Who uses arcade sticks for their 'shmupping' experience?

[triplex]

Hey guys, been reading this forum for a while for info 'n' stuff like that, but never really decided to contribute anything til now. One topic I've yet to see mentioned (although I could be wrong) on here is that of arcade sticks.

I'm just curious to know exactly how many of you 'shmuppers' on here are using arcade sticks for your gaming experience (particularly with MAME)? To explain why, I'll give you a (very brief) history of my MAME experience over the years.

I've been using MAME since the beginning back in '97, I originally used to use it to once again enjoy those classics from my childhood like Wonderboy, Pacman, Mario Bros etc. But at the time, I was using the computer keyboard.. to play .. and needless to say, after a while I gradually started to lose interest and thought I was done with MAME and that was gonna be it.

So I went a long period without MAME in my life until for some reason (can't remember why) I decided it might be a good idea to try a USB arcade stick for my gaming experience, about 2 years ago. Now.. this was about the time when DOJ, Ketsui etc had just started becoming playable, and once again I was hooked! However this time, the appeal hasn't seemed to die down for me, and it still doesn't appear to be doing so either, some 2 years on. I am now a shmup freak more than ever!

I'm convinced it has everything to do with the fact that I am using an arcade stick to play the games with. For shmups, or indeed any game, it has made a world of difference for me and I couldn't imagine not playing without it. The very thought of playing with a computer keyboard makes me cringe now, lol.

So just wondering what you guys are using for your (MAME) gaming experiences? Arcade sticks? USB controllers? Keyboard? Or something else? (And if any of you are still using the computer keyboard to play my only advice is: get an arcade stick now!! You'll never look back! )

[Bananamatic]

I can already see the shit flying in this thread

[Zeether]

I use my butt to play shmups

[Chirpy13]

Keyboard master race.

[Bananamatic]

Steering wheel master race.

[Deca]

Keyboard for anything running on a pc, stick for anything on a console (except Saturn, need a decent stick for that yet).

[triplex]

I use my butt to play shmups

Uh..

oh, OK. (?)

I can imagine the final boss in Futari would be.... a somewhat painful experience for you.

[Zeether]

I played Raiden II with a flight stick once.

[Mordecai Walfish]

I use a Hori Real Arcade Pro VX-SA for windows/emulation/360 shmup's

It's the only way to play for me.. I grew up in the arcade generation =)

[dieKatze88]

I use my Otomedius Hyper Stick Pro for Most games, but when more than 4 buttons are required, the TE-S with rearranged buttons comes out.

Considering the relatively low barrier to entry for using a stick compared to the importing this community does, I'm surprised more people don't have at least one stick.

[Matskat]

I use and make custom sticks.

See my sig.

Arcade proper controls are the way to go IMHO.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

As a grizzled arcade gamer from the early 1980s, it's always been the custom to using arcade joysticks for playing them arcade shmup titles over the years. Sure, most cabs would sport the usual full-sized Wico or Happ Controls joysticks (or the occasional batwing type of arcade stick) that was typical of the American arcades back in the 1980s and into the 1990s. It really wasn't until the PSX & SS era, that Hori, Ascii & Namco brought over those Japanese styled console arcade sticks to the USA with stock generic parts (eventually with Sanwa & Seimitsu parts to seal the deal like with the HRAP series).

I do recall that the Atari Inc. version of Xevious upright cab sported a Japanese ball type of arcade stick when it was first introduced to the American arcades. Same thing with Stern's Scramble cab licensed from Konami for distribution in the U.S.

Sure, Sega's Arcade Power Stick controller for the Genesis (circa 1990) that had a slick Japanese ball top type of feel (despite being just a tad bit taller than the typical modern-day Sanwa/Seimitsu arcade stick layout) and it's massive & hefty base setup, it still got the job done nevertheless. Even the NES Advantage joystick controller sported a Japanese ball top layout (circa 1987). Same thing could be said about NEC's Turbo Stick as well that dates back to 1989 for the TurboGrafx-16 platform. It's been mentioned that the original Neo-Geo AES stick uses a special Seimitsu made super short throw type of joystick that has never been reproduced anywhere else (not even for commercial use in the Japanese game centers). Talk about exclusivity.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Bee Cool]

I use the Hori EX-SE and the MvC2 TE both for 360 and PC.

The only other consoles I use much for shmups are the Saturn and Dreamcast, and I use the Saturn pad for both (I have an adapter).

