Fighting game controllers

All this Street Fighter IV talk has made me want to play my old 2d fighting games again (especially SF games), a genre I have hardly played in recent years. I'm covered for Saturn stuff for games, a 4MB cart, and the standard controller which is awesome.

I'm fine playing the Saturn stuff for now but I'm probably going to want to play my DC games like SF3 and MotW eventually, too. The standard controller blows for this genre (and it extra hurts my arms as I have muscle problems) so I'm wondering what good controllers to look out for when browsing second hand stores. I often see controllers for various systems but have no idea which ones have good d-pads.

Or should I go the Sony route for SF3 since the game's cheap on PS2 anyway? I don't like the standard PS pad either but I imagine there are a wider range of controllers for these systems. I probably won't buy anything right away but any input on what to look out for would be appreciated.

It's a lot easier to tell you what to avoid than what to get, unfortunately. The Nubytech PS2 and Xbox SF controllers are very cheap now, but they're not very good.

As for DC, a lot of people throw around Ascii Pad FT as being good for fighters, but unless they changed something in the later versions (I have the grey one with SFA3 art on the box), I don't think it has a very good d-pad at all. However, it beats the hell out of using the standard DC controller, so it might be worth a shot.

I always disliked Sony's controllers for fighters, but I found myself getting used to them. I don't mind so much now.

PS2 has a cheap yet awesome joystick (Tekken 5 anniversary stick), the better version of 3rd Strike (compared to the Dreamcast), and yeah, as said, a better range of controllers if you can't do the joystick thing.

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As for DC, a lot of people throw around Ascii Pad FT as being good for fighters, but unless they changed something in the later versions (I have the grey one with SFA3 art on the box), I don't think it has a very good d-pad at all. However, it beats the hell out of using the standard DC controller, so it might be worth a shot.

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This is the 6 face button thing, right? Don't get the Capcom vs. SNK edition ones. I grabbed one of those and the up direction flat out doesn't work most of the time. I'm not the only one with that problem, either.

I have a grey ascii pad FT for my DC that I remember really liking. I got both the capcom and snk editions of the same pad and I like the blue one (snk?) more than the black one.

I'm also selling a pelican real arcade wtf edition stick for the psx/ps2 that I modded with happ parts and then used 3 times and realized I prefer a pad.

i need to get a pair of fighting controllers, i wanna make sure they work on both my ps2 and ps3 though :O

I'm not sure how easily they are found these days, but I have a wonderful Innovation adapter that I use for the dreamcast. It allows you to use Playstation and Saturn controllers, as well as having a PS2 port for a keyboard. Depending on the situation, I've used it with PS2 Dual Shocks, a Pelican Real Arcade stick, and the good ol Saturn gamepad.

Your best bet on the DC would be using a Saturn -> Dreamcast converter. Play-Asia sells the Total Control 3 for that. A Total Control 5 Plus or an Innovation Dream Connection II (I assume Gohan has this one) will also give you the option to use PS controllers as well (I hear twin sticks work better on a TC5 than a TC3 if you want to play VOOT w/ Saturn twin sticks). If you don't want to deal with converters and possible input lag, those Ascii pads are probably all you're left with for something decent.

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Originally Posted by B-Ri

i need to get a pair of fighting controllers, i wanna make sure they work on both my ps2 and ps3 though :O

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I hear the Pelican PS2 -> PS3 converters work well with most controllers. I just use normal dual shock pads to play fighting games on PS2 if I don't play on stick, so if those aren't your cup of tea, have fun searching for Saturn-style PS2 pads or a pair of Neo Geo Pad 2s!

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Originally Posted by Mikhal

a pair of Neo Geo Pad 2s!

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Blah, I had such a shitty time looking for one the first time around that I managed to completely forget they existed. :(

I still want one.

If you're going to play stuff on the PS2 there's also the Sega controller that's basically just a Saturn pad with a PS2 connector on it.

Personally I love my Saturn pad for fighting games, I have the Saturn - DC adapter, and hell I even had one of my Saturn pads modded to work on my Neo Geo.

I need to get one of those Saturn PS2 pads myself though I believe their import only and can get a bit pricey.

