RetroBlast Joystick Roundup: Your Suggestions

[KevSteele]

It finally looks like I'll have all the joysticks soon that I plan on including in the "Joystick Roundup" review, and so I thought I'd ask everyone here:

"What do you want to see in a joystick review?"

What would you like to see me cover in the roundup? Any recommendations on testing the joysticks? Critieria to consider?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Kevin

[Cameronj]

One thing that would be nice to know would be the tension of the stick in comparison to other ones.

[mushmouth]

NOS wico 4-way and 8-way for comparison
Prodigy top-switching 4/8-way
Centsible Amusements version leaf 4 and 8-way sticks
Happs Supers/Ultimates/T-stick/pull-and-twist switchables
Happs top-fire (tulip style, super)

(while not a joystick, it might be nice to review the oscar restrictor plates as a sidebar. Seems appropriate here...)

Brain tired. All I can think of right now...

[Tiger-Heli]

It finally looks like I'll have all the joysticks soon that I plan on including in the "Joystick Roundup" review, and so I thought I'd ask everyone here:

"What do you want to see in a joystick review?"

What would you like to see me cover in the roundup? Any recommendations on testing the joysticks? Critieria to consider?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Kevin

Objective measures - Spring force, Stick travel, Microswitch activation point as a percentage of travel, Stick height above base, Stick depth below base.

Semi-Objective - Overshoot/Bounce - I.E., if I have the stick all the way down and let it go, does the UP switch activate or not.

Subjective measures - Overall feel, general impressions, looseness/slop.

Subjective tests - Recommend using the following games for testing evaluation (in both 4-way and 8-way modes, if applicable:

Pac-Man - The ultimate 4-way test, IMHO.
Q-Bert - Diagonal 4-way performance.
Time Pilot - 8-way, but looking for circular motion without distinct corners
Battlezone, Defender - 2-way vertical
Galaga - 2-way horizontal
1942, 1941, etc. - General 8-way play
Fighters - I don't have any recommendations, but test Zangrief and non Zangrief characters.

For the 4-ways - open Notepad and verify whether you can get diagonals (two switches) to register (they shouldn't.

Subjective opinions on the switching mechanisms of the 4/8-way swithcable sticks would be helpful.

I'm sure there's more I left out.  Looking forward to the review.

[pointdablame]

a quick note on ease of installation on different materials would be great too.

ie. 3/4" MDF would need routing, metal would be fine, etc etc.

[Jakobud]

What joysticks are you going to cover in there?  I would hope that there are two sticks imparticular that you would cover that have gotten a lot of attention lately.  

#1. Omni Prodigy.  It's got the top panel 4/8 way switch.

#2. T-Stick.  Lots of raves about this thing lately.  Also, you should try to get that attachment Andy offers where you can switch the 4/8 way function just by pulling the stick outwards and rotating.  If that works as good as it sounds, its just about the best solution out there.

#3. Other than those two, I would make sure to include all the normal Happs joy's and maybe a classic Wico leaf in there just for comparisons sake.

[KevSteele]

Here's the current lineup of sticks I'm planning on reviewing:

• Happs Perfect 360
• Happs Competition
• Happs Ultimate
• Happs Rotary
• Happs Top Fire
• Omni-Stik Prodigy
• Ultimarc T-Stick/T-Stick Plus (4/8 way switchable)
• Ultimarc E-Stick
• Ultimarc J-Stick
• Ultimarc Euro-Stik (possibly)

I'll see what I can do about getting a Wico stick and one from Centsible Amusements as well...

Tiger-Heli: Thanks for the suggestions - they're all good tests!

Kevin

[JamIt]

Here's the current lineup of sticks I'm planning on reviewing:

• Happs Perfect 360
• Happs Competition
• Happs Ultimate
• Happs Rotary
• Happs Top Fire
• Omni-Stik Prodigy
• Ultimarc T-Stick/T-Stick Plus (4/8 way switchable)
• Ultimarc E-Stick
• Ultimarc J-Stick
• Ultimarc Euro-Stik (possibly)

I'll see what I can do about getting a Wico stick and one from Centsible Amusements as well...

Just wondering why Happs Super was left off.  If its because of cost, I'd be willing to lend you one of mine (never been used, plan on using at later time)
--JamIt

[KevSteele]

JamIt,

I've actually got a pair of supers sitting in the Hot Rod controller, but it's going out the door as soon as this week's "share the wealth" winner contacts me.  

If you want, I'd be more than willing to borrow your Super to include in the review. Let me know.

Kevin

[hyiu]

sorry to jump in... but even easier....

can you delay the mailing of the "share the wealth" price winner until you're done ??

anyway... its a free gift... its not like you're not going to give it to whoever the winner is...
I don't think the winner would mind...

then you guys don't need to mail the Super back and forth... wasting $$ on postage...

I would assume it takes 1-2 wks max to do all the tests on the joysticks ??..... (I don't think that is too much as long as the winner is informed...)

[dhansen]

I have a Wico 8-way you can borrow...

[jcoleman]

Kevin,

I'd be willing to loan you a Wico 8-way.  Let me know...
John

[KevSteele]

hyiu:

Unfortunately, the review would require me to take apart the Hot Rod, and I suspect this review is going to take a while (there are a lot of joysticks, and I'm still waiting on the Ultimarc ones - should be here a week or so, hopefully!)

I don't think it's fair to take apart the Hot Rod after I've given it away, even if I'm extra careful and put it all back together again.

I may just make a small order from Happs, getting a few odds and ends as well as the Super (they did get rid of their minimum order, right?)

Kevin

[dhansen]

Kevin,

I'd be willing to loan you a Wico 8-way.  Let me know...
John

Jinx!

[dhansen]

I have some supers as well!  Let me know if you want to borrow any of them...

Doug

[KevSteele]

Doug,

Thanks (IM Sent)

Oh, I also forgot one more joystick that will be in the roundup:

• X-Gaming Joystick

Let's see, with the Wico 8-way and Super, that's 13 different joysticks...this review may take a while.  

Kevin