Xbox 360 arcade sticks for shooters

brentsg

brentsg

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Long time no post, but I noticed the shooter thread and had Shawn kickstart my account.

I recently picked up a Japanese 360 and all the shooters that have been released there. I noticed some PCB snobbishness in the forum here and there, and I look at it this way. There's a time and a place for PCBs and arcade gear. For those of us that no longer have the desire or the time to mess with cabs and PCBs... these 360 ports are absolutely fabulous. I'm playing games that I would have never otherwise seen.

Anyways... I'm not digging the 360 controller for the shooters. I'm considering picking up a nice arcade stick but sticks like the SFIV TE model have the 4 slot gate... thing, not sure what the appropriate term is. Is there a particular stick that works great out of the box for the shooter genre, or should I pick up a TE stick and swap out the stick and gate?

Any thoughts appreciated!
 
neo_mao

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I like the HRAP ex right of the box....I havent modded mine at all and use it constantly for Deathsmiles and DOJ Blex and am very happy with it.

they are selling them at arcadeshock fro $129 + shipping right now, so you may want to consider one of those. here is a post I made earlier today w/ a link to the store.

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2763298&postcount=106

hope that helps
 
not sonic

not sonic

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i have no problems with the cheap hori ex2's. the ones that came in plain, vf5, sc4, doa4, and blazblue variants.

the buttons are a little mushy but could easily be replaced.

the stick is fine. its also compatible with different sanwa jlf gates though for shooters i prefer a square one, which it has.

you could always do this too:
http://pineconeattack.com/2008/12/0...with-authentic-arcade-parts-xbox-360-version/

both madcatz sf4 sticks are in stock at newegg too.
 
brentsg

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It looks like the EX-SE was the stick I was looking for, but I wasn't in the market when that released.

I guess I'll either mod the TE SFIV stick or the regular EX.

Are these essentially the same stick but with different art?

Nevermind, the EX is harder to mod if I don't like something. TE it is!

Thanks
 
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brentsg

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Woot, the TE stick arrived.

I hadn't seen one really. The presentation and packaging is really top shelf. I can't wait to crack it open later and see if the stock stick and buttons will work ok. :buttrock:
 
Poison Sama

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Todd R said:
Does anybody know anything about this?http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=UHX3-07
I didn't know Hori made a EX2 version with Turbo Fire? I was thinking about getting the Madcatz SFIV controller with rapid fire, but if Hori makes one I'll get that any day over Madcatz. (I wonder if this add is just a misprint)
Click to expand...

There are no EX2's with turbo fire. That's a misprint. Also, Hori's buttons aren't very good. They wear out too quickly. An EX2 might be worth getting if you can find one for cheap and plan on modding it with better buttons.
 
T

Todd R

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Thanks, I was so close to buying that. Although it does say its a UHX-07 MODEL? (never heard about that model untill now) but it looks exactly the same as a regular EX2 in the picture (which has no Turbo Fire). Looks like I'll have to try my luck on the Madcatz stick if I want Turbo?
 
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brentsg

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Hori will be doing a run of their Hori Real Arcade Pro EX SE for Xbox 360 in the USA. Make sure to get in on preorders if you want one. Retail looks to be ~$140 or so, which is a great price for this stick.
 
thund3rs

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brentsg said:
Hori will be doing a run of their Hori Real Arcade Pro EX SE for Xbox 360 in the USA. Make sure to get in on preorders if you want one. Retail looks to be ~$140 or so, which is a great price for this stick.
Click to expand...

And i believe thats the only stick available with turbo fuction at the moment. I've had an EX2 for some time now and at first i was quite happy with it, but seeing people mod it with sanwa parts and custom faceplates makes me wonder if i should do it myself... to be honest the stick is ~£40 here and modding it isnt going to cost the world so maybe thats the best option for you?
 
brentsg

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thund3rs said:
And i believe thats the only stick available with turbo fuction at the moment. I've had an EX2 for some time now and at first i was quite happy with it, but seeing people mod it with sanwa parts and custom faceplates makes me wonder if i should do it myself... to be honest the stick is ~£40 here and modding it isnt going to cost the world so maybe thats the best option for you?
Click to expand...

The SE is Seimitsu rather than Sanwa. I'd prefer Seimitsu for shooters, personally. I'd rather get a completed stick and not mess with modding at this time. Thanks though...
 
Saturn2dfreak

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How is the SF IV TE stick for shmups??? is the stick quiet? does it feel smooth or should i wait for the Xbox 360 Real Arcade Pro. EX-SE thats being release in october?
 
thund3rs

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where did i hear that rumor that the madcatz joysticks on the SFIV arcade sticks, scuff the bottom of the case and after a while of continuous play renders it dead..? Or was that just some fanboy making up excuses?

