Making the adjustment from a Pad to a Stick?

[bostongeorge]

What are some of your thoughts/experiences?

Did you suck at using the Joystick at first? How long did it take you to get better? Did your overall SHMUP abilities increase?

I've always used a PS2 controller for Galuda etc., a PS2 Clone by Logitech for MAME stuff (Do Donpachi mostly) and a regular DC pad for Ikaruga, THE, UD, etc. etc.

My new HRAP2: SA is in the Mail and I anxiously await it's arrival. I also ordered adapters that according to extensive research/testing by others (SRKers) show no noticeable lag so I plan to use this stick for ALL my SHMUP needs (PS2/3-DC-MAME anyway) plus fighting games.

So needless to say I'm super excited. Anyone wanna share?

P.S. Once it comes I'll post a pic of my "ghetto-Tate" set-up

[brokenhalo]

i was a pad warrior for 20+ years. it was only recently that i started getting into sticks. as far as using sticks for 2-d fighting games, i can definitly see how they allow you to do more complex things versus using a pad, but i need A LOT more practice. doing basic commands come out a little slower than with pad, and i have a tendancy to jump trying to do quick qcf,qcf+p motions. expect to suck for a while. it takes a lot of practice to get the motions locked into muscle memory.

playing shmups is a whole 'nother story. it sounds odd, but the precision that playing with a good stick gives you is far beyond what a pad or an analog stick can give you, imho. i saw an instant improvement on every game i played.

3-d fighters are also better on stick. i improved instantly in vf5, and the 6 button jap layout is so comfortable for hitting those 2 or 3 button at a time combinations. definitely improved my game there.

as far as the particular stick you are getting, it's basically what i'm using (sanwa jlf stick, obsn-30 buttons). i think you will be happy with it. the buttons are super responsive, and the stick is comfortable and precise (although the clicking takes a little getting used to). all in all, about the best set-up money can buy.

[spadgy]

I found the switch pretty smooth, as it instantly felt more natural compared to a pad...


However, many of us go through a slight adjustment period, but it is well worth it! Enjoy your stick!

[trivial]

Tapping feels crampy on a pad. No way around it, even Midol is no help. I notice I'll switch two fingers around to opposite sides of the pad, which gives maybe another minute of comfortable play.

[thamasha69]

I have always used a pad for gameplay until a few months ago when I got my Sigma Raijin supergun. I instantly noticed an improvement in my skill. I would say that after roughly ten minutes with the arcade controls it felt completely natural. I can still easily switch back to my console shmups playing with a pad (PS2 Saturn pad), but its always refreshing to play the pcb's with the *real* controls.

[MX7]

You need a good stick to tell the difference. I got a shitty stick, and my scores plummeted. I thought I was just adjusting, but I visted the Casino arcade in London and played Ketsui in a sit down cab, and I was pretty good. If you're going to make the transfer, get a good stick. The one I use at the moment is called the Mayflash fighting stick, which was very cheap, and apart from the stick being a little too loose, is a more than adequate arcade stick.

[bostongeorge]

You need a good stick to tell the difference. I got a shitty stick, and my scores plummeted. I thought I was just adjusting, but I visted the Casino arcade in London and played Ketsui in a sit down cab, and I was pretty good. If you're going to make the transfer, get a good stick. The one I use at the moment is called the Mayflash fighting stick, which was very cheap, and apart from the stick being a little too loose, is a more than adequate arcade stick.

The one I bought is the HRAP: SA, which by all accounts I've read is a very good stick.