Super "NeoGAF Arcade Stick Thread" II TURBO

Last week I bought a Hori fighting stick Mini 4 for 35 € and I couldn't be happier.

This thing is a true revelation for me, a whole new world of shump and fighting games have opened. I don't want to play anything else anymore, as I think these games are the last 'true' videogames where high reflex speed and fast thinking is necessary.
 
thinking about making an anime armpit appreciation stick to really bring home the degeneracy

all I need is a solid collage and I'll be ready to end
 
data said:
Hey guys, I'm looking for an arcade stick for shmups and fighting games and sort of decided on the venom arcade stick. Never owned a fighting stick before. Is the Venom worth it? Also does ds4windows work in cases where a game has xinput only? And does it add lag?(I need one that has both PS4 and PC support) Also should I spend extra and get a RAP 4? I was planning on adding new buttons to the Venom and a joystick after a year or so. And the venom'll last a few years right? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to this.
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The Venom accepts standard sized Japanese parts, but in order to swap out the joystick you will need to replace some cabling. It's an easy fix if you've messed with replacing cables before. If that doesn't deter you, it's a pretty good budget stick. As far as using it on PC, there a bunch of different ways to get things working with 3rd party apps akaIk.

The parts they use are knock off Sanwas though, and I personally would not use them for a long time. I especially would not use the joystick in it if I were a shmup enthusiast. The Sanwa JLF is already fairly unpopular with shmup players, and it only gets worse on the knock off. The main problem with the JLF is the deadzone and throw are pretty wide, which is pretty annoying when doing pixel perfect movement in shmups. The knock off thing in the Venom is worse about this around the corners. Unless you plan on changing that thing out yourself relatively soon, I honestly wouldn't recommend it for shmups.

The Hori V4 Kai is pretty nice and goes on sale often enough. The Hayabusa buttons are nice and I'd say compete with Sanwa/Seimitsu while also being distinct. The sticks have native Xinput support on PC. The Hayabusa joystick is very similar to a JLF in a lot of ways, for better and worse. It's a much better stick than the JLF knock offs and is perfectly fine, but it still has some of the same issues as the JLF in regards to shmups. Luckily the HRAP uses a standard harness, so if you want to swap out the stick at some point it's as easy as getting a new one for $20~ and screwing it in the mount. The cases on these HRAPs are a bit light for some people though, but ehhhh I've used them and don't mind it.

So yeah, it really comes down to how high quality you want and what you plan to do with them. If you want something that is high quality out the box and can easily have parts swapped in/out, go with the Hori v4 Kai if you have the budget. It's a great starting stick. If you want something on a budget and you think you could upgrade it later, the Venom is fine, but keep in mind those problems out the box.

Edit: While I was rambling about the JLF and shmups, I should mention it is a great joystick for fighting games. The Hayabusa is also great for fighting games, and IMO it's a bit better for shmups over the JLF. I'm sorry if this is all way pickier and more than you need to know :p
 
Anne said:
The Venom accepts standard sized Japanese parts, but in order to swap out the joystick you will need to replace some cabling. It's an easy fix if you've messed with replacing cables before. If that doesn't deter you, it's a pretty good budget stick. As far as using it on PC, there a bunch of different ways to get things working with 3rd party apps akaIk.

The parts they use are knock off Sanwas though, and I personally would not use them for a long time. I especially would not use the joystick in it if I were a shmup enthusiast. The Sanwa JLF is already fairly unpopular with shmup players, and it only gets worse on the knock off. The main problem with the JLF is the deadzone and throw are pretty wide, which is pretty annoying when doing pixel perfect movement in shmups. The knock off thing in the Venom is worse about this around the corners. Unless you plan on changing that thing out yourself relatively soon, I honestly wouldn't recommend it for shmups.

The Hori V4 Kai is pretty nice and goes on sale often enough. The Hayabusa buttons are nice and I'd say compete with Sanwa/Seimitsu while also being distinct. The sticks have native Xinput support on PC. The Hayabusa joystick is very similar to a JLF in a lot of ways, for better and worse. It's a much better stick than the JLF knock offs and is perfectly fine, but it still has some of the same issues as the JLF in regards to shmups. Luckily the HRAP uses a standard harness, so if you want to swap out the stick at some point it's as easy as getting a new one for $20~ and screwing it in the mount. The cases on these HRAPs are a bit light for some people though, but ehhhh I've used them and don't mind it.

So yeah, it really comes down to how high quality you want and what you plan to do with them. If you want something that is high quality out the box and can easily have parts swapped in/out, go with the Hori v4 Kai if you have the budget. It's a great starting stick. If you want something on a budget and you think you could upgrade it later, the Venom is fine, but keep in mind those problems out the box.