Sega's official Saturn-style PS2 and USB pads appear to be out of print and selling on eBay for $lol. Sucks. I have one of each and they're pretty nice, though.

For my DC, I have a Total Control 3 so I can use a Saturn pad.

For my PS1/2/3 I have the Saturn-style pad mentioned above and the Neo Geo Pad 2, also mentioned above.

I would recommend both of those, though the Sony strategy makes more long-term sense, since new games will be able to use it.

I have the cvs2 version of the asciipad ft for ps2 and I don't really have any complaints about the dpad. The buttons on the other hand are a bit big and mushy, and the shoulder buttons are awkward. I don't know why the top part of the controller is even there. It'd be better without it. Still, it beats the dualshock.

Yea all this talk of SF had me boot up SF3 for the first time since I had 360. Holy shit is the 360 Dpad trash for SF. It jumps when i dont want it to and i could barely pull off super moves on the left side of the screen. I suck with fighting sticks so I guess im out of luck.

Yeah, it's not very good at all for fighting games, although that might just be because the 360 dpad gets so little use that it's not broken in properly.
SFAC on the 360 is kinda fucked anyway, so it's not that big of a loss. Even doing a big jump in SF3 is enough to make it chug, and it drops frames like mad in HSF2.

Thanks, everyone. Lots of good info here.

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Originally Posted by Destro777

Yea all this talk of SF had me boot up SF3 for the first time since I had 360. Holy shit is the 360 Dpad trash for SF. It jumps when i dont want it to and i could barely pull off super moves on the left side of the screen. I suck with fighting sticks so I guess im out of luck.

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Sanding out the inner circle of the D Pad does help the controllers some. They make better contact. Still not great though. I just got the VF5 stick and still REALLY suck with sticks, so I'm kinda in the same boat.

Do PS1 joysticks/pads work for PS2 fighters? I honestly don't know.

They do. Some games require a dual shock 2 (Final Fantasy 12, Valkyrie Profile 2, etc.), but all the fighting games I've played never required one.

Neato. I remember having a really good PS1 pad, now I just have to figure out what that was exactly.

(edit: best solution seems to be get a J-Saturn pad off eBay and a converter. Any recommendations on a good converter?)

I dont think there is a Saturn to PS2 converter. At least I couldn't find one.

I have a pad for the PS1/2 called the Hori Fighting Commander. 6 thumb buttons, perfect for SF-style games.

I may have owned that at one point. Needs an eBay check, I'm thinkin'.

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Originally Posted by GohanX

I'm not sure how easily they are found these days, but I have a wonderful Innovation adapter that I use for the dreamcast. It allows you to use Playstation and Saturn controllers, as well as having a PS2 port for a keyboard. Depending on the situation, I've used it with PS2 Dual Shocks, a Pelican Real Arcade stick, and the good ol Saturn gamepad.

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The Innovation adapter w/Saturn Pad is what I've been using for years on DC. Works like a champ and even has a built-in VMU port. I've always found the DC versions of 2d fighters to be superior to the PS2 ports (although the Saturn version of Alpha 3 is actually superior in many ways to the DC version).

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Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

The Innovation adapter w/Saturn Pad is what I've been using for years on DC. Works like a champ and even has a built-in VMU port. I've always found the DC versions of 2d fighters to be superior to the PS2 ports (although the Saturn version of Alpha 3 is actually superior in many ways to the DC version).

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What 2D fighters are still worth playing on DC outside of MvC, MvC2 and SF3 NG/2I? Pretty much everything else is on PS2 now (and in the case of 3S, a better port), including SFA3 and SFA3 Upper. Not that that matters, because SFA3 sucks.

Why didn't anyone mention the official DC arcade stick? That's one of the best ever.

Does it convert to PS2?

No, but it works on Dreamcast.

It would.

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Originally Posted by Korly

Why didn't anyone mention the official DC arcade stick? That's one of the best ever.

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My friend had that one but it was trash. Maybe his was just defective or something, but the way the stick moved made it next to impossible to do any sort of circular motion. Trying to do a 360 motion would trace out the shape of a square. It was just useless.

Sticks with square gates just take some getting used to. Unless that one really was defective, you shouldn't have the jam the stick into the corners to register a direction.

