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New Video Review: SlikStik Stainless Steel Joystick Handles
KevSteele:
--- Quote from: IIOIOOIOO on July 14, 2003, 04:22:08 pm ---However, imagine trying to throw a harpoon in MK (which REQUIRES a fast snap to center) or navigating a dense bullet spread in DoDonPachi or GigaWing (which often requires stopping still in exactly the spot you want.) It would be horrible.
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Actually, I did play a lot of DoDonPachi (read the review) -- I had no problem with the joysticks in that game, even with massive spreads of incoming fire. I tried a lot of different games, trying to find one that it wouldn't be good at. I didn't try playing any 4-way games, but that was from an oversight on my part since I always use my 4-way joystick for those games.
--- Quote from: IIOIOOIOO on July 14, 2003, 04:22:08 pm ---Also, beware of starting to sound like a vendor front-man in your reviews. It's glaringly obvious that you have a direct line from SlikStik to your basement, and that you are wary of jeapordizing that relationship. However, if it becomes too blatant, people will just stop caring about your "reviews" and your line will be in just as much jeapordy.
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A direct line? Like talking to Christian? Yes, I do that. I also am in regular email correspondence with Kelsey of Oscar Controls. Does that make me a shill for him too? I also talk to Keith at Xgaming, and Andy at Ultimarc.
I'm not wary of anything -- I pointed out the flaw in the product (the "sloppy" feeling), and noted how important I felt it was (not very). I didn't have any negative gameplay problems from the loose feeling -- I didn't like it, but it didn't hurt anything.
I'm fairly sure my reviews speak for themselves in terms of my integrity here. Just because you seem to feel these joysticks are a disaster doesn't mean I'm a shill if I happen to think they're only a stronger set of springs away from being ideal.
I think it's becoming "glaringly obvious" to me that you don't like SlikStik or Christian Stango in particular. Fine, you're allowed not to like him, but don't let your feeling for him bleed over into my reviews.
--- Quote from: IIOIOOIOO on July 14, 2003, 04:22:08 pm ---If something is a worse idea in execution than it was in concept, don't be afraid to say so... It might be valuable feedback for the people reading your site AS WELL as for the vendor. I.E. If you discussed the problems with dropping an overheavy stick into a chassis that wasn't designed for it, then SlickStick would be motivated to either redesign their stick with a lighter alloy or to ship the handles with spring replacement sets which (this needs testing) could potentially solve the problem. Otherwise, you're doing both parties a disservice.
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I don't allow the reviews to be "proofed" or read beforehand by the vendors before I publish them, specifically to avoid being "influenced" by their opinion of my opinion. I have discussed the review with SlikStik since, and they did mention to me that they were considering offering stronger springs with the handles. I've updated the review to mention that.
--- Quote from: IIOIOOIOO on July 14, 2003, 04:22:08 pm ---But don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate the intentions of your website, from both the self-serving and public-serving positions... In fact I'm sure I envy you :)
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Talk about a back-handed compliment. >:(
Xiaou2:
In my opinion... i think these sticks are more or less for looks above all.... tho I personally think they dont look that great, as they wont match much of anything else.
Mechanically thinking... if one had to move a character quickly from left to right, you would want a shorter stick that weighs less. The extra weight will slow down motions like "back+back+forward" typical in top fighters... and must be performed at hyper speeds.
The smooth steel in sure will get slippery with sweaty palms...
The added weight will also probably quicken hand/wrist fatigue...
Overall.. I think the 150% claim is complete marketing ---smurf-poo---. If you want to sell a pretty stick... then say its pretty... but dont try to sell a pretty stick saying it can cook you breakfast...better than you can...
Btw: Changing the springs to heavier springs will make it the same action as a typical joystick... but, you will lose that feeling that you state that you like: the ease of diagnols and rolling motions. The reason these are easier to perform is because the weight keeps the stick from being pulled to the center - thus better accuracy as you dont have to fight the spring force vector.
(tho you lose crutial speed because you have to move a heavier mass back/forth)
Now... you could achieve even better results by shortenting a competition stick, then lightening the spring to almost no tention at all. The reduced stick travel would mean faster movments (shorter lever), and the lighter spring would mean no fighting the spring forces. This is simular to the new japanese style sticks I believe.
KevSteele:
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on July 14, 2003, 06:19:03 pm --- The smooth steel in sure will get slippery with sweaty palms...
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Believe it or not, I didn't have any issues with "slippery joysticks" ::)
I think it's probably because of the head design, and perhaps I gripped it differently because of that.
Who knows, maybe it has something to do with the stainless steel. I couldn't get any fingerprints on the metal, which I thought was strange.
Kevin
IIOIOOIOO:
I'm dissapointed KS, that you would misinterpret my candor as animus. But surely, you will notice that I'm not the only person on the planet (esp not on the NGs) that has noticed the oddity of your relationship with SlikStik. But hey, as long as they're willing to dish out to you, good for you!
BTW, that wasn't a backhanded complement. I was saying that I admired your site for both the purposes that it served you (self-serving) and the purposes that it served the public (public-serving.) Both elements must be in place for a site to be successful. A backhanded complement would've been something more along the lines of...
Kevin, I think it's great that your trite little website is able to maintain some usefulness to the rest of us despite being a shameless vendor shill. It must be nice to have an unofficial corporate spokesmanship job, I sure wish I did!
And I didn't say that, because it would've been nasty and uncalled for...
IIOIOOIOO:
Oh, and xiaou2... You're right on, but if someone were to ABSOLUTELY need to have the stainless steel sticks, I think that heavier springs would get them somewhere closer to acceptability.
However, I don't think that shortening the shaft on a stick will get you the effect you're looking for, since most people don't manipulate a stick from the very top of it. No matter how much you shorten the top, the spacing of the switches on the underside (the half below the fulcrum) is what determines the actual angle required to depress the switch. I mean, it might shorten the perceived throw SOME, but not as much as a quality precision stick with a shorter below-gromet throw.
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