Joystick Advice - rotary (8way vs 49way)

[Faerl]

I'm about to build a new quad cabinet and want two of the stations to use rotary joysticks for akari warriors etc. We bought several regular joysticks to 'test' including the Happs ultimate, competition and 360. Everyone seemed to like the 8 way competition being for feeling really solid. I'd like to end up with 4 joysticks that all have the same or similiar 'feel' to them. As near as I can tell the two possibilities for that are to go with the Happs rotary or wait for Randy's new 49way which apparently has a rotary option as well. So the questions for those that know.

With the Happs rotary joystick, does anyone have it and know if it 'feels' more like their competition, ultimate or 360? If I went this way I'd end up with 8 way joysticks but that would handle most everything we'll play anyway.

Whats the general consensus on how do the 49way's compare to the happs 8way competition as far as 'feel' goes?

Just trying to avoid another $100 field test before I buy all 4 of them. Thanks for opinions.

[TPB]

Retroblast reckon they most closely resemble the Happs Super :

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/happrotary.html

[johnm160]

Ok I have never played this game but have played heavy barrel on mame. What does the rotary stick allow you to do that the 8 way does not?

[btp2k2]

The rotary stick allows you to turn the character by twisting the stick.

So not only can you move the character, you can also turn independantly from the direction the character is moving...

[johnm160]

Well that sure sounds like it would make it easier to play 

Thanks for the info and sorry for the brief hijack.

[genesim]

I have a Happs Rotary joystick on controler one and I have the CO2 cabinet from slik stik....so I exchanged the top fires for happs super.

I am here to tell you that I prefer the Rotary because of the slightly heavier feel.    Also, it is only natural to have the rotary on joystick one if you play right handed!   That was how the arcade worked.

As a fighting stick it is plain awesome, and I prefer it over the Happs perfect 360's as well(which I owned for several months and could not stand!!).    I believe in having a arcade feel, and the Rotaries....though slightly wider, still gives it that authentic quality, while mainting a good use as the main rotary without going left handed.

I cannot say enough how much I enjoy the controller..

[Faerl]

Yeah, we've since tested several including the competition, the super (which is what happs apparently builds their rotary off of) and the 360. Competition and the super are most definately the winners. RandyT apparently is coming out with this 49way rotary "soon" so I'm going attempt to wait to try it before we order all the rest. I've started on the cabinet but I'm gone most of next week so probably won't order the controls until I get back. Hopefully he has it out by then, otherwise I'll give the Happs model a try.

[Tiger-Heli]

From what I have heard, I think Randy's new stick is basically a ground-up design, so can't say how it compares to the existing 49-way stick.

The existing 49-way stick is supposed to have longer throw than the Happ super, but also has the ability to set itself up for 4-way, 8-way, 2-way H, 2-way V, or diagonal action "on-the-fly", no below panel adjustment, no above panel adjustment - it just works (through the appropriate software).  OTOH, buying four of them is a fairly expensive proposition, and I can't comment on how using a Happ Super for P3 and a new 49-way for P1 would work.

[Kaytrim]

From what I have heard, I think Randy's new stick is basically a ground-up design, so can't say how it compares to the existing 49-way stick.

The existing 49-way stick is supposed to have longer throw than the Happ super, but also has the ability to set itself up for 4-way, 8-way, 2-way H, 2-way V, or diagonal action "on-the-fly", no below panel adjustment, no above panel adjustment - it just works (through the appropriate software).  OTOH, buying four of them is a fairly expensive proposition, and I can't comment on how using a Happ Super for P3 and a new 49-way for P1 would work.

I have both the Happ Competition and the Midway49.  The throw is defiantly longer on the 49way.  I haven't had time to try out the on-the-fly programming of the GPWiz49 yet, just got it yesterday.  Randy does have an eco version for $20.95 each.  Also from what I have read on the forums Randy's new interface will be two sticks per card.  I am guessing that two of the new Max versions will cost about the same as four of the eco versions.

[Tiger-Heli]

I haven't had time to try out the on-the-fly programming of the GPWiz49 yet, just got it yesterday.

http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/set49mode/

Happy robot-butt-kicking!!!

[Kaytrim]

AtomicFE has support built in for the GPWiz49 and the LEDWiz.  I am in the middle of switching from GameEx to AtomicFE for this functionality.

Thanks for the info it is still useful as it helps to know how this is done. 
Kaytrim