Need advice - Arcade stick for MAME

Neith · Post by **Neith** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:16 pm

I'm looking to buy a high quality stick to connect to my PC to play games on MAME displayed on my lcd tv.

The main one I'm considering is the HORI Real Arcade Pro Stick 3.
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-...n-70-1rrr.html
It is actually a Playstation 3 stick, but it is usb and confirmed to work on a PC.
It is kind of expensive though, £46 + £35 shipping ($162 USD)

An alternative cheaper stick I'm considering is the HORI EX2 Fighting Stick for XBOX 360
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Virtua-Fighter- ... 653&sr=8-1
It works on a PC after installing some drivers and configuration.
Costs much less at £30 ($60 USD) shipped.

I'd really like to hear your opinions and suggestions.

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:34 am

I just recently got my HRAP-3 for the same purpose and I'm pretty happy with it. There are a couple of mods, however, that I feel border on necessary for making it into a "great" stick. Most importantly, the HORI stock buttons have to go; they feel like cheap plastic toy buttons, and they bug the Hell out of me. I'm currently waiting on my Seimitsu replacements from the group order. I'm also getting an octagonal restrictor for the Sanwa stick that comes stock, but I suppose that's just a matter of personal preference. I still can't fathom why square comes standard, though.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend the HRAP-3, but only if you're willing to spend a few extra bucks on some quality pushbutton replacements.

Neith · Post by **Neith** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:18 am

Thanks for responding.

Can you recommend where to buy the replacement buttons?

Aleanil · Post by **Aleanil** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:14 pm

You can get Japanese arcade parts from either akihabarashop.jp, or oxtsu has an order that goes in to sanwa / seimitsu where you can get replacement joysticks and buttons. Replacing them in an HRAP is dead simple, I think the Fighting Stick Pro is a little more complex and requires soldering where the HRAP has quick disconnects on the buttons. I may be mistaken on that.

EDIT: early morning killed me. I was thinking of the PS3 Fighting Stick Pro as the cheaper version, soldering-may-be-required but said it was the Real Arcade Pro. And yeah, I've heard very good things of lizardlick too - they don't carry as large a selection as oxtsu or akihabarashop, but their turnaround time on orders is FAST. I'd never ordered from them, so it also slipped my mind. ^^;

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:22 pm

I think the Real Arcade Pro is a little more complex and requires soldering where the HRAP has quick disconnects on the buttons.

HORI Real Arcade Pro = HRAP

And yes, the HRAP-3 does have quick disconnects, so you don't have to worry about soldering or anything like that. I had, literally, zero experience with modding before I got my HRAP-3, and I was able to open it up and figure out how to swap out the buttons and restrictor pretty easily, so that's not really a problem.

As far as getting the parts goes, I recommend trying to get in on one of the group orders with oxtsu (God bless him) to save yourself some money, but if you're looking to get the parts right away, I have heard great things about Lizard Lick:

http://www.lizardlick.com/

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:51 pm

Yep, oxtsu is famous for his Sanwa/Seimitsu Group Orders...get on it the next it comes up. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:22 am

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:Yep, oxtsu is famous for his Sanwa/Seimitsu Group Orders...get on it the next it comes up. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Could I/we get a little more info on this oxtsu , please...?

overkill55 · Post by **overkill55** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:11 am

doodude wrote:
PC Engine Fan X! wrote:Yep, oxtsu is famous for his Sanwa/Seimitsu Group Orders...get on it the next it comes up. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Could I/we get a little more info on this oxtsu , please...?

Find the SGO order thread in the trading section

Neith · Post by **Neith** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:30 am

Hey Necronopticous what size buttons do I need for the HRAP3?

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:23 am

The standard 30mm pushbuttons are what you're looking for, for the main face buttons.

I believe you can also swap out the select and start button with the smaller 24mm buttons, but don't quote me on that, since I didn't bother, myself.

Neith · Post by **Neith** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:03 pm

So does anyone use an EX2 Fighting Stick on their PC?
I'm leaning towards this stick as it is much cheaper and the HRAP3 on play asia is "back ordered" at the moment.

The EX2 however would be delivered to me the day after ordering with free shipping.

I'm inexperienced with a stick I've always used game pads and I don't have much arcade experience either, I'm thinking the superior quality of a more expensive stick would be wasted on me..

Anyways if you have something to say about the EX2 I'd love to hear it.

swampejesus · Post by **swampejesus** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:21 am

I have fighting stick 3 on my pc and it works ok. It also works on my os x leopard. Which is nice. So it might be reasonable to guess that ex2 will at least work.

fighting stick 3 is not the best stick out there but its allright, much better than nothing

And i think it will last quite long if one is not too rough handed...