NeoGAF Arcade Stick Thread

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So I haven't had an Arcade Stick in a few years, but absolutely everyone I know has picked up MK... even people who were casual about fighters seem to be really into it. Nostalgia? I dunno, but it's an incredible game so I won't complain.

I ended up getting the MK TE setup with the Fight Stick. I've been reading a lot about it as well, and here's what I think:

The build is excellent, and the fit of it on my lap with that memory foam is great. It looks and feels like an old arcade cabinet and the latch / inner area is really really a nice touch.

The buttons I'm still on the fence about. The layout is foreign to me; I haven't played MK in more than 10 years in an arcade so I'm still fumbling for block... which is unusual because I'm nigh un-hittable in any Soul Calibur. I sort of feel like I want block under my thumb, but it seems like even folks with the 6 layout prefer it on the left so that your main four buttons are always first priority.

MkLayout2.jpg


The Happ buttons in this thing have a REALLY strange reverberating "sprroiiiinnng" after being pressed; you can actually FEEL the spring inside still moving. I'm replacing these with iL buttons, and have ordered those lovely clearish colored ones from Lizard Licks. The plan is to use red, blue, green, orange for their respective PSX button. I think that'll both look nice and help. The R2 and L1 are going to be yellow. It's all gonna be Cherry Switches on those.

MKlayout.jpg


The Joystick is easily the weakest part of this stick. The black block inside can actually twist very slightly in certain situations, making diagonal jumps not come out the way I want them to. I'm able to pull off nearly every other move without issue, so this is kind of a "What were they thinking?" Kind of thing. I have a blue iL Euro stick on the way as well, and I'm hoping that'll make things right. I may or may not use the actual Euro bat, since the blue on this board may be hideous. The black Happ stick is at the very least very nice feeling and looks excellent.

eSwiches2.jpg


Now, two other oddities.

The hinge on this thing is great, but if you remove the plexiglass it won't screw into the top panel properly. This is because the plexi is between it and the wood, which kind of sucks. I'd like to be able to just remove the plexi and be done with it alltogether, but without modification or some kind of shim that's not going to happen.

It looks like if you wanted to replace the top plate entirely, you'd really be in for some nasty business. This kind of limits modification potential, and is a bummer. You'd need to cut some really specific holes and indents. At the very least, I wish they'd made the top plexi removable, in case I wanted to put other art onto the stick. Really not sure how it's even attached.

So, to sum things up: It's very neat, but I'm not sure that I like it over a standard layout. Getting really good iL buttons in there might change my tune though, so I'll have to report back when I get that all set up.
 
If you figure out how to remove the plexi, please let us know. I've yet to open the MK TE since I didn't want to get stuck with another stick I won't use all that much.
 
RS4- said:
If you figure out how to remove the plexi, please let us know. I've yet to open the MK TE since I didn't want to get stuck with another stick I won't use all that much.


I'm KIND of wondering if it's actually being held in place by the buttons. I doubt it, but I feel like they wouldn't just glue it on which is the other option. I'll know when my iL buttons come this week... don't wanna un-screw and re-screw more than I have to with the inner plexi.
 
So I've done it.

I changed the stick on the MK Fight Stick to an iL Eurojoystick (keeping the black top) and the buttons to iL semi-transparent colored buttons! Everything also has cherry switches now as well, which... well, we'll get to that later.

The modification was relatively easy. The only annoyance was really the tons of of screws holding on the plexi guard inside. Once off, removing the buttons was a snap.

I must say, these parts are no small upgrade. I couldn't jump diagonal on the old stick, and this one is not only many more times more responsive, it's a hell of a lot quieter and more reliable for any motion. I haven't missed a Fatality or Special since putting it on. The buttons too are just orders of magnitude better... snappy and just more responsive.

photo-2.jpg
 
Mercutio said:
So I've done it.

I changed the stick on the MK Fight Stick to an iL Eurojoystick (keeping the black top) and the buttons to iL semi-transparent colored buttons! Everything also has cherry switches now as well, which... well, we'll get to that later.

The modification was relatively easy. The only annoyance was really the tons of of screws holding on the plexi guard inside. Once off, removing the buttons was a snap.

I must say, these parts are no small upgrade. I couldn't jump diagonal on the old stick, and this one is not only many more times more responsive, it's a hell of a lot quieter and more reliable for any motion. I haven't missed a Fatality or Special since putting it on. The buttons too are just orders of magnitude better... snappy and just more responsive.

Almost serendipity that I'm reading this post as I unbox my IL parts from ParadiseArcadeShop.
 
Mercutio said:
Everything also has cherry switches now as well, which... well, we'll get to that later.

Was there something else you were going to point out regarding Cherry microswitches?

