NeoGAF Arcade Stick Thread

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I just picked up a couple of SE sticks from walmart, I was wondering if you guys could recommend a place to get vinyl prints done, is mamemarquees the best place? I'd rather go that route than lami-label from kinkos. Or if there's a better way I'd like to know.
 
milkham said:
I just picked up a couple of SE sticks from walmart, I was wondering if you guys could recommend a place to get vinyl prints done, is mamemarquees the best place? I'd rather go that route than lami-label from kinkos. Or if there's a better way I'd like to know.
Click to expand...
Yes.

Be aware mamemarquees is now known as gameongraffix though.
 
_dementia said:
Yes.

Be aware mamemarquees is now known as gameongraffix though.
Click to expand...

ah thanks dementia. have you done this before? i'm guessing that the vinyl is much harder to cut than paper. is an x-acto knife still the proper tool to use? especially for cutting the holes?
 
So after having a bunch of local SRK people over last night they all convinced me to switch out the joystick on my MadCatz SE. They all said to get the "JLF" stick, does that mean the JLF-TP-8Y? Looking it up online, I've found they sell for $30-35ish on Amazon. Is this a good price?

And will I need to have a special mounting plate or can I just use the stock one that is in my stick already?

And how hard is it to replace the stick? I've replaced the square gate with an octogon one and that wasn't too hard. Just want to make sure this is also pretty easy before I jump into doing it myself.
 
milkham said:
ah thanks dementia. have you done this before? i'm guessing that the vinyl is much harder to cut than paper. is an x-acto knife still the proper tool to use? especially for cutting the holes?
Click to expand...
Yep, not easy to cut at all. I used an olfa knife to cut mine, but it didn't come out perfect.

NRX used a gameongraffix vinyl printout for his superlative Sanwa vs. Seimitsu VX-SA mod, and his came out very nice. I wonder how he cut his?

notworksafe said:
So after having a bunch of local SRK people over last night they all convinced me to switch out the joystick on my MadCatz SE. They all said to get the "JLF" stick, does that mean the JLF-TP-8Y? Looking it up online, I've found they sell for $30-35ish on Amazon. Is this a good price?

And will I need to have a special mounting plate or can I just use the stock one that is in my stick already?

And how hard is it to replace the stick? I've replaced the square gate with an octogon one and that wasn't too hard. Just want to make sure this is also pretty easy before I jump into doing it myself.
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuyIKOYq_gI]This is a pretty good video tutorial for swapping parts.
You shouldn't have to pay more than $25 for a JLF. Sites like Lizardlick have it cheaper.

edit: Lizardlick is sold out :/
 
Thanks for the video! Any idea on where would be a good place to pick up a reasonably priced JLF? I checked Lizard Lick, but they are out of stock on all their Sanwa sticks.

Also will I need a new mounting plate? I only ask because there is a JLF stick on the SRK trading post that is cheap but doesn't come with a mounting plate.
 
You might be able to use the mounting plate from the clone madcatz stick but supposedly it's a complete bitch to remove because the screws strip very easily.
 
Yeesh, never mind then. I'll just skip the hassle and get one with a mounting plate already.

Also I just realized that I can't buy from the SRK trading post, because I don't have enough posts. :lol
 
_dementia said:
NRX used a gameongraffix vinyl printout for his superlative Sanwa vs. Seimitsu VX-SA mod, and his came out very nice. I wonder how he cut his?
Click to expand...

Yup, it's a bitch to cut, and I made a few mistakes. I placed it against the original vinyl sticker (after removing all the adhesive with GooGone, which took quite a while), taped it down, and cut along the edge.

However, GameOnGrafix now offers laser plotter cuts if you provide a vector cut layer along with your art. I hear they're really good!
 
etokki has it for cheap (online store owned by some dude on tech talk named Laugh) but it doesn't come with a ball top or mounting plate. You can use the Stock SE balltop and mounting plate (if you can get it off)
 
Thanks, I'll check it out. I already use a non-standard bat top, so I can just put that on there I assume (I've already got the conversion screw thingy).

Seems he sells a mounting plate for cheap too, so I could just grab that as a "just in case" measure.