Edit: While I was rambling about the JLF and shmups, I should mention it is a great joystick for fighting games. The Hayabusa is also great for fighting games, and IMO it's a bit better for shmups over the JLF. I'm sorry if this is all way pickier and more than you need to know :p
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Ah, I guess I'll try to cancel my amazon order on the venom and just save up for the v4 kai then. Thanks for the explanation~

edit: so Seimitsu are better joysticks for shmups? What do japanese shmup cabinets use?
 
I got some Christmas money to get a sweet fight stick. I'm debating whether I should get a Hori Hayabusa VLX or a Panzer fight stick 3 now or wait and see what the new Fighting Edge looks like. Has anyone here built a Jasen Panzer 3? How does that compare to the Hori VLX?

I mostly play on PC and PS4, I guess I would have to use Xoutput to get the VLX to work on PC?
 
data said:
edit: so Seimitsu are better joysticks for shmups? What do japanese shmup cabinets use?
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Afaik a lot of them use Seimitsu. I'm not in Japan, but that's the general vibe I get when I ask around about them. The most common ones to find in JP cabs are the LS-32s. Most shmup enthusiasts that use custom sticks use Seimitsus. I have Seimitsu sticks I install for playing shmups, but I played fighting games for years on the JLF so I keep a JLF with a tighter spring in my "daily driver".

If you have any questions on Seimitsus I believe I've used most of their mainline stuff at some point or another, so feel free to ask.

WhiteWolf said:
I got some Christmas money to get a sweet fight stick. I'm debating whether I should get a Hori Hayabusa VLX or a Panzer fight stick 3 now or wait and see what the new Fighting Edge looks like. Has anyone here built a Jasen Panzer 3? How does that compare to the Hori VLX?

I mostly play on PC and PS4, I guess I would have to use Xoutput to get the VLX to work on PC?
Click to expand...

The newer VLX Hayabusa has Xinput native on it I believe? I got one for Christmas and swapped the board out for a UFB immediately, I probably should have checked that >_>

I've not seen a Panzer 3 yet, but I have seen the older Panzer cases around. They are really high quality kits if you want to make a custom stick.

With something like the VLX, you're paying a premium price for a really high end case and something big and flashy. The case is pretty big and heavy which is a consideration, but boy is it fucking nice. Thumb screws! On the other hand the Panzer has a good weight and is more along the standard size. If you want to make something unique that's more normally sized the Panzer cases are rad. Again, haven't messed with the Panzer 3 case yet, just other stuff Jasen has made. If you are looking for something with a more customizable panel (for artwork, number of buttons, etc) the Panzer is what you want.
 
WhiteWolf said:
I got some Christmas money to get a sweet fight stick. I'm debating whether I should get a Hori Hayabusa VLX or a Panzer fight stick 3 now or wait and see what the new Fighting Edge looks like. Has anyone here built a Jasen Panzer 3? How does that compare to the Hori VLX?

I mostly play on PC and PS4, I guess I would have to use Xoutput to get the VLX to work on PC?
Click to expand...

Or you can buy the Qanba Dragon.
 
Anne said:
The newer VLX Hayabusa has Xinput native on it I believe? I got one for Christmas and swapped the board out for a UFB immediately, I probably should have checked that >_>

I've not seen a Panzer 3 yet, but I have seen the older Panzer cases around. They are really high quality kits if you want to make a custom stick.

With something like the VLX, you're paying a premium price for a really high end case and something big and flashy. The case is pretty big and heavy which is a consideration, but boy is it fucking nice. Thumb screws! On the other hand the Panzer has a good weight and is more along the standard size. If you want to make something unique that's more normally sized the Panzer cases are rad. Again, haven't messed with the Panzer 3 case yet, just other stuff Jasen has made. If you are looking for something with a more customizable panel (for artwork, number of buttons, etc) the Panzer is what you want.
Click to expand...
Is it easy to add custom artwork to the VLX and is it durable? I want something that will last a long time and can be modded easily in case I want to change buttons/joysticks. I like that the Panzer allows for customization right out of the box, but the VLX case is more aesthetically pleasing to me.
 
Tarin02543 said:
Last week I bought a Hori fighting stick Mini 4 for 35 € and I couldn't be happier.

This thing is a true revelation for me, a whole new world of shump and fighting games have opened. I don't want to play anything else anymore, as I think these games are the last 'true' videogames where high reflex speed and fast thinking is necessary.
Click to expand...

Congrats! Totally sucks that arcades are dead and there is a surge towards mobile games in the US as I like the tactile feeling of my stick. I visited a "new" kids arcade pizza place to see if my son would like it, but it's filled with touchscreen arcade games :(
 
WhiteWolf said:
Is it easy to add custom artwork to the VLX and is it durable? I want something that will last a long time and can be modded easily in case I want to change buttons/joysticks. I like that the Panzer allows for customization right out of the box, but the VLX case is more aesthetically pleasing to me.
Click to expand...

