Quick question about Ikaruga (DC vers) controls.

[SpiffierRabbit]

Guys,
I'm just about to buy Ikaruga for the the DC and I was wondering if the Dreamcast Official Arcade Stick ike the one below is compatible with te game. And is it easier to play with that or the normal DC pad??



thanks

[Acid King]

It's compatible, but whether or not it is better depends on whether or not you are better with a pad or a stick.

[kengou]

Haven't tried the stick, but I'll give my thoughts on the controls of the DC version, having played both that and the GC version:

With DC, you can only use the d-pad. Didn't feel quite right to me, would have liked the option of the analog stick. My biggest complaint though is the buttons. On the GC version I got used to using the right shoulder button for homing shot, and on the DC that button was the ONLY one you can NOT map as homing shot. I have no idea why that's the case but it annoys me to no end.

Those are kind of personal reasons for disliking the DC controls, but if I wouldn't be surprised if the arcade stick felt better for me.

[Kiken]

Haven't tried the stick, but I'll give my thoughts on the controls of the DC version, having played both that and the GC version:

With DC, you can only use the d-pad. Didn't feel quite right to me, would have liked the option of the analog stick. My biggest complaint though is the buttons. On the GC version I got used to using the right shoulder button for homing shot, and on the DC that button was the ONLY one you can NOT map as homing shot. I have no idea why that's the case but it annoys me to no end.

Those are kind of personal reasons for disliking the DC controls, but if I wouldn't be surprised if the arcade stick felt better for me.

The game was designed around digital control. I will never understand the obsession that some of you have for requiring analog input in games that never had that to begin with.

And I never had any trouble assigning the R Trigger to Wind Laser Release. IE: You're doing it wrong.

[e_tank]

The game was designed around digital control. I will never understand the obsession that some of you
have for requiring analog input in games that never had that to begin with.

not everyone wants to for the same reason but for those who do because of the ergonomics of their controller the reasoning is simple and logical. the analog stick on many systems (dc, gc, xbox) is placed directly under the thumbs natural resting position, for many this will be the one that they are most comfortable with and will have the most accuracy using. the secondary control is usually placed in a spot that forces you to extend your thumb to an unnatural position making it can be akward to use, thereby diminishing accuracy.

this is exactly why you may see people complain about not being able to press exactly along the x or y axis on a psx dual analog stick. with the analog stick in the secondary position (originally placed there as an afterthought at a time when most games wouldn't use it) it's difficult to use with the precision required. i'm sure part of the reason why the dpad is more often placed in the secondary position is because it doesn't require the same kind of precision as an analog stick.

i personally can't play ikaruga well at all on a standard gc controller because of this problem. i find the dpad is too akward to use due to where it's placed and i've tried using the analog stick but i don't like that either because i find that it's too sensitive. for this reason i wish games that were designed around digital input would always allow you to manually adjust the threshold value used to produce digital input via the analog stick.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, I've got one of those USA region Dreamcast Agetech Sticks myself and had it further modded with all Seimitsu Japanese arcade spec parts (joystick and push buttons) + even has a DB-15 pinout mod for use with a supergun setup. Even the Seimitsu push buttons are layed out in Japanese arcade spec configuration for completeness (which is different than what USA-based arcade stick's button layouts are configured for anyways).

I use a special transcoder box when hooking up this bad boy to my DC console. It's awesome for all those DC-based shmup titles including Ikaruga -- plus no need for a DC pad with the analog stick setup either. All these Agetech Stick modifications were all performed by shmupper oxtsu -- he's "DA Man!" ^_~

Of course, if the Agetech Stick is left as is "stock", it does a decent job as far as input commands are concerned. You have your stock joystick that is reminscent of a Sanwa knock-off one along with Sanwa knock-off push buttons. The more serious hard-core DC Arcade Stick owners either have theirs modded with either Sanwa or Seimitsu arcade parts...it really is just a matter of personal taste though in the end as which one would be best for your current shmup needs.

Some folks don't like the tactile feel of Japanese arcade joysticks and push buttons and resort to the "tried & true" USA-based Happ Competition or Suzo based arcade parts based on their proven track record in the American arcade scene. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~