Why have 3 joysticks for a 2-player cabinet?

[sofakng]

Why do so many people have a dedicated 4-way joystick plus two 8-way joysticks for a 2-player cabinet?  Can't you just set the 2nd joystick to 4-way and then switch it when needed? (eg. switch it when you have 2-players both playing an 8-way joystick game?)

I was planning on getting two J-sticks and an IPAC/2 but I'm wondering now because so many people seem to have 3 joysticks (are they using an IPAC/4 or double-wiring the joysticks?)

[AlanS17]

Well some people don't want to open up their machines every time they wanna play a 4-player game. Plus lots of people don't have 4/8 way controller that really works the way it's supposed to. The Happs 4/8 ways are a joke. Since most people buy Happs 8 ways they need a dedicated 4 way.

If you don't mind opening the thing up every time you wanna play a 4-way game, then by all means gor for it.

Plus lots of people prefer bat-style joys for their 8 ways and ball-top joys for their 4-ways.

[hyiu]

ok... I'm one of the guys who changed my mind like this...

before... I only want 2 8 way sticks...

but now... I'm playing mspacman almost daily....
and I found out that 8 way stick is not acceptable for 4 way games....

so, I"m now adding a dedeciated 4 way (J-stick in 4 way) on my panel...

I was thinking changing panels before.... (or opening it up...)

but when my friends are here... I don't have time to keep opening it everytime they switch games.....
you know... a girll will play mspacman... then guys hops in and play SF... and back and forth and so on....

so... since I have enough space to sequeeze it in.... might as well....

[AlanS17]

EXZACHARY

[Lilwolf]

If you want to switch back and forth quickly...

Consider Oscars restrictor plates...

or

Someone added the ability to change the jsticks from the outside of the cabinet.  I don't know how good it was... but it seemed like it was a decent solution, but it might not be that robust.  But I didn't look at it that close..

But all in all.. an extra 4 way is a good solution if you have the room.

[MrBond]

And as for your wiring question, I wired up my 8-way super/x-gaming combination joystick (lol) and my e-stik to the same screw terminals on the I-pac.  No need for the IPAC4 unless you are going 4 player.