[VFDC CHOICE] Choosing a stick for VF4 PS2

This is the last post I have on the topic, and I'll chill out for a few days...I swear it. Sorry for posting so freakin' much. But I've got a question about the buttons (since I'm probably going to place an order soon).

On the Sanwa site, on the first page for push buttons, there's 3 main choices...one with every color available, another with some available, and another with a minimum amount available. The one with every color available looks rather small...those aren't "start-button sized" are they? It wouldn't make much sense to have an assortment of colors for the smaller start button, and only about 3-4 colors for the actual "action-sized" buttons.

I noticed the VF4 pack...I'd probably get that too, but I want to let my creativity run wild for my joysticks, and a multitude of colors helps that happen. So in addition to that I plan on getting extra sticks and buttons...that is, once I figure out how much yen there is in an american dollar.

 

the VF4 sticks cost $20 american. All of them have the available colors in the color chart. You can even mix and match color buttons, as well as ball color. Just specify on your order, when you do send your money, that you want different colors of your choice for your buttons.

BTW, I do have an underlay layout that is close to the VF4 setup, that I used on my built stick. I'll put that on the website too.

On page 3 in the joystick page, those are oversized joysticks, made for rugged use.

JLF-8 is the size found on Jamma Cabinets in Japan, which is also the size of the Agetec, Hori VF4, Hori Tekken 4 sticks.

JLW-8 is the oversized stick found in this picture, the one with the black ball.


Anyway, all the sticks on the first page on the joystick section are the same, but for the metal plates.

The JLF sticks found on the 3rd page on the joystick section, those do not have the PCB board that is found on the stick, which saves wiring.

 

Catch22: Very nice sticks. You mentioned it took you 50 hours to make the stick. Did it take that long because it was the first one you made? How fast do you think you could make one given the first-hand experience you have now?

 

Exactly. See, it's made of wood, and I don't have power tools, so it's all hand cut with a hand saw and guide. Also, I had to think out the execution of the building and design. There is a lot of wood under that thing, for bracing of the plexiglass. Plus, the top piece has to be kinda thin, or else the buttons won't mount. Usually, a metal sheet is used underneath, but I don't have metal sheet cutters, and cutting the holes for the buttons would be impossible. All of my tools is in Hawaii, and yeah, it's all pretty much built from my design.

But I've learned, and will build more with the size of materials into consideration so I don't have to cut as much. The smaller piece of plexiglass took me awhile to hand sand to get it to fit. Yes, I sandpapered it to size, and it was a quarter inch too big. That took me 30 minutes of straight sanding. I wish I had a power sander. Geez.

This time though, since I figured out the electronics and stuff- IT'S MADE SO THAT YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE PLUG AND IF VF4 SAY, CAME OUT ON XBOX, I WOULD JUST UNPLUG THE PS2 CORD AND PCB BOARD, AND PLUG IN AN XBOX ONE. Those are the things I went into to ensure this stick is compatible with pretty much any other console.

So yeah, design in the electronics and base was a big part of it... plus it's pretty much all hand built.

Good news is, my brother is planning on getting a new saw and drill.

Seriously guys, if you want one built but can't build one yourself, I'm seriously thinking of building custom ones for the VF4 community for a very, very low price. I can also custom make the underlay, and the separation space of the stick and buttons, even the layout of the buttons, if you prefer something different than the jamma standard.

Honestly guys, how much do you guys think this thing is worth? I'd hate to order more Sanwa sticks and get left holding them.

 

Maybe you should come up with a number and then ask the community who'd buy at that price. Since we don't really know your costs, workmanship and profit.

But just to help you out, I'd have no problem dishing out 100US$ for a stick like that. I hope this number isn't too far off what you're thinking of, but I'm just doing a mental comparison versus other types of sticks on the market and their retail prices. 100 bucks for a stick that took you 50 hours to make seems trivial, that's why I asked how long you'd take to make one, once you had the procedure down pat, and your tools and such.

I can't speak for the rest of the community, but it'd be a big plus if the stick had 6 buttons instead of 3. Would producing a Tekken4 stick button layout take a lot more effort than your VF4 stick layout?

 

I made the stick to mimic this:



So my stick was built primarily to play Virtua Fighter on any system, although playing VF3 would be a problem without the fourth button.

A tekken 4 layout. That all depends if you want the US or Japan layout. But we are at a VF site right? /versus/images/icons/wink.gif Don't get me started about Tekken. /versus/images/icons/tongue.gif

I'll make another one, one that will be geared toward mass producing, and I'll sell that one.

