16 replies to this topic

[rasty]

Hi!

I was thinking I could use a joystick for Playstation, and found out about the ShadowBlade Arcade Stick.
Do you think it's good?

I'd also like to use it with the XBox and PC throu a cable adapter. Anyone have experiences of how well such things work?

Thanks!
Rasty.-

[bargora]

I have a Shadowblade arcade stick, and to me it seems adequate. But then, I got it for $20, so I wasn't expecting super-quality, either. At the very least, it beats the snot out of the Pelican arcade stick.

[Ze_ro]

You have to be careful with arcade sticks that are meant for home consoles... most of them are simply not heavy enough to work properly, and you end up flailing all over the place to get it to work. I bought my brother a PS1 arcade stick that was like this, and it's basically useless because it's too light to use it as an actual stick. My SG-6 controller for my Genesis isn't much better.

Make sure you have a nice, comfortably high table that you can rest it on, otherwise it won't work very well.

Of course, if price isn't an issue, something like the X-Arcade would be the best bet... that thing is worth having wet dreams about.

--Zero

[rasty]

Humm my idea would be of getting a PSX joystick and then using it on the XBox and PC.. I see there's an X-Arcade for the PSX, but.. isn't it missing at least one button? (and if we count the analog buttons, it's 3).
It could become difficult to map all the keys if some are missing, especially if I'm going to use it with emulators as I would like

Do you have an X-Arcade?

@bargora: does the Shadowblade suffer of the "lightness" issue that Ze_ro mentioned?

Thanks again for your opinions!
Rasty.-

[JB]

I haven't actually played with one, but I have handled a demo unit that was strapped ot a shelf(but not hooked to anything ).

The stick feels really loose to me. This may be a side effect of the stick being both analog AND digital(with a thumb button to toggle modes), or it may just be a crappy stick(i'm seeing reviews both ways). The buttons also feel a little "mushy".


On the other hand, the ShadowBlade IS considered better than it's competition(1 other PS2 stick). The one from Pelican is near-universally considered abominable crap.



But for the price, there shouldn't be any room for debate.
I've seen a review that says the stick sucks,
one that says it's excellent,
a third that says it's good as long as you don't need to move fast,
and one that completely ignores the stick(The hell? How can you review a joystick and then only talk about buttons?)

At 60$, it's too expensive to be mushy.





While it's seemingly a bit new(as in I can't find reviews for it)...
http://www.ebgames.c...duct/235458.asp is supposed to be a quite good stick, if what I've read about the XBox version is any indcation.

It's also signifigantly cheaper, so if it doesn't measure up, you're out less cash.

[rasty]

JB said:

The stick feels really loose to me. This may be a side effect of the stick being both analog AND digital

Hey that wasn't clear for me.. so it's both analog and digital? humm.. way too weird, and I need digital only anyway!

JB said:

While it's seemingly a bit new(as in I can't find reviews for it)...
http://www.ebgames.c...duct/235458.asp is supposed to be a quite good stick, if what I've read about the XBox version is any indcation.

This one looks really good, at least for my tastes
I hope I'll be able to find one where I live!
But for that price, I might very well consider ordering from the US..

Thanks for showing me some light

Regards,
Rasty.-

[JB]

[quote=rasty][quote=JB]The stick feels really loose to me. This may be a side effect of the stick being both analog AND digital[/quote]
Hey that wasn't clear for me.. so it's both analog and digital? humm.. way too weird, and I need digital only anyway![/quote]
It's got both pots and microswitches. But only one is active at a time.

Of course, an analog stick needs more travel than a digital one, so the digital side of things just has a horrid amount of play.


[quote=JB]While it's seemingly a bit new(as in I can't find reviews for it)...
[url="http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/235458.asp"]http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/235458.asp[/url] is supposed to be a quite good stick, if what I've read about the XBox version is any indcation.[/quote]
This one looks really good, at least for my tastes
I hope I'll be able to find one where I live!
But for that price, I might very well consider ordering from the US..

Thanks for showing me some light

Regards,
Rasty.-[/quote]I only barely saw that one while looking for reviews of the ShadowBlade.



Another option if you don't need the analog buttons is a PS1 stick. There's a far better selection of them, though they're getting a tad hard to find.

...

Have you checked any of the Hong Kong-based stores like lik-sang? They tend to have more of the esoteric stuff like dead systems and joysticks(sad to say, but most modern gamers just don't care about sticks)

[rasty]

Hi!

JB said:

Another option if you don't need the analog buttons is a PS1 stick. There's a far better selection of them, though they're getting a tad hard to find.

In fact I don't really need analog buttons and have been looking for PS1 sticks as well (see topic ), but indeed they're not so easy to find anymore. Even a good old ASCII PS1 stick would be ok! I'll look around here as soon as shops open again (in August most places are in holiday!) and if I'm not satisfied with what I find, I'll order from abroad!

JB said:

Have you checked any of the Hong Kong-based stores like lik-sang? They tend to have more of the esoteric stuff like dead systems and joysticks(sad to say, but most modern gamers just don't care about sticks)

I have browsed some HK shops, but they tend to get pretty pricey with shipping, plus there's the customs..

