Question About Dreamcast/Saturn Compatible Arcade Sticks

[Ben]

I just wanted to ask this question (please don't kill me if it's been asked before, I searched first!), but I've heard about really high quality Japanese arcade sticks built for the Dreamcast that were backwards compatible with the Saturn. I searched on ebay, but couldn't find any that definitively said that they would work. So, here's my question: Has anyone owned one of these, and if so could you tell me what the quality is relative to the Saturn Virtua Stick and the Dreamcast Agetec sticks? I never liked the Virtua Stick that well, and if I could find one closer to the Agetec Dreamcast ones it would be be great.

[pierrot]

Here you are.

[Ben]

Thanks for that, unfortunately an old GameFAQs post claiming it was good was in error based on

The Fighting Stick is a very cheaply made device, simply taking existing HSS-0136 sticks and adding an internal Sega Saturn to Dreamcast controller adapter

..

If it's not too much annoyance to ask, I'm guessing this is the only backwards compatible stick that was released (while actually being a forwards compatible Saturn stick)? I looked into X-Arcade, but they only have a Wii, PS2, PS1, GCN and Dreamcast adapter (no Saturn), and people who used old PSX/Saturn adapters on this adapter said it created a lot of latency. I just wish there were an easy way to get an Agetec stick to work on a Saturn (I know people have hacked gamepads to make it work, but given how much Agetec sticks go for now I don't want to ruin mine trying something like that).

[Spyke]

I don't know if this will be any help, but I use a HORI (Saturn) Fighting Stick SS which is very good quality. I use it on my Dreamcast by using a Dream-Connector adapter which goes into the DC controller port. It also enable me to use PS controllers and sticks when the fancy takes me. It even has a VMU slot built-in.

Ant

[CRTGAMER]

Agree with Spyke, just get a PSX controller adapter. The supposed lag some claim is moot, electrical feed is a lot quicker then your hand. This gives you a huge range of PS1/PS2 Arcade sticks, some at a decent price.

[Ben]

Thanks for the advice, to be honest I liked the Hori pad design a lot more than the X-Arcade, I just wanted to get some advice from someone who actually used one of these set ups before I put more cash down. It's funny, when I played my Saturn in my younger years I thought the Virtua Stick was great, but now that I've gotten into playing a bunch of the imports I never had back then it just drives me crazy. Definitely glad I found racketboy.

[pierrot]

I have an unmodified HSS-0136, and the Fighting Stick SS arcade sticks for my Saturn, and they're both of generally quality build. I believe swapping out buttons and the stick on the HSS-0136 is fairly straightforward, which can not be said about the Hori stick. As far as I'm aware, that DC Fighting Stick is just an original HSS-0136 with some sticker decals over the original Sega branding. I don't think it would be all that bad an investment if you found an inexpensive one.

[Ben]

I have an unmodified HSS-0136, and the Fighting Stick SS arcade sticks for my Saturn, and they're both of generally quality build. I believe swapping out buttons and the stick on the HSS-0136 is fairly straightforward, which can not be said about the Hori stick. As far as I'm aware, that DC Fighting Stick is just an original HSS-0136 with some sticker decals over the original Sega branding. I don't think it would be all that bad an investment if you found an inexpensive one.

Thanks again, but now you've complicated things a bit for me in terms of a decision! Of course, this is why I posted instead of just taking a blurb at face value. After some digging, I've found reputable Japanese Amazon sellers who I've dealt with before that have DC Fighting Sticks in- the sub-$50 range (granted, I have to pay for EMS and wait, but it still ends up being cheaper than a top end Hori stick). I'm a real Sega loyalist (and the DC bowing out is mainly why I don't follow gaming as much these days, and am getting into the retro scene), so I don't mind putting down the cash for it, especially since I just put some serious change into buying the import fighters I was missing. I do occasionally play with other people, so I may use a Hori stick with an adapter for that rather than deal with EMS and all that hassle for a second stick later, but I'm going to go with this option. If only Agetec had just made a Saturn adapter...

[pierrot]

I'm relatively certain that the "Agetec" sticks are just official Japanese arcade sticks that Sega didn't want to bother marketing in the US. (Like the racing wheel.) That said, I had assumed that you were trying to save as much space as possible by consolidating your arcade stick pile. What I have, personally, between the DC and Saturn are the official JP DC stick, HSS-0136 and Hori Fighting Stick SS. Between the three, I think the HSS-0136 might be the best. The way I see it, you're probably better off just getting an HSS-0136 (or Hori, if you prefer) and a Saturn to DC controller converter.

I personally wouldn't recommend paying more than $20 for any one of those sticks. I got lucky at a recycle shop when I got my Hori stick complete for $3, but the HSS-0136 cost me $15 complete, and the DC stick I got on sale for about $10 without the box. I've never really payed much attention to the prices on those Fighting Sticks, but $50 area seems too high, especially if you're dealing with Amazon Japan.

Not to confuse you any more, but are you looking for an arcade stick more for fighting games, or shooting games? I ask, because all of the arcade sticks I've mentioned have square gates. There is an Ascii (I believe they are) stick for the Dreamcast that has an octagonal gate, but they are quite expensive.

[Ben]

Okay, thanks for bearing with me here. I'm mostly interested in the pad for fighters, I primarily play 2D fighters and RPGS, so my worry about the pad for shooters isn't as great (although I do plan on trying to collect the rarer Saturn shooters eventually, it's not a real priority and not my focus at all). So here's what I'm looking at, if you can bear with me a bit longer: for about $90 I can get an HSS-0136 in box (that looks really nice), or a slightly beat up one for $40 (both prices with shipping not included of course). Based on what you've said, I'm thinking that is my best bet, but before I go for one or the other do you have any idea about durability and going rates? I'm leaning towards the in box, really nice looking one for $90. Also, just to clear it up, I googled it and you are correct, the Agetec is just the official Sega stick for the DC (the one people called the Green Goblin). Honestly, I've had the same one I bought in 99 that still works flawlessly, and I really like the feel of it, so as long as I get my Saturn situation settled I'm satisfied with it for the DC.