Best stick?

[RedSquirrel]

I originally was going to order 2 x E-Sticks due to them being so easy to install into the panel. However I have been told that the stick is actually pretty small and a bit useless.

So now I have a choice between the T-Stick and J-Stick.

Both support 4-8 way but the J-Stick apparently you have to open it all up to change, which I can not keep doing. The T-Stick is easier but I have heard overall the J-Stick is better!

What is the stick size difference between the T-Stick and J-Stick? ( i saw the e-stick is 60mm which is pretty small. Im sure these are around 90mm).

What should I do! Thanks in advance.

P.S Whats the best way of painting MDF? Normal house wall paint and a roller?

[RedSquirrel]

I originally was going to order 2 x E-Sticks due to them being so easy to install into the panel. However I have been told that the stick is actually pretty small and a bit useless.

So now I have a choice between the T-Stick and J-Stick.

Both support 4-8 way but the J-Stick apparently you have to open it all up to change, which I can not keep doing. The T-Stick is easier but I have heard overall the J-Stick is better!

What is the stick size difference between the T-Stick and J-Stick? ( i saw the e-stick is 60mm which is pretty small. Im sure these are around 90mm).

What should I do! Thanks in advance.

P.S Whats the best way of painting MDF? Normal house wall paint and a roller?

Also, do they have to have the mounting plate on top?

[Stormdemon]

I haven't tried the J-stick, but I think it's like Namco Arcade Stick or Dreamcast Arcade Stick. I don't like it because of its very long throw. I can't get any precision with it. Personally I don't like the idea or wasting some valuable milliseconds moving the stick in a useless travel until the stick activates the switch. Totally oposed to this is the T-stick. You barely push the stick one millimeter and the switch is pressed. I love it. It's so incredibly easy to control your ship in shootem ups or guide your character in platform games, or doing special complex moves in fighting games. It's also very strong and heavy, at least compared to other sticks such as Happ's Supers, which not only have long throw, but also very weak spring in comparison.

[RedSquirrel]

I haven't tried the J-stick, but I think it's like Namco Arcade Stick or Dreamcast Arcade Stick. I don't like it because of its very long throw. I can't get any precision with it. Personally I don't like the idea or wasting some valuable milliseconds moving the stick in a useless travel until the stick activates the switch. Totally oposed to this is the T-stick. You barely push the stick one millimeter and the switch is pressed. I love it. It's so incredibly easy to control your ship in shootem ups or guide your character in platform games, or doing special complex moves in fighting games. It's also very strong and heavy, at least compared to other sticks such as Happ's Supers, which not only have long throw, but also very weak spring in comparison.

Ah sounds like Ill get the t-stick.. What exactly is a throw? Is it the stick lengh or something inside the base? Thanks

[Stormdemon]

They call 'throw' or 'travel' to the lenght of space that the stick has to be pushed from its center until it presses a micrositch, thus registering the desired action.

[Grasshopper]

If you're going to limit your choice to either the J-Stik or T-Stik then I'd definitely go with the T-Stik basically for the reasons given by Stormdemon.

Also the T-Stik has the best 4/8 way switching mechanism of any joystick I have used, and this is another reason why I like them. However they are not perfect.

First of all on my T-Stik there is quite a lot of play before you start feeling any resistance to motion. It doesn't have the smooth action of the Happ Super and Competiton sticks. However I bought my stick directly from Industrias Lorenzo and the ones sold by Ultimarc are modified slightly (I believe they are fitted with an extra washer), and so maybe the Ultimarc T-Stiks don't have this problem.

Another problem is that they are supplied with very noisy and stiff microswitches. I've being trying to get replacements but no one seems to sell them. In terms of dimension, the switches are similar to the ones fitted to a Happ super but with a shorter lever.

[sofakng]

Grasshopper, so are you saying that you like the competitions and supers better?  I'm trying to decide what sticks to order for myself.  I've never played fighting games before but I want to start playing them (espicially marvel vs capcom)

What sticks would you get for this purpose?

[Molloy]

The Namco and Dreamcast sticks aren't Sanwa J-sticks. The throw is smaller on the real ones. Try a Sega Naomi arcade machine, they are just perfect. You'd really notice in games like Virtua Fighter 4 where you have to input several movements per second for throw counters.

My friend is a sweet Akira player and he hates the Namco stick. The knee move requires you to hold a button for 1/60th of a second (which I couldn't do if I practiced for 10 years) and the buttons won't react quickly enough.

