An arcade stick thread

[kernow]

Not really, the ones with sanwa parts are easily upgradeable, but it not usually worth it as they are good enough already. I guess something like the DC stick isn't too much hassle. If you're new to it just spend what you can on what is the best stick for the money, and you'll be fine.

[randombs]

The problem with the 360 is you've not many options with regards to sticks, especially at the lower end of the scale. Also imo the SE stick is nowhere near the likes of even the EX2 (which, around the SE's release, was £30 cheaper, don't forget). From what I gather, your choices are Hori sticks (EX2, DOA, etc, £40 rrp but they jump in price when sold out) or the Mad Catz SE/TE sticks (£55/£100), or maybe the Hori RAP EX thing (£130) that's coming back.

If you're going to spend £55 on an SE because you're not 'hardcore' enough, then realise that maybe you're not a grandma and can tell the buttons are rubbish and decide to buy Sanwa bits, you'll be spending £40 (assuming you buy from Gremlin) so you're already in TE stick territory. Now, supposing there were some Sanwa-compatible cheap parts I knew of that were like the EX parts in quality, I'd be recommending them over Sanwas to price-conscious buyers.

I used to think £100 on a joystick was madness unless you were Daigo Umehara but I've probably spent around that much on my DC stick modding adventure. Although ironically most of that wasn't even on the Sanwa parts!

I'd like to point out that the DC stick is a BLOODY BIG hassle to upgrade. You have to file away the button holes to fit the new buttons in. It's not fun and it takes ages unless you've got access to a hardcore drill filing thing or don't fear death

[Decider-VT]

I'd like to point out that the DC stick is a BLOODY BIG hassle to upgrade. You have to file away the button holes to fit the new buttons in. It's not fun and it takes ages unless you've got access to a hardcore drill filing thing or don't fear death

As is the EX2, apparently. A friend of mine described the steps he took to modify his after the Hori buttons started to degrade- selling the EX2 on and putting the money towards a TE stick for £100 suddenly seemed like the better option when the time to upgrade arrives.

[randombs]

Before buying my SE I was going to just mod my EX2 but changed my mind after looking at the tutorials! Some people just swap the buttons which only requires a bit of filing, but I'd rather do the whole lot if possible, and it just didn't look like much fun.

[Psyduck]

I don't think it matters how good you are. If you're definitely going to use it a lot then get a good one, it's worth it. If you're not so sure, then consider a cheap one. If you do end up using it a lot you'll probably then want a better one so end up spending more overall.
Anyone can feel how much nicer the TE is than the SE, it's just a stick moving round and pressing buttons, you don't have to be good at a game or even playing one to notice it.

[Jebus]

All I'm saying is that if you're a novice then don't go flying in spending £100+ on apparatus you might not feel the benefit of. A £40 stick will likely serve you just fine.

IF he has the money and is in the market for a stick why shouldn't he buy the best of the two?

Not aimed at J0e here, but it warms my cockles to see such wankery that the stick will improve your game. I bet if I played a SF master and he was on a pad, and me on the best stick in the world, he'd cream me 10-0.

For the record I bought the standard fightstick with SF4, not because of skill but because I knew that like every other game, only a handful of people would still be playing it on my friends list in a few months, and whilst I wanted to play SF4 to death, no point spending stupid money on something I can't dedicate myself to.

I always liken it to the kid with the les paul custom (before I didn't have one of course), he thought he was the bollocks, but I could savage him in a duelling banjo-esque solo-off, even on my crappy (at the time you understand, now my penis guitars are substantially better) les paul copy. I have a few Gibson Les Paul's now, and they are nicer to play and sound better, but they don't actually make my fingers any quicker, or make my grooves any sexier.

[concretesnail]

if it makes it simpler there are three realistic choices;
PS2 HRAP, good starting point and the stick is good to start with and the buttons can easily be upgraded to sanwa, and there is the room inside the case if you wanted to mod it later and make it multi format or gut it and sticka new pcb in if you are playing on the ps3 there are a couple of goo convertors out there such as the INPIN.
Madcatz TE, solid well machined stick, easy to mod and repair should you want or need too, nice idea with the cable storage. already has a sanwa set and stick in it.
HRAP EX2 Pro, good solid case, easy to change parts, so can be upgraded.

One thing to keep in miind is that if you buy a cheapo or difficult to mod stick and dont like it, or want something better you are either stuck with it< dead in the corner and not used, or the ball ache of modding it. If you buy a good one and like it then you are quids in and if you dont like it then there will always be a buyer for good sticks, on any format as good stick usually have good cases and can be modd with relative ease.

[randombs]

Putting aside whether or not someone can 'appreciate' Sanwa parts, the main reason I use them is because they're built to take a LOT of abuse before failing. I'm much more lenient when playing on my Sanwa DC stick than I was with my EX2 as I was more worried about the stick/buttons failing on that. I'm also less worried about lending it out or letting button-mashing types (I mash buttons too) use it without fear of it being broken. And if any buttons were to conk out, it's be a few quid and a few minutes to swap them out anyway.

I saw a guy in the Battle of Destiny SSF2T semifinals last year with a PS2 pad but I myself can't use one on SF for more than a few minutes. There are those who power on through with whatever stick/pad they have and they'll learn its strengths and weaknesses. At BoD there were all kinds of sticks on show, I saw a great many grey/yellow Namco sticks (one of my faves) and even those cheap PS2 sticks that you sometimes see fading in the window of your local Gamestation.

In other news:



IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE!



The rest of the story is here

[Brats]

Quick question: I fancy the wireless stick for the 360 that comes with the Tekken bundle, but.......I don't like Tekken.

Has anyone heard any rumour about the stick being released on its own?

[J0e Musashi]

not because of skill but because I knew that like every other game, only a handful of people would still be playing it on my friends list in a few months, and whilst I wanted to play SF4 to death, no point spending stupid money on something I can't dedicate myself to.

This is exactly my point. Unless you play fighters, shmups or any other arcade style games on a regular basis then there is simply no point in not buying a Hori or even an SE. VSHG's, HRAP's and TE's would be a total waste of money in this instance.
If you're a COD guy who fancies trying out what this new fighting game revival is all about then there's no way you're even gonna be able to tell the difference when you play. Of course if money is no object then the purchase of a higher quality stick would be a natural thing anyway.

When the VSHG's were released purchasing them was a total no-brainer for me. I play arcade games all the time, beit 2-D fighters, PS2 shmups or Metal Slug with the boy.
They get regular usage and so real arcade parts were what I wanted, as I have been using them for many years. Plus the fact that VSHG's have 6 buttons (instead of the noob-style 8 buttons you find on HRAPs/TE's) just like in arcades.
They were also &#163;45ish each brand new and so I got two of them for less than the price of one inferior (IMO) TE, which has now pushed the price up to &#163;100+ for a used VSHG if you can even find one

Just for the record, personally I have never found a better stick than those found in AES sticks.

[kernow]

You said last time you were offering to trade one that the 2nd VSHG was used maybe 3 or 4 times at most.

[J0e Musashi]

That one has been traded. I still have two, the same original pair I first bought. The pair that have the big A and B stickers on them so we know who's is who's.
I've traded/sold three outside of my original pair. There are no laws that state you cannot buy more than two...

[kernow]

lol, mental problems, or maybe just hoarding.

[J0e Musashi]

Actually, I got them all as part of trades in PS3 bundles. Seeing it would indeed be mental to own five of them to the trade threads they went.

[hush]

i can see all your points there, i know i will need a strong stick as i'm a player that hits the buttons hard and a need a joystick that will not get jamed or stick at the wrong time