What do you think about Arcade sticks? (Plus some questions)

[VACRMH]

Hello, I have about $70 credit at an online store and I can't find ANYTHING to choose from, so I was thinking about buying the PS2 SNK VS Capcom arcade stick.

I've never used an Arcade stick so I had a few questions, hope someone can help out.

1. Are there any real advantages to using an arcade stick?
2. Would it be easy to play using my lap to hold the stick?
3. (This is a question about the SNK VS Capcom stick itself) Would there be any problem using a Playstation to USB adaptor for my computer?
4. (Another SVC Stick question) Would this be a good stick for these games?

Guilty Gear X2
Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution
Capcom VS SNK 2
King Of Fighters 2000
Street Fighter EX2
Tekken Tag

(Here is a pic of the controller)
http://image.lik-sang.com/images//large/cont-svc-snk.jpg

Thanks for the help! :)

[MarioAllStar2600]

I find joysticks much more conftorable when sitting down.

[calthaer]

Only for fighting games.

[Retsudo]

Yes Sticks are great for most fighting games. Thats if you can use one. If not, after a while you will get the hang of it. Personally, Im more of a controller type person. I think people who played a lot of Fighting games in the arcades are the people who prefer them. I always waited for the games to hit home to play them. Im going to get a stick one day so I can learn how to use one. Dont get me wrong though, I can use one to some degree. Just cant get those fireball and Dragon Punch motions correctly with a stick. Although it took me a least a week back in 1991 to get that Dragon Punch motion out with a controller :P

[Gunstarhero]

I grew up playing games in the Arcades, so I much prefer a Stick as opposed to a pad. I always use a stick for my consoles, if I have one. I find you get more precise control with a stick, and your hands don't get cramped at all...you can play as long as you want without dealing with tired thumbs.

Yes, you will feel comfortable with this controller in your lap...heck, I have a MAS joystick for my NEO and I'm comfortable with it in my lap, and it weighs 11 lbs!

That stick should be fine for any of those games you listed, as those games will most likely be programmable for you to configure the button layout. That stick being designed for SvC:Chaos isn't just usable for that game, its just got artwork to go with the game, kinda like a companion piece. I think there are different versions of that stick with different artwork that go with other fighting games.

Only thing I don't like about that stick is I don't much care for the Japanese style lollipop joystick, I like the American baseball bat sticks.

[VACRMH]

Only thing I don't like about that stick is I don't much care for the Japanese style lollipop joystick, I like the American baseball bat sticks.

I'm used to baseball bat sticks myself when I play in the arcades (Which I hardly do anyways)

Do you think it would be hard to move from Lollipop to Baseball bat? You hold them a different way for each one don't you?

[Cmosfm]

I never seem to like a joystick....cept in the arcade. It seems the home sticks, no matter how heavy, seem to move while playing them.. I have a terrible habit of jerking the stick too hard though (no joke intended there)...and it moves the entire base. No problem at the arcades though.

Oh well, ill stick with my controller for now

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I swear by my PSX Arcade Twin Stick. Which is bigger than two PSones put together!

http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/about/room/psxsetup.jpg

Robotron or Crazy Climber or Smash TV on this baby = THE BOMB. It is mighty.

I, too, spent a lot of my childhood and adolescence in the arcade, those years before the Nintendo Vs. cabinets and whatnot. To me, THIS is THE FEEL of video gaming. I can't vouch for fighting games because I honestly only have one or two of 'em, but I can't see where it'd hurt. :)

That said, I'm modifying my setup so you can either play at standing height or pull it off the shelf and sit down with it. LOL

[Sylentwulf]

I love em, and they're F*%&ing EXPENSIVE. You spend $50 (Price of another new game) and then when the next gen consoles come out, the thing is USELESS.

The only one I would use is the X-arcade, but I screwed myself and got the Hotrod SE which doesn't connect to consoles (It does MAME GREAT, but come on, gimme so friggin console lovin)

[Balloon Fight]

Only thing I don't like about that stick is I don't much care for the Japanese style lollipop joystick, I like the American baseball bat sticks.

I'm used to baseball bat sticks myself when I play in the arcades (Which I hardly do anyways)

Do you think it would be hard to move from Lollipop to Baseball bat? You hold them a different way for each one don't you?

I myself am nuts about the game mvc2, so i definitely bought a stick. I love the lollipop sticks, as they feel like they were made for your hand. It really doesnt take long to adjust to bats at all after you use the ball for a while. The only thing that takes a few rounds to get used to again is the button layout. Notice how the first buttons are down just a tad compared to the others? This throws you the hell off in an American arcade, but it is still good.

Just buy the stick though, because you will fall in love after a few hours of practice.

[Gamereviewgod]

The perfect example of an arcade stick for a home system (IMHO) is the original Geo stick. It's so damned accurate that I can pull of moves I would otherwise never be able to do. I love the big ball and stick. It's so easy to grip (ok....I'm done being 10 now...). There are alot of nasty sticks about there (Topstix for the Dreamcast bites) so you need to be sure your getting something decent before going ahead with a purchase.
Also, there are other genres that benifit as well though. Most shooters seem to work real well for me most of the time and beat-em-ups were made for 'em.

[ubersaurus]

If you're playing an arcade style game like a shmup or a fighter (especially a fighter), there's no reason to use a controller if you can help it. It's actually been proven that move motions and speed are improved on a stick, since your wrist is quicker then your thumb. Personally, I can't even play a fighting game on a pad-I can't do anything but accidentally jump (also a problem on a bad stick).

I've been looking to pick up a pelican stick and a PS to PC convertor (no idea where to find one of those without going online), for netplay and neo geo shmup action.

[MarkMan]

1. Are there any real advantages to using an arcade stick?
2. Would it be easy to play using my lap to hold the stick?
3. (This is a question about the SNK VS Capcom stick itself) Would there be any problem using a Playstation to USB adaptor for my computer?
4. (Another SVC Stick question) Would this be a good stick for these games?


Hi, I'm a big joystick collector! I have over 20 different joysticks ranging from American Style teardrops to Japanese style balls, and even Korean joysticks!

I'm a huge fighting game nut and am glad to see another person so interested in joysticks. To answer a few of your questions...

The ASCII SNK vs Capcom joystick is much like the Guilty Gear XX stick which they released about 2 years ago. Unlike most Japanese console sticks(like the ones made by Hori), this one isn't as noisy/clicky and has a different spring build than the traditional Japanese stick. The stick would be great for fighting games since it comes with 8 buttons, it would be a good investment for just about every game!

You should have no problems with using a USB convertor. The stick is all digital so you need not worry about compatibility issues. The sticks are small and compact and you should have no problem playing on a table or with the stick on your lap.

Personally if I were you, since you said you had more of a preference for American style teardrop sticks... I'd invest in a MAS Systems Super Pro stick... you can check my review of the stick over at www.vgonetwork.com just search for the joystick feature articles. MAS is the best quality but also carries a steep price. Other options are an X-Arcade and a Pelican Real Arcade joystick.

If you really wanna go Japanese style, I suggest hunting down a Namco Arcade Stick.. the stick is rather hard to find nowadays. It was made for Soul Blade/Edge & Tekken 2 back in 96. To this day, I find it to be the most reliable and best overall stick in my fighting gaming career.

Have fun!