I don't think you had to push it all the way, but it would move in an L-shaped path whenever I tried to do a quarter circle motion, which just messed me up entirely, and it made it hard to do a lot of the moves in VF3 because the stick traveled so far whenever I tapped a diagonal. Maybe if the stick had more tension it wouldn't be an issue, but I just don't see any point to having diagonals that are deeper than the other four directions.

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Originally Posted by kedawa

My friend had that one but it was trash. Maybe his was just defective or something, but the way the stick moved made it next to impossible to do any sort of circular motion. Trying to do a 360 motion would trace out the shape of a square. It was just useless.

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That's the wonders of a square gate. The nice thing about them is that you can find corners with them really easily. They do make those sticks with an octogonal gate too, if you really do hate the square ones (as you seem to).

There is an adjustment phase to it, but I think the Japanese-style sticks in general are a lot more responsive than anything the US uses. The last couple of tournaments I have gone to, the only people that still use American sticks are MvC2 players (and I think that's due to the raw amount of abuse they give the sticks with all of the button pushing they have to do in that game).

I definitely prefer octagonal gates, particularly the rotated style (think GC-pad style), but I think it has a lot to do with how I hold the stick too. I'm used to bat-handle american sticks, so I like to knock it around a bit and push it right to the edge.

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Originally Posted by Korly

Why didn't anyone mention the official DC arcade stick? That's one of the best ever.

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Cause NZE wanted a pad.

Oh, the thread title was "controllers". I didn't know that meant pad.

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Originally Posted by NeoDeedeater

I often see controllers for various systems but have no idea which ones have good d-pads.

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The Agetec stick doesn't have a d-pad. :)

For Dreamcast I swear by the ASCII Stick. It has a smooth optical stick that never fails to respond and is very solidly built. It is also the only ASCii Stick with a rumble feature (requisite for playing Rez.)

Strangely the ASCii Stick for PSX is a click stick, and does not support rumble.

I've also used the ASCii pads quite a bit for Dreamcast and PSX but don't think they're as good as they could be since the d-pad sits up high over its pivot point and seems a bit wobbly. The buttons and shell are sturdy and well designed though.

I've recently gone to exclusively using Hori's Anashin 2 Turbo pads for PSX and PS2 gaming. The d-pads are the best since Saturn (if not better, imo), and the analog sticks have three levels of adjustable sensitivity. The buttons are comfortably placed and the shell is very solid and sturdy. Also the rumble on the standard Anashin 2 Turbo is the strongest of any controller I've used.
The wireless Anashins are a bit lighter with a slightly rubberized feel, and the rumble is faint. Also a better battery indicator would help, as you are left judging the dimness of a red LED to gauge when lag might start occurring.

Does any one have experience with Total Control 3 and the saturn analog controller?

Also, does any company on the planet produce a 'six on the front' PS2 pad.

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Does any one have experience with Total Control 3 and the saturn analog controller?

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The Saturn analog controller has both digital and analog modes since some games got weird with the analog on, but I've never had a normal Saturn game have trouble with it in digital. I can't imagine it making trouble with a converter without the analog on.

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Does any one have experience with Total Control 3 and the saturn analog controller?

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I have no experience with it, but I think I remember reading before that it sucks with the analog controller. It's better to wait for someone else to confirm though.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

Also, does any company on the planet produce a 'six on the front' PS2 pad.

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Only ones I know of are the Saturn-style PS2 pad, NeoGeo Pad 2, Nuby SF controllers, and Ascii FT2s.

I knew Hori made a PS1 pad like this, but I had a tough time proving it:

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/a...1&d=1197347584

Never got my hands on one, so I couldn't tell you how it was.

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Originally Posted by Grave

I knew Hori made a PS1 pad like this, but I had a tough time proving it:

Never got my hands on one, so I couldn't tell you how it was.

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That is basically the PSX iteration of the Hori Fighting Commander series of controllers (available for PC-Engine, SFC, and MD). I don't know about that PSX version's d-pad, but the 16-bit versions have a very good SFC style d-pad, unfortunately something about the spacing of the buttons doesn't feel right - they seem just a smidgen too far from each other.
Attachment 29396

edit, missed this:

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

I have a pad for the PS1/2 called the Hori Fighting Commander. 6 thumb buttons, perfect for SF-style games.

