Joystick Poll

[FrizzleFried]

I am interested in what joysticks you folks prefer and why...

(strange...I had set up 10 different selections and it only shows up to 5...sorta have to limit this to HAPP then I guess...if you use other than HAPP go with OTHER and post here...thanks)?

[Gavica]

i want to buy an xarcade all the reviews sound good, and not too expensive for the 2 player stick

[FrizzleFried]

Gavica:  Do you know that you can build something similar to X Arcade yourself for close to half the cost?   That said,  the XArcade is a decent choice if you are just going to plug in to a PC and go...

[missioncontrol]

I'm not sure... I might go and see what the kind folks at mameworld suggests for the best joystick.....

[FrizzleFried]

...smartass...

[Gavica]

yeah, but Im no good at building stuff and electronics.
I mean, I can afford the xarcade, so seems easier to avoid the hassle of trying to building it and failing.

[JoyMonkey]

The X-Arcade joysticks are possibly the worst sticks I've ever touched. If you're not too handy, you might want to buy an X-Arcade and then replace the joysticks with something more decent.
Or buy a Hanaho Hot Rod instead; they're about the same price but Hanaho uses quality Happ parts.
Homepage: http://www.hanaho.com/Products/HotRodJoystick.php
Review: http://retroblast.com/reviews/controller1.html

[Scumgriever]

I'm a fan of MCA sticks myself, no particular reason, I used them as a kid and get the response I love and am used to.

[FrizzleFried]

Scrum,

Those look like the sticks I pulled out of a "Real Ghostbusters".   Those i pulled sucked though...old and beat up.   Do they have a very short throw?

[Scumgriever]

fairly short, they're not for everyone, but they feel the most 'arcade' authentic to me because thats what a whole bunch of the machines I used to love had. Also there were a number of times since that I used other sticks and while they feel great, perhaps even improve playing ability on super intense games, they don't feel quite right to me.

[Neilyboy]

careful if you by an xarcade. i bought one with just the intention of using it on my pc every now and then.. a week after i bought the thing and started playing with it i decided i have to build a full upright and do all the buttons and stuff myself. so i pretty much spent 200 bucks on a device which i used for a week it got me hooked and now since ive spent about a grand on all the parts and extras ill need for my standup.. also the trackball that is used in the xarcade is kinda crappy.. now that i have gotten my happs trackball and gave it a 'whirl' its soo much different and better feeling than the xarcade ball.

Neil

[Scumgriever]

I agree,
I was super close to buying one online but had a chance to play one in a shop and decided that while it kicked most commercial things ass it still didn't quite cut the mustard.

yeah, but Im no good at building stuff and electronics.
I mean, I can afford the xarcade, so seems easier to avoid the hassle of trying to building it and failing.

Experience really isn't such a necessary factor in this hobby. Dont be scared of building a PC it really isn't much harder than plugging in your VCR, all the plugs only fit where they're supposed to go. Any computer store will help you to make sure your parts are compatible with each other.
Not sure where you are but I'm in Sydney, Australia and there are heaps of little individually owned computer stores run by sweet little asian guys and ladies that offer great prices on all the bits you need and will often put it together for you for free,

As for the arcade controlls I'm still waiting for my keyboard encoder so can't be certain but it doesn't look like brain surgery and there are about a hundred step by step guides floating around these parts.

I can however understand wanting to buy a pre made box to house your controls to get a professional looking finished product. My woodworking endevours never look very beautiful.

It will probably cost you about the same as an X-arcade in the long run but well worth the time, plus you end up with exactly the controlls you want.

[Gavica]

The X-Arcade joysticks are possibly the worst sticks I've ever touched. If you're not too handy, you might want to buy an X-Arcade and then replace the joysticks with something more decent.
Or buy a Hanaho Hot Rod instead; they're about the same price but Hanaho uses quality Happ parts.
Homepage: http://www.hanaho.com/Products/HotRodJoystick.php
Review: http://retroblast.com/reviews/controller1.html

That hot rod stick doesnt look too bad, its actually $10 cheaper (shipping included) than the xarcade.
Would you recommend it over it?
the only thing that worries me is that it plugs instead of a keyboard.
How do I control my PC w/o a keyboard?

[Dervacumen]

careful if you by an xarcade. i bought one with just the intention of using it on my pc every now and then.. a week after i bought the thing and started playing with it i decided i have to build a full upright and do all the buttons and stuff myself.

I second that motion.
And although I like my new controls much better, I enjoyed the X-Arcade while I had it.  Until you try a number of different controls you probably won't have any negetive reaction to how the X-Arcade feels.  I never tried the X-Arcade trackball, though.

