[Mame] Joystick Issues with Donkey Kong

[Xebarsis]

I purchased the Mayflash Fighting Stick to use with Mame.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NOAWLBE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

The problem I'm experiencing is when trying to climb ladders when playing Donkey Kong. Normally what would happen in the arcade is if you hold the joystick diagonally next to a ladder, Mario would move forward automatically and climb it. Unfortunately if I go diagonal with my joystick what ends up happening is Mario will completely ignore the ladder and keep on walking.  I'm not sure what to do since the only directions you can map in Donkey Kong are up down left and right, which I've already done with the joystick.

I've researched how there are differences between 4 way and 8 way joystick games, which I don't completely understand, but I assume that has something to do with this problem. I do know for a fact my joystick is capable of registering diagonals since I can play games like Smash TV just fine. What can I do to correct this issue?

[EMDB]

Exactly this is why 4-way games should be controlled by 4-way sticks. In this case the diagonal is translated to both RIGHT and UP and probably the RIGHT is handled before the UP in the Donkey Kong software resulting in Mario passing the ladder. With a 4-way stick only RIGHT or UP can be selected at any given moment.

[yotsuya]

What can I do to correct this issue?

Exactly this is why 4-way games should be controlled by 4-way sticks. In this case the diagonal is translated to both RIGHT and UP and probably the RIGHT is handled before the UP in the Donkey Kong software resulting in Mario passing the ladder. With a 4-way stick only RIGHT or UP can be selected at any given moment.

[Xebarsis]

Is there any way I can use software to convert my 8 stick to a 4 stick?

[Slippyblade]

Nope.  There are software controlled sticks out there, the U360 for example, but they are expensive.

[Xebarsis]

Darn. Does anyone know where I can find a 4 way joystick with buttons similar to an arcade experience? The only ones I can ever find are either 8 way sticks or a 4 way stick without any buttons.

[Slippyblade]

The Zippyy stick is a decent and inexpensive 4 way, but the stock restrictor needs a little surgery to be acceptable.  We're talking less than $10 from GroovyGameGear.

[Xebarsis]

The Zippyy stick is a decent and inexpensive 4 way, but the stock restrictor needs a little surgery to be acceptable.  We're talking less than $10 from GroovyGameGear.

Forgive the noobness, but how does that work? It's just the stick by itself. Am I supposed to be able to dissect the 8 way stick on my current fighting stick and replace it with that one?

[Slippyblade]

Nooo.  Here's a link.

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=371&zenid=9fer9pr72n19rug6k4600rkr93

The stick uses a restrictor, an extra part that restricts the stick movement to a defined area, either 2, 4, or full 8 way.



The 4-way part is kind of "clover" shaped and those  little interior corners are, to me and many others, annoying.  We usually file those down so it is more of a "diamond" shape.  Granted, this would give you a dedicated 4-way stick that would NOT work for fighting games which need an 8-way.