[Grasshopper]

Grasshopper, so are you saying that you like the competitions and supers better?

No, the Competitions and Supers have a nice smooth feel (apart from the microswitch clicking) but they both have a very long throw which means they don't work well with some of the older classic games (IMHO). They are also hopeless with 4-way games.

I would say that the T-Skik is a better general purpose joystick despite the flaws I have described. However if you are going to limit yourself to playing fighting games then the Competitions or Supers might be more suitable.

If it was a straight choice between the Supers and the Competitions then I would go with the Competitions although I prefer the shape of the Super handles.

Also, if you buy a competition then make sure you order it with a heavy spring.

Basically there is no clear cut answer to this type of question. My opinions have changed over time as I have gained more experience with the various types of joystick.

Although I haven't had any personal experience with them, a lot of people say that the Happ Perfect 360s are the best joysticks you can buy.

[sofakng]

The P360's (costing $40 a piece from Happ's) are way too much for me to spend.

I was going to order J-sticks, but now you have me second-guessing.

The games I mostly plan on playing are:

Metal Slug (the whole series) -- this is my #1 favorite game
Marvel vs Capcom
Pacman, Ms. Pacman, and the rest of the older, 4-way games

Metal Slug and Marvel vs Capcom are my top concerns right now.  If I could get a stick that would work good with both of them that is what I want.  I don't want a stick that will make it impossible to perform super-moves in MvsC and the like, but on the other hand I also want a good stick for Metal Slug.

Also I plan on wiring my dreamcast to the cabinet and possibly my PSX (or maybe I'll use epSXe).

With that I've said, do you think the T-stick is a better choice for me?

[Stormdemon]

Unfortunatelly, there's no way I can transmit you the sensation of using a stick. I can describe how they work and feel, but since it's all a matter of taste, you wont find out how good the stick is for you until you have one in your hands. I was about to order Happ Supers when I decided to build my first panel. I read very good reviews on them, and most of the people was mounting them in their panels. It seems to be the favourite stick. However, when I had the chance to test them (a friend of mine bought a couple), I realized that they were not the kind of sticks I would like for my panel. Then I took the risk of buying Lorenzo's PSM/30s, and I was very lucky because it's the perfect stick for me. Now I've bought a t-stick (well, Industrizas Lorenzo's Mando Muelle), and I'm again happy because it's as good as a psm30, but different. It's more clicky and with less throw. They feel different but I love them both.

[Stormdemon]

Redsquirrel, I've just recorded this video. I think it illustrates my description of the T-Stick and the PSM30. Take a look at it. It's not as good as directly handling the sticks, but it really helps getting an idea of how they work.

[RedSquirrel]

Redsquirrel, I've just recorded this video. I think it illustrates my description of the T-Stick and the PSM30. Take a look at it. It's not as good as directly handling the sticks, but it really helps getting an idea of how they work.

Thanks! But the page doesnt work!!

[Stormdemon]

Yes I know In a few hours I'll put a good link. I'm passing the file to a friend of mine so that he can upload it to his server.

[AndyWarne]

Just one point: you don't have to take anything apart on the J-Stik to change from 4 to 8 way.

Absolutely correct about this being a subjective thing. These joystick threads never really seem to get to any conclusion as it's a very personal choice. Mostly what you have been used to playing in the past.  

I am sometimes asked "which of your joysticks would you recommend". It's not an easy question, all I can do is re-iterate the descriptions of each on the website.

Andy

[armad1ll0]

I personally can't see people play well on a T-stick. It's just to stiff with to small of a motion. I know that often people have a hard time getting used to the smaller motion of the Sanwa "J-stick" for capcom fighters.

I think that if you've never used a T-stick then you should go for the Sanwa, it's a little closer to what you are used to in a Happ joystick from the arcades.

There isn't a best, there just what you like the most. I've had friends try to get used to a Sanwa and they can't. They just are more used to a Happ so that's what they stick with.

[hyiu]

I think Andy says it all....

which stick is best depends on what your preference games are... and also very "personal feeling"....

what suits me best might not fits you well....

anyway..... if you're interested to know...
I'm putting in a J-stick dedeciated as a 4 way ball top stick
and 2 competition sticks for 8 way games....

good luck.....

[Stormdemon]

Finally! You can download my video here: http://www.jayma.org/sticks.zip