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Yuck. That looks like a shitty, Nintendo-style d-pad.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

Also, does any company on the planet produce a 'six on the front' PS2 pad.

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Both of the two I mentioned have six on the front. I would never buy anything else.

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Originally Posted by Shooting Love

the 16-bit versions have a very good SFC style d-pad,

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Yuck. That looks like a shitty, Nintendo-style d-pad.

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Oh well, to each's own.
Granted d-pads have come a long way since then.
Having used the Nintendo d-pad since the days of the Game and Watch sort of leads to developing a proficiency and fondness for it.

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Originally Posted by Grave

What 2D fighters are still worth playing on DC outside of MvC, MvC2 and SF3 NG/2I? Pretty much everything else is on PS2 now (and in the case of 3S, a better port), including SFA3 and SFA3 Upper. Not that that matters, because SFA3 sucks.

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Garou, Last Blade 2, KOF Dream Match, plus 3D stuff like Project Justice.

So nothing that isn't on PS2 except for Project Justice, which I really don't care about.

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Originally Posted by Shooting Love

Oh well, to each's own.
Granted d-pads have come a long way since then.
Having used the Nintendo d-pad since the days of the Game and Watch sort of leads to developing a proficiency and fondness for it.

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I stopped swinging from trees, and I stopped liking Nintendo d-pads. Evolution kicks ass.

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Originally Posted by SpoDaddy

Garou, Last Blade 2, KOF Dream Match, plus 3D stuff like Project Justice.

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Yeah, that's why I made a point of only mentioning the stuff that was better or cheaper on DC, or didn't exist outside of it. The 3D stuff I'll give you, but all of those games have Japanese PS2 releases except for KOF98, which is coming... someday.

edit: beaten by Yoshi

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I stopped swinging from trees, and I stopped liking Nintendo d-pads. Evolution kicks ass.

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Yeah, but I'm not going back and recreating controllers for 16-bit consoles.

For DC fighters I love this thing to death:

http://www.toysnjoys.com/access_dc/arcade_stick.jpgAscii Stick FTW.


For PS/PS2 I use a MAS stick. Really easy to mod one with a PS joypad PCB, but I'm sure they sell them with PS compatibility right out of the box as well.

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Originally Posted by Shooting Love

Yeah, but I'm not going back and recreating controllers for 16-bit consoles.
In the context of 16-bit consoles the Nintendo d-pad is nearly as good as it got.

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The Genesis controllers, especially the 6-button, absolutely kicked the shit out of the SNES d-pad.

Can anyone tell me how well this controller works for fighters?

http://gear.ign.com/articles/519/519416p1.html

It's the Logitech Cordless pad. I don't give a shit about the cordless part of it, but it has the dpad in a circle that is good for fighters if made correctly. It was in the packaging, naturally, so I couldn't test it.

I don't actually want to use it on PSX, I need a new gamepad for my Neo Geo/Neo CD, but I could buy the logitech pad and a Neo adapter cheaper than I could buy a new Neo CD pad.

I got two of those for next to nothing and I would never, ever consider using them for fighters. Buttons sometimes didn't register unless I pressed them fairly hard. I don't recall the d-pad being particularly good OR bad, but I think I was playing games that required analog input.

I was reading up on the PSX-Neo adapter (I used to have one, but that was long ago) and it reminded me that the analog stick works as the d-pad too. The normal dual shock would be fine for what I use the pad for, which is either just to have something small to test games with or playing late at night when my girl is asleep and the joystick is too clicky.

I really can't play Neo Drift Out on a stick. Just like it feels unnatural to use a pad with a fighter, it feels wrong to use an arcade stick with a racer.

Whats the word on sticks for 360? I wanna get something for when SF4/SF2HD come out.

Is this a good'un?

http://www.gamemanx.com/wp-content/u...0-hori-ex2.jpg

You're not going to find any better without getting a custom.

I picked one of those up at GS/EB for $40 the other week.

Yeah I called around and found a store that has one for $40 (although I think its the DOA4 art version). Im thinking I will pick it up.

Praxis and myself as well. High fives all around!

