My sticks comparison video

[Stormdemon]

Inspired in the post entitled 'New Video Review: SlikStik Stainless Steel Joystick Handles' I've decided to record this mov where you can see (and hear) the performance of my three sticks. 1st: the Namco Arcade Stick (commercial PSX joystick, the first I bought); 2nd: the IL's PSM/30 (mounted in a homemade panel with psx pad hack), and 3rd: the Ultimarc's T-stick (aka IL's Joystick (4 - 8 W) Spring Action ), which will be the star in my future control panel. As you can see, there's a difference in how they behave because they have a different throw and spring. The difference is enormous when you compare them to the sticks you can see in the SlikStik video, which have a very loose feel. Notice how they bounce when they return to center. Happs' Supers also have a similar behaviour (not so exagerated as the steel stick). I really don't understand what's the purpose of that very loosy and bouncy movement. Anyway, if users enjoy it and feel confortable, it's ok. I think you can see there also a competition joystick, which is the stick in Mortal Kombat coin'ops, if I'm not wrong. Very different behaviour in the PSM30, as you can see, as its spring is very strong. With the T-stick you almost cannot even feel the spring because of the very short throw (it's the extreme idea of digital stick). I'm not saying one stick is better than others; they're simply different. I hope this video helps you getting an idea of how these sticks feel.

You can download my video file here:

The video I mentioned before is here: http://www.retroblast.com/video.html

[Stormdemon]

Damm I can't ge to upload 11mb to my geocities account. Let me see if I find some webspage somewhere...

[Grasshopper]

Stormdemon, I realise this is a bit off topic but I'm curious to know what your experiences were with buying directly from IL?

I found them fairly hard work although their cheap prices and quality products make up for this. They only offered me one payment method - electronic transfer which is expensive across international boundaries. For some bizarre reason they also initially wanted my VAT number.

About 6 months ago one of their reps told me that they were considering accepting payment by credit card on their website but so far their site hasn't been updated.

Also, I have another off topic question, do you know what brand of microswitch are fitted to your T-Stik?

Thanks in advance.

[Stormdemon]

I'm afraid I cannot help you Grasshopper because I'm from Spain so I had no problems in ordering the stuff. My T-stick is not ordered from Ultimarc but from IL. It's the same stick I think.

The microswitches in the stick are made by Crouzet. Those in the buttons are made by Honeywell.

BTW, in a few hours I'll put a valid link to the video file.

[Grasshopper]

I'm afraid I cannot help you Grasshopper because I'm from Spain so I had no problems in ordering the stuff. My T-stick is not ordered from Ultimarc but from IL. It's the same stick I think.

The microswitches in the stick are made by Crouzet. Those in the buttons are made by Honeywell.

BTW, in a few hours I'll put a valid link to the video file.

My T-Stik also came with Crouzet microswitches. I'm trying to replace them with another brand because I find them fairly stiff and noisy. However I'm beginning to suspect that the microswitches fitted with a short lever are only manufactured by Crouzet.

When I ordered from IL I arranged for the parts to be delivered to my sister who lives in Spain. So I saved money on postage but still had trouble arranging payment. Next time I think I'll post her some euros and ask her to arrange the payment.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing the video.

[Stormdemon]

Finally! You can download my video here: http://www.jayma.org/sticks.zip Sorry for the big size of the file (7mbs) but I have no idea of video file formats and compression.

[RedSquirrel]

Finally! You can download my video here: http://www.jayma.org/sticks.zip Sorry for the big size of the file (7mbs) but I have no idea of video file formats and compression.

Thanks Ill d/l it now.. Can't wait till i get broadband next week! This would download in seconds.

[IceCold]

Finally! You can download my video here: http://www.jayma.org/sticks.zip Sorry for the big size of the file (7mbs) but I have no idea of video file formats and compression.

Thanks Ill d/l it now.. Can't wait till i get broadband next week! This would download in seconds.

I don't know if it's my connection or the place I'm downloading from, but it's taking/took me about 3 minutes.

So that's a little more than just seconds  

[armad1ll0]

how much did you pay for sticks and buttons buying straight from them in Europe.

Thanks

[Stormdemon]

- Mando Muelle A-03552 (Joystick (4 - 8 W) Spring Action) -> 16.02

[Grasshopper]

- Mando Muelle A-03552 (Joystick (4 - 8 W) Spring Action) -> 16.02

[Stormdemon]

Maybe the price changes depending on how many sticks and buttons you buy. I bought only 1 stick and 12 buttons. However, the prices you have are too nice. I previously bought some sticks and buttons about 2 years ago and the prices weren't that low either.

[Grasshopper]

My order wasn't that big - 36 buttons and 4 joysticks.

Another weird thing I've noticed - no mention of shipping costs.

I was really impressed with their prices a year ago but now I'm beginnig to wonder whether they made a mistake.

Perhaps they offer different prices to trade and retail customers. They didn't actually ask me whether I was in the trade but I suppose they might have assumed it.

[AndyWarne]

Grasshopper if you could email me a scanned copy of that invoice I will make it worth your while!  andy@ultimarc.com

We pay a lot more than that for the stuff we buy from I-L although the T-Stik is slightly different to their standard model as I was unhappy with the amount of vertical endfloat in the stick, and get them to add another shim for us.

We also change the microswitches on their buttons as they are too "clicky".

Andy

[Grasshopper]

Grasshopper if you could email me a scanned copy of that invoice I will make it worth your while!  andy@ultimarc.com

We pay a lot more than that for the stuff we buy from I-L although the T-Stik is slightly different to their standard model as I was unhappy with the amount of vertical endfloat in the stick, and get them to add another shim for us.

We also change the microswitches on their buttons as they are too "clicky".

Andy

I can't email you a scanned copy (at least not immediately) because my scanner is playing up and my Hotmail account is nearly full (I'm not sure if sent items count towards the storage limit). However I could put a photocopy in the post. If you're interested then PM me your address.

Can you tell me where you added an extra washer to your T-Stiks as I've been considering doing this to mine?

Also do you ask for non-standard Microswitches on your T-Sticks?

Thanks in advance

p.s. I asked for my IL buttons to be supplied with cherry microswitches and they feel fine.

p.p.s. One final question, have you considered selling Perfect 360 joysticks? They are very popular around here and no one apart from Happ seems to sell them.