NeoGAF Arcade Stick Thread

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Probably a dumb question...

I have an older X-Arcade my brother bought me for my birthday, which while not the best, it works (I use it on my PC)

One thing that always bothered me was that this thing is just a keyboard in a box. Buttons and directional movements mapped to keyboard entries.

For games with lots of complex stick movements (fight games especially) it gets bogged down sometimes.

To the dumb question....

Are ALL PC arcade sticks just remapped keystrokes? Or is it just the way X-Arcade works?
 
Yeah, that's the only time I've heard of a pre-built arcade stick only functioning that way. Most are recognized as gamepads by Windows.
 
IMG_0253.jpg


My first stick. Perfect layout for Tatsunoko and the NeoGeo Virtual Console stuff. Great stick but the buttons are terrible since they are not in a tube. They will sway side-to-side if you are pressing furiously. I'm thinking about getting some Sanwa buttons and copying the red/yellow/green/blue MVS color scheme.
 
Yeah so seeing as lizardlick apparently hasn't beed sending out orders lately or whatever, who is the go to store for arcade stick parts? Akibaharashop? Need something that ships to australia... finally buying sanwa bits for my SE. Thinking the translucent green buttons.



Also my friend just got himself a round 2 TE. He found it in a pawn shop for 50 bux. It's in perfect condition. Lucky bastard.
 
remz said:
Yeah so seeing as lizardlick apparently hasn't beed sending out orders lately or whatever, who is the go to store for arcade stick parts? Akibaharashop? Need something that ships to australia... finally buying sanwa bits for my SE. Thinking the translucent green buttons.



Also my friend just got himself a round 2 TE. He found it in a pawn shop for 50 bux. It's in perfect condition. Lucky bastard.
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I've made two separate orders with LizardLick in the past 2 weeks and they've both shipped almost immediately. One order even said preorder/coming soon and still shipped the next day.

Just trying to derail any LL hate!
 
Eightarcs are partnered with Qanba. The sticks are the same with a few different features (start button not on the face, no handle) and different aesthetics.
 
So basically it's the same stick but I'll save 50 bucks, and I'll have a start button on the front. ...which I can disconnect by opening it up.
 
StickGAF, I need your advice!

So last week I ordered a second hand stick at the shop I work at. It's the HORI Real Arcade Pro Stick 3 and it's actually the first arcade stick which I am most likely going to buy.

Now I read some reviews and they all seem fine on this stick, except that the buttons seemingly suck balls. To me they did seem a bit mushy although I am no expert on these buttons. The stick however appears to be of good quality (Sanwa iirc).

So naturally I'm thinking of replacing the buttons and I've read that with this stick it should be fairly easy. My question to you guys is: what buttons should I order?

I pretty new at this stuff but I'm loving it so far!
 
Magypsy said:
So naturally I'm thinking of replacing the buttons and I've read that with this stick it should be fairly easy. My question to you guys is: what buttons should I order?
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Any 30mm Japanese pushbutton will work - Sanwa and Seimitsu are the commonly used arcade-grade brands. Both snap-ins (such as the Sanwa OBSF or Seimitsu PS14-K - which clip onto the panel) and screw-in buttons (Sanwa OBSN, Seimitsu PS14 KN - threaded base with nut to hold it) will work, but the latter may get a bit crowded on the HRAP layout when you install them.

http://www.focusattack.com/buttons/

Go Sanwa if you like sensitivity and don't plan to rest your fingers on the buttons, also kind of mushy feeling but not in a bad way like the Hori stock buttons. Go Seimitsu if you want a little more resistance, requires more force to push.

And yeah, the joystick lever on your HRAP3 is already a Sanwa JLF, so you're good to go there. Welcome to the wonderful world of arcade sticks. :)
 
The HRAP3 has sanwa buttons stock, doesn't it?


Just started ordering stuff to make my gf's custom since the case from simplecases (which looks fantastic by the way). Sadly no single shop had everything I needed so I ordered from both FocusAttack and Paradise (first time with them) so hopefully it all comes in soon. Also last night one of the microswitches died in one of my sticks (the "right" direction) so I ordered a new microswitch assembly. Gotta order the pcb and some wiring from Toodles in the next couple of days too once he gets his new batch of SLGs.
 