[Naut]

thanks KB

[mrsmiley381]

I use my Sanwa-Vewlix stick with a UPCB for a small handful of things, since it keeps having problems. Going to toss in a Sanwa circular restrictor and maybe move it all into a newer, Astro layout case. Not sure if I'll try a Seimitsu stick or switch to the MC-Cthulhu. Saturn support on the UPCB is fucked, but I'd have to build an extra project box for the Cthulhu to get Supergun/Genesis/DC-VMU support anyway. If I can get PS2 support working with the cable I bought I should be in really good shape. If the 360 piggybacking stops freaking the hell out, awesome. If not, there's the Xtokki-360. So I'll have a perfectly functional stick that works with PC/PS3/360/NES/SNES/N64(lolnah)/GCN/Wii/SMS/Genesis/PS1/PS2/ETC with a converter for Saturn and maybe a converter for 360. Unless PS2 support fails, in which case I'm just building a new stick with the MC-Cthulhu and calling it a day.

I also played Crimzon Clover with a generic USB Saturn pad and had a blast. So I like a good d-pad or stick. Either one is fine for me and is comfortable. Keyboard hurts my hand for some reason.

And in before shit-flinging.

[Aquas]

I've pretty much moved completely to stick for shmuppin'. I prefer Sanwa

[Drachenherz]

I just love the feel of playing with joystick... Here are two of my sticks:

A Madcatz TE S for the 360/PC, swapped the Sanwa jlf for a seimitsu LS32, kept the stock sanwa buttons.

http://www.drachenherz.ch/components/co ... 24x768.jpg

Here's a PS3/PC Hori RAP, swapped the hori-buttons for seimitsu buttons and modded the Sanwa JLF with a stonger spring (from an LS56, IIRC).

http://www.drachenherz.ch/components/co ... 24x768.jpg

[CloudyMusic]

I always play on stick. I love my LS-58 for shmups, and after spending some time on a MAME cabinet lately I've been inspired to give a bat top a try for a little bit. I hate them for fighting games, but when it came to the shmups I played I liked the feel of being able to wrap my entire palm around the stick and to use my wrist more when dodging.

[trap15]

Yo man, talkin about dem dang ol' sticks. Any dang ol' guy not usin' one dudn' know what he missin', know what I'm sayin'?

[Gus]

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE TOP PLAYERS USE

Erppo-Keyboard
Prometheus-Keyboard
Naut-Keyboard
Gus-360 pad
Sapz-360 pad

So go ahead, noobs, keep bragging about your elaborate stick set-ups. I'm too busy actually playing these games to give a fuck.

[Bananamatic]

erppo uses a stick IIRC

[BareKnuckleRoo]

I'm too busy actually playing these games to give a fuck.

How can you be playing if you're busy posting in threads you hate?

I like using a 360 Hori D-Pad; it's one that was recommended to me, works nice. Too used to that or keyboard to really play well with a stick...

[Paradigm]

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE TOP PLAYERS USE

Erppo-Keyboard
Prometheus-Keyboard
Naut-Keyboard
Gus-360 pad
Sapz-360 pad

So go ahead, noobs, keep bragging about your elaborate stick set-ups. I'm too busy actually playing these games to give a fuck.

How about top players such as:

Clover-TAC
SOF-WTN
Yusemi-SWY
Dame K.K
GFA2-ISO
ACR

What do they use?

[Bananamatic]

iirc the akai katana DVD was done with a stock 360 pad too

the superplayers don't really have a choice as the games are first released on a pcb else they would fall behind

[iconoclast]

iirc the akai katana DVD was done with a stock 360 pad too

the superplayers don't really have a choice as the games are first released on a pcb else they would fall behind

I don't think anyone knows what the players on the DVD (ISO, phan, chrono) used, but I think a stick is the safe bet. sinmoon's Shin WR was done on a 360 pad.

[Paradigm]

Just to make it clear; my point wasn't that sticks are better, rather that - in response to Gus - pads/keyboards aren't either.

There is no 'best' option, it simply comes down to individual preference and nobody should be berated for their choice.

[O. Van Bruce]

I keep running into bullets using a keyboard cause I like ample movements. I use my 360 pad for every shmup I play. As for the arcadestick I've only played with it once and I think it can be better than the pad with some practice.

LOL pic

thanks KB

That would be awesome, better than Kinect at least.

[Drachenherz]

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE TOP PLAYERS USE

Erppo-Keyboard
Prometheus-Keyboard
Naut-Keyboard
Gus-360 pad
Sapz-360 pad

So go ahead, noobs, keep bragging about your elaborate stick set-ups. I'm too busy actually playing these games to give a fuck.

Well, aren't we a fucking ray of sunshine? Always love the aggressive tone in your posts - seriously, stop going full shmup for a while and learn some basic communication skills. Or manners.

[adversity1]

The CAVE superplay players use sticks. Akai Katana Shin might have been different but at least since DFK, the rest were recorded at Ebisen where the arcade owner hooks his recording equipment up to a cab.

[Cagar]

How can people seriously enjoy 360 pad?
Just try moving left & right very fast... It's impossible, you automatically move up and down at the same time. You can't make quick & accurate movements with the 360 pad.
To this date I've been using keyboard & 360 pad, I ordered a stick from ebay once, but the seller claimed that "POST MUST HAVE LOST IT" and gave money back.