroblast reviews might answer some questions too.

Here is all of the stiks at once that they have reviewed...
http://retroblast.com/hardware.html

Mag Stik Plus Review with some video even
http://retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/ultimarc_magstikplus_part1.html

Ultra Stik 360 Review
http://retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-01.html

[leapinlew]

Also how is the magnetic centering? is it strong enough? Does it "jitter" back and forth if you let go when holding it in a direction? (like an x-arcade stick)

My control panel is small so these 4 - 8 way switchable from the top of the cp seems to be what I need.

I would say that they don't have enough play to "jitter" at all. They only go about 5 degree's in any direction. The magnetic centering doesn't do anything for the stick and I didn't notice it hurt the stick any either. It's just not a good stick for fighters if your used to the fighters in the arcade in the US.

I had a small CP on my first arcade - 22.5" to be exact. I bought the 4/8 ways for maximum compatability. The sticks were so different than what I was used to using that instead of having the ability to play the maximum amount of games properly - none of my games felt proper.

[emerica]

I have a magstick and a t-stick. The magstick feels a bit looser when compared to the t-stick. Most likely its the magnet vs spring issue. The travel for the two sticks is the same though.

Like leapinlew said, the ability to change from the top is great but these are definitely (at least in my opinion) not the best for fighting games like mortal kombat and street fighter. I would stick to some supers or something.

I wonder how the ultrastick or a 49-way stick feels for the fighting games.

[Matt W]

I see they also sell the "Ultrastick" which is electronic and allows you to easily switch from 4 to 8 way.  Does this stick still only have about 5 degrees of movement or is it more like a Happ?

[leapinlew]

I see they also sell the "Ultrastick" which is electronic and allows you to easily switch from 4 to 8 way.  Does this stick still only have about 5 degrees of movement or is it more like a Happ?

There is a review at Retroblast. It appears to have more play, but for the most part it's a new stick and there aren't a lot of well formed opinions about that stick.

[Donkey_Kong]

I see they also sell the "Ultrastick" which is electronic and allows you to easily switch from 4 to 8 way.  Does this stick still only have about 5 degrees of movement or is it more like a Happ?

Matt I have a pair of Ultra Stik 360's. I believe there is like 15 degree's of throw with no restrictor installed. With round restrictor I think we go down to 10 degrees. Check the Retroblast reviews for exact on those numbers though.

I have never owned any other sticks cause I just started this hobby but, I think it would be hard for me to ever buy anything else because they are very nice! So besides the Retroblast review link that I dropped for you in my last post up above, there are a few more from fellow BYOAC members including my own...Which I need to update as I have learned more about my U 360's now and have had more time using them...I will go do that now.

BYOAC Ultra Stik 360 member reviews...
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=57107.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=57466.0

The initial Ultra Stik 360 announcement of release and large discussion...
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54569.0

Feel free to ask about any further questions on these sticks and I will TRY to help...Remember that I actually agree with Lew's statement above. My review can be taken for a grain of salt because I'm such a MAME and Cab building noob. (Probably just annoying ramble to veterans) I would actually like to see MORE reviews of these stiks from the PROS!!

Good luck in what you choose.

[emerica]

Matt I have a pair of Ultra Stik 360's. I believe there is like 15 degree's of throw with no restrictor installed.

so with 15 degrees of travel that would make the stick similar to that of a happ super. The retroblast reivew says that the supers have 15 degrees of travel. Does the stick feel like an analog joy like a pc joystick?

[Subcriminal(guest-mode)]

I'm going to sell my T-stick plusses that are in my cab soon  They are too firm and not enough throw. Impossible to have a proper game on a fighter with them and makes your wrist ache if you use them for too long. Got me some Sanwa 4-8 switchables which have a very light spring tension and throw which are both adjustable and switchable from under the control panel.