Looking to buy an arcade stick...

miyuru

Member
I'm a little too lazy/not enough time/experience riddled to mod a stick to an arcade quality stick, so I was wondering about sticks that are ready to purchase (this is for XBOX). I was looking at the MAS sticks but it said it was just a PS2 stick with adaptor - is there any lag?

Other than MAS, anyone know anyone/anywhere that I can order an awesome, arcade quality stick ASAP? I'm tired of playing (shoddily) with a controller :P

EDIT: Also I just want a traditional 6 button layout (as well as Start/Select, etc.). BTW, what works best for GGXX? I wanna get into that too but never looked at how it's laid out at the arcade.
 
GGXX is a 5 button setup like so;

Code:
K - S - HS
P       D

I've got an X-Arcade (swapped in Happ competition buttons/stick), DC Green Goblin and a Hori RAP. Out of the three I'm by far the most comfortable with the RAP, but I'm not sure about how the PS2->XBOX converters handle input latentcy.
 
Just do the Monk's mod!!! It's seriously the best bang for the buck by far.

Oh, and Monk I can't make it until laaaate tonight, sorry man.
 
Thx for the layout!

Yeah I was thinking about Monk's mod (I read the tutorial when you posted it), and I figure I'll do that for my *second* stick ;)

Right now, I just want a no hassle arcade quality stick until summer when I'll have more free time.
 
Well the non-modded SFAC stick is actually the best stick for that as well. That's the beauty of it, it grows with you.
 
Really?? It doesn't even use the best parts I heard. So you're saying it's even better than a MAS stick, or Hori RAP?
 
Well see now you're not really making any sense. Why would you go for the SF stick as your second when you plan on already getting a MAS or Hori? My suggestion of the modded SF was an alternative to one of those, and not a supplement. If you're scared off by the modding, don't be, it takes a couple of hours but there's nothing too complicated necessary and Monk's guide contains everything you need to know.
 
Err I'm confused :P I meant I want a premade stick right now, and I'll mod another stick this summer for my second stick.
 
dude, get the MAS stick. I have it with PS2/DC connections and I just use a 3rd party adapter for playing MvC2 and SC2 on my Xbox. It works awesome. Plus those MAS sticks are QUALITY. I've had one since 2000 and have never had to replace any parts. I used it when MvC hit Dreamcast. Then for MvC2 on DC. Then for Soul Calibur on DC (I was late to the party), then Guilty Gear, then MvC2 on Xbox, then Soul Calibur 2 on Xbox.

So its been put through the paces. Best stick out there.
 
I can vouch for MAS's durability and quality, but not the Xbox support. I'm not confirming that it is bad or laggy, but my adaptor had disconnect problems, so I cannot say with 100% certainty that it's a trustworthy thing. Mine didn't seem to have any lag on the Xbox, haven't tried Live though. Hellraizah and plenty others on SRK will vouch for it, but I personally cannot.

Rastex, stop supporting those stock SF:AC parts. I didn't work my fingers to the bone, tightening pushbutton bezels and resizing jpegs, so you could tell people to not swap the parts. They suck uncontrollably. The joystick is sticky, the buttons are extremely tall. Simply not quality parts.

Though I've never used the Hori RAP, I have used the parts in it seperately and thus I think I can recommend it with confidence. The problem there is that it's PS2 only. You're gonna have to adapt to get it to Xbox, and that's simply something that I don't believe in.

In closing, again, I recommend you to Dreaded Fist of SRK. It's going to be more expensive than a MAS and probably take even longer, but he has the potential to top everything in this post. Dual PCB sticks, people, screw Adaptor Hell.
 
He doesnt do dual configs tho. He did my stick in under a week, but it's stuck somewhere in texas :|

Stupid mail system
 
I'm willing to bet he would if you asked him to. It'd be suprising if he didn't. Though, maybe if used Xbox pads didn't fucking cost $24 we wouldn't even have doubt.
 
If you do end up going for a HRAP buy a MagicBox converter from Playasia.com so you can use it on your XBOX, I have not experienced any input lag at all with this converter.

One thing is for sure avoid Nuby Tech arcade sticks because they suck major balls.
 
