Best USB Arcade Joystick

[knievel1]

Hey guys, 

 

I've used an X-Arcade Tankstick for about 8 years now & loved it - until it broke down. 

I'm not a techie & customer service wasn't very helpful. They finally sent a new PCB but it didn't work. 

 

Question is: What are the best USB joysticks since I need to buy a new one? 

I don't play two-player but liked the X-Aracade's ability to use stick in right hand. 

 

Thanks!

 

[Hawkeye9723]

I also have a Tankstick that I just got about 6 weeks ago. Before that I had the original 2 Player X-Arcade stick. What kind of issue are you having? I've taken both mine apart and changed out the button covers. For my consoles, I use a Mayflash F500.

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[knievel1]

I have the 2-player stick as well, no trackball. 

Had to change cables once but otherwise worked great -- until a couple weeks ago. 

 

Figured it might be a bad PCB. After numerous rounds with customer support they finally sent a new tri-mode PCB. 

Plugged it in - nothing. 

 

Even though they advertise lifetime warranty and support, I figure I got eight years of enjoyment out of it & might have to suck it up & buy another. 

 

 

 

 

[Hawkeye9723]

If the computer isn't recognizing it when you plug it in, it could be the cable. I'd see if you can get them to replace the USB cable that runs from the PCB to the computer.

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[knievel1]

Replaced the cables last year, but yeah, could be. 

It took an enormous effort just to get them to send me a replacement PCB....

 

Strange thing is, the red light was coming on before but the buttons/stick didn't respond. 

With the new PCB, the red light doesn't even work. 

 

Just looked at the Mayflash. Pretty cool. Not sure if it'd work for OpenEmu but I'll check it out. 

Thanks for your help

[Hawkeye9723]

I wonder if your programming button is stuck or something. Putting the PCB into programming mode.

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[Austin]

If you're looking for Western styled bat sticks and HAPP-style concave buttons, then getting another X-Arcade stick probably isn't a bad idea. I've found their parts to be pretty solid overall, having owned a tank stick before as well as putting their X-Arcade line of parts into a previous arcade cabinet I used to own. Not sure if there are many other pre-built options that also have quality parts in them however, so they're the only company I can recommend for Western style setups.

 

For Japanese style setups, you have a lot of modern USB options from companies like Hori, Qanba, Razer, Mayflash, etc. Their mid to upper range sticks are really nice. I personally use a Hori RAP 4/5 (PS4 and Xbox One respectively) and they've treated me very well over the last several years. I have nostalgia for the old bat tops and HAPP buttons I grew up with, but over time I've found the Japanese sticks are much more appropriate for my play style. Easier to move the sticks, snappier buttons, not as bulky to handle, etc.

[knievel1]

I think you're right - my best option is a new X-Arcade stick, even though I don't have much trust in warranty or support. 

I had the two-player version and got into the habit of playing right hand joystick & seems all the Hori / Qanba types would be lefty. 

 

With so much new arcade at home interest, you think another company would make that style stick...

 

 

[Austin]

On 6/24/2020 at 10:45 PM, knievel1 said:

I think you're right - my best option is a new X-Arcade stick, even though I don't have much trust in warranty or support. 

I had the two-player version and got into the habit of playing right hand joystick & seems all the Hori / Qanba types would be lefty. 

 

With so much new arcade at home interest, you think another company would make that style stick...

 

 

I'd say they don't make them because, A) Demand is low, and B) At the mid/high tiers (like with the RAP line), it's easy to just swap the wires around yourself. These sticks are meant to be worked on easily, so they open up with little effort and all the wires are attached via quick-connects. This makes it easy to swap out parts quickly. You could theoretically swap the wires to the stick around and turn one of these sticks into a right-handed setup if you really wanted to.