Oh one other question. Sorry for being so noobish, but what is the difference between the different JLF sticks? I have seen JLF-TP-8, JLF-TP-8Y, JLF-TP-8YT, JLF-TP-8S, JLF-TP-8Y-SK. Are they all basically the same? Is there one that is just generally preferred for ease of install or use?
 
I think the variations dictate the mounting plate, shaft cover, PCB orientation, and other simple differences but the base mechanism is the same. JLF-TP-8YT-SK is a simple drop-in replacement. It's the same model in the TE too.
 
Okay. Thanks for the help, guys! I guess I'll go with the SK then. I played with a TE stick last night for the first time and really liked the feel of it.
 
You can also get a Seimitsu LS32-01 (with the 5-pin connector and S-plate) and that drops into an SE just as easily. It's also not much different in the long run but is ALSO better for shmups!
 
Aokage said:
Yup, it's a bitch to cut, and I made a few mistakes. I placed it against the original vinyl sticker (after removing all the adhesive with GooGone, which took quite a while), taped it down, and cut along the edge.

However, GameOnGrafix now offers laser plotter cuts if you provide a vector cut layer along with your art. I hear they're really good!
Click to expand...

is there a file with an accurate SE laser cut layer floating around ?
 
What's the tool called to open up majority of the Arcade sticks? Allan wrench? If so what size do I need? I remember seeing a site that had one and attached to it was a little arcade stick keychain thing it was pretty cool.
 
BigBadShamoo said:
What's the tool called to open up majority of the Arcade sticks? Allan wrench? If so what size do I need? I remember seeing a site that had one and attached to it was a little arcade stick keychain thing it was pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Yeah, allen wrench/hex key. The Madcatz TE keychain has one built in, which might have been the one you saw. Just go to a hardware store and buy one of the pocketknife-sized tools that has like 10 sizes, or bring your stick in and just get the one that fits the bolts.
 
BigBadShamoo said:
What's the tool called to open up majority of the Arcade sticks? Allan wrench? If so what size do I need? I remember seeing a site that had one and attached to it was a little arcade stick keychain thing it was pretty cool.
Click to expand...
You'll need a 7mm hex key
 
letsbereasonable said:
Yeah, allen wrench/hex key. The Madcatz TE keychain has one built in, which might have been the one you saw. Just go to a hardware store and buy one of the pocketknife-sized tools that has like 10 sizes, or bring your stick in and just get the one that fits the bolts.
Click to expand...


_dementia said:
You'll need a 7mm hex key.
Click to expand...


Sweett, thx guys. The reason why I didn't buy it when I saw it on that site was cuz I didn't need it at the time, but this last weekend let's just say a friend mix drink got spilled on one of the arcade sticks I got and now I gotta clean/replace the buttons cuz they are sticky lol
 
So, I have a feeling that I can bank all of my chips on a MvC 3 TE stick & Fightpads reveal at CES 2011.

Isn't that right, MarkMan? :D
 
Nah. Markman is busy working on a Daigo "The Beast" Premium Edition Arcade Fightstick to lay the smack down on the old HSS-0130 and Hori Premium VLX. Complete with interchangeable metal panels.

I'm Juiceboxin' just thinking about it!
 
_dementia said:
It's a sickness.

Next thing you know you'll be like MarkMan with 130+ sticks!
Click to expand...

130 was like a year ago! :lol

I'm currently at 22X... I lost count. I'll count over the Thanksgiving weekend.
 
Noobish question here: Is it possible to put 2 springs in the LS-32 and/or the LS-56? Will it make a big difference in the tension of the stick? I'm constantly wishing I had more tension... maybe I have strong fingers, I dunno :D

AND - If so, any tutorials to show you how?

I'm not really sure how to GET to the spring, let alone put another one in. :/
 
I figure someone here will surely be able to answer this.

I play all of my fighting games on 360. I own two HRAP EX-SE sticks, and while I absolutely adore the Seimitsu stick and buttons for my shmups (really, there is nothing better), I am beginning to learn that I'd really like a Sanwa for my fighting games.

I came to this realization after grabbing a discounted TvC Wii stick! I am aware that the components in that are MadCatz imitation Sanwa parts... just, very good imitations. I immediately thought "I need a Sanwa stick on 360 now..." But I already own two good sticks for 360 so I don't really want to buy a third one.