Ahhh right. I'm not super familiar with HORI's product lines so I forgot about them having two versions. Thanks for the correction!
 
Fersis said:
So i ended up buying the Qanba Q4. My first stick ever yay!
Im at my parents house so i dont have a console to test it so i coded a small Unity app to check the buttons and such. Im quite impressed by how sensible the buttons are :3

The 3 in 1 thing is pretty awesome, the whole package is beyond my expectations.
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As a Q3 owner, I must say contrats dude. They are top quality products and my favorites by far. Gonna save some money for a couple of Q4s.
 
I'm getting the regular HRAP3 so yeah, no Sanwa buttons.

Thanks for your reply, ExMachina! Guess I'll just order one Sanwa button and one Seimitsu button and let my fingers decide :-).

Also contemplating changing the print.
 
That white one has stock hori buttons (amazon.jp version).

HRAP3 SA has a black base and white Sanwa buttons and silver faceplate (they were giving these away on amazon.com for a song a few years back):

sa.jpg
 
Getting worried about my stick. Ordered from Arcade Shock a week ago today (1/30). Once I received the tracking information, I'd been checking on it daily. First it was estimated to arrive on 2/4, but that didn't happen. When I checked the tracking page on 2/4, it said that it was still in CA (I live in MN) and that the last update was that it had Arrived in CA, and that was on 2/2.

Now the tracking page won't even load, gives an error message saying the framework couldn't load or something.

Fuck Fedex, I should have spent more to go with UPS.
 
Just ordered a Q4 3in 1 Ice Blue.
Really needed something that could handle both systems so I hope i made the right choice.

Now my MvC2 stick will not be lonely.
 
I have been using a modded SE for a while already but I feel like I need to evolve to something new. While the TEs and the Eightarc/Qanba models (ABS and MDF ones)I have been looking at the Etokki Omni Sanwa Edition since it looks close to the GDLK Virtua Stick High Grade. I will have to get into that soon.

Oh yeah that reminds me I gotta go to the Southtown Arcade Virtua Fighter 5 event and ask regarding a VSHG revival if a Sega rep is there.
 
Any news/impressions on the Sanwa quiet stick/button parts?

I've been meaning to install a new panel on my HRAP, and these would probably work for me since the noise bothers people at night. >_<
 
ponpo said:
I liked my old modded SE better than my TE or HRAP EX-SE

Need more options for smaller sticks.
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The problem with most of the existing small mass-production cases is that they're too small to be worth modding so that you can put in arcade parts. I wouldn't recommend modding most of the joysticks made in the 1990s. They just don't have the clearance room for superior-quality arcade parts.

ON THE OTHER HAND... There are a couple of joysticks from back in the day that are probably worth modding for better performance/multi-system use.

The Dreamcast Agetec is a popular option for many but the stick is getting a bit harder to find in the US. They're more plentiful overseas -- particularly Japan -- and generally cheaper there, too. ( => Of course, if you have to pay Air Freight shipping...!) The existing parts -- if the joystick is like-new/gently-used -- are decent but it can be made better with Seimitsu or Sanwa parts. Warning: it's much easier to retrofit the stick base with a JLF but LS-32s, -40s, and -56s have been fitted with a bit of extra mod work. Thankfully it's a snap to retrofit 30mm buttons into the case.

The Capcom Power Fighter Stick (SNES/Genesis era) is also becoming more popular for retro enthusiasts. You really can't refit the case with a new joystick but no problems as far as parts for the OEM joystick concerned... Depending on your production version of CPS, you can use existing LS-40 or JLW parts in the base to replace worn-out components. The springs and pivots for those arcade production units fit onto the existing sticks. As for new buttons, the existing button holes can be widened a bit to fit 24mm arcade buttons. 30mm buttons are definitely a no-go for this stick. Feedback from modders says that the existing 24mm Sanwa and Seimitsu (plug-in) buttons work just fine in the case.

Mod guides are available for both these sticks on the web and SRK that show you how to mod them for arcade parts.


Vans said:
Any news/impressions on the Sanwa quiet stick/button parts?

I've been meaning to install a new panel on my HRAP, and these would probably work for me since the noise bothers people at night. >_<
Click to expand...

Until the parts actually get released -- so far they might not have even gotten into production; I think all we've seen are pre-production, test production, or prototypes --, nobody's going to know outside of Sanwa testers. Probably later this year if we're lucky.