And yes, it's very sad about the lack of interests in a good joystick nowdays!!

Thanks again,
Rasty.-

[Miqorz]

You should get something like this..

http://cgi.ebay.com/...gory=11319&rd=1

[rasty]

Miqorz said:

You should get something like this..

http://cgi.ebay.com/...gory=11319&rd=1

Hey for $40 I'd happily get one!!

Must.. search.. more..

Rasty.-

[bargora]

Yeah, that $40 for a Blaze dual was a pretty good deal, I think.

As for the weight of the Shadowblade, it's pretty heavy. I haven't tried it on a table, since I normally hold it in my lap, but I don't think it would go anywhere if you used it on a table top.

It's true that the stick is pretty loose. I guess I should read the instructions more carefully--I don't remember anything about switching the stick from analog to digital.

And $60? For a Shadowblade? That seems really high. Like I said, I got mine for $20, and I saw one at the local FYE for $30.

[Defiance131]

I got a Shadow Blade last year with the purpose of playing Virtua Fighter 4. I trotted it out again for VF4 Evolution, and I have to admit, the thing is awful in comparison to the other joysticks we own.

It's heavy enough, and I don't have a problem with the joystick itself, it's the danged buttons that are awful and mushy. I've been half-heartedly searching for another joystick, but I know deep down that to get a quality product, I'm going to have to throw down for an X-Arcade, especially with Soul Calibur II coming out. And I'll spend the extra cash to get the adapters for the Xbox, GC and PS2.

I just don't understand why more companies didn't make more arcade sticks like the ones ASCII did for the Saturn and Dreamcast. Better yet, I'd be happy if I could find decent prices on the ASCII stuff to import.

Anyway, I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to joysticks. I have a few more to add to this page since the arrival of bigferret's Jaguar rotary controller, and the acquisition of a Saturn flight stick.

And $60 is definitely way too high for a Shadow Blade. If you're going to spend that kind of money, you're better off importing something like this or this. I'd get one, but I want one with a universal layout, rather than one that's specific to VF or Soul Calibur, although the Soul Calibur one might not be horrible...

Bah! I'll just hold out for the X-Arcade stick! Good luck Rasty, I know how difficult it can be to find a joystick that meets your expectations!

[JB]

Dunno where I saw the ShdowBlade going for that price.
I DID see someone asking that, though. I wasn't just pulling #s out of my orifice.

[Ze_ro]

mrs. bigferret said:

I'm going to have to throw down for an X-Arcade, especially with Soul Calibur II coming out.

If you're a Soul Calibur II fan, you might want to try to get your hands on one of these bad boys. I'm not a die-hard Soul Calibur fan, but I'll probably end up getting this game eventually as well. The stick itself will work on all three systems (Didn't see mention of PC... I'd love to have this for MAME), and looks fairly high-quality.

Frankly, I'd prefer a stick that didn't whore out a single game like this... it would feel rather odd to use it for Capcom Vs. SNK 2 when it's plastered with SC2 stuff. But oh well, ultimately I'll take quality over flashiness.

--Zero

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[JB]

Ze_ro said:

mrs. bigferret said:

I'm going to have to throw down for an X-Arcade, especially with Soul Calibur II coming out.

If you're a Soul Calibur II fan, you might want to try to get your hands on one of these bad boys. I'm not a die-hard Soul Calibur fan, but I'll probably end up getting this game eventually as well. The stick itself will work on all three systems (Didn't see mention of PC... I'd love to have this for MAME), and looks fairly high-quality.

PS-USB adapter. Problem solved.

Quote

Frankly, I'd prefer a stick that didn't whore out a single game like this... it would feel rather odd to use it for Capcom Vs. SNK 2 when it's plastered with SC2 stuff. But oh well, ultimately I'll take quality over flashiness.

Can of spray paint. Problem solved.

[rasty]

Hmm the SC stick looks sweet! I also would prefer a more "neutral" design, but if it plays fine, I might still get it..

And indeed, bigferret, the ASCII sticks look like the best..

Just for information, they sell the Shadowblade for 72 euro here! Pretty crazy!!

Anyway I feel like there is quite some choice, but no real killer

I'll browse some more

Ciao!
Rasty.-

[video game addict]

Looks like most brands have been brought up already. There is a Hori stick for PSX, other than the game specific ones that mrs. bigferret talked about above. Hori has been around awhile and they are known for making good sticks. And there's the Namco stick for PSX, not sure of much else.

Other than whats been listed thus far, you have


http://www.massystem...m/ProStick.html

&

http://www.redoctane...ick-series.html


I have the MAS Supernova, with the the 8-button controllers. These are very well made sticks. Redoctane builds a similar case, which you can buy separate, even with a PS2 wiring harness, all you'd need is joystick/buttons. They also sell fighting specific sticks.

For the price & compatiblity, the X-arcade is hard to beat. That what I use now for PS2 & DC. Although I must say I loved my Agetec stick when I first had it.

Oh and you can get the ShdowBlade off ebay for $19