Great Arcade sticks for PC?

[MikeHaggarKJ]

Hello I have fairly recently gotten into shmups that I play on emulators on my PC (id play them on arcades if they fucking existed where i live), and I need something better to play them with then my mediocre half-broken mad-catz gamepad.
I know there's been threads like these before, but there's so many different arcade sticks to choose from and so many different opinions about them it just makes me confused.

Any recommendations? My standards aren't ridicoulusly high obviously, but if I'm going to buy one of these things I want a good one. I'm looking to spend somewhere around 50-100 dollars, but I'd be willing to spend more if you guys would consider it necessary to get one that's "good enough".
It's 95% for shmups but I'll also be playing some fighters on it prolly.

PS: if they're compatible with more systems then the PC that's a big plus, I'm considering getting a ps3.

Thanks alot for any help!!


Also if someone wants to you can recommend me some "must-play" shmups, like I said I've recently gotten into this.

[gray117]

The ideal stick basically = best arcade parts - you can ge them now in stock form but they can be a bit expensive for what they are.

Given that you don't want to mod yourself (?) an easy one to go straight for would be one of the mayflash Universal Fighting Stick - ps2/3 + pc without any adapters ... and I believe... [runs off to find out]

.... brokenhalo does a modding service for them - http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... sh#p490506

The basic stick is cheap and not too bad, but with a modded one you'll pretty much have a perfect playing stick.

Personally I'd recommend sanwa stick and buttons - most likely what you'll find in a good jap arcade machine. The JLF stick is precise and buttons very sensitive.

The regular slight shmup alternative is with the seimitsu stick and buttons - stick has basically a slightly shorter throw and slightly less resistance - bit more loss feeling, and the buttons are less sensitive [helps avoid accidently pressing - usually bombing ]

Everyone has their own preference, and its pretty well debated over the forums - I would personally recommend sanwa setup, as your first stick - especially if you're likely to play some fighters - maybe get a seimitsu later to try out once you're hooked - you will be

As for vital games - why the mayflash is good - opens up the relatively cheap ps2 + 1 libraries... You'll no doubt be interested in some of the Cave games - eg. dondonpachi (often cited as father of bullet hell, in truth a debabatable claim, but there we go - its still very good ... I would personally also recommend some neo-geo games such as last resort + blazing star as something 'a bit off the beaten track'... if rather tough... use those continues

I'm sure you'll soon form your own ideas of must play games though - enjoy

ps. if you're not too up on the japan based shmup games I heartily recommend http://www.world-of-arcades.net/ which outlines some of the big names and their games ... it was also put together by some well informed people [so not me ] that you'll no doubt see on these forums...

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If you want to get an Hori Real Arcade Pro 3, it works just fine with the PS3 and PC platforms. NCSX is taking pre-orders for them once again at the asking price of $129.90 USD are supposed to be shipping out in late June 2009:

http://www.shopncsx.com/realarcadepro3joystick-1.aspx

http://www.ncsx.com/2007/020507/hori_rap3.htm

The joystick is a Sanwa based one but the push buttons are of the stock Hori produced ones. Just order the usual Sanwa push buttons and replace the stock Hori ones and you're good to go. ^_~

Or if you feel like going for a Seimitsu setup, replace said Sanwa stick and replace the stock Hori push buttons with all Seimitsu ones. Can't go wrong with either Sanwa or Seimitsu...that is if you want the best that money can buy with a pure Japanese arcade spec controller setup. ^_~

There is the out-of-print Sega Virtua Stick High Grade joystick for the PS3 and PC to consider as well. It's endowed with Sanwa parts from the get-go.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ganelon]

360 TE (PS3 version supposedly doesn't work right)