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ultimarc u360 versus happs p360...to the death...!

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miles2912:
The Happs P360s 8 way is great.  2 way is not a problem in 8 way mode and the q-bert diags were solved by remapping in mame.  Now the 4-way in 8-way mode has been a problem some times.  It works good for the most part but some times I have missed the tru direction and hit a diag however I don't play that many 4 way games - never have been a big pac man fan. - and my cab has a dedicated 4-way.  Changing the joystick from 8-4 way is too much of a pain so it is going to stay in 8 way mode.

That being said the u360 sounds like a great joystick.. just not sure about the price.

Don

QuixoteQuest:
I think the Ultimarc sticks are a pretty good buy. But there have been a few issues:

1. The configurability is awesome, and the software pretty easy to use if fiddly. Until presaved configs on a game-by-game or genre-by-genre basis is smoothly implemented they are a little inconvenient to use when a guest comes over to play. They'll say something like, "Let's play Joust" and so you have to stop to run the config to load the 2-ways. Then they'll want to play a fighter, so you'll have to reload an Analog or 8-way. The average person never thought of games having different types of sticks. When they played a game the controls worked. That is the experience I want to deliver for my guests. Until then we put up with the fiddly switching.

But this level of improvement will happen eventually courtesy of many wonderful brains in our community who like the potential of this product. Meanwhile you get less of a Frankenpanel by having a device that can simulate several different devices quite well. If you can put up with what will undoubtedly grow to be an astoundingly well implemented piece of hardware eventually while you enjoy something that's pretty darn cool today--go for it!

2. They are a little pricey, especially considering the most popular add ons--that really should be available as standard--a slightly stiffer spring and a circular limiter plate really ding you for a higher premium. Standard they're a little spongy with a long throw that feels--to me-- a little off. On the other hand you can argue how cool it is you can figure these in several different "feels" with choices in ball or bat top, shorter or longer shaft, springs and limiting plates.

3. They have not been bug free for me. On startup they --at least 60% of the time-- are not working. They show up as yellow exclamation warnings in Devices Manager within XP. This requires 1. either plugging/unplugging, which is inconvenient since my tower is in a cabinet, or 2. choosing the devices in the list, clicking "uninstall" and then restarting the computer. I just want them to recognize flawlessly on every startup. (And no, the conflict fixit Ultimarc provides for Ipac doesn't work for the Ultrastiks--or at least not on my system.)

4. The tops tend to come loose very easy with how they ship stock. This requires disassembling to play with the screw under the shaft, or in my case, just adding a 6mm lock washer. Not a big inconvenience--just a trip to the hardware store-- but is a detail they should mind better given the price.

But Andy is a great member of our hobby and community, so for the detractions to perfection I perceive these Stiks have, I think they will improve and are pretty sweet given the alternatives.

fatfingers:

--- Quote from: QuixoteQuest on January 11, 2007, 06:56:31 pm ---I think the Ultimarc sticks are a pretty good buy. But there have been a few issues:

1. The configurability is awesome, and the software pretty easy to use if fiddly. Until presaved configs on a game-by-game or genre-by-genre basis is smoothly implemented they are a little inconvenient to use when a guest comes over to play. They'll say something like, "Let's play Joust" and so you have to stop to run the config to load the 2-ways. Then they'll want to play a fighter, so you'll have to reload an Analog or 8-way. The average person never thought of games having different types of sticks. When they played a game the controls worked. That is the experience I want to deliver for my guests. Until then we put up with the fiddly switching.


--- End quote ---

I just felt I should note that in MaLa this all happens automagically with MaLa's ultrastik mapper plugin.

fixedpigs:

--- Quote from: rockin_rick on January 11, 2007, 03:05:29 pm ---
@fixedpigs - I don't think you initially understood the difference between the p360 and u360 (perhaps you do now)...  but the p360 is simply just an 8way joystick with optical switches instead of micro or leaf switches.  The u360 is a completely different animal.  It is an analog joystick with a microprocessor that converts the analog readings into directions.  The conversion from analog to directions is completely adjustable and configurable so that you can make the stick only send 4 way info, or you can change it to only send 8 way info, or rotated 4 way (for qbert), or it can act as a full analog stick.  It is possible for your front end (some) to send a command to the u360 to change the mode depending on the game launched for auto switching.  So it's more than just a USB interface...

Rick

--- End quote ---

you are indeed correct...i didn't...

this thread has been a wealth of knowledge...i appreciate it...

it was my first impression that they were both just optical sticks...but now see that the ultimarc is so much more...

does anyone know if retroblast has reviews of the u360...?

QuixoteQuest:
Yep, Retroblast had a review last September. It's what convinced me to put them in my CP, any little ticks to performance notwithstanding.

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-01.html

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