4-way/8-way ?

[saurian333]

OK, I'm very nearly ready to order the controls for my cocktail cab, and now I'm having second thoughts about which sticks to get.  So, a couple of questions regarding 8-ways and 4-ways, since I don't have room on my CP for both:

1) How much of a pain is it, really, to play 4-way stick games (Pac-Man, DK) with an 8-way stick?  I understand the problems involved, but I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet to see how bad it really is.

2) I have been planning on HAPP Super sticks, which say they have a reversible actuator.  Does someone have a pic of what this looks like inside, that might illustrate the function and how involved the process of switching it is?

3) GGG has these restrictors designed for the HAPP Super.  Is this a replacement for the reversible actuator, and must be installed inside the stick?  Has anyone tried getting these (or constructing something like it) and installing them on the outside of the CP, making it easier to swap between games?

Or any other ideas/comments?

If it's helpful, I'll describe my needs and thoughts on the subject a bit.  First, I did look into the Omni stick, which is supposedly much easier to swap (doesn't have to be taken apart); sounds great, but it's quite a bit more expensive, and I'm not willing to spend just that much at this point.  As for how I intend to play: I'm not looking for 100% authenticity (apart from not having the room, I don't feel the need to have a replica, dedicated 4-way, ball-top stick just for Pac-Man), but I would like games to play the way they're meant to.  I hope to get my fiancée (who never really spent time with arcade games as a kid) more interested in some of the classics, and I don't want her to get turned off because the controls suck.

Also, if it makes a difference, my CP is 1/2" MDF; if mounting tips should come into play here, I just wanted to say that up-front.

I'd appreciate any input on the matter.  I've run a couple of searches on the forum and haven't really found what I'm looking for yet.

Thanks in advance.

[Kman-Sweden]

I think it's a pain to play 4-way games on a 8-way. And some fighting game moves could be impossible to do with a 4-way.
I got the Magstik+ joysticks that go from 4-way to 8-way by pulling and twisting the joystick. You don't have to open your CP to turn any acuator.
You can even change while playing a game, it's that quickly and easily done.

[saurian333]

I think it's a pain to play 4-way games on a 8-way. And some fighting game moves could be impossible to do with a 4-way.
I got the Magstik+ joysticks that go from 4-way to 8-way by pulling and twisting the joystick. You don't have to open your CP to turn any acuator.
You can even change while playing a game, it's that quickly and easily done.

That is cool; I didn't know that about those.

Unfortunately, that's another one that seems to be just a little expensive; the Super is pretty much the cheapest and seems like a decent stick, at $8.50 from GGG.  I wouldn't mind spending a little more for more convenient switching, but I can't go quite that high right now.  I'm going to end up over-budget as it is. 

However, knowing that about the switching, I'll definitely consider those for my next cab.   Thanks for the comment!

[Luigi]

Hi.

May I point you to this new thing?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=99502.msg1051293#msg1051293

[saurian333]

Hi Luigi,

Thanks for the pointer.  Unfortunately, 24 EUR + shipping to US = $50 (on top of the sticks) and is WAY out of my price range for this.  Sounds like a very cool unit, though!

[ArtMAME]

Happ Supers are actually pretty decent in to play 4-way games with the actuator in 4-way mode.  Plus they will also play 8-way games while still in 4-way mode!

I use Happ Supers in 4-way mode for my Multicade and MAME builds because of this reason. I would say go with those.

I have a couple of GGG restrictors, but have not tried them out yet.

[saurian333]

Happ Supers are actually pretty decent in to play 4-way games with the actuator in 4-way mode.  Plus they will also play 8-way games while still in 4-way mode!

Sure, but you can't actually hit the diagonals when it's in that mode, can you?  Or is it like I've been reading about the Tron sticks, that they're just harder to hit accidentally?

Finally found a good description.  This is a great page for joystick info, by the way.
http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/attributes_brands.html#SUPER

I'm thinking I'll stick with the Supers on this cab and see how I like them.  From the descriptions on that page, it seems that they're different enough from Sanwas and such that it's mostly a matter of personal preference.

As for the 4/8-way issue: if nothing else, I think a piece of plexi with a hole cut the way those restrictors are would fit over the top of the stick and have the same effect.  Might have to use thicker stuff so it doesn't break.  I don't really want extra holes and stuff in my CP if I don't need them, though.

[drventure]

The Ultimarc u360's are the best solution, but they are a little $$$

They work smoothly out of the box with just about everything and you can upload maps to them for tweaking the few games that need it.

I've got 2 u360s (for p1 and p2) and 2 mag sticks (for p3/4). I do like the way the magsticks feel, but I don't know that I like them "better", they're just different.

I picked up a happ super for a dedicated 4 way (angled for games like qbert), only to realize too late that the u360's can be mapped to do the same thing. But it does work just fine for those games.

[Dannymh]

F you have easy access to controls then get mca sticks. You can change them over by just moving a small plastic mild takes about 19 seconds at most. Other sticks are harder IMO

[Silas (son of Silas)]

I think it's a pain to play 4-way games on a 8-way. And some fighting game moves could be impossible to do with a 4-way.
I got the Magstik+ joysticks that go from 4-way to 8-way by pulling and twisting the joystick. You don't have to open your CP to turn any acuator.
You can even change while playing a game, it's that quickly and easily done.

+1 for the Magstik+

I have a pair and they are really sweet.

[unclet]

I use Happ Supers and playing 4-way games are not a problem, although I never got into playing the fighting games so I cannot speak about the behavior when playing them. 

[saurian333]

Thanks for all the comments, guys.  I knew I could count on people in this forum to share their opinions. 

@drventure: I have seen that quite a few people are using the U360s and swear by them.  That was one of the things that made me start to think about my choice.

Still considering the options; time for dinner right now, but I'll be browsing a bit later.