Cheap 8-way joysticks to purchase at local game room show?

[Zoltan]

I am looking for a cheap 8-way joystick that is fairly acceptable for 4 way games such as Ms. Pac-man. I attempted to switch the joysticks in my current cabinet (joystick origins unknown, came with the dusty cabinet) because of some sticking issues and ended up breaking some switches and finding out that my player 2 joystick was much less acceptable then my player 1 joystick (for 4 way games). I will be attending a game room show this weekend (in Rochester, NY) hoping that there will be vendors with a variety of joysticks for sale. For me this will be a temporary solution until I purchase 49-way joysticks, hence the cheap part of the request. Any suggestions on brand/model would be appreciated. Thanks.

[leapinlew]

The only stick that is "acceptable" for ms. pacman is a ms. pacman stick or a 4 way wico to me. Everything else is a compromise.

I haven't used one yet, but the U360's look very good with the mapping software the same stick can be your 8 way, 4 way, 2 way, and diagonal stick.

[CheffoJeffo]

The only stick that is "acceptable" for ms. pacman is a ms. pacman stick or a 4 way wico to me. Everything else is a compromise.

Concur

While my kids don't seem to mind the Happ Ultimate 4-ways (yes, I was a noob once) on the old cocktail at the lake, they greatly prefer the authentic Pac stick or Wico 4-way once we get home.

I'm not sure if Zoltan can find an 8-way that will "make do" until he upgrades. Nor advice there.

Have a good time a the show ... every year I MEAN to go and think I will actually make it next year (my parents are moving to Rochester, so I'll have a place to dump the kids).

Cheers.

[SavannahLion]

Not to steal the thread.

What's the difference between the Happ 4-way and the pac-man/Wico 4-way?

[Kremmit]

Not to steal the thread.

What's the difference between the Happ 4-way and the pac-man/Wico 4-way?

Your question is hard to answer as it is written.

Happ sells several different 4-ways:  the 4-way Ultimate (2 and 8-way Ultimates are also available), the Ms. Pac/Galaga Reunion stick (which comes in two varieties, one with a mounting plate for original Pac machines an one without), and then there's the Universal (well, one of the two joysticks they call "Universal"), which is switchable from 4 to 8-way. 

The "Pac-Man/Wico 4-way" is two different sticks:  One is the original Midway stick used in Pac-Man and lots of other Midway games from the same time period.  The Wico is a different stick entirely.

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To the original poster:  If you're looking for cheap, and you're looking for 4 and 8-way play, then the Happ Universal (careful, there are two different "Universal" sticks on their site) might be worth looking at.

[Zoltan]

Problem solved, there were no vendors at the show selling new joysticks (as mentioned in a different thread by a different person). So tonight I attempted to repair the damage that I did to the switches in my original joysticks and will deal with some of these issue in the future.

BTW, the highlight of the show for me was seeing a Tapper cabinet. I have played the game in emulation but had never seen one in person. The tap controls and built in cup holders were awesome.

obligatory link to game info: http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=12839