I also got replacement parts from LL... but I ordered red Happ buttons because I didn't want transparent, and those were the only iL buttons LL had. The button swap was easy. I do feel a slight difference between the two, but it might be in my head.

I received a blue iL lever as well, but I've got a slight problem... I don't know how to remove the Happ lever that came pre-installed. I undid the four visible screws near the microswitches, and was able to pull the lower piece of the assembly (does it have a name?) upwards, but it doesn't seem to want to budge beyond that. I can't seem to twist it off or pull it further. I searched for guides but only found one video that I didn't find helpful. Any advice?
 
yyr said:
Was there something else you were going to point out regarding Cherry microswitches?

I also got replacement parts from LL... but I ordered red Happ buttons because I didn't want transparent, and those were the only iL buttons LL had. The button swap was easy. I do feel a slight difference between the two, but it might be in my head.

I received a blue iL lever as well, but I've got a slight problem... I don't know how to remove the Happ lever that came pre-installed. I undid the four visible screws near the microswitches, and was able to pull the lower piece of the assembly (does it have a name?) upwards, but it doesn't seem to want to budge beyond that. I can't seem to twist it off or pull it further. I searched for guides but only found one video that I didn't find helpful. Any advice?

Oh, Cherry Microswitches are just MUCH snappier and more responsive. Clicking one next to the other earlier, I marveled at how the E-Switches weren't even close in quality or feel.

Sure thing, I'll show you how I did it.

Firstly: Screw those four back in. There's a powerful spring inside, and if you follow my steps something might pop off. We'll unscrew them last.

joystickGuide.jpg


First Step:
See that little washer thing? That's pretty much the bit holding it all together. It's holding the stick inside, which is sandwiching all the parts. Put a thin little flathead screwdriver in there, and pry it away as seen.

Once removed, the whole thing will pop a little from the tension you've just released.

Second Step:
Remove the black square bit. This is, I believe, the primary reason diagonals don't work well on this stick. It's total garbage compared to the other one.

Third Step:
Undo those big screws, but do it very carefully... as you start unscrewing the fourth one, the whole lower part will pop up.

Now, I don't have pictures of the last part since I don't wanna take mine apart again, but:

Remove the lower part that you've just unscrewed. Pull out the spring, and any other pieces that aren't attached to the board. Anything that is still attached is staying.

Now, check out the diagram of the stick:

iLStick.jpg


Make sure everything you put back is in this order, but replace every part except for that main housing with iL stuff. You can use the Happ stick and bottom washer thingy if you want to keep the stick black as I did.
 
jhferry said:
Anyone know how I can pimp out a Happ competition Bat stick? I know there were some chrome ones and I think Slik Stick made LED ones before they went under.

Is it an older Happ, or is it one of the new MK ones? If it's new, you should really replace it with an iL.
 
Mercutio said:
Sure thing, I'll show you how I did it.

Your guide was fantastic...just the thing I needed! You filled in every blank.

The stick just feels perfect now. Before, it felt good...now, it's awesome. It really feels exactly like what I grew up with.

The iL lever came with Cherry microswitches and I can definitely feel the difference now... I'll be ordering half a dozen for my buttons. Can't wait to finish the mod!
 
yyr said:
Your guide was fantastic...just the thing I needed! You filled in every blank.

The stick just feels perfect now. Before, it felt good...now, it's awesome. It really feels exactly like what I grew up with.

The iL lever came with Cherry microswitches and I can definitely feel the difference now... I'll be ordering half a dozen for my buttons. Can't wait to finish the mod!

Another HUGE part of what makes the iL buttons so much better than the Happ ones is the higher quality spring inside. If I were you, I'd go all the way and order all iL buttons since they come with Cherry microswitches as is.

Compare the spring in the iL stick you've got to the Happ one... sooooooooo much better. The tension feels actually tuned, instead of just thrown in there cause someone realized they needed one.
 
It would be cool if there was a SE and TE that was unbranded, not tied to a specific game/character, like Hori sticks.

Gotta give the people who like simplistic designs some love too!
 
Threi said:
It would be cool if there was a SE and TE that was unbranded, not tied to a specific game/character, like Hori sticks.

Gotta give the people who like simplistic designs some love too!

Uh, then buy a Hori stick? :P

I'll post a pic of my 360 stick tomorrow to rock your world.
 
Hi guys,

arthong at Tek-Innovations just put up a new item on his site for the Combat FightStick: Ultimate Edition top panel for TE FightSticks. Check out the links:



So if you guys are looking to get a panel now and want to customize it further. Jump in.
 
