TGS 2009: The next generation of Real Arcade Pro joysticks

Only the Hori EX sticks are without quick disconnects. All the HRAPs are QDs.

I've rarely if ever paid more than $100 for a game. That's not how much my games cost. I have a small handful of arcade boards I use with my supergun. Beyond that, I just play consoles like everyone else here.

It does nothing to change the fact that you're paying a lot for a stick that you can only use on one system.

you mean a 360 joystick that's PS1/2 compatible as well??

Nope. I mean get a PS-compatible stick so you can play them on every other system with a convert. I have the converter for 360 (too expensive, but better than buying a 360-only stick) and a couple for Neo Geo. I also use the Neo Geo ones to use PS controllers on my supergun. I have a lot of arcade boards, so if I'm going to invest in a stick, I want to be able to play all my games with it.

Or you aren't wasting money if you don't plan to use it on ps1/2. Some people may get it soley for sf4/BB/Tekken. The people who want to use a stick for 3S or older titles, more than likely already have a stick.

So I'm buying a stick to play everything and you're buying a very expensive stick solely for those titles. In other words, a waste of money.

There aren't any high-end multi-console sticks on the market; any multi-console stick isn't made by a respectable company. If you want a multi-console stick, then you have to get one custom-made or modify an existing stick.

As I already said, I'm not talking about multi-console sticks. I'm talking about getting a PS1/2-compatible stick because it's still the standard. Ones that only work on PS3 or 360 are a waste of money.

The guy who pays upwards of $100 per game (that's assuming you are only buying really old and/or heavily used PCBs/Kits) shouldn't be telling everyone they are wasting their money on their gaming hardware.

Shouldn't you be building your own anyways, seeing as you obviously suffer from an extreme case of hobbiest-gamer syndrome?

Actually.. you can play 3S off the SFAC disc on 360 with any 360 stick.

...can I have 'em?

Well a TE stick has the best components, and has a layout for both curved an straight buttons.

I fail to see the point in spending more money for a custom from say, Arcade in a box.

Sure making your own may be cheaper, but I'm sure the majority of the people who buy sticks, do so because they don't have the ability/tools to make their own. Such is the situation for basically every item sold ever :P

The best parts? Not necessarily , both Sanwa and Seimitsu are the two highest contenders for buttons in the arcade market, and both have a different feel to them making them a personal preference.

Same with layout, I prefer Blast City layout to any other, there is no "One layout to control them all".

As for tools, I finished mine with a screw driver. I ordered a case (and there are some cheap ones out there if you look) for my setup, though I've seen people do cases with bare minimum of tools.

I just figure if your spending $150 on a stick, you should get one that is tailored to your tastes.

Thanks for the tip!

i've been considering whether to buy a high end or make my own!

thank you :)

Is Airi Suzuki your avatar?

... there are so many obvious responses to this.

I just won't make them.

for instance this response:

So why don't console controllers have right-handed directional analog sticks??

But you press buttons with your right; it's ambi-dextrous if anything. Do American cars have the wheel on the left, so there can be more accidents? Do Japanese cars have the shifter on the left, so there can be more transmission damage? It doesn't matter what side it's on; people will always adjust. Maybe they were originally on the left to make people lose more, but now it's become the standard, as anyone who plays games knows you move with your left and press buttons with your right.

I'm sorry you don't like the way EVERYTHING turned out. I thought you guys died out with the last Sega Master System "Control Stick."

People tend to ask this question with guitars and the like so here's the answer.

If you are right handed, your right hand is really, really good at doing physical activities. Pressing buttons, strumming/plucking strings, etc. Your left hand, though, is not.

Your right hand is also good at doing finesse things. Aiming/moving a mouse/joystick, throwing a football, etc. Well, it just so happens that your left hand isn't that good at that, generally, but it's better at finesse things than it is physical things.

So, why would you want to use your left hand for a physical activity when it, generally, sucks really really bad at it?

@ ryanpaul

I can attest to that. In Guitar Hero/Rock Band, I'm really good at strumming and playing frets and chords with my right hand, but I'm okay at doing both with my left hand. I can't hit notes in rapid succession with my left hand and I can't strum rapidly either, so I'm handicapped either way.

I guess I just need to get faster through practice, but it's frustrating at times.

This is also why I could never play arcade games, but I have gotten better with my left hand, though. Not being ambidextrous sucks sometimes.

My comment on this one is grayed out too even though I'm agreeing with the rest of you.

*cough cough* TURN IT AROUND *cough cough*...Genius!!!

And as for the guitar/handed discussion...I am LEFT handed,but was given a right handed guitar as my only option,before i knew how to play... ...now,15yrs later,im still left handed,but could not play a left handed guitar for the life of me,only right...so...everything is never cut and dry ;-)

I used joysticks exclusively for shmups. I suck at fighting games with a stick.

Pretty much all games that you can control with the D-Pad support an arcade stick. A lot of pre-fab sticks allow you to map the stick to either of the analog sticks now too though. Your ideal game would be one with all digital control and fully customizable button mappings.

Your logic may be "sound," it just doesn't apply to anyone but yourself at this particular moment. People tend to purchase things based on their specific needs. I bought an SFIV TE stick this year and use the hell out of it. I didn't buy two because the people I tend to play with don't care to use a stick. I didn't buy a multi-console adapter (or a stick capable of accepting one) because I don't constantly jump between ten consoles, I have three connected at the moment and I'll probably keep it that way. I also only buy my fighting games on one platform, just as I'm sure the people with a great racing wheel would prefer to buy their racing games on a single platform.

You are an extreme exception. You don't just buy consumer-level products, you pay top dollar for commercial arcade boards. You are a hobbiest, you seek out and embrace the niche... Unfortunately you also lampoon those that do not share the same level of commitment to your hobby, and crossed the barrier into elitist territory (I'd liken it to the Nippon Ichi fangirls that never take a break from ridiculing the FPS player). Just do your thing and let other people do theirs.

A lot of assumptions there. I don't pay top-dollar for my arcade boards. I'm a deal hunter. I play old arcade games I buy on ebay. Beyond that, I play the same contemporary consoles and games as you.

The fact is, you own other consoles, and presumably will own other new ones in the future. You'd be able to keep using one stick if you simply bought less expensive adapters than completely new sticks. That applies to everyone. The people buying these new sticks are simply being short-sighted. My solution is more practical.