 

Please ensure that I am on your list!! I am very willing to pay whatever it takes. Please see my private message for more comments. I would like mine configured exactly like the Japanese VF4 standard like yours, except like that Arcade picture, with those 3 other buttons. If possible, I would also additionally like mine to support DC as well for VF3tb.

 

The VF4 joystick set only comes wtih 3 buttons. I would have to outsource Sanwa buttons from another source.

As far as building sticks for those that can't build their own, I'll look into this option. I'll have to get one out to a test VF4 freak, and let him review it... but I've already promised one to him???

Anyway, I really, really hate to turn this into a "business venture." I hope it doesn't, but I've been getting flooded with so many requests.

Here's a pic of the underside of the sick, for those interested in building their own, and have experience in electronics and soldering. Notice the wood, heavily reinforced for the heaviest of button mashers. I should have kept the natural wood uncovered, and used wood stain, instead of covering it in heavy contact paper.

That plug that's circled is something you might want to look into. Use a 12 pin plug of any type, so that you can just uplug the Playstation PCB board and logic from the hacked controller, in this case, to any toher hacked controller... like a DC one, so that you can easily change support. I think I have to tidy up my design, and maybe put the logic boards in some sort of case, and you just can plug the case in... like a VMU. This was my original plan, but got too excited and rushed the build. Something you might want to look into.

Also, here's a movie of me and the sticks in action. The movie was shot the day I finished. Notice my hair is upkept due to my willingness to deprave sleep just to finish this thing.
Movie

 

Unfortunately, I don't think the movie is linked to the correct URL, hehehh.

 

oops
MOVIE

You'll have to turn your head sidewards too. Double oops

 

After seeing the pic of the underside of the stick, I started thinking.....All I really need is the base itself. The stick, buttons, and remaining electronics I can do myself. If this doesn't work for you, could you just list the dimensions of the parts on your site (or maybe here)?

 

Catch22: I wasn't referring to the tekken arcade type of button layout. But referring to the Tekken4 joystick which Hori makes. And that type of layout...which is two rows of 3 buttons in a curve. I just like to be able to play a number of fighting games with my sticks, which is why I bought the T4 Hori stick as opposed to Hori's VF4 stick, which wouldn't allow me to play any SF type game or any other fighter.

http://www.buyritegames.com/product_information.asp?number=PS2-TEKTA4&back=yes&dept=1056&last=1001

 

Okay, I've been away long enough. How much would I pay for that stick? Seeing as how I like it better than the Hori, and the Hori is about $60, I'd pay more. I'm not going to say exactly how much though...because people on this site who're trying to get your sticks cheaper than that would hate me after you set your price to what I said /versus/images/icons/crazy.gif

For the picture on the base...you used adobe photoshop right?

 

yep, photo shop... yep, I have the Namco Hori stick, ... yep, you can definitely build this yourself.... it's easy actually.

 

I'd definitely buy one for about $100US, but I'd really like to see detailed, step-by-step directions covering how to build one.

Also, I don't know any Japanese, so could you also create a little "Guide to ordering Sanwa kits"?

 

From an ad on vfzone -

http://www.stick.pe.kr/

Custom VF arcade sticks for PS2.
It can't be utterly awful if it's on vfzone... or can it?
Maybe someone can try and comment.

 

Yes, I'm making a website, but I'm getting caught up in the terminology and wording of the directions. I want it so that any joe schmoe can look at the site and be confident that he/she can do it. I also recently bought a table saw and router, so you will definitely see better designs as far as the base is concerned.

Oh, here's the sticks Creed was referring to:
would anybody buy these?





Oh, I fixed the link of me playing with the sticks:
Custom Sarah Sticks Movie
Catch22

 

I'd probably buy those sticks. The unpainted wood makes it look like antique furniture (I actually like that), but I like designs of characters better. And, if I were to buy one of them, I'd buy the top one because it has a smaller base. I have nowhere to put a stick with a base as large as the one in the second pic.

Still excited about making sticks...but school has kicked up. Haven't had much time to think about it...but I still can't wait. As soon as I get free time I'm going to start thinking about what I want the picture on the base to be like. I'm thinking of picking a single character and flowing from that...but I like all of them. Very hard to pick, but I'm leaning towards something with Jeff.

 

Those are korean sticks, Those are some of the best sticks in the world

 

Hey I was wondering how I would go about ordering parts from sanwa's website if I live in america. Do they have any sort of international shipping option, or do I have to find an american distributor?