It's super difficult to add art to the VLX, but it's really easy to mod with buttons/sticks.


It's very durable. One of the sturdiest sticks ever made. I've been playing on one for years and none the worse for wear other than scratches on the top panel from normal wear and tear.
 
WhiteWolf said:
Is it easy to add custom artwork to the VLX and is it durable? I want something that will last a long time and can be modded easily in case I want to change buttons/joysticks. I like that the Panzer allows for customization right out of the box, but the VLX case is more aesthetically pleasing to me.
Click to expand...

Adding art to a VLX is a huge pain in the ass. A lot of the places that do fightstick art cuts won't do it afaik. You'd need to peel the stock sticker off the panel, clean it, get a new decal of art and attach it. If you want plexi you will need to actually bust out a drill or get a custom made panel for the case.

Now, for changing out buttons/sticks the VLX is pretty godlike cause thumb screws and a panel designed to open easily. The old VLX cases I've seen form the 360 days are still tanking around too, so I wouldn't worry about durability too much. The only thing I see every now and then is a busted cable compartment hinge :T

For customization the Panzer cases are superior in basically every way except you need tools to open up the panel, which is pretty minor. Jasen goes out of his way to supply vendors with everything you could possibly want for those cases, and they are pretty sturdy.
 
data said:
Ah, I guess I'll try to cancel my amazon order on the venom and just save up for the v4 kai then. Thanks for the explanation~

edit: so Seimitsu are better joysticks for shmups? What do japanese shmup cabinets use?
Click to expand...
For shmups, you want a joystick with short throw (maximum joystick distance) and engage (distance to activating a direction). Sticks with these characteristics are very precise.
I personally use and enjoy the LS-40, while others use the LS-56. Main difference between the two is the spring stiffness; the LS-40 is fairly stiff but otherwise doesn't take much effort to move, while the LS-56 is even more stiff.
 
Skilletor said:
It's super difficult to add art to the VLX, but it's really easy to mod with buttons/sticks.


It's very durable. One of the sturdiest sticks ever made. I've been playing on one for years and none the worse for wear other than scratches on the top panel from normal wear and tear.
Click to expand...

Anne said:
Adding art to a VLX is a huge pain in the ass. A lot of the places that do fightstick art cuts won't do it afaik. You'd need to peel the stock sticker off the panel, clean it, get a new decal of art and attach it. If you want plexi you will need to actually bust out a drill or get a custom made panel for the case.

Now, for changing out buttons/sticks the VLX is pretty godlike cause thumb screws and a panel designed to open easily. The old VLX cases I've seen form the 360 days are still tanking around too, so I wouldn't worry about durability too much. The only thing I see every now and then is a busted cable compartment hinge :T

For customization the Panzer cases are superior in basically every way except you need tools to open up the panel, which is pretty minor. Jasen goes out of his way to supply vendors with everything you could possibly want for those cases, and they are pretty sturdy.
Click to expand...
Alright cool, thanks for the help guys. Is there any real difference in the case build quality (paint or manufacturing issues) between the Kuro and Hayabusa VLXs? I guess it won't matter too much for me since I think the Hayabusa is the one with Xinput, but just curious.
 
WhiteWolf said:
Alright cool, thanks for the help guys. Is there any real difference in the case build quality (paint or manufacturing issues) between the Kuro and Hayabusa VLXs? I guess it won't matter too much for me since I think the Hayabusa is the one with Xinput, but just curious.
Click to expand...

I think they're all the same, just different paint colors. I have three and all of held up over the years. I'm also not sure that the Hayabusa has xinput. I don't see it listed anywhere. I think it came out before Hori started doing that with the RAP line.
 
So, I installed my fightstick art fine and put everything back together.

However, I have an extra washer for my joystick after the whole ordeal.

EQbO6Oi.jpg


I already have one on the top of it, but I guess there's another? Should I take it apart and put the second one on again or is it not that big of a deal?
 
Nuu said:
So, I installed my fightstick art fine and put everything back together.

However, I have an extra washer for my joystick after the whole ordeal.

EQbO6Oi.jpg


I already have one on the top of it, but I guess there's another? Should I take it apart and put the second one on again or is it not that big of a deal?
Click to expand...

The second washer generally goes under the top, basically jut on top of the housing, between it and the panel itself (basically in the mounting plate). It's a second helping of keeping debris out, but not really all that necessary.
 
