DavidD Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Okay, I have a crazy joystick question... I played arcade games as a kid. Recently I've gotten my hands on a few different devices with "arcade sticks" (the AT Gamer Legends Pro, the Wii Hori arcade stick, one of the countercades) and every single one feels... off. All the stuff I've tried recently has a very "clicky" sound and feel. Now, I know this is my memory, but I don't remember arcade games being "clicky" -- I thought I remember them feeling... "smoother"? I don't really know how to explain it, but these fighting/arcade sticks feel "off" to me, and I'm not sure why. Am I wrong in remembering arcade units having smoother, softer, silent joysticks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynicaster Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) On 3/26/2021 at 1:57 AM, DavidD said: Okay, I have a crazy joystick question... I played arcade games as a kid. Recently I've gotten my hands on a few different devices with "arcade sticks" (the AT Gamer Legends Pro, the Wii Hori arcade stick, one of the countercades) and every single one feels... off. All the stuff I've tried recently has a very "clicky" sound and feel. Now, I know this is my memory, but I don't remember arcade games being "clicky" -- I thought I remember them feeling... "smoother"? I don't really know how to explain it, but these fighting/arcade sticks feel "off" to me, and I'm not sure why. Am I wrong in remembering arcade units having smoother, softer, silent joysticks? Sounds to me like the classic difference between leaf-switch joysticks and micro-switch joysticks. Micro switches are what cause the clicky sounds; leaf switches are smoother and quieter. Generally speaking, leaf switches were the norm in many classic early 80s titles. Micro switches were the norm on early 90s fighting games and the like. Both styles have their strengths and weaknesses for different types of games. The choice you go with should be decided by what types of games have highest priority for you, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for arcade joysticks. At least, not if "authentic feel" is the standard by which you're measuring. Edited March 31, 2021 by Cynicaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+5-11under Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 I just bought some buttons and joystick with leaf switches, mostly because I found the microswitches annoyingly loud. The leaf switches (or something inside) still make some noise, but it's greatly reduced, and tolerable to my ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidD Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 6 hours ago, Cynicaster said: Sounds to me like the classic difference between leaf-switch joysticks and micro-switch joysticks. Micro switches are what cause the clicky sounds; leaf switches are smoother and quieter. Generally speaking, leaf switches were the norm in many classic early 80s titles. Micro switches were the norm on early 90s fighting games and the like. Both styles have their strengths and weaknesses for different types of games. The choice you go with should be decided by what types of games have highest priority for you, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for arcade joysticks. At least, not if "authentic feel" is the standard by which you're measuring. I suppose that explains it... I was confused as it seemed light every fight stick was "weird" (microswitches) compared to almost any arcade game I've ever played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynicaster Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 21 hours ago, DavidD said: I suppose that explains it... I was confused as it seemed light every fight stick was "weird" (microswitches) compared to almost any arcade game I've ever played. I've never used one of those plastic "fight sticks" myself, but it makes sense. I think the general consensus is that micro-switch joysticks are more accurate for inputting a series of movements for combos, etc. especially if diagonals are involved. That is important in SF2 style games, obviously. For games where you need a more fluid feel to the controls to carefully move around the screen - think Robotron or a hectic shoot-em-up - the leaf switch style works very well. For early games that used 4-way joysticks (e.g. Pac-Man, Burgertime, Donkey Kong, Dig Dug), I think the most important thing is to just have a 4-way joystick, regardless of whether it's leaf or micro. That will make the game very playable, anyway. For authenticity, those games used a range of different sticks so you'll never find a universally authentic one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledown Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 There is no 1 joystick to rule them all. There were/are an incredible amount of variation in the style/type/feel of joysticks made over the years. Some people can't tell the difference from one to another, and no one feels any better/worse to them, and there are the die-hards who will only play "game x" with this 1 particular joystick. Some hate the sound of micro-switches...and there are those who can't play without the clicking...because if they don't hear the audible clicking, they assume the joystick didn't make the direction properly. As others have said, once the great age of arcade video games was in full swing in the really early 80s, leaf-switch joysticks (mostly WICOs, and the Midway/PAC-MAN sticks), were the norm here in the West. Most Japanese publishers back in the day however, used micro-switch joysticks, including all of Nintendo's games (Donkey Kong, Jr., 3, Popeye...etc.), as well as those published by Taito in Japan. The "modern" joysticks used in home-use "arcade sticks" for modern consoles, as well as those used in the home-use "arcade cabinets," are modern Japanese style joysticks, like those used in modern arcade fighting games like Tekken and others. Most of them are cheap Chinese knock-offs of the true Japanese sticks made by Sanwa and Seimitsu, but they are all clicky, they are pretty short, and they require a very light force to actuate. If you're a fan or early to mid 80s Western published arcade cabinets, and their joysticks...none of these modern Japanese style of sticks will feel great to you, granted they will all "function." Some will poo-poo the "constant" maintenance of leaf-switch joysticks, like the WICOs (mainly the micro-switch fanboys), while I prefer them, especially when era appropriate. There were also optical and inductive joysticks made back in the day, which offered the sweet sweet silence of a leaf-switch joystick, but with none of the leaf-switch maintenance. Then regarding the "fluid" movement of the joystick, it depends on the joystick's "restriction", which can be done a couple of different ways. But basically is the shaft limiting shape that allows for either circular, octagonal, or square 8-way movements, or diamond or clover 4-way movements...plus 2-way and 1-way alternatives. Most modern sticks have a square or octagonal restrictor...which are perfect for fighting games, but if you're playing something like Robotron: 2084 or Time Pilot...where you're constantly moving the joystick around it's restrictor's perimeter, you want one with a round restrictor...so there are no "felt" directions/stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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