UMK3 - replace spring wico micros joysticks with happ comps?

[rockin_rick]

I have a Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, and I am replacing the buttons and microswitches with new ones as the old ones don't work great.  (Where you push on the button matters on if it registers or not.  The new ones don't seem to be plagued with this...)  Should I change out the Wico spring return-to-center microswitch joysticks with Happ comps?  I already have new happ comps in the correct/same color and style (red/bat handle) which I don't have a use for.  The main difference is that the wicos are more of a circle restrictor while the comps are more square (right? - the wicos are very round, while the 'squareness' of the comps is my understanding).  So I suppose that my question is should I change out the circle restrictor sticks with square restrictor ones?

But really there are two issues at play here.  The first is playability - which stick works better?  The second is originality - do I replace the original sticks with different ones?  Which trumps which?  (the $64,000 question)

I think that this (type of) game would prefer a square restricted joystick (the comp over the wico), right?  I am conflicted as to change the (good working) OEM joys for better suited (??) joys.

(I will put new microswitches on the wicos if I don't put in the new comps (also with new microswitches obviously...))

Thanks,
Rick

[Crowquill]

How bad is the condition of the original sticks? If you're really that conflicted about losing the originals, then you could just replace the switches (as you said).

This is also one of those things where personal preference comes in. Most people like the square shape of a comp to be able to feel the diagonals. I think these days it's definitely the favored Happ stick for fighters. The Super used to be the preferred overall stick (which has a round actuator). Personally I favor the Comps.

Swapping out a joystick is easy. Since you already have all the sticks, why not swap out 1 of the joysticks. Start a vs. match and you can see which you prefer side-by-side.

[NiteWalker]

I say just use the comp sticks. They aren't as square feeling as many make it sound like. Try a Sanwa JLF. Those are what it really feels like to play on a square restrictor.

Doing circular motions is no problem on comp sticks. They're great for fighting games. Try comp buttons while you're at it. A lot of people don't like em but for fighting games they're great. Much better than standard buttons. For fighting games at least.

[Wiibound]

actually the Competition joysticks ARE OEM.
Happ provided them and they were slightly upgraded with gold microswitches and heavy spring I think.

[kowal]

Try a Sanwa JLF.

sanwa sucks, slowly centring to center. do not buy to this game japanese joystick (only seimitsu LS55 is OK). Competion is the best for UMK3 or Suzo STC.

actually the Competition joysticks ARE OEM.
Happ provided them and they were slightly upgraded with gold microswitches and heavy spring I think.

then truth:( its OEM http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g308/k-kowal/Joystick/Eurojoystick%20OEM/
but only black version. buy red and it will be OK.

[XtraSmiley]

I'm not really sure what the OEM was on MKII but I swapped them out with Comps.  I didn't think they felt as good, UNTIL I put on the heavy springs ($1 each).  Now I think they are waaaaay better than the OEM ones.

One problem does seem to be that the Comps are slightly shorter in the panel than the OEMs.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

[Wiibound]

The OEM is Competition with heavy spring

[XtraSmiley]

The OEM is Competition with heavy spring

I don't think they are b/c they are a tiny bit longer and they look different.  Unless Comps use to look different. 

[Wiibound]

I emailed Midway about it and they said competition joysticks with heavy springs and gold microswitches.
Maybe they just routed out their CP to 5/8"?

Here's an OEM MK2 cabinet, if it doesn't look like this (except for MK3 art) then it's not an OEM cabinet and is just a conversion


Midway sent out dedicated units..

[XtraSmiley]

Thanks man, I have a dedicated unit, and I highly doubt anyone at Midway today would know jack about their arcade games from years ago.  Remember, the company was gutted pretty bad when they started losing money several years ago.  Again, I don't think they were Comps from what I remember, but I could be wrong.  I won't be able to get to my collection until Jan or Feb, but when I do I'll be sure to check it out, take pictures and post on here.

[Wiibound]

Thanks man, I have a dedicated unit, and I highly doubt anyone at Midway today would know jack about their arcade games from years ago.  Remember, the company was gutted pretty bad when they started losing money several years ago.  Again, I don't think they were Comps from what I remember, but I could be wrong.  I won't be able to get to my collection until Jan or Feb, but when I do I'll be sure to check it out, take pictures and post on here.

do you mean you have a "chain of evidence" So to speak? could anyone have swapped them out for whatever joysticks were available at the time? I'm very curious myself.

