Controller choices driving me nuts

[Endaar]

Hi All,

First off, thanks to all of you here who make the site a wealth of information. Unfortunately, my head is now spinning as a result. 

I'm trying to plan out a CP, and am really struggling to make final decisions on the joysticks. I play mostly platformers and shoot-em-ups, but some fighters as well. The panel will have a trackball and spinner, and I'm planning on using a PC steering wheel for driving games, so all of those needs are taken care of.

Based on all-around excellent reviews, I purchased a U360 and added the hard spring. I really like the stick for analog but it just doesn't feel right to me for anything else. I should point out I wasn't ever exactly an arcade junkie, so when I say it "doesn't feel right," I'm not really comparing it to anything in particular.

My wife enjoys a lot of the older 4-way games, and between her and I testing the U360 in 4-way mode, we decided we still preferred a true 4-way stick. She wanted a top-fire stick so I ordered Happ's top-fire model.

In the meantime I had ordered the octagonal restrictor for the U360. I prefer the way the stick feels with this setup, since the throw is greatly reduced and each direction is distinctly noticeable. The problem with the restrictor comes in analog mode; even with the mapping software setup properly, the full-range of diagonal motion is unavailable. I believe this could be corrected with a custom restrictor adjustment through the U360 software, but that would only exacerbate the other big issue with using the restrictor; the stick's throw is made too short to obtain much precision in analog mode.

So as things stand now, I have no need for the stick in 4-way mode, and have a choice of setting it up so that I am happy with it either for standard 8-way use or for analog, but not both. What I think I would want is an octagonal restrictor that only slightly reduces the stick's throw, but that's not currently an option.

I like the feel of the Happ top-fire even though it doesn't (visually) appear to have a shorter throw than the unrestricted U360. That has me thinking I'd be happier with a microswitch stick instead of the "smooth" operation of the U360. Of course in doing so I'd lose analog entirely, but the list of analog (non-driving) games isn't significant enough for that to be a huge concern.

Currently then I'm considering either the Happ Competition or the Sanwa JLF. I like the option of having an octagonal restrictor available for the Sanwa, but by all accounts this stick is too short for a wood CP, so I may have to rule it out by default.

Long story short, I'd just really appreciate any and all opinions on this whole mess. Am I making a mistake I'll later regret by giving up the U360's flexibility? Is there a longer shaft available for the JLF (I'm not up to routing out the panel) and if so, is that a better choice than the Competition? Or do I keep things simple and go with the Competition since I like the Happ stick I already have and the specs seem similar? What else am I not considering?

Thanks all!
Endaar

[ViciousXUSMC]

My CP has the Happ Comps, I say you cant go wrong there since thats what you find in the majority of the arcades and they are both very durable and cheap.  Sanwa is mostly appealing to the hardcore fighters crowed and like you said has stricter mounting requirements also its more expensive and harder to find.

I plan to build a Sanwa joystick at some point just so I can say I have tried both and have an unbiased opinion but I can tell you that it will feel unusual with its short throw, but as with anything given time you will get used to it. 

If you have the space the best thing to do is probably (in my opinion) get the Happ Comps for your 8 way games and have atleast one cheap 4 way only stick mounted near it for the 4 way games.  Happ super or uniersal would probably work for that as it can go between 4 way and 8 way by rotating them.  Though I am not sure if its phisically limited to 4 way or just changes how it hits the switches so you can not activate them.


I myself have not had any problem with 4 way games with the 8 way comp stick yet, but since you said your wife prefers the feel of a true 4-way, given the price of the Comp sticks it would be easy to add it in.

Glad to have your feedback on the U360 I really considered it as my joystick because it was analog leaving me with options to use it on PC games, it had its own encoder saving me the money of buying a keyboard encoder, and it was easy to wire.

The reason I did not go that route was the extra cost to make it how I would want it - Wire Harness+, Hard Sprint+, Small Circle Restricor+, thats justifiable for a 1 player setup since you save the cost of the encoder, but for 2 players like I decided I would do, it is cheaper to get a encoder instead.  I got the I-PAC VE and it was only $35 paired with 2x Happ Comp Joysticks for like $8.40 each and 14 Happ Comp buttons @ $1.20 each.  I had myself a pretty cheap setup.

[Xiaou2]

Imop,  your best off with the Comps for you main controllers..   and place a real restricted 4way above the comps slightly to the left.

[Endaar]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll be away for a few days but if anyone else wants to chime in, feel free. 

[MrMojoZ]

Currently then I'm considering either the Happ Competition or the Sanwa JLF. I like the option of having an octagonal restrictor available for the Sanwa, but by all accounts this stick is too short for a wood CP, so I may have to rule it out by default.

By all accounts? All you need to do in order to mount a JLF in a wood panel (any thickness) is to route some shelves for the mounting plate to recess into on the top side of your panel. As long as you are covering the panel with plexi etc there is nothing stoping someone from mouting a JLF in wood.