MD Arcade Sticks

[Spyke]

Hi,

I'll be looking for a good arcade stick for my incoming MD1 console. I've read that the Arcade Power Stick II is the best, but reaches high prices. The Saitek Megamaster seems affordable but also looks reasonable quality. Does that sound about right?

Also, the Megamaster comes in two versions: MX-341 and MX-342. Can anyone tell me the differences please?

Thanks

Ant

[samsonlonghair]

As a Sega nerd and an arcade enthusiast, I recommend the Capcom Power Stick Fighter.

This is the best damn arcade stick for the Genesis, no doubt.
I love the clicky micro-switches!

To answer your previous question, the arcade power stick II is a decent first-party stick. This was made by Sega, themselves. You might compare the quality level to an NES advantage or SNES super advantage made by asciiware.

The Saitek Megamaster comes in at least two flavors that I know of (and maybe more).

Beware the MX-341; it has ABC buttons and turbo ABC buttons, but no XYZ buttons. This means that it's an acceptable stick for shoot 'em ups, but no good for Street Fighter II which requires XYZ buttons.

Megamaster MX-541 has all six ABC and XYZ buttons plus turbo for all six. This means that it has sufficient buttons for fighting games like Street Fighter et all. I believe the MX-541 may only be available in Europe.

I neverheard of the MX-342 before.

If you love American-style controls, check out the Arcadian joysticks made by KBM. They have authentic Bat-top sticks and concave buttons that come from US arcade cabinets, but the box they are built into leaves something to be desired.

[noiseredux]

we need some pics to go with model numbers.

I don't have a Genny stick either but would like one at some point. So this thread is helpful to me as well. I wouldn't mind getting a 1st party arcade stick from a collector's standpoint. Though I'm sure it's nothing great.

That Capcom stick is so pretty though.

[Spyke]

Thanks!

I realised about the MX-341 having only three buttons and turbo buttons instead of 6 buttons, and was lucky enough to find an MX-342 which has six game buttons. This is the pic of the one I've purchased and I'm waiting for it to arrive. It is microswitched



It looks like the MX-342 is another variant of the MX-541 - perhaps a different region model?

The Capcom stick does look good, although I'm not sure I'd get opn with such a spaced out layout. Also a bit pricier than I wanted to spend. I got the MX-342 for £10.

Funnily enough, as I primarily play only shmups, six buttons is probably overkill for me, but what the heck!

Ant

[pierrot]

I got an Arcade Power Stick (3-button) off of Jmustang not too long ago, and it's not too bad. There aren't any micro switches in it, and it certainly isn't arcade quality, but it gets the job done, and is fairly accurate and comfortable, besides.

I do have Super Street Fighter II for the Genesis, but it's unlikely I'll ever really play it considering that I also own the Street Fighter Collection for the Saturn, and Super Street Fighter II X on the Dreamcast. Other than that, I'm not really much of a fan of the SNK ports on the Genesis, so I can't really think of anything, aside from Gouketsuji Ichizoku, that I might want six buttons for. I think a 6-button game pad would suffice for anything that isn't a shmup.

Maybe when I'm a little more flush with cash, I'll see about getting one of those Capcom sticks samson mentioned.

[Redifer]

I've heard The Tank is a great joystick. 100% arcade quality.

Video review:

[Hobie-wan]

I've heard The Tank is a great joystick. 100% arcade quality.

Video review:

Why settle for a Tank when you can have a Battlestation II?

[Redifer]

Well, I'm assuming OP has no friends and also he'd have to mod it to get it to be as awesome as THE TANK. If OP has friends, he can just buy 2 THE TANKs.

[Hobie-wan]

Dammit Joe! Why'd you have to remind me that I have no friends to come over and use my Battlestation II?

[Spyke]

Well I just haven't told my friends I've bought another MD yet. I don't know if I can trust them that much...