But I have no doubt that the competition would probably be the best stick to put in there as opposed to ultimate or super

[XtraSmiley]

Well, no real proof I guess, but here is the story.  I got a dedicated MKII.  I wanted it to work as nice as possible so I went about replacing all the buttons and joys to make it function like new.  I could tell the ones in there were stock b/c stickers were still in place, over where they sticks were installed.  In fact, I remember thinking, man maybe I should keep the OEMs to keep it "authentic" and just swap out the micro switches.  Then I just decided to go ahead and do it and keep the OEM sticks.

I noticed they looked a little different and felt TOTALY different.  When I got the heavy spring installed, they felt about the same, but still, different sticks (from what I recall).

Later I got a dedicated MK3 (not UMK3, but regular MK3) and same sticks as MKII.  Don't know what to say other than, my memory may be wrong (I have had and worked on dozens of machines since then), but maybe Comps were built different then?  Companies do make changes to their designs right?

Either way, a Comp is a perfect replacement (with the heavy spring) as far as feel goes, so go for it.  Just hang onto the original sticks if you want.

If anyone still cares about this in a few months, I'll post my pics when I can.  Hell, I might even make an entry in the Wiki so this info will stay forever.  I should have done it when I took all those pictures of the LS-30s, but I totally forgot and that post is probably gone by now.

[Wiibound]

Well, no real proof I guess, but here is the story.  I got a dedicated MKII.  I wanted it to work as nice as possible so I went about replacing all the buttons and joys to make it function like new.  I could tell the ones in there were stock b/c stickers were still in place, over where they sticks were installed.  In fact, I remember thinking, man maybe I should keep the OEMs to keep it "authentic" and just swap out the micro switches.  Then I just decided to go ahead and do it and keep the OEM sticks.

I noticed they looked a little different and felt TOTALY different.  When I got the heavy spring installed, they felt about the same, but still, different sticks (from what I recall).

Later I got a dedicated MK3 (not UMK3, but regular MK3) and same sticks as MKII.  Don't know what to say other than, my memory may be wrong (I have had and worked on dozens of machines since then), but maybe Comps were built different then?  Companies do make changes to their designs right?

Either way, a Comp is a perfect replacement (with the heavy spring) as far as feel goes, so go for it.  Just hang onto the original sticks if you want.

If anyone still cares about this in a few months, I'll post my pics when I can.  Hell, I might even make an entry in the Wiki so this info will stay forever.  I should have done it when I took all those pictures of the LS-30s, but I totally forgot and that post is probably gone by now.

I'd love picks of anything you can get on MK machines, I love em.

I think that UMK3 was just an upgrade conversion for MK3 machines

[rockin_rick]

These are the sticks that came on my machine (actually this post-refurb and has a NOS Wico spring return base on it, but the one that was on it was exactly the same, but dirtier - new micros, too), and they seem like they were never touched in their lifetime, IOW I'm highly certain that these are original.  I always believed that these are Wicos, aren't they?

Rick

[Wiibound]

Definately looks like a competition to me, albeit slightly different

[XtraSmiley]

Definately looks like a competition to me, albeit slightly different

Yes, like I said, they are slightly different.  Maybe Happ started changing how they make Comps?

[rockin_rick]

I think that it's different because it's a Wico - not a comp.  The base on those pictured is a NOS Wico spring return to center base that I bought NIB - there is no way it's not a Wico.  Perhaps when Happ created the comp they based it on the Wico (thus the slight changes you mention). 

Perhaps they used both comps and wicos during the production run of MK3 and UMK3 based on supply and what they had on hand.    So then either could be actually original. 

Rick

[XtraSmiley]

Well I would say that if those are Wico and you are sure, then I doubt Midway ever used any Comps b/c both my machines also had the Wico and no one has chimed in to say they ever got a dedicated unit with a Comp on it.

I know that the Comp is a good replacement part, but again, not the OEM that I had.  Issue is laid to rest.  Anyone want to update the Wikki?

[Wiibound]

just for my own interest, if you can, can you take pics of the dedicated MK unit? Underneath the CP, inside the cab etc.. very cool to me
thanks