ArcadeStickMonk said:
Rastex, stop supporting those stock SF:AC parts. I didn't work my fingers to the bone, tightening pushbutton bezels and resizing jpegs, so you could tell people to not swap the parts. They suck uncontrollably. The joystick is sticky, the buttons are extremely tall. Simply not quality parts.

Me and my friend went through that same hell, trust me. And it was worth it, I totally appreciate the new more responsive buttons with Dudley's combos :)
 
ArcadeStickMonk said:
I can vouch for MAS's durability and quality, but not the Xbox support. I'm not confirming that it is bad or laggy, but my adaptor had disconnect problems, so I cannot say with 100% certainty that it's a trustworthy thing. Mine didn't seem to have any lag on the Xbox, haven't tried Live though.
The thing is that you probably got the old converter that MAS used to sell. I have the same problem too with the first stick I bought from MAS. Now they are using another PCB and the adapter they sell right now is the Dreambox, which is pretty good and works with the Live headset too. I'm playing Street Fighter : Anniversary Collection on Xbox Live with it and I didn't notice any lag, I can parry without much hassle. Only thing that fucks up is that I got one of these screwed P360s in that stick and I lose almost everytime because I miss my moves too much.

I ordered a new stick from MAS today, I ordered one Super Nova style (like yours) with the 6 buttons setup, but I got a competition joystick in, because I'm somewhat scared of the P360s now (even though Lynn told me they got new fixed ones).

EDIT : Note that if someone wants to go the MAS way with the Dreambox adapter, I think you can get the converter cheaper on Liksang. Also note that you'll want an extension for the Xbox Live headset because you'll have to plug the headset in the converter directly. These extensions can be found in Mad Catz dance pads that are Xbox compatible, they give one with them.
 
I hope you're right about the convertor, I haven't actually gotten around to replacing mine yet.

It still doesn't change the fact that you will be using an adaptor, and I'm at the point where I really, really don't want to trust my input to anything but a 1st party PCB. All the talk last year about input lag basically made me say "fuck it." I could try this convertor or this combination or I could just wire in a 1st party PCB and eliminate all concerns.

Of course, I'm currently only at the start of that path; I've wired one stick to a DB15 and have a PSOne controller wired in a box. Dreamcast is next, probably with a PCB from an Agetec stick (PCB and encoder both say SEGA on it, figure I'm safe). Xbox, I dunno. I read bad things about using the 1st party pads, I sure as hell don't want to use a Gamester, and do I trust Madcatz? I think concessions will be made with Xbox.

I've got quite a few used pads in the trunk of my car right now. Just picked up a 3-button Genny pad today.


About the P360, I say you are right to be concerned. I still want to conquer them, just so I know how, but I can never trust it for PS2 without another power source, and the quality issues mean every one you get you have to check for being a lemon. Well hell, man, you read SRK, you know. I still believe I have a good one, but I've rather trust my game to a Comp.
 
What's the fastest way to get in contact w/ Dreaded Fist? I'm not a member of SRK's forums.

BTW, what's a PCB/dual PCB/etc...?

I'd really like to get into arcade sticks this summer ^_^
 
According to his site, dreadedfist@comcast.net is his email

A PCB is the Printed Circuit Board, with is the green thingie inside all the gamepads and other electronics. The most important part of the PCB is that all it's circuits run to the Encoder chip, which basically sends out PS2 formatted input, Xbox, Format, Dreamcast, ETC. I am currently of the mindset that I only want 1st party encoders if I can swing it.

Dual PCB means that two PCBs are wired to all the components in the unit. Imagine the compatibility of the Pelican Real Arcade Pro, but with 1st party PCBs for all three systems.

I don't even fancy the dual PCB route. I fancy taking the PCB out of the unit and connecting to PCBs externally. The gain? I wire a stick once, and it is instantly compatible with any console I wire a PCB of into a project box. Save this for the summer.
Check this link for a better picture.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jdpyle1/index.htm

If you want to get into arcade sticks, then get your SRK membership. I learned most everything I know from there.
 
I say wait until summer when you have time to mod one, or buy one now from a custom maker. No need to waste money on a sub-par product when you know you are very soon going to get a better one.
 
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