The NES Advantage joystick

[Manga4life]

You know what's fun? Sometimes when I'm not in the mood to use the traditional NES controller and I'm playing NES games that were ones arcade games (TMNT II, Double Dragon II, Pac-Man, ect) I like to use the NES Advantage because it kind of feels like a classic arcade machine joystick while playing. Oddly enough I don't use the "advantage" features such as turbo and whatnot, but I love to play arcade games as if they're arcade games, it gives me that classic back in the day arcade feel. I have a small table I plant the Advantage on and use that to steady the controller, there is nothing worse than playing a game with the NES Advantage stick on your lap, too much turbulance while smashing buttons.

Was there any other NES arcade sticks worth owning that I should know about?

[XYXZYZ]

As I've written elsewhere, I only use the NES Advantage. NES gamepads made my hands hurt and I didn't like the inconsistency of playing with my thumbs at home and with my hands at the arcade, so I got an NES Advantage and my problems were solved. Since then I've ditched gamepads and used arcade joysticks exclusively.

In my opinion the NES Advantage is the best joystick for the NES. I've also used the Quickshot Maverick II, the Beeshu Jammer (as seen on that old "SECRET Video Game tips, hints and strategies" tape) and the Capcom Fighter Power Stick (Which came with cables for NES and SNES) and none of them are as comfortable and responsive as the NES Advantage. But I do rather like the joysticks Nintendo used for their arcade hardware (VS unisystem games, Playchoice 10, Donkey Kong, etc.) and someday I might make an NES joystick out of one.

[Graham Mitchell]

I dunno man, I don't really like Nintendo Joysticks. The NES advantage feels squishy to me. The control panels in all their arcade machines are flimsy and loaded with excessive parts (look at how their buttons are set up!) and the sticks are really tiny. It's okay for Mario Brothers where there's a 2-way restrictor on the sticks, so it doesn't really matter, but in a Vs. System or Playchoice 10 it's kind of a problem. I replaced the sticks in my PC-10 with Sanwas and put an 8-way gate on them, and they're much better now. I also ripped out those crazy lever contraptions they have for the buttons and replaced them with simple screw-in buttons with an attatched horizontal microswitch and the whole thing is way better than stock. Unfortunately, Japanese-style Sanwa or Seimitsu button are too big to fit in Nintendo control panels or I would have gone that route.

I guess it's fun to play with the Advantage occasionally, but whenever I do I play much wore than I would with a pad.

I'm playing NES games on a Sharp Twin Famicom now. I see there's a wierdly-shaped Famicom arcade stick out there. Has anybody used it? Is it any good?

[bb_hood]

The only problem I have with the nintendo advantage is that the buttons are cheap and sometimes stick. The joystick itself is kinda nice. The turbo function is awesome with certain games, try it with gun.smoke or 1943 for great results.

Ive got a NTDEC Turbo Jr. "for Family Computer" Joystick for NES which, is Japanese and designed just like the advantage but it has a blue base and yellow buttons. Looks really cool but the buttons kinda stick like the advantage.

Same one as here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NTDEC-Stick-Turbo-Jr-Family-Computer-Nintendo-NES-NTD-J-8864-Joystick-Famicom-/190821107759?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item2c6dd3082f&ssPageName=RSS:B:STORE:US:101

[XYXZYZ]

I was actually just looking at that NTDEC stick and considering getting it, but I never play my Famicom.

[bb_hood]

I was actually just looking at that NTDEC stick and considering getting it, but I never play my Famicom.

Im 99% sure it will work on a Nes, I know Ive tested it at some point, I can double check it if you want conformation.

[skaar]

NES Advantage was all I used. I think I've used one of those NTDEC sticks and the buttons felt weird... but that was a long, long time ago so memory is likely skewed.

SNES Advantage was not all that awesome, but the ASCII Pad was king of that system for me.

[Manga4life]

NES Advantage was all I used. I think I've used one of those NTDEC sticks and the buttons felt weird... but that was a long, long time ago so memory is likely skewed.

SNES Advantage was not all that awesome, but the ASCII Pad was king of that system for me.

I love your avatar, BTW. Being a pro poker player myself, I have great respect for that man.

[bb_hood]

NES Advantage was all I used. I think I've used one of those NTDEC sticks and the buttons felt weird... but that was a long, long time ago so memory is likely skewed.


Yeah the A & B buttons kinda stick/rub against the button holes (kinda hard to explain) when you press them quickly, Ive noticed the same with the regular advantage which is why i really dont use either. Its just due to the buttons being cheap because Ive noticed the same type of thing with my ps3 madcatz arcade stick before I swapped out the buttons.