There was a new Seimitsu joystick (LS-58 series) released late last year but there hasn't been much written about it yet. Again, it's a matter of more people actually getting to use the parts.

IF your playing does disturb your roommates, they may want to get ear plugs. I could see a crowd of people playing games being disturbing, but one person???? Never thought the noise from the actual buttons and joysticks were that loud. TV speakers, yes, but arcade controllers??? Save your money and tell your roommate(s) to get ear plugs! Lame!
 
This looks kinda flimsy:

button.jpg


Can't wait to see the insides of the big fatty VS sticks. Also, amazon emailed me a week ago and said around the 15th for the VS sticks, is this accurate?
 
 
Yes Boss! said:
Can't wait to see the insides of the big fatty VS sticks. Also, amazon emailed me a week ago and said around the 15th for the VS sticks, is this accurate?
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Me too! From what I remember Markman saying about the VS stick, the base and interior is metal, so this stick should make the VSHG feel like a light weight!
 
Blackvette94 said:
Me too! From what I remember Markman saying about the VS stick, the base and interior is metal, so this stick should make the VSHG feel like a light weight!
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If the VS Stick makes the VSHG feel like a light weight, I have legitimate concerns about carrying one around. That shit would be heavy as fuck.
 
Big sticks are good! As are small sticks. Who carries around a VLX, Twinstick or that big Saturn dual thingy? We've already got like a hundred medium sticks to choose from.

For the new page:

Ok guys and gals, here is the competition:

Prize:

One Street Fighter X Tekken V.S. stick for either 360 or PS3, your choice. Whenever it ships.

VS.jpg


OR

Namco Store Black PS3 TE stick (if it is still available after 15 February, 2012; but I'll probably order one in the coming week if it looks like we are getting entries...so if the winner opts for it they can take it, otherwise it will just go into my collection)

namco.jpg


---> Choice of stick is negotiable, say, if you wanted a qanba or eightarc or even the cheaper Fightstick Pro Black version instead but I'd rather keep it Mad Catz since MarkMan started this thread. Just try to keep it $200-ish.

Who can enter?

Any GAF member from any country. I currently live in the middle east but depending on the winner's location it will either ship directly from the US manufacturer/US amazon/US Club Namco Store or I'll have the stick sent to my CA address then have it forwarded to your address...in other words, it might take a few extra days to arrive if you live outside the US.

How to enter:

First, you will need some type of arcade stick and some type of camera/phone camera. Be creative and photograph the stick (or sticks) in some type of creative location, juxtaposition, etc. Try to surprise. Photography skills are not really important, creativity is! Feel free to manipulate the image however you feel...JUST DON'T USE PHOTOSHOP TO BREAK CONTIGUOUS SPACE...stick(s) must be in a physical environment. Take the stick apart, use a candy cab...anything you want so long as a stick is in the photo. Indoors, outdoors, etc.

PM me your photo by the end of February 15, 2012 and I'll collect them all, resize them if I can figure it out, and then show them in this thread, unmarked from who they came from. Not sure how we will pick the winner, maybe collectively, maybe MarkMan will want to pick the best one...I'll let you know around the 15th through the 20th when I post all the entrants.

One entry per username!

(My job takes me away from the internets for a week or two at a time but I'll be back by the 15th. If I'm not gone, I'll PM you back that I got your entry but, rest-assured, if I don't PM you back within that day I'm probably gone, and up some mountain with no communication and I'll PM you once I get back.)

Hopefully we get a number of entries, or I'll by sad ;-( You've got three weeks!

Good luck folks! And perhaps quote for the new page so we can get as many entries as possible, especially if I'm not here to do so myself.
 
Yes Boss! said:
That white one has stock hori buttons (amazon.jp version).

HRAP3 SA has a black base and white Sanwa buttons and silver faceplate (they were giving these away on amazon.com for a song a few years back):

sa.jpg
Click to expand...

I have this stick and I love it. Got it off of a nice kid via Craigslist for ~$80 - best purchase I've made in a while.

Cosmetically I put a Seimitsu white bubble top, and today the octagonal gate arrives. From what I've seen on this thread it should be pretty easy to switch the gates.

Any tips for someone who's never opened a stick before? Thanks!
 
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