An arcade stick thread

[Flabio]

Primarily because the x-arcade is a US stick and layout. And most of the people on here seem to be more a fan of JPN parts and layout.

[Brats]

Every review I've read of the X-Arcade sticks is glowing. I wonder why so many people here say they're no good?

Mainly because the reviewers don't have any experience of many arcade sticks. If you don't know any better, the X-Arcade would seem amazing.

I've used an X-Arcade and it's obvious the designers have looked to classic US arcade machines from Williams and Midway as inspiration (the base is even made of wood). A retro look and feel are fine, but potential buyers should know that arcade stick design has improved significantly since the eighties.



If you look at the standard two stick unit, the buttons are all in a line. This is classic eighties US design, yet it makes no sense (unless you are a mutant with all your fingers the same length).

The Player 1 buttons are also stupidly close to the start buttons. When I used one, it was far too easy to accidentally hit start, pausing the game.

These design flaws have been present for years and yet the makers of X-Arcade seem happy to let the design stay unchanged. If you want to play Defender on your XBox whilst making the experience as close to original as possible, then the X-Arcade is the one to get. However for SFIV (and most other games) there are better sticks out there.

[SharkSkin-Man]

The sticks are placed too high up on the unit as well.

[JamesS]

Yeah, I liked my X-Arcade when I got it years ago, but it's nowhere near as good as any of the recent Japanese style sticks that are on the market. Their tech support was awful too when I was trying to get them to sort out a faulty adapter.

[Kubrick]

Is it the LS32 or L32-01 that will fit this, or would both?

The LS-32-01.

The mounting bracket in the Madcatz sticks are ready-made to accept a Seimitsu with a "S" shape plate (which is what the 01 comes with) so it drops straight in without any mods. You just have to unscrew it's PCB and rotate it 90 degrees since the Seimitsu fits in East-West compared to North-South like the stock unit.

[Jay]

If I'm after a semi-decent PS2 stick and don't want to sell the kids and go on the game, what are my options? Any recommendations?

Thanks.

[speedlolita]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Namco-Arcade-Stick-PS1-PS2-SLEH-0004_W0QQitemZ270554348793QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Video_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ?hash=item3efe4bbcf9

And then mod it over time - if you like it. Somebody was looking to sell one around here I think, check the appraisals thread.

All PS2 HRAP are probably far too expensive now.

[Jay]

Are the namco sticks good then? I came across those before and thought I'd read somewhere that they were a bit pants. Cheers.

[speedlolita]

I believe the stock buttons are actually seimitsu - so I dunno who rated them as rubbish...

Certainly better if you stick a JLF in there though - but as I say a stick with proper parts is gonna cost more than £50.

[J0e Musashi]

Next to AES sticks, Namco's are possibly the best stock sticks ever.

[Jay]

Nice one, thanks.

Are there any other sticks worth looking at? The Hori Fighting Stick 2 doesn't seem to attract very good comments.

Next to AES sticks, Namco's are possibly the best stock sticks ever.

Thanks for the info. Wish I'd known this before ...

[speedlolita]

That Hori Fighting Stick 2 looks like **** - frankly. lol

I wish I'd got a Namco when they were like £20.

[Number45]

If I'm after a semi-decent PS2 stick and don't want to sell the kids and go on the game, what are my options? Any recommendations?

Thanks.

You could put your kids on the game, kill two birds with one stone?

[J0e Musashi]

The original HORI Fighting Stick PS is pretty sweet. If you can find one of course. Metal base, and can be modded too.

[Jay]

Nice. I've got the Saturn version of that.