I gotta scrounge ebay for one of those pelican ps3 adapters. Not being able to use my tekken 5 stick is killing me.

Good luck with those adapters. They go a lot higher (around $50-60) now that they're discontinued. :(

I suggest hunting down a Hori Fighting Stick 3 at Gamestop if you want a stick for cheap. It's $30 there now.

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Is this a good'un?

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Seconded that it's probably the best you can do without getting a custom. I love it, and I love being able to hook it up to a PC, too.

This is the best of the best as far as I'm concerned, outside of custom jobs, and you can find some of them for cheap. I have the following:

for saturn: http://guidesat.free.fr/hardware/ima..._horistick.jpg

for ps1:

http://stashbox.org/50357/d9ea_1.JPG

for ps2:

http://www.toysnjoys.com/psx2/ps2rea...eprohoriv2.jpg

==also the Saturn pad, if you can find it, is great. Wish I had gotten the usb version when I could as well :cry:

and the best for PS3:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/4...bf477b60a6.jpg

I have two of these and they absolutely kick ass. They will last you forever. Metal shell, all Sanwa parts.

I think for Xbox360 your stuck with the DOA or the other plain Hori one, because I don't think you can use any usb sticks on the 360, I think they have to be Microsoft liscensed. Otherwise, I'd just use the PS3 Virtua High Grade sticks.

Wii, who cares.

I read this thread title as "Fishing Game Controllers"

Then was wondering how this thread could have got to 2 pages.

I did once play a few rounds Of Soul Calibur as a goof with the DC Fishing controller a few times though..

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Originally Posted by salt_peanuts

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/4...bf477b60a6.jpg

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I want this pretty badly, but I don't have any fighters on the PS3 so I am not going to get one. The HRAP2 works via the adapter so I am good for all the PS2 fighters.

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Originally Posted by salt_peanuts

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/4...bf477b60a6.jpg

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I have one of these modded to work on the PS3 and Xbox 360. It's very nice.

Wait what, how is it modded to work on the 360? Because I've been dieing to get a stick but none around me.

It's not going to be cheap. You gut a 360 controller PCB and stick it in there.

Nevermind.

Or you can steal Cow's. That's my plan A.

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Originally Posted by Thief Silver

Wait what, how is it modded to work on the 360? Because I've been dieing to get a stick but none around me.

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Here's the thread that explains how to dual-system mod a VSHG.

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Originally Posted by Cowdisease

Here's the thread that explains how to dual-system mod a VSHG.

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Does anyone do this in the NY area? Because I'd like to just be able to use this stick on both systems.

Picked up the Stick I had questioned about before. Played some SF3 with Destro777 last night, and it works pretty damn well. Its taking some getting used to after using a Baseball Bat style stick, with a round hole for so long. Rather than the Ball with Square hole on this Hori stick. I do prefer the Baseball Bat style knob though, is there a way to swap out the knob? Is that easy, or would I have to pull stuff apart.

You'll need to buy a Sanwa LB-30-N Joystick Bat Top and a Sanwa Joystick Adapter from Lizard Lick. Remove the bottom plate, use a flathead screwdriver on the slit at the bottom of the joystick to make the stick shaft stay still so you can twist the ball top off from the top. Screw in the joystick adapter, then the bat top.

You can also do it the way this guy does it I guess: http://www.championedition.com/?p=16

I'll add you to my XBL friends list too Clash so we can play some 3s sometime too. You remember me from Yahoo Chat? Haha.

That second option is more along the lines of what I was thinking of maybe trying, or just getting used to the Ball.

RE-option 1: NICE. I wish I had known to do that a few years back.

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Originally Posted by Mikhal

You can also do it the way this guy does it I guess: http://www.championedition.com/?p=16

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Thanks for the link. :tu: Both article 1 and 2 are amazing mods that I might get brave enough to try. I really don't like the "looseness" of the arcade sticks I've bought in the past. I have a couple other stock sticks I've picked up recently... maybe I'll get around to getting everything set up and testing them out soon.

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You'll need to buy a Sanwa LB-30-N Joystick Bat Top and a Sanwa Joystick Adapter from Lizard Lick.

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Holy shit, those prices are some of the best I've seen. You're my hero.

