Joystick/buttons question

[burgerkingdiamond]

I just got my candy cab restored and setup with JAMMA and xbox 360. It is made by CROWN, which is Korean I believe.
The joysticks are extremely loose and have a very long throw (not a good combo for Mushi Futari, not bad for Raiden II though...), buttons also don't have very good spring action.

I want to replace the sticks with balltops by either seimitsu or sanwa, but I have never used either kind before. Which are better for playing shmups? I don't
plan on ever un-tating the monitor, so this is a strictly vertical shmup machine. I'm looking for something with a somewhat stiff spring and shorter throw, since now
I don't have the ability to move very precisely.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[brokenhalo]

since you specifically stated you wanted a shorter throw and stronger spring, go with the seimitsu ls-32. fits your description perfectly. as far as replacing the buttons, korean buttons are slightly smaller than sanwa or seimitsu buttons, so you will probably have to enlarge the holes ever so slightly to change those out.

[burgerkingdiamond]

thanks for the advice. Do you know if the sticks will fit in the old mounts?

[PsychoGun]

LS-32 is great, but the Sanwa JLF is also good. I have both, and like both for shmups, but I've been using the LS-32 more lately.

If the sticks you have are knockoffs, i'm sure the plates are standard sanwa or similar, you should be fine.

[brokenhalo]

thanks for the advice. Do you know if the sticks will fit in the old mounts?

the korean sticks are built quite differently than either the seimitsu or sanwa joysticks, but i'm not sure how crown cabinets are setup. could you post a picture of the underside of the control panel? that would help.

LS-32 is great, but the Sanwa JLF is also good. I have both, and like both for shmups, but I've been using the LS-32 more lately.

personally, i like the jlf better for shmups, but im in the minority.

that being said, if you have the extra cash bkdiamond, definitely try both sticks out. they're both fantastic, but in very different ways.

[PsychoGun]

For shmups where a lot of tapping is done (most bullet hell games) I like the LS-32. Like Ketsui for example. The stiffness of the LS-32 just makes you more accurate. I actually got better after trying this stick (I had the JLF first).

For a game like Deathsmiles, I like the JLF better. Because deathsmiles is all about moving around the screen quickly. I like the looseness of the JLF in this respect, the stiffness of the LS-32 gets on my nervous after several long deathsmiles runs.

[KBZ]

LS-40 has the shortest throw of them all unless you want some wonky euro stick.

It also doesn't have the 'jump' at the restrictor like an LS-32. This jump only really bothers me for fighters though.

My fav right now is the LS-33

[burgerkingdiamond]

I'm getting ready to order a couple of LS-32's for my cab right now from LizardLick.com.

http://www.lizardlick.com/Seimitsu-Joys ... c_214.html
http://www.lizardlick.com/Seimitsu-LS-32_p_418.html

What restrictor would you guys recommend? They have a round, square, and octagonal (I don't know which is the standard)

[gray117]

square is usually thought of as 'standard' - good for a diagonal jam...

Think that's a shmup given, some fighter types like a octagonal to aid in (1/4/2) circle motions whilst giving a bit of stick-i-ness to the straight up/down/left/right... however even with fighters I believe square to be the more standard solution for that diagonal jam.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, using a a "square" gate is necessary for proper diagonal movement when using either Sanwa or Seimitsu arcade joysticks- for moving around in tight spots, especially for a danmaku type of shmup.

There's the Suzo branded joystick that's even more responsive than either Sanwa or Seimitsu...the only thing is that they quite hard to find these days (hence the high prices they command these days if you want them).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[The Expanding Man]

Thanks for starting this - I was looking to replace the joysticks on my cabs.

Sorry to thread jump - but what push buttons are generally preferred for shmups, sanwa or seimitsu?

[emphatic]

Sorry to thread jump - but what push buttons are generally preferred for shmups, sanwa or seimitsu?

I've tried HAPP, Seimitsu and Sanwa etc, and my fave are Seimitsus, as Sanwas (even RG ones) aren't good enough for mashing as the return isn't as snappy as Seimitsus. Happ are also a good choice, especially when coupled with Cherry or Omron switches (ironically the latter are what's fitted on Sanwa JLF sticks).

When you buy buttons, the most expensive part is the shipping cost, so getting some extra from a brand you're not familiar with is always a smart move if you're undecided.

For sticks my best advice is switching from Seimitsu to Sanwa and back once in a while as you'll concentrate better on the game if you play with something that feels slightly different. I also always pull the spring a bit, to make the handling stiffer.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

On my Atari Jaguar Deluxe LX joystick (personally made by Dan Loosen, owner of goatstore.com site), it has a Happ Competition joystick + three Happ push buttons with Cherry switches (for the usual replacement of buttons A, B & C on a standard Jaguar D-pad controller setup). It's a very solid arcade stick setup nevertheless. Even has autofire capabilities for all the buttons which is necessary on some Jag games that benefit from this particular upgrade.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[drunkninja24]

I always prefer having Seimitsu sticks with Sanwa buttons for shmups.

