[VFDC CHOICE] Choosing a stick for VF4 PS2

Llanfair, I love your stick! Currently, I have two really cheap sticks(very functional but poor quality) and one of them is already broken. I'm pretty sure my other will follow soon so I was wondering where you got the parts for yours from...are there any places here in Toronto that sell arcade parts or do I have to order the parts from Happ Controls?

 

does someone has the new ps2 Gamemate Fighting Stick, it is based on the Sega saturn Virtua stick pro.
or does someone had the SS version?.I saw it at JPgames.com. It looks very durable. is this joystick any good?

 

That stick certainly LOOKS good. I think it would be hard to go wrong at that price unless the stick is total crap. Even if no one else on this board has one, I'd recommend taking a gamble on it and reporting what you think of it once you've tried it out.

 

Hi guys (particularly Djimbe). I am in Canada and like western-style sticks. I am currently torn between the X-Arcade and the MAS SuperPro Stick. They both have multi-platform support and both use arcade quality components, which is exactly what I want. I don't care about X-Arcade's two-sticks and would actually prefer one stick.

MAS...
The MAS has one huge advantage over X-Arcade, and that is support for the Sega Saturn. This would allow me to use the thing to play VF1 and VF2 on Saturn. Unfortunately, additional console support has to be custom ordered and modifications have to be made to the board. This would be very troublesome if say VF4:Evo came out for XBox and then I wouldn't have XBox support... also Oni-Kage's comments scare me. He talked about how the MAS "loosened up" over time. I am skeptical about whether or not the MAS is actually genuine arcade quality or not.

X-Arcade...
The X-Arcade is an absolutely true arcade quality board (including wood panelling). There is also the advantage of using "adapters" to plug in to different consoles, so modifications need be made to the board. It also supports the GC and XBox. Unfortunately, there is no Saturn support. Also, there are two arcade sticks, which I don't really care for, and the price is absolutely insane (close to 200 USD not counting shipping).

Djimbe, can you comment about the quality of the MAS? I want to be using this thing for years and years and have nothing go wrong. Also did you mention that you have actually tried the X-Arcade? Any comments on it? If the X-Arcade supported the Saturn and only had one arcade stick, I would definitely get that. The adapter system is just better.

 

I've been using a MAS pro stick for a few months now and haven't had any problems. The joystick itself gets loose over time, but if you order it with stiff springs, that shouldn't be an issue. I recommend ordering the "full 360°" option as well. This option makes stick movement very smooth with no annoying clicking sounds. Example: Wolf's giant swing ( +) is registered as one continuous HCF motion instead of five separate inputs or "clicks". The only problem with the MAS stick is the button layout. The buttons are lined up horizontally and not the "official" VF4 layout (it's also the only layout you can get). This can get uncomfortable after a few hours of playing if you're not used to it.

http://www.massystems.com/ProStick.html

 

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
The buttons are lined up horizontally and not the "official" VF4 layout (it's also the only layout you can get).

[/ QUOTE ]

Last time I visited the site I read you could send them a template for a custom button layout. This may cost extra, but it's worth it in my opinion.

I use an ASCII FT2 stick, the layout is correct for VF4. I wouldn't want to use a straight across button layout.

 

I don't mind a horizontal button layout at all because the VF4 machine where I live has a horizontal layout exactly like the X-Arcade and MAS, and also the same style of teardrop-stick. I am now really more undecided than ever between the two. I really love X-Arcade's adapter system, but MAS has Saturn support. I am still leaning toward X-Arcade... but I will give it a few more weeks of thought before making a purchase.

 

'I recommend ordering the "full 360°" option as well. This option makes stick movement very smooth with no annoying clicking sounds'

DRE - I didn't notice any mention of the option at the MAS' website, could you point it out please?

 

Dre... I am facing the same thing as Pltan. I can't find anywhere on the massystems website about this "full 360 option" or "stiff springs". How did you find out about these options, and do I have to custom order it to get those? Is it extra charge?

 

Those are custom options that cost a little extra. Try calling them at: 1-877-214-4346 or 1-888-440-5389. The customer service representative should tell you all you need to know. I don't think they're open on weekends.

http://www.massystems.com/Order.html

 

Is this a good stick for vf4?

well i know its probably not as good as the Hori sticks though hehe /versus/images/icons/laugh.gif

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801180

 

I don't know if the Pelican joystick is any good, but I just got the VF4 Stick from www.toysnjoys.com for $59, plus $10 UPS ground shipping, which took 3 days from Hawaii, to Arizona. Toys N' Joys is a video game store in Hawaii, which I used to frequent when not buying from NCS. They have one left.

