Do most arcade fighters use 8 ways?

[Chris2]

For my Mame box, I also want to include 4 player M.U.G.E.N. play, which would probably require 8 way joysticks. The problem is that I want to use I-Pac, which only allows me enough inputs for four 4 way joysticks. This could be a constraint because I need to have a total of 9 buttons to a player. This is a total 36 buttons on top of the joysticks, which could either be 4 way or 8 way. (1-4 player start buttons plus 8 per person)

So, my question is this: Can Mugen and other fighters be played with 4 way joysticks? And if not, can four 8 ways be wired through I-Pac(s) while still having 8 action buttons and a start button for each player?

 

[Malenko]

4 way and 8 way sticks both use 4 inputs, up down left right
the 4 way stick restricts the diagonals to you cant hit up/right  up/left down/right or down/left

games like pac-man are better to play with 4 ways so you dont go up when you meant to go right and things of that nature. I cant really explain it any better then I already have. If you're going to play MUGEN and Street Fighter VS Xmen and things like that, the 8 way stick is ideal

[iMPULSZE]

Most fighters either use an 8-way joystick or a perfect360 joystick.  The 8-way joystick actually inputs via 4way inputs, but has an adaptor piece inside that allows 2 inputs to be inputted at the same time.

[danny_galaga]

what they said. electrically, the ipac sees no difference between a 4 way and an 8 way. 4 and 8 are caused by mechanical restrictor plates. both types of joystick have 4 switches, just that in the 8 way you can hit two at the same time to create a diagonally input. thus the number of electrical inputs is the same. each has 4 wires and an earth going to it.

edit: i should say 'common', not 'earth'.

[Chris2]

oooooooooh. That makes perfect sense! Thanks.