Happs Perfect 360 vs. Ulitmarc Ultrastik 360

[urbecrisch]

I'm looking to purchase two 360 joysticks for a 2 player CP I'm building cause I don't want a dedicated 4-way joystick.  Are they pretty similar.  I read the Wiki and checked both websites but I want to hear from the actual gamers out there.

Which 360 do you prefer and why?

[Jeff AMN]

I have two Happs Perfect 360s and love them. I've noticed that the board is really getting behind the Ultimarcs. I haven't tried both, but I wouldn't ever hesitate to recommend the P360s to anybody, especially on a 2-player panel in a figher type setup.

[Anubis_au]

uber, I've been reading alot about these Ultrastiks from Ultimarc.

They seem to be popular because you can program maps to make it work as 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, rotated 4-way (Q-Bert), so it seems the Ultrastik is very versatile in that respect. And with MaLa, you can load these joystickmaps before launching a game, on the fly as it were...

I'm thinking of going them in my CP... have a read of retroblast's reviews... he has reviewed both the Happ 360 and the Ultrastik 360...

[destructor]

To the death:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61944.0

I have both: P360 and U360.
P360 I use for shmups games only. BUT -> I have moded shaft (shorter SlikStik heavy shaft with heavy ball, better mod is with lighter spring and lighter shaft and ball) and actuator (I must only touch joystick to engage).
Why U360 not for shmups? Because default spring and 2 additional old springs are wrong. Now I will test new spring (maybe in weekend), maybe will be fine.
U360 is great without modify, P360 is weak without modify.
In U360 you can easy enable different modes, in P360 it's very hard, I can say impossible, generally it's 8-way stick only.

Summary:
- P360 without mod -> throw to trash
- U360 without mod -> excellent for all but shmups
- P360 with mod -> excellent for shmups
- U360 with new spring -> ... we will see

If you don't want to buy both joysticks (probably you don't want ) then buy U360.

And remember - sometimes (for some games) standard joystick with microswitches will be better than P360 or U360 then you always can mount one of this type joystick to your cabinet.

[NoOne=NBA=]

This is really an apples vs. oranges because the sticks are that different.

The big difference is that the U-360 will do 49-way and analog games, in addition to the normal 2/4/8-way.
The P-360 is an 8-way digital stick, and is not functionally any different than an 8-way Wico.

[urbecrisch]

Looks like I'm leaning towards the U360's just for the fact that they can be used for 2/4/8/49 and analog games. 

Are the U360's plug and play?  I know they have software to map out games but do you have to configure each game (over 5000) with the U360 or will some command in Mame take care of that?

Do you use the U360's with or without an encoder since they can hook up additional buttons?

[vrf]

U360 doesn't need an encoder for up to 8 buttons. And you can't shift those buttons, either. So yeah, you'd probably need an encoder for admin stuff.

I think I'm going with U360's for my next cab. Love the fact that they can do analog games, too.

[Extreme8]

I have 2 of the U360's on order.
It was the true analog ability that sold me on these over the 49-way & GP-wiz49 option. I never really gave the P360's any consideration since they're nothing more than a switchless 8-way stick.

It seems that Andy is having a parts shortage of some sort that is slowing down his assembly of these sticks. I've been waiting over 2 weeks at this point.

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on them and getting my CP reconfigured.

[Chris G]

U360 is great without modify

Summary:
- U360 without mod -> excellent for all but shmups

Destructor - I'm not going to search for the post, but I would swear I recall you strongly recommending circle restrictors AND stiffer springs for the U360 in general.  Perhaps I misunderstood whatever post that was in, or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're writing now...

Whatever the case, I really like my U360s, however, IMO the stock version feels awful for any type of game.  The throw is way too long and the spring is too light.  When I get the money, I plan to buy the optional stuff.  Of course, as with all this stuff, it comes down to personal preference!

[destructor]

U360 is great without modify

Summary:
- U360 without mod -> excellent for all but shmups

Destructor - I'm not going to search for the post, but I would swear I recall you strongly recommending circle restrictors AND stiffer springs for the U360 in general.  Perhaps I misunderstood whatever post that was in, or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're writing now...

Whatever the case, I really like my U360s, however, IMO the stock version feels awful for any type of game.  The throw is way too long and the spring is too light.  When I get the money, I plan to buy the optional stuff.  Of course, as with all this stuff, it comes down to personal preference!

Clear: U360 with default spring is excellent for all type of games, but is not good for shmups games. Not good knows that my moded P360 is better, far better for shmups tham U360. I have circle and square restrictor otherwise. Additional 2 old Ultimarc springs are too hard, harder than default P360 spring, this is crazy because P360 is very hard stick. Now I wait for new Ultimarc spring for test and I will write something about it on this forum.

For me throw in U360 is very comfortable for play, I feel that I move stick. In T-Stik for example I don't feel it becuase stick don't move almost
Default spring is very good for me because I use almost 0 strenght for move stick from one position to next, very comfortable, I can play and play. On P360 my hand is hurt after 1 hour of playing.

Every like something different. I like comfort

[Chris G]

Destructor - Ok, I went back and re-read.  I was remembering your original post exactly backwards! 

[SGT]

... but do you have to configure each game (over 5000) with the U360 or will some command in Mame take care of that?