My personal opinion of the stick is it's a winner. Comparing it to the Agetec's Dreamcast stick (the gray and green one), the VF4 stick is on par with it. The stick of both are similar, although the Agetec stick goes further into the base. As far as feel, both stick's stick are very, very similar. The buttons on the Hori's VF4 stick though is better. For the Agetec, the buttons are not as tight fitting around the surrounding ring, so when you hit them off center, the button would be tilted when pressed. The VF4 stick's buttons are tighter fitting to the ring, and even though you hit them on the edge, the button gets fully depressed. In addition, the buttons on the VF4 stick is somewhat springier.

There are things I don't like about the VF4 stick though. I wish the base would have been as big as the Agetec. The VF4 stick is roughly 80-85% as big as the Agetec. It is also slightly lighter in weight compared to the Agetec. Also, the plastic that makes up the base is more fragile because the it's made up of plastic that would be prone to cracking. It's of a harder plastic, ulike the material used for the Agetec. When you knock on the plastic, the tone is higher on VF4... lower on the Agetec. Don't get me wrong, the materials are good on the VF4, but the materials on the Agetec is better suited for a joystick.

There is also a smooth plastic over the top of the joystick's base, reminiscent of plexiglass covered controls on some arcade cabinets, which I like.

Don't get me wrong, the gripes I do have is minor. In fact, the Agetec and the Hori have alot in common. I HIGHLY recommend the Hori VF4 stick.

BTW, I'm planning on building a custom stick made of Happ controls, and I'll let y'all know how it goes.

 

Well, I finally decided to build my own stick. I'm gonna order my stick and buttons in about a week from happcontrols...but before I do I wanted some advice on what stick to get. Does anyone think it's worth dishing out the extra 30 bucks for the optical stick?

 

Well... I've already got the base built. Here's a pic of the base, along with my other sticks. I just got the PS2 Namco stick today, used at the mall for $10. What a deal!!! Surprise of all surprises, it's built by Hori, and it's innards are exactly the same components (joystick and pcb board) used in Hori's VF4 stick, except for the extra buttons and button size and shape. It's even wired the same way. Anyway, the base I built is made of wood, and covered with contact paper. That stick is a Sanwa stick I got from eBay, but it's the oversized one. The difference between this Sanwa stick and the ones pictured is the size of the microswitches, and the metal "half-ball" that's attatced to the joysticks end. It acts like a ball bearing, and people complaining of a "sandpapery" feel in home sticks can attribute dirt and grime getting in between the half-ball and the base. Also, the home sticks "half-ballbearing" is made of plastic, which is prone to scrathes over time, especially when the stick gets dirty.

Anyway, here's the underlay I'm gonna use in my stick! Yeah, I made it. I'm just waiting for the Sanwa sticks from Japan to get it. Oh, I just need to build a base to mount the stick and buttons, but the hard parts done (building the base). I'll update y'all soon on how it goes.

 

man
AWESOME!

^__^

hope to see pics of if when it's done~!

 

Yeah, I prefer the VF4 stick because of the more convex buttons compared to the the flat buttons of the Namco stick, and that the stick is looser. But the Namco stick has a better base because of the tilt. Like I said, they are very, very similar. Hori made them both, so design is twin-like.

I have opened the base of the sticks, and have examined the Sanwa stick I got from eBay, and it's really a simple concept. You can adust the tightness or looseness of the sticks by replacing the spring within the base, and it's again, a very simple thing to do. From observation, the home sticks, again, are very much like the arcade versions... as far as japanese ball type sticks go... the only differences being the plastic half-ball bearing compared to the metal one in a real arcade one. When this half-ball bearing gets scratched, it causes a "sandpaper" feel someone here mentioned, ie: movement isn't loose and smooth.

Here's the pic of the comparison of both Hori sticks (innards)... notice it uses the same stick, although looseness or tightness of the stick is attributed to the spring within the stick. I doubt prolonged use will effect the spring.



Oh, btw, the Base that I built above, is big because I want a heavier, bigger, and taller base, as it's only built for one stick.

 

Well every stick is a bit different even if it's the same model... I remember when both a friend and me bought a DC official stick. They were brand new but felt a little different.
I don't know if it's psychological or if there's a real difference... /versus/images/icons/crazy.gif
But I am not surprised that the Namco Stick and VF4 stick have the same components yet feel different

 

I've been thinking about building my own stick as well. I know what parts I can get from Happcontrols, and I'm fine with that. I'm curious, though, how the wiring is done. I mean, can you buy the plugin system to the ps2 and the cord so you just have to wire the innards of the stick? If I'm gonna' have to rip a dualshock apart and steal it's cord/wires I'll be much less inclined to build my own.

 

Yes, you will have to tear apart a PSX controller because essentially that is what will be communicating with the PS2. What you do is wire up an arcade stick and buttons to the controller's innards. /versus/images/icons/smile.gif Make sense?

I'd buy a second hand third party PSX controller to use - it's cheaper and doesn't have all the shock and analog crap yo wouldn't use anyway.

cheers,