Arcade Sticks

[DomitorInvictus]

Hi there. I'm looking for a reasonably priced and decent arcade stick that I can use with my PS3 and laptop. I'm planning on using it primarily for fighting games and SHMUPs. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it has to be responisve, comfortable and easy to use.

I've seen some arcade sticks in around the $40 range, that's a fine price, but are these any good? Or will I have to pay a little more to get something that isn't crap? Suggestions please...

[Nemoide]

Well, I have a MadCatz Tournament Stick for Xbox 360, it cost over $100 but I think was worth it. From what I can tell, with arcade sticks, you really get what you pay for. It's easily the best stick I've ever owned.

I'm sure their cheaper stick is of acceptable quality, but it's not made from genuine arcade parts and I've heard that it isn't quite as responsive or durable. I'm not too familiar with other brands that are out there, but from what I know, the more you're willing to pay, the better stick you'll get.

[CD AGES]

Try Hori. They make durable arcade sticks for versatile prices. You got their new FIGHT STICK V3, the RAP. V3 SA and lastly their RAP3 Premium VLX. $60, $130 and $300 respectively.

[Lone Wanderer]

Well I've heard nothing but great things about the x-arcade tank stick. They sell new for around $200 iirc but there's one on eBay right now at about $80.

[vlame]

build it yourself?

[jay_red]

Ok so I have been through literally 5 different sticks lately before finally landing on 2 that I like. This option will be cheap for a very good quality stick.

what I did is I picked up the Madcatz SE stick for the Wii (can be had for under $40 shipped easily, and I got an adapter for $8 shipped that allows it to work with the Ps3 and PC. Since I dont plan to use it on a wii at all I opened the stick, and took the casing off the adapter and placed it inside so it just natively plugs into a ps3/pc now.

If you search online the same stick but for the Ps3 will run you 60-80 (last one I watched end on ebay went for $81) The Wii version feels better than the Ps3 version as well (I have both) and from what i have read online has better quality parts.



You can see that it looks like it came that way from the factory, no hack job here.


Sorry for the long response, and hope this information helps!

[Runefaust]

If you want cheap but good quality you have two options: build it yourself or buy Hori. Cheapest Hori stick goes for about $60 last I checked (I got my SCIV EX2 for $40 during a sale) and it comes with stock Hori, Happ(?) and Seimitsu components depending on the model; some people prefer the feel of the Hori products and they last a good while if you treat 'em right.

The TE sticks from Mad Catz are commonplace at the top of any buy list because they use Sanwa components which have been the best in the biz for years. I bought the TE S Edition and, as a modder, I am very pleased with it.

Though, interesting bit of news, Razer (popular PC gaming peripherals company) is taking a gamble and entering into the competition. Their controller currently boasts Sanwa components as well and caters to custom joystick enthusiasts.

[hashiriya1]

I have a Sega Virtua Stick High Grade. It is the best stick I have tried on the PS3 and it works great on PCs too. The gate is tight and it is very heavy.

[Lodestar]

HRAP3. I got mine for 60 on sale, it comes with a Sanwa stick and Hori buttons. Compatible with PS3 and PC.

[dreamakumat]

Hori FS3's work on both PC and PS3. the later model PS3 TE's (I.E ROUND 2 and Marvel) are said to work on PCs. the Round one only works on PCs with an Intel chipset in their Mobo.

I use a dual mod I built out of a Tatsunoko v capcom stick. I used seimitsu buttons and a Ls-32 Joystick. the light, fast return to center made my dodon pachi runs better.

For fighters I have a Round one TE with a heavily modified Sanwa JLF joystick.

X-arcade sticks are ok at best, but become a pain after a while.