Skilletor said:
I think they're all the same, just different paint colors. I have three and all of held up over the years. I'm also not sure that the Hayabusa has xinput. I don't see it listed anywhere. I think it came out before Hori started doing that with the RAP line.
Click to expand...

I just checked, looks like you're right D:I suck.

shockdude said:
For shmups, you want a joystick with short throw (maximum joystick distance) and engage (distance to activating a direction). Sticks with these characteristics are very precise.
I personally use and enjoy the LS-40, while others use the LS-56. Main difference between the two is the spring stiffness; the LS-40 is fairly stiff but otherwise doesn't take much effort to move, while the LS-56 is even more stiff.
Click to expand...

This guy knows what's up. The LS-62 is actually my fave for shmups right now, but I think it's garbage for just about anything else. The LS-40 is my fave Seimitsu outright, great stick <3
 
Thanks for all the help again guys. I ended up getting a "Used- Like New" Amazon warehouse deal on the Hori Hayabusa VLX for $216. If there are any major defects I can return it, but hopefully this will save me some money for custom panel and parts when I decide to mod it in the future.
 
Grabbed a pic of all the sticks I have actually assembled now

C03gwLWWIAAyQW6.jpg
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TE2- All silent Sanwa
Kindevu Qanba - LS-40, Sanwa buttons
TE-S - Brook PS3/4 board, modified JLF, Seimitus
VLX - Brook UFB EZ Mod kit, modified JLF, still using the stock Hayabusas for now since I Wanted to try them out.

Skilletor said:
Yeah, I snagged six of each for America. Friend said red and blue are sold out already.
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Within 15 minutes my friend couldn't get the buttons he wanted :<
 
As someone who has ordered from Arcade Shock a few times, I'd recommend not trusting the fact that the "Add to Cart" seems to not be clickable by default (at least for me it always is that way)... in case this is what's happening to others.

It's not until I click different colors and go back to the original color that the Add to Cart button always becomes available...

I just placed an order not a few minutes ago for the reds and blues and it went through no problem... had I just gone to the page initially, I'd have thought they were sold out because again, for me the "Add to Cart" button is always grayed out by default.
 
Dominican Power said:
I struggle doing qcfs on the hayabusa. Any tips?
Click to expand...

Practice. I haven't played fighters for years and years but am generally pretty fluent at SF style inputs.

First day with the hayabusa took some getting used to. It requires a lighter touch than other sticks. Don't think it's the gate really since I've always used square gates since my VF2 days.

If you're not used to it, you'll just have to practice.
 
sixteen-bit said:
The Obsidian is more my speed tbh, but I appreciate the heft and footprint of the Dragon
Click to expand...

Yeah that's more my speed as well. Generally I think my favorite sticks are simpler designs like the VSHG or Namco Stick. I think with an HSS-0130 thrown in there those are my top 3 faves outside of custom sticks.

V Looks hot
 
I forgot this thread existed!

My recent stick; HRAP 4 Kai (White Edition)

K5wsytu.jpg
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I replaced the stick/buttons with Sanwa parts.

At first glance it looks like a normal washer.. BUT THEN WHEN YOU GO INTO ENHANCED VISION..

15781989_1198164673554237_859792791_n.jpg
 
Kyne said:
I forgot this thread existed!

My recent stick; HRAP 4 Kai (White Edition)



I replaced the stick/buttons with Sanwa parts.

At first glance it looks like a normal washer.. BUT THEN WHEN YOU GO INTO ENHANCED VISION..

15781989_1198164673554237_859792791_n.jpg
Click to expand...

Do you find that the sanwa stick feels stiffer in the hrap case?
 
More matte buttons went on sale and I missed them? Noooo. I really like the Hayabusa buttons that I bought several months ago. Would like to get some more at some point.
 
sixteen-bit said:
The Obsidian is more my speed tbh, but I appreciate the heft and footprint of the Dragon
Click to expand...

I like the look of this stick a lot too, but I am pretty tired of these sketch ass cord compartment doors. One of the main reasons I went for the Dragon over the Obsidian, much prefer the whole cord-wrap hooks in the back. I may still wind up getting an Obsidian just to have (I really do like the aesthetic a lot other than the slightly weird plexi art) but I wish they'd come up with some other solution than a plastic hinged door.
 
hikarutilmitt said:
Wow, nice. I always wanted one of those but the times they were available and when I would need/want one never matched up to my financial situations.
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I'll keep an eye out for you, they're terrific controllers. Once this arrives I'll have two of them, but I've had three before, two of which i gave to friends.
 
oneida said:
I'll keep an eye out for you, they're terrific controllers. Once this arrives I'll have two of them, but I've had three before, two of which i gave to friends.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I have a MC Cthulhu stick I've been using forever for my older systems, so my need of one is gone, really. Thank you though!
 
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