If I could find better ones that fit I would mod this NTDEC and use it for sure.

[Akov456]

I remember getting the SNES advantage and being severely underwhelmed. Everything felt wrong.

[BlastProcessing402]

My favorite thing about the Advantage was how it made it so easy to do the hidden save without dying thing in Zelda. Didn't have to make sure to have a 2nd controller plugged in or get up and swap controller ports, just flip the switch.

[Zing]

In 1988, I desperately wanted one. After actually trying one a few years later, and seeing how useless the slow motion button was, and comparing the feel to my then favourite controller, the NES Max, I realized I wasn't missing anything.

PS: You wouldn't want to use turbo with 1943. You need to be able to hold the shoot button down to power up shots.

[skaar]

The buttons on my NES Advantage never ever stuck. And I used and abused the hell out of that thing. It would go in my bag to school every day for when I went to friends' houses.

[FoxNtd]

ASCII Turbo and "NES Advantage" are the same machine; the latter is the Nintendo licensed version for distribution overseas since the original is not sold abroad.

Not sure if there are any difference other than the appearance and the connector. The original uses the 15-pin connector but since NES didn't come with that the Advantage has a 7-pin connector.

Also, it's neat to use the stick for games outside of STG. I remember playing really old arcade ports like Mario Bros. with a stick on purpose. Hmm, I just bought Burgertime lately, when it arrives I should hook up the stick for that. :)

[PreZZ]

Messiah made a wireless Joystick, and it looks like this is the only good product they made. Its actually made of wood and is apparently arcade quality. Its still available on amazon, but you need the wireless adapter to use on a regular nes, its not included. The generation nex and the wireless gamepads are complete shit, I bought it after reading the raving review on ign in 2006, and while good looking, it is awful.

http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Wireless-Arcade-Nintendo-Entertainment-System/dp/B000VPZKKY

[davidbrit2]

I've never cared for the Advantage. It's way too stiff and mushy. Fortunately there are some great microswitch sticks available. Most of them are for SNES, but since SNES controllers are electrically compatible with the NES, all you need is a simple pin adapter.

[skaar]

I've never cared for the Advantage. It's way too stiff and mushy. Fortunately there are some great microswitch sticks available. Most of them are for SNES, but since SNES controllers are electrically compatible with the NES, all you need is a simple pin adapter.

http://i.imgur.com/cLD7oJj.gif

Your mom is way too stiff and mushy.

[RP2A03]

I bought one awhile back but never used it. Don't think I ever will either, at least not without modifications; tactile feedback is too important to me.

[bb_hood]

PS: You wouldn't want to use turbo with 1943. You need to be able to hold the shoot button down to power up shots.

I know about charge shots, try it with turbo.

[XYXZYZ]

PS: You wouldn't want to use turbo with 1943. You need to be able to hold the shoot button down to power up shots.

It's easy enough to toggle the turbo when you want to fire lasers in 1943. That's one thing I love about the Advantage, you can just reach up with your fingers and toggle the turbo on or off. With every other joystick I have to pause the game and look at what I'm pressing.

[spman]

I have no problems with the NES Advantage, but the only game I ever felt was more enjoyable when using it was Captain Skyhawk.

[MeTmKnice]

I currently have a couple of these. One of them I picked up at game crazy years sgo for 2.99

[tom]

The NES Family King is the best controller for any NES game, it's like a REAL joystick.

[o.pwuaioc]

NES Advantage was all I used. I think I've used one of those NTDEC sticks and the buttons felt weird... but that was a long, long time ago so memory is likely skewed.

SNES Advantage was not all that awesome, but the ASCII Pad was king of that system for me.

I don't have anything against the SNES Advantage, it feels only slightly cheaper than the NES one - buttons stickier, really. But other than that, it's about the same for me as the NES one. What makes the ASCII Pad so much better?

As far as both Advantages go, I only use them for shmups, not fighters or any platformers or anything.

[skaar]

NES Advantage was my controller of choice for Zelda II, Mega Man(s), SMB(s) - the whole gamut, really.

[XYXZYZ]

NES Advantage was my controller of choice for Zelda II, Mega Man(s), SMB(s) - the whole gamut, really.

So did you primarily use joysticks for other systems, or just NES?

[jperryss]

I used the NES Advantage almost exclusively for most of my NES days. Platformer, shooter, RPG, didn't matter, I just liked it a lot more than a gamepad. The turbo switches were a bonus.

Once the SNES rolled around, a joystick was no longer a replacement option due to the L/R shoulder buttons, which made a lot of games (like F-Zero) awkward and difficult to play.

I do have two Fighter Stick SNs which are great for SF2, MK, etc. but outside of those few games, mine don't get much use.