As for my choice of other on the poll - overall I love these Wico leafs on my Smash TV cabinet.  They remind me of the old wico joystick I had for my Atari 800.

That said, I think my preference is game or genre specific.

[JoyMonkey]

That hot rod stick doesnt look too bad, its actually $10 cheaper (shipping included) than the xarcade.
Would you recommend it over it?
the only thing that worries me is that it plugs instead of a keyboard.
How do I control my PC w/o a keyboard?

It's got a keyboard pass-through port, so you can plug in both. Have a read of the review: http://retroblast.com/reviews/controller2.html

[FrizzleFried]

The only thing that sucks about the Hot Rod....


...no trackball!

[Gavica]

That hot rod stick doesnt look too bad, its actually $10 cheaper (shipping included) than the xarcade.
Would you recommend it over it?
the only thing that worries me is that it plugs instead of a keyboard.
How do I control my PC w/o a keyboard?

It's got a keyboard pass-through port, so you can plug in both. Have a read of the review: http://retroblast.com/reviews/controller2.html

cool, upong reading the review it pretty much sums it up like this, x-arcade better contruction and lifetime guaranteed, hotrod better buttons most similiar to real arcade but construction not as nice as xarcade.

[JoyMonkey]

The only thing that sucks about the Hot Rod....


...no trackball!

True, but from what I hear the X-Arcade's trackball is of about the same quality of as their joysticks.

[Havok]

I put Happ other, as I have P360's and I like them. However, I will be ordering a U360 from Ultimarc once I recover from Christmas, which is probably going to be my new favorite...

[mvolke1]

If you like a short throw, the Ultimarc Mag Stick Plus is very good. It's changeable from 4 to 8-way from the top of the control panel without a switch. I like a short throw, but I you can get longer sticks for it.

I'm going to get the Ultimarc Mag stick regular, which is just 8-way, for the side panel of my cocktail. 

[Mr. Bubblehead]

If you like a short throw, the Ultimarc Mag Stick Plus is very good. It's changeable from 4 to 8-way from the top of the control panel without a switch. I like a short throw, but I you can get longer sticks for it.

I agree.  I like the short throw on them as well, mainly because you don't "feel" the restrictor plate in 4-way mode.  I don't like joysticks that are "forced "in the cardinal directions.

[Chunce DeLeone]

Wico Leafs are the only way to go for me.  Classic feel,  ball top, you can adjust them for short or long throw, don't know why you'd want a long throw but you can, 

Also anything that came from the actual game you want to play.....

[Fozzy The Bear]

I don't know why people don't seem to like the X-Arcade sticks.... at least in this thread.  They're actually very simlar to some of the HAPP offerings and certainly better than the Happ Super which is far from Super.... What actually lets the X-Arcade sticks down is the same thing that lets their buttons down. Their really crappy microswitches which have a kind of pinging sound to them. Change those out for Cherry switches and they're then a pretty damned good stick.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Kremmit]

I don't know why people don't seem to like the X-Arcade sticks.... at least in this thread.  They're actually very simlar to some of the HAPP offerings and certainly better than the Happ Super which is far from Super....

They pretty much ARE a Happ Super, except for the microswitches. 

[Gavica]

I think now I'm leaning towards the Hotrod, only prob is I believe they only take Credit Cards, I wanted to pay with paypal. 

[FrizzleFried]

Go build (or buy) a box.   Then buy 2 Competition or Super Joysticks...$20.   Buy 14 buttons ($1.50 each)...$21.   An encoder will cost around $30 (ballpark)...wire...lets say $4.00 to be even and we are at $95.00 for a nice 2 player x6 button control panel.   

[GoPodular.com]

I don't know why people don't seem to like the X-Arcade sticks.... at least in this thread.  They're actually very simlar to some of the HAPP offerings and certainly better than the Happ Super which is far from Super....

They pretty much ARE a Happ Super, except for the microswitches.

Microswitches, corner throw, and spring.  Other than that, they're about the same.   

[Kremmit]

I think now I'm leaning towards the Hotrod, only prob is I believe they only take Credit Cards, I wanted to pay with paypal. 

Paypal will issue you a credit/debit card that draws from your Paypal balance.  It's free.

Microswitches, corner throw, and spring.  Other than that, they're about the same.   

Oh, is the throw different?  I just assumed that the company making the knockoffs took their mold from an IL body, and so would have more or less the same dimensions.  Forgot about the spring, though.