Arcade sticks - which one should I get?

[mid]

Right, I'm all in a muddle and need some advice before Friday.

Here's the situation. Both Psyvariar and Soul Calibur II are out on Friday in PAL land, and I'd like to buy them and play them with an arcade stick. I currently have a Dreamcast official one, which is glorious, but I don't want to break it.

I want something reasonably good, so the evil green thing with soggy buttons that was the only stick in Game is out.

While I'd like it sooner rather than later, I'd really rather not spend the ?50-plus that seems to be what it costs to import one from Japan by the time you've been caught for import duty.

And while I'd quite like to play SCII on the Cube (for purely practical reasons; my PS2 is linked to a smaller screen along with the XBox, while the Cube gets the big screen), Psyvariar is PS2 only, so either something multiplatform or a link to a converter as well would be handy.

What do people recommend? As I can see it, the sensible thing is to get a Playstation stick, and converter dongles to Cube, Box, DC and PC to cover all angles. But where to buy from, and which sticks are good without costing the earth is a problem.

[superkully]

Don't buy _anything_ from GAME.

I've had (and taken back) hideous sticks from there for Xbox & PS2. They were worse than using the pad. Have a search and you'll find a thread about this a few months back.

Your best bet it to get an imported SCII stick. I think anotherworld were doing VF4e sticks for ?19.99 a while back??

[tankplanker]

It was 30 quid, and I've been waiting three weeks for mine.

[yashiro]

For maximum flexibility your initial idea is the best - but it's not that straight forward I'm afraid. The only way to guarantee it'll work is to buy the right sticks for the machine . There isn't a dongle that works properly for GC as far as I know. Sticks simply refuse to work with them.

I hope someone can say this isnt the case and there is a working one available these days. I got sick in the end and bought proper sticks for each machine.

As for not spending 50 odd quid you have no choice. You either splash out on a decent stick or get a nice 'game special'.
Try the forums on here, and maybe ebay. You may get one on the cheap.
Make sure you get the SCII stick though. While the VF4 stick is great for VF4 it's **** for most other games due to the button layout.

Adapters:

https://www.play-asia.com

https://www.lik-sang.com

https://www.consoleplus.co.uk

[Thurrabred]

I did some hunting on behalf of those after the same solution. It would seem that there is one adapter that supports PS2 arcade sticks, Play-Asia even goes as far as to say so specifically. You can get it here:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-24-70-29s-4-7.html

http://www.consoleplus.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=434

[yashiro]

Good find.

Automatic select between analog/digital mode (for PS?/PS2? Pads)

I guess switching to PS1 mode is what allows the sticks to work.

[mid]

Thanks everyone. Guess I'll have to save the pennies for an SCII stick, then.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

To be honest, If youre getting the stick just for Pysvariar, dont bother with one - its not really required for this game. I find it easier with the pad, and more fun as well. Of course, if youre gonna get more fighters then you'll need one in the future So buy away

[johnkiddier]

I'd seriously recommend building your own arcade stick.

It really is very easy and you don't need any woodworking skills or electrical knowledge to do it.

I built my stick so that I could play both VF4 Evo (PS2) and Ikaruga (GC) using the same stick.

All I require is a PS to GC pad converter and it'll work fine.

Saves buying two SCII sticks, and ther parts used are of a higher quality.

If you're interested in persuing this route, I'm only too happy to help.

[stiff_one]

Mate, no offence, but your stick, technically great as it may be, is really really horrible. Its just not right for VF4 Evo, where you need Sega sticks. It looks like a US arcade stick, like a Mortal Kombat 2 one, which is great for that, but not for Evo.

So although it would be good and fine for some games, its just not for others, and those others are the ones that want them the most. Happ controls sure are sturdy though, it'll last you a lifetime.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a VF4Evo stick?

[Saurian]

I'm not a fan of Happ controls stuff either - used to play on them in the arcades but I had no choice.

Get yourself a Hori Soul Calibur 2 stick - it's components are identical to the Evo stick, but it's much more handy as it has 6 buttons (however the Evo stick has L3 and R3 assigned to buttons which is VERY useful in training mode). Lik-Sang or Playasia are possibly your best bet. I have regular Evo get togethers at mine all the time the favourite sticks among the players I know are:

(in no order)
Modified Dreamcast stick
Soul Calibur 2 stick
VF4 Evo stick
Namco Tekken 4 stick

I prefer a looser/lighter stick so my fave is the modified Dreamcast stick as I've adjusted the tension to my liking (it's so light you can move it with your mind! ) - but both the Evo and SC2 sticks are superb too.

[johnkiddier]

I've got a couple of Sanwa ball top sticks arriving in the next few days so I'll finally be able to see what all the fuss is about

It's worth noting that all the happ sticks are completely different. The Happ Super, Competition and Ultimate all feel very different. The thickness of the control panel makes a massive difference to the feel of a stick as well.

I've got two Happ competitions that feel very different simply because the stick hight of one is lower than the other.

From what I understand, the Sanwa stick is similar but not identical to the SCII ones. The SCII stick uses a plastic components in place of the more hardy metal ones in the arcade stick. Sanwa actually make a range of sticks of which the VF4Evo stick is just one.

I'm putting one of the sanwas in my existing box for now and I'll give my feedback on it soon.

[Henning]

Have you seen the stick YesAsia is selling? It suppose to be a genuine arcade stick, can?t find any info about the manufacture though.

CLICKY!

[Mr Ono]

Why compromise?

[yashiro]

Is this a challenge!? Don't make me get a digital camera just to beat you.

Nice pile of peripherals mate.