I've actually read about people using rolls of pennies and duct tape to add weight to sticks, but never tried it myself. Haha. Is a V3 lighter than a TE?
 
thorin said:
I've actually read about people using rolls of pennies and duct tape to add weight to sticks, but never tried it myself. Haha. Is a V3 lighter than a TE?
Much lighter. I like that about the HRAP V series because it's less of a strain in my shoulder bag when I travel with it.
 
My first fightstick should be coming in today (chun li TE) where can I purchase parts for it? I hate the way the 360 buttons are multicolored.
 
GhostRidah said:
My first fightstick should be coming in today (chun li TE) where can I purchase parts for it? I hate the way the 360 buttons are multicolored.
lizardlick.com, focusattack.com, etokki.com

If you want an exact replacement in a different color, look for Sanwa OBSF-30
 
The Chun-Li stick is ugly as shit. I know why those are the only 360 ones left on the MadCatz site.

I ordered a regular SSF4 one but the Chun is all they had. :(
 
diffusionx said:
The Chun-Li stick is ugly as shit. I know why those are the only 360 ones left on the MadCatz site.

I ordered a regular SSF4 one but the Chun is all they had. :(
I know where you're coming from, but I think the translucent blue would make for a trippy (if slightly tacky) Blazblue themed stick.
 
It's not even that translucent. It's just kind of... lollipop blue.

The holograph is kind of neat. I'll give it that. That's about it. I guess it doesn't matter much. I am considering buying another 360 one if/when MadCatz releases another line.
 
diffusionx said:
It's not even that translucent. It's just kind of... lollipop blue.

The holograph is kind of neat. I'll give it that. That's about it. I guess it doesn't matter much. I am considering buying another 360 one if/when MadCatz releases another line.
If you really don't like it I have a R2 I've used like twice ever I'd consider trading for a Chun stick. I'd throw in a bit of cash to sweeten the pot.
 
Mercutio said:
Another HUGE part of what makes the iL buttons so much better than the Happ ones is the higher quality spring inside. If I were you, I'd go all the way and order all iL buttons since they come with Cherry microswitches as is.

Compare the spring in the iL stick you've got to the Happ one... sooooooooo much better. The tension feels actually tuned, instead of just thrown in there cause someone realized they needed one.

Thanks for all the info (and to Das Raven), I wound up ordering all iL parts for my MK stick. Looking forward to installing it all.
 
robot said:
Thanks for all the info (and to Das Raven), I wound up ordering all iL parts for my MK stick. Looking forward to installing it all.

Other than a few snags (so many gold screws and the joystick washer thingy) it's pretty simple.

However, I will probably end up trading this in somewhere for a Madcatz stick and modding the heck out of it instead. I'm having the hardest time adjusting to the center block, and I know it'll be tricky for other games as well.
 
diffusionx said:
The Chun-Li stick is ugly as shit. I know why those are the only 360 ones left on the MadCatz site.

I ordered a regular SSF4 one but the Chun is all they had. :(

Thanks for your opinion. And why do you think they are the only 360 ones left on the site? You seem to know our inventory/sales record well. :)

We'll have regular SSFIV TE 'S' ones back in stock before EVO.
 
I think I might be the only one with an entire VX/V3 line of sticks. :D

I got these:

Hori RAP V3 SA - Japan Release
Hori RAP V3 SA - Amazon.co.jp Edition
Hori RAP V3 SA - BlazBlue: Continuum Shift
Hori RAP V3 SA - US Release
Hori RAP V3 SA - Arcana Heart 3
Hori RAP V3 SE
Hori RAP VX SA - Japan Release
Hori RAP VX SA - US Release
Hori RAP VX SA - BlazBlue: Continuum Shift
Hori RAP VX SA - Arcana Heart 3
Hori RAP VX SE
 
I love the chun li TE, I think it looks amazing, just not the colored buttons for the 360 part, but the case is awesome. I am just a fan of blue and Chun li, so I guess my opinion is biased.
 
Hey MarkMan, I want to throw an idea out there for you guys at MadCatz. You should sell a Standard Edition Fightstick to Tournament Edition Fightstick conversion kit. Basically just the casing for the standard TE.

The reason I thought about this is because when SF4 first came out I bought an SE because I wasn't sure how I would like the game. Now I am starting to try and get more serious about fighters in general and really want to get a TE. The problem is that 1) I already invested money into my SE to get Sanwa parts in it and 2)I am fairly broke or else I would buy a TE.

If there was a way I could basically buy a plain colored TE casing and slap my current buttons and stick into it that would be awesome, and there would still be incentive to buy the fancier TE's like the MvC and Chun-Li sticks. There would just now be an option for those of us who didn't want to commit right away.

Just an idea. :)
 
Are you guys talking about the colored buttons as being the ugly part on the MadCatz sticks? I love those. Hell, that's the reason I got the colored buttons for my MK stick...
 