When I saw the HRAP3 on sale for 60 bucks I jumped. It'll be nice to have a decent PS3 stick, but I barely ever play on PS3 so I'm not overly concerned about being able to play on it... I just want the Sanwa lever for my 360!

So--having never picked up a soldering iron, and having never modded a joystick before--I came up with a master plan. I want to:
- move the Seimitsu parts from one of my EX-SEs and put them in the TvC stick, allowing me to use them with the shmups I own on Wii, which I'd love to do
- move the MadCatz buttons from the TvC stick, and the Sanwa lever from the HRAP3, into the EX-SE. This will give me the Sanwa stick I want, and the buttons will be good enough until I replace them with actual Sanwas
- move the MadCatz lever from the TvC stick into the HRAP3, leaving the Hori buttons. Since I'm unconcerned with the PS3 stick this will be fine, and if my situation changes I can easily put in better parts later.

Now, I did a little research and all of this looks like it will be easy, except that the EX-SE's Seimitsu lever doesn't use the 5-pin connector...it's soldered directly to the PCB. So this adds two bumps to the road:
1) Putting the Sanwa lever into the EX-SE. It looks like I can buy some QDs and then do this:
http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad66/jdm714_bucket/Diagrams/HRAPEXSE_before.jpg
http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad66/jdm714_bucket/Diagrams/HRAPEXSE_after.jpg
Is this correct? Although it may not be the best solution, especially considering...
2) Putting the Seimitsu lever into the TvC. Can anyone offer suggestions on the best way to do this? I considered the possibility of just buying another Seimitsu LS-32 but I've read that it's no longer sold separately.

I am not afraid to learn how to solder if necessary.

P.S. I see that the HRAP EX is on sale today at Amazon for $78.28, lol.
 
Well after my recent sad loss I went ahead and ordered my first ever TE (Round 2), thanks to all the good black Friday week deals going on right now. Should be receiving it early next week.

Currently doing some art mock-ups... I will post pics once it's all done.
 
Quick question... I'm about to update a few of my sticks, and I'm going to follow everyones suggestions... but my main problem is that the stock sticks are too light. I'm looking for a tough and heavy stick (no innuendo intended). Will these Japanese sticks fit the bill? The sticks on my MVS are pretty close, but I'd rather have a bit more resistance.
 
_dementia said:
Do you know what kind of sticks they have installed in them? Can you take pics?
Click to expand...

If you're replying to me, I have the SE stick that I picked up from Walmart a week or two back. I'm set on replacing the buttons, but I find the stick to be way too loose. Soldering and whatnot is not an issue for me, I just want a super firm stick (again this sounds really inappropriate).
 
RedNumberFive said:
If you're replying to me, I have the SE stick that I picked up from Walmart a week or two back. I'm set on replacing the buttons, but I find the stick to be way too loose. Soldering and whatnot is not an issue for me, I just want a super firm stick (again this sounds really inappropriate).
Click to expand...
You could replace it with a Seimitsu LS-32-01 which is a popular stick that is firmer than the SE's standard one.
 
_dementia said:
You could replace it with a Seimitsu LS-32-01 which is a popular stick that is firmer than the SE's standard one.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I keep hearing that they're "better", but I wasn't sure if they suited what I was looking for.
 
Gah... now look what you people made me do! I just took the 2-for-1 deal on the 360 Round 2 TE. I had ordered a Round 2 TE for my cousin just two days ago, and while $105 on Amazon sounded good, this is even better. So the two sticks I ordered from Amazon are going back, and I no longer need to do any modding to get Sanwa on 360. To have THREE 360 arcade-grade sticks is probably a bit excessive, but oh well!

Thing is I kind of still want Seimitsu in my TvC stick. If you guys have any suggestions in that regard, I'd still love to hear them.
 
yyr said:
Gah... now look what you people made me do! I just took the 2-for-1 deal on the 360 Round 2 TE. I had ordered a Round 2 TE for my cousin just two days ago, and while $105 on Amazon sounded good, this is even better. So the two sticks I ordered from Amazon are going back, and I no longer need to do any modding to get Sanwa on 360. To have THREE 360 arcade-grade sticks is probably a bit excessive, but oh well!

Thing is I kind of still want Seimitsu in my TvC stick. If you guys have any suggestions in that regard, I'd still love to hear them.
Click to expand...

Removed for drunkenness.
 
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