Want to buy a arcade joystick setup for MAME

[SoulBlazer]

So with me working mad OT hours right now I've got a little extra money, and was thinking about getting a good joystick setup to play arcade games on MAME through emulation. Not for a MAME cab! Just something I can hook into my computer via a USB port and use to play more games in MAME. I already have original controllers for most systems to plug into the computer, so this can just be for arcade games.

 

I was looking at the wonderful stuff that Edladdin has, and while some of it seems like it would work (such as the Super Arcade Controller), I wasn't sure if it was 'best' for my needs and thought I'd ask here for advice.

 

I'd like something that has the following:

 

1) Large, steady base I can rest in my lap as I play

2) At least one joystick and two buttons, but prefer something with 3-4 buttons to allow for more arcade games (not a huge fighting game fan, so don't need 6)

3) The ability to change the joystick easily from 4 way to 8 way and back again

4) The ability to either plug directly into a USB port for playing on MAME or a common connector (like a 9 pin) so I can use a USB adapter.

 

Money is no object on this, and also not in a rush to get it.

 

Any advice?

[Hyperboy]

https://shop.xgaming.com

 

You can swap out the stick for one with a changeable gate.

 

Sent from my non beer holding hand.

[SoulBlazer]

Hyperboy, on 08 Feb 2017 - 8:15 PM, said:

https://shop.xgaming.com

 

Sent from my non beer holding hand.

 

Doesn't look bad, but again, WAY more buttons then I need. Since I'm not looking to play fighting games or anything, that just seems like overkill to me. Didn't know there was one with a trackball built in, though. Cool.

Edited February 9, 2017 by SoulBlazer

[asponge]

It seems like overkill, but I would still recommend the X-Arcade tank stick. There are a lot of 1 or 2 button games like Galaga, Donkey Kong or Moon Patrol. But, there are also games like Defender (for example) that have 5 buttons, in kind of a weird configuration, that you can emulate nicely with the tank stick. In addition there are also some great trackball and duel joystick games like Crystal Castles, Robotron 2084 and Marble Madness that are impossible to play with a single joystick and a button or two.

 

However, I can also recommend an inexpensive alternative that I started with. An NES Advantage and a USB NES RetroPort are a way to get yourself an arcade style controller for MAME under $50. And, if you're at all into NES that's just a bonus.

[Trebor]

I'm going to also cast my vote for an X-Arcade controller. I have a HotRod SE for over 15 years. Not one headache or problem. The only thing I had to do was upgrade from the Serial to a USB connection several years ago, in which X-Arcade provided the kit.

 

Parts seem to be identical between a HotRod SE and X-Arcade controller. The casing appears to be as high or even better quality on the X-Arcade compared to the HotRod. For the record, I also have the X-Arcade stand-alone Trackball controller. Similar to the Hot Rod, flawless functionality for many years now.

 

The additional benefit of an X-Arcade controller are the adapters you can purchase for a plethora of systems. So out of the box USB/PC/Linux/Mac, and the options are there for:

 

-Xbox One

-PS4

-Xbox 360™ Adapter

-Playstation 3™

-Original Xbox™ (Coin Ops Ready)

-Nintendo Wii & Gamecube™

-Wii U™ Adapter:

-Playstation One or Playstation Two ™

-Dreamcast™

-5 Systems In 1 (PSX / PS2 / DC / NGC / Wii)

-2 Systems In 1 (PS3 / Xbox)

-Google Android™ Devices

-Apple IOS™ Devices (Iphone™, Ipad™)

-Ouya USB Support (1 Player out of the box, 2 Player with adapter)

-Raspberry PI is directly supported (USB Cable included)

[Cynicaster]

The best results will always be had by designing and building a box that has exactly the controls you want, in exactly the layout that you want. You need some basic woodworking skills and some tools, though, so this route is only an option if you’re feeling adventurous. It’s totally worth it, IMO.

 

If you want real arcade-grade parts as opposed to the plasticky toy sticks that were sold for various home consoles like NES and Genesis, the X-Arcade units seem to be the industry standard these days for pre-built arcade control boxes.

 

I’ve got a cabinet I built myself from scratch, but I’ve also got an X-Arcade tank stick (the one with the track ball). Some thoughts on the Tank Stick:

 

- Snobs in the Arcade/MAME hobby like to trash talk it but the truth is that it’s a sturdy product with good fit-and-finish that gets the job done. My only real complaint with it is the stock joysticks, which are some crappy Happ knock-offs that suck, IMO. Almost guaranteed, you’ll want to swap them out after using them for 20 minutes. Luckily, there are multiple options on the market that will just bolt right up, and will vastly improve your experience for not much cost. No special skills required, just a screwdriver.

 

- If you don’t like fighting games, then you’re probably right about not needing more than 3 buttons, but it’s not like the additional buttons are adding much cost or anything so they’re not hurting anything by being there (note, some Neo Geo games require 4 buttons, but many do not)

 

- The track ball is a treat if you’re accustomed to playing natively track ball games on home consoles using a joystick, but it is a fairly significant cost adder (the track ball on my home built panel was $100 on its own). I think X-gaming has versions of their stick with and without the trackball—at least, they used to—so you can decide if it’s worth it for you.

 

- There are 4/8-way switchable sticks on the market that will bolt right up to an X-Arcade stick. I’ve never used one personally, but over the years I’ve noticed that reviews for these products tend to be lukewarm at best; i.e., they try to be two things, but shine at neither

 

- Having a 4-way joystick is very important if you want to play golden age classics (maze games in particular). This complicates the 4/8-way switchable stick idea, because….

 

- All the best classic 4-way games only need a single stick; even if they’re 2 player, the players alternate using the same stick. Therefore, it makes little sense to “compromise” (and pay more) on the player 2 stick by making it switchable. On the other hand, if you make only the P1 stick switchable, then you’ll have two different sticks which will make dual-stick games (Robotron, Black Widow, etc.) feel goofy.

 

- you can make the P1 side dedicated 8-way and the P2 side a dedicated 4-way, but in that case you can kiss goodbye dual-stick games and the ability to play 2-players simultaneously in games that support it (beat-em-ups, shooters, etc.)

 

- Suggested replacement 8-way joystick: Happ Competition (about $12 or so)

 

- Suggested dedicated 4-way: Happ Super in 4-way mode, with “True 4 way” restrictor plate from GroovyGameGear.com (about $10 for the stick and $5 for the restrictor). I’ve got this setup on my cabinet and love it as a general purpose 4-way that is adaptable to X-Arcade and wood panels in general

 

There is one thing you’re going to notice very quickly if you haven’t already: building/acquiring a control box for MAME is the ultimate exercise in compromise because there are so many different competing factors and trade-offs to consider, depending on what games you want to be able to play, and how faithfully you want to be able to play them.

[SoulBlazer]

Thanks all for the replies. I don't have the skill or the time to build anything myself, which is why I was looking for something pre-made.

 

I'm still talking to Edladdin about him building something for me, as I'd rather give him my money, but the secondary choice is the X-Arcade stick. I'm not ready to pull the trigger just yet (and the money is still coming together) but it's good to know all this going in.

[toddtmw]

I love my tankstick. I set it on top of one of those X keyboard stands and put a 50" LCD panel on a wheeled mount and it's just like being i the arcade.

Edited March 11, 2017 by toddtmw