Mercutio said:
Are you guys talking about the colored buttons as being the ugly part on the MadCatz sticks? I love those. Hell, that's the reason I got the colored buttons for my MK stick...
Yea, it doesn't compliment the color scheme at all.
 
Mercutio said:
Are you guys talking about the colored buttons as being the ugly part on the MadCatz sticks? I love those. Hell, that's the reason I got the colored buttons for my MK stick...
I really like them on the HRAP EX-SE and the HRAP VX-SE
must be the two-tone Seimitsu buttons because multicolor doesn't look attractive to me on any other stick
 
darkressurection said:
Hey MarkMan, I want to throw an idea out there for you guys at MadCatz. You should sell a Standard Edition Fightstick to Tournament Edition Fightstick conversion kit. Basically just the casing for the standard TE.

The reason I thought about this is because when SF4 first came out I bought an SE because I wasn't sure how I would like the game. Now I am starting to try and get more serious about fighters in general and really want to get a TE. The problem is that 1) I already invested money into my SE to get Sanwa parts in it and 2)I am fairly broke or else I would buy a TE.

If there was a way I could basically buy a plain colored TE casing and slap my current buttons and stick into it that would be awesome, and there would still be incentive to buy the fancier TE's like the MvC and Chun-Li sticks. There would just now be an option for those of us who didn't want to commit right away.

Just an idea. :)
That's actually a really good idea. different color options would be nice too.
 
darkressurection said:
Hey MarkMan, I want to throw an idea out there for you guys at MadCatz. You should sell a Standard Edition Fightstick to Tournament Edition Fightstick conversion kit. Basically just the casing for the standard TE.

The reason I thought about this is because when SF4 first came out I bought an SE because I wasn't sure how I would like the game. Now I am starting to try and get more serious about fighters in general and really want to get a TE. The problem is that 1) I already invested money into my SE to get Sanwa parts in it and 2)I am fairly broke or else I would buy a TE.

If there was a way I could basically buy a plain colored TE casing and slap my current buttons and stick into it that would be awesome, and there would still be incentive to buy the fancier TE's like the MvC and Chun-Li sticks. There would just now be an option for those of us who didn't want to commit right away.

Just an idea. :)
I'd buy one of these as well!
 
TheSeks said:
Holy crap. $160 for a Marvel 3 stick, seriously?! D:

Yes. That's the price. Is it really that shocking?

FYI. The MSRP for TE sticks were always $150. Limited edition ones and Marvel vs. Capcom branded ones were always $160.

---

Also, I appreciate the feedback/ideas. Keep them coming :D

---

Also, colored buttons is a requirement on Xbox 360 sticks, unless under special circumstances.
 
MarkMan said:
Yes. That's the price. Is it really that shocking?

FYI. The MSRP for TE sticks were always $150. Limited edition ones and Marvel vs. Capcom branded ones were always $160.

---

Also, I appreciate the feedback/ideas. Keep them coming :D

---

Also, colored buttons is a requirement on Xbox 360 sticks, unless under special circumstances.


These sticks are WORTH 130-180$, I've been able to use mine for a half dozen games so far and don't regret the investment at all. You want quality you have to pay for it. Dunno why I quoted your post exactly as I'm agreeing with you.

As far as suggestions go- maybe make it so changing the art out on the stick is as easy as removing the door on a PC tower, just pop off a screw and it'd slide out without having to take the whole thing apart. Then Mad Catz or whoever could sell art slabs for 20-30$ .
 
MarkMan said:
Thanks for your opinion. And why do you think they are the only 360 ones left on the site? You seem to know our inventory/sales record well. :)

We'll have regular SSFIV TE 'S' ones back in stock before EVO.


I shall purchase one of these sticks then before EVO!
 
I am so freaking pissed off that even sticks can not be shipped to the US from Amazon.jp.
I WILL get a hori Pro.V3 SE somehow.
 
DoubleTap said:
On a recommendation from this thread I purchased this from Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SB2I0/?tag=neogaf0e-20

The "surprise" feature of this converter is that it will let you use 360 controllers on the PS3. I tested it on my 360 MC SE stick and it works flawlessly.

I have a 360 MK Tournament Edition bundle coming next week and will try to see if it will work...unless someone here already tried it?

Quoted myself for an update. The converter does indeed work on the 360 PDP MK TE Stick. I did not notice any lag and works as well as my PS3 MC Combat panelTE stick.
 
It's been a year since I modded my R2TE, so i'm ready for a new look/parts. I noticed Paradise Arcade is now selling LED sticks and am thinking about getting one of those plus sanwa buttons to replace my seimitsus and a new bezel.

What exactly would I need to do to install the LED stick?
 
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