[rancid3000]

So I've decided to swap out my JLF for a Seimitsu LS-32-1. My question is are there any differences between Sanwa and Seimitsu buttons? I'm not planning on going totally custom, just looking to upgrade my Street Fighter IV TE stick. If there is no difference I'm planning on just leaving the Sanwa buttons in and just replacing the stick. Thanks.

[burgerkingdiamond]

i have seimitsu buttons which I thing are totally fine. I haven't used Sanwa before but from everything I've heard they are much more sensitive.

[emphatic]

IMHO, SANWAs are too sensitive. You could go with RG SANWAs though, as they have a harder microswitch. Personally, I'm never buying SANWA buttons again, as I feel that they are much too plastic when compared to Seimitsu. If you rest your middle finger on the bomb button, a SANWA might be fired by accident, and I'd never have that happen to me with Seimitsus. Also, Seimitsu buttons are easier to press rapidly, as SANWAs feel way too sticky.

You could also go with HAPP buttons and use OMRON (the switch that SANWA JLF sticks use) or Seimitsu microswitches. Both brands are available from Akihabarashop.jp and possibly Lizardlick or Arcadeshop.de, whichever shop floats your boat. HAPP buttons (if you buy the actual brand and not a knock-off) will come with CHERRY switches that, while working great, takes more force to press.

[dieKatze88]

the Octagonal restrictor plate isn't a favorite in the shmups community? After playing a few rounds of a bunch of games on mame using my Otomedius stick, I switched all my sticks. I find it to be better as it gives you a tighter target on the JLF for the diagonal corners, which increases accuracy.

[burgerkingdiamond]

the Octagonal restrictor plate isn't a favorite in the shmups community? After playing a few rounds of a bunch of games on mame using my Otomedius stick, I switched all my sticks. I find it to be better as it gives you a tighter target on the JLF for the diagonal corners, which increases accuracy.

for my LS-32 at first I was pretty disappointed with the square restrictor, but after a few hours I got comfortable with it. I bet that an octaganol plate would be perfect though. too bad that don't make them for the 32's. I may try to shape a round one into an octagon with my Dremel though...

[drunkninja24]

the Octagonal restrictor plate isn't a favorite in the shmups community? After playing a few rounds of a bunch of games on mame using my Otomedius stick, I switched all my sticks. I find it to be better as it gives you a tighter target on the JLF for the diagonal corners, which increases accuracy.

The problem I have with the octagonal gate on a JLF is that it actually INCREASES your throw and makes the stick feel even more loose than it already is. The only octagonal gate I really liked using is the LS-56 octagonal. It shortens the throw, and the tighter spring of the LS-56 helps tremendously.

[KroeboCop]

I need some help here I just got the LS-56-01 Seimitsu stick but it doesn't fit in the TE fight stick, are there a place I can buy another metalplate there can fit to the TE stick?

[Drachenherz]

Recently, I got myself a nice HRAP EX SE from Amazon, which has an LS32 and all Seimitsu buttons. I've allready known the seimitsu buttons before, as I put the clear ones in two of my sticks, but up until this stick, I've been playing only with the Sanwa JLF or the Sanwa JLW.

Personally, I like both, the LS32 and the Sanwa JLF. The JLW is not comparable, because I had to put in some longer handles so it fits nice in my cab without looking stupid. Because of that, it has a l longer throw, although it is tighter than the JLF, I think it's about as tight as an LS32.

I actually DO have the feeling of better control with the LS32. It is indeed a little bit tighter than the JLF, and it has a little bit shorter throw, which for me makes it a bit more controleable for Shmups.

But both types of sticks just feel good, it actually is a matter of personal preference.

Button-wise... I'm undecided. I just love the light feel and super responsiveness of the Sanwa buttons, although for certain people they can be just a little too sensitive. It's true, you cannot just rest your finger on them, they're that sensitive...

You need a slight bit more pressure to activate the seimitsus, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. After using them for the first time, I felt it in my fingers, that I had to push slightly harder...

Happ buttons are the hardest of them all, for me, a little bit too hard, but as mentioned before, that's a question of personal preference.

[KroeboCop]

Sanwa buttons always! I started with Sanwa joystick I did not like that, then I got seimitsu LS-32 still not me, so did search about what the tightest joystick is and that was the LS-56-01, so it have to be that there is gonna be in my TE stick, I play best in SF3rd and shmups with the tighest. My brother can maybe help me to drill some ekstra holes, I have an idea. But it could have been better with a new plate

[KroeboCop]

I got some help it is the MS mounting plate I need http://www.akihabarashop.jp/index.php?c ... d8044261dc

[KroeboCop]

I need some Sanwa buttons in blue for a friend, he has a Hori Real Pro 2. Is it the 30mm buttons there fits in that?

[StarCreator]

I need some Sanwa buttons in blue for a friend, he has a Hori Real Pro 2. Is it the 30mm buttons there fits in that?

If you mean the Real Arcade Pro 2 (PS2), yes, I'm pretty sure those use standard 30mm buttons.

[KroeboCop]

Ok thanks