Does anyone know if the Hori sticks for 360 will work properly on a pc?

For the EX2: http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=141775
Skip steps 3-8 on a DOA stick.

It's worth noting that I haven't had any of those troubles with the EX2, myself. It was a case of plugging it in and going on my desktop and my laptop.

Mapping the stick to POV is lame, though, so I might eventually get this set up with XBCD.

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Originally Posted by Tain

PS2 has a cheap yet awesome joystick (Tekken 5 anniversary stick)

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Some stores are selling the T5 Game+Joystick for only $50. That is a steal. It is a solid controller.

It's certainly better than the X-Arcade stick. It is too rigid and the button are in rows instead of ergonomic waves.

Another good PS2 stick is the ASCII Capcom Vs SNK 2 Fighting Stick but good luck finding one. I have a broken one I've been meaning to sell... if it still worked I would probably still be using it today.

Here are all the sticks I've ever used (I don't have the X-stick anymore):

http://mysite.verizon.net/res8kf84/s.../joysticks.jpg

That "Dragoncast" stick was very cheap and is pretty much plays like you think it would.

I got my first one for $60, and then a week later they decided to sell them off for $30. Yes, $30.

Awesome purchases. I've played, like, ten minutes worth of Tekken 5, lol.

What's wrong with your CvS2 stick, TODE?

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Originally Posted by TODE

Another good PS2 stick is the ASCII Capcom Vs SNK 2 Fighting Stick but good luck finding one. I have a broken one I've been meaning to sell... if it still worked I would probably still be using it today.

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If the PCB is busted, just gut it and replace it with a Dual Shock 1 PCB (if you can find one). If you lack the soldering skills, you can always sell the shell in the SRK forums.

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Originally Posted by Mikhal

What's wrong with your CvS2 stick, TODE?

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Some soda got spilled on it, and the result is that some buttons stick and the joystick does not work. I was not able to get it open, couldn't even remove the ball.

I still have the box and the SNK Move List Cards that could be inserted into the slot at the top.

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Originally Posted by Cowdisease

If the PCB is busted, just gut it and replace it with a Dual Shock 1 PCB (if you can find one). If you lack the soldering skills, you can always sell the shell in the SRK forums.

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I lack the skills to even know what a PCB is (until I google it). The SRK idea's a good one.

L_A_Akira from VFDC made his own Sega Lindbergh-style arcade machine. Looks so awesome! He's selling his older setup for $2000 also.

http://www.laakira.com/GC2_Finished_v005.jpg

Ooo swanky.

Holy shit, look at thing! Also, does that guy live in an Offices kitchen?

Yeah, and what's in the yellow box?
Is it crackers?
Looks like crackers.

Swiffer wipes.

Sexy.

I'm thinking of picking up the EX2 for 360, but I want to make sure it has (or at least can be modded to have) an octagonal gate and possibly a bat handle.

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Originally Posted by kedawa

I'm thinking of picking up the EX2 for 360, but I want to make sure it has (or at least can be modded to have) an octagonal gate and possibly a bat handle.

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This should answer your question.

I hate the X-Arcade stick. It has the dumbest button-layout I have ever seen on a home arcade stick. Why the fuck put the two buttons underneath and inbetween the joystick and the second row of buttons? Who the fuck does that?

I like buttons in rows, though. USA all the way.

If you don't plan on swapping for a real sanwa, Kedawa, you can just swap the restrictor plate. These tutorials already mentioned in this thread should do the trick for you.

http://www.championedition.com/?p=16
http://www.championedition.com/?p=17

Cool. Thanks guys.
I've noticed that there is also a round gate available for sanwa sticks.
I'm not sure if it will work with the hori stick, but I'm curious to know if there's really any noticeable difference between octagonal and round gates.

The circular gates are for Sanwa JLWs only. You'd actually have to replace the Hori stick with a Sanwa JLW if you want a circular gate (which looks like it'll be a bitch to put in). The main difference between the two (obviously) is that you can feel the 8 directions using the octagonal gate while you can't feel any of the corners using the circular one. Never used a circular gate myself, but I prefer the square gates over the octagonal one. I didn't really like the longer throw when an octagonal gate is used.