I believe the Mala plugin reads the controls.ini file to send the correct map to the U360.  I think you can still create maps for any individual games though if you don't like what its getting from the controls.ini.

[fatfingers]

... but do you have to configure each game (over 5000) with the U360 or will some command in Mame take care of that?

I believe the Mala plugin reads the controls.ini file to send the correct map to the U360.  I think you can still create maps for any individual games though if you don't like what its getting from the controls.ini.

Technically speaking (since I'm the creator of the MaLa plugin for these joysticks) the plugin gets the information right from MaLa (which may or may not be looking at controls.ini -- I don't know).  You are allowed to override the applied map for any game by creating a game-specific map for that game (it has to be named the same as the rom name).

Enjoy!

P.S. U360s rock!

[urbecrisch]

How do 2 or 4 way games play with the U360?
 
Since they don't have a true restrictor, does the gameplay suffer? 

I want to avoid adding a dedicated 4 way on my panel but I also want to be able to play the classics without the player freezing when a directional is hit on the U360. 

What do you U360 people think about the 2 or 4 way play?

[destructor]

U360 has square restrictor too.

[urbecrisch]

 way games?I have just read a few threads on the U360 in the hardware forum, however I'm still a little confused regarding the restrictor plates. 

If I don't have a restrictor installed, will the gameplay suffer in 2 or 4 way mode?  I want to be able to play 2,4,8 & 49 way games.

If I install a restrictor, I will be stuck in that particular mode, correct?  Meaning if I add a square restrictor I will be unable to play 8 or 49 way games?

Is there a difference between the square & circle restrictor plate?

Cheers!

[Chris G]

If you want to play all types of games, then you probably do not want to use a square restrictor.  Perhaps a circle restrictor, though, if you want to shorten the throw.  Regarding "gameplay" - that depends what you mean.  Yes, you have good directional control; No, it will not have the same feel as a dedicated joystick.  My feeling is that it's a good compromise for someone who wants to play as many games as possible without having a dozen different sticks.  Just my 2 cents...

 
Chris

[destructor]

You can play every game 2/4/8/49 way on square and circle restrictor. For 8/49-way games you must rotate restrictor by 90 degrees.

What restrictor you use is depend what you like. Someone people like sqare restrictors because they like easy hit corners. Someone like circle because they like smooth moves without any corners.

What you like?

[Aurich]

Personally I like octagon restrictors. Andy is working on an official solution if you don't want to mod, though no telling when/if it will happen.

[Chris G]

You can play every game 2/4/8/49 way on square and circle restrictor.

Is this really fair to say?  Yes, you CAN play every game, but how will they all feel with a square restrictor?  I haven't actually gotten around to purchasing restrictors yet for mine, so I really don't know the answer.  I was partly basing my earlier response on the post Aurich just referenced, which made sense to me when I read it before...

[NoOne=NBA=]

but how will they all feel with a square restrictor?

It will feel just like playing with any other square restricted 8-way, except that you won't have all the problems associated with hitting the diagonals because the software will prevent that.

[urbecrisch]

So adding a restrictor doesn't restrict the amount of accessible games?

If you want to play all types of games, then you probably do not want to use a square restrictor.  Perhaps a circle restrictor, though, if you want to shorten the throw. 

Why shorten the throw with a circle restrictor?

[Chris G]

It's just another personal preference thing - i.e. feel.  If there are other reasons, I've not heard about them...

[NoOne=NBA=]

Why shorten the throw with a circle restrictor?

It's partly personal preference, but there are some functional reasons.
A 90 degree arc from Right to Up requires a shorter amount of movement with the restrictor than without.
This means on games like Robotron and shooters that you don't have to make as big a movement to complete a circular movement at the extreme of travel.

[Chris G]

Sounds like a good reason to me... now I really want to try one!  Glad someone who knows what they're talking about is paying attention. 

Chris

[destructor]

Without restrictor U360 is for 49/analog games only. Personally for these games I install restrictors. For I'Robot for example I installed square restrictors for easy hit diagonals.
You must test it. You can ask, ask and ask but important is your feel only. Test it.

[fatfingers]

If you want to play all types of games, then you probably do not want to use a square restrictor.  Perhaps a circle restrictor, though, if you want to shorten the throw.  Regarding "gameplay" - that depends what you mean.  Yes, you have good directional control; No, it will not have the same feel as a dedicated joystick.  My feeling is that it's a good compromise for someone who wants to play as many games as possible without having a dozen different sticks.  Just my 2 cents...

 
Chris

I concur with Chris.  If you want the true feel for all games you have to have the original joysticks.  However, noone has enough room for all of those.   I personally believe the U360 is marvelous for controlling all of the games I have played (2, 4, 8, 49, and analog).  I think you'll be happy with it, but I cannot promise you will be because it truly is a personal opinion.  At some point you'll just have to shell out the money and give them a try.  I would think you would like them, but if you don't I'm sure you wouldn't have much trouble reselling them here since they seem to be growing in popularity.


I would also like to note that I do not have any restrictors installed.

[DarkBubble]

Anyone know if they plan on adding support in the iPac for the U360's analog to work on consoles via the adapters?  Judging from the info on-site, it looks like it only emulates it.  I'd always loved the thought of being able to hack a dual trigger stick panel for console FPS or tank games.