I'd like to know if anyone's had this problem yet..
 
A

agustusx

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brentsg said:
Hori will be doing a run of their Hori Real Arcade Pro EX SE for Xbox 360 in the USA. Make sure to get in on preorders if you want one. Retail looks to be ~$140 or so, which is a great price for this stick.
Click to expand...

Where did you see this one? I've been trying to get an SE for a while... That Yahoo JPN and such is too much of a pain.

EDIT: OK I see it on amazon set for october. I think im gonna put the $$ down on this one.
 
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Electric Grave

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The MC TE stick will do the same damn thing the HRAP EX will do, actually the MC stick will do better given that it has sanwa parts in it, I mean the parts on the HRAP are actually pretty good, but the Sanwa parts are better quality, however for someone just getting started I think either stick will perform absolutely fine. I personally like the design of the HRAP better 'cause the case is nice, but honestly I think both stick designs are reatrded by uncluding 8 buttons.

The cheap Hori Fighting EX2 is the best bang for the buck, it shares the Astro city button layout which is great and it can be modded if needed, but I recommend to just use the hell out of it until the buttons give which won't be for a long time anyway. I played HDRemix for about 3 months pretty much nonstop and this thing still stands strong, and I'm talking about serious playing not some random douchebaggery like most of the folks in here.

If you are going to spend anything over 150 on a mass produced stick, mind as well get a custom build stick and surpass anything that's out in the market. I have all these stcisk and I only buy them 'cause I like to mess around with them, I used to build my own, but is so much better to have someone do it, I just can't seem to bother with all that work.
 
TheGreenMachine

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I'm not sure from reading through this thread if it is clear or not, but the HRAP EX does actually have a Sanwa joystick in it. Only the buttons are the crappy Hori make.

From a design standpoint the HRAP EX is a pretty huge improvement from the EX2. Mostly(I don't like 8 buttons on the face either). While twice the cost of the EX2 the HRAP EX is much larger, sturdier, and loads easier to mod. Everything can be replaced by removing quick connects. No need to fiddle with de-soldering anything, which can be a sticking point for some. The button holes are also sized to accept Sanwa/Seimitsu push buttons without being modified... though they are an exact/snug fit.

Basically I think that while HRAP EX is twice the cost of the EX2 is just better all the way around and ultimately worth that extra money.

Though I haven't taken the time to play Death Smiles using it just yet. It might help more with the awful collision detection in Otomedius. Maybe ;)

- TGM
 
Saturn2dfreak

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does the HRAP EX or will the new HRAP EX SE will have an octogonal gate? which of the arcade sticks for the xbox 360 has an octogonal gate?
 
Electric Grave

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HRAP EX is over 150 then you have shipping, so no, it is not the smart move to make at all. The MC stick is cheaper and is just as easy to mod as the HRAP EX. Again, anything over 150 for a mass produced stick is retarded, custom for a few bucks more is defenately the way to go.
 
TheGreenMachine

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Saturn2dfreak said:
does the HRAP EX or will the new HRAP EX SE will have an octogonal gate? which of the arcade sticks for the xbox 360 has an octogonal gate?
Click to expand...

The HRAP EX does not have an octagonal gate. It is the standard sanwa 4 way gate. Easy enough to replace though. The first thing I did on my HRAP EX was replace the 30mm buttons with sanwa and swap an octagonal gate with the original 4 way.

The HRAP EX SE specs say it uses the LS-32(-01?) stick. Generally they have a 2-4-8 way configurable restrictor plate. Not sure how that measures up to the Sanwa version. The SE version also already uses all Seimitsu buttons!

-TGM
 
TheGreenMachine

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electricgrave said:
HRAP EX is over 150 then you have shipping, so no, it is not the smart move to make at all. The MC stick is cheaper and is just as easy to mod as the HRAP EX. Again, anything over 150 for a mass produced stick is retarded, custom for a few bucks more is defenately the way to go.
Click to expand...

Actually my HRAP EX was only $148 and change after shipping. It should only retail places for $129.99-139.99.

Which MC stick are you talking about? The SE or the TE?

The SE is about the equivalent of the EX2 in ease of modifying. The SE retails for $69.99-79.99 (whereas the EX2 is only $59.99). I'm guessing they are also about the same quality wise, but I've honestly never used an SE. But with either you are going to need to buy the sanwa/seimitsu sticks and buttons which adds considerably to their price. That's before factoring in the time and effort it takes to mod them.

The TE stick retails at $149.99. So tax or shipping are only going to end up inflating its price. They also can be a bit difficult to purchase unless you are willing to wait or pay a premium.

But ultimately it's your time and money and you are entitled to spend them how you see fit.

- TGM
 
Saturn2dfreak

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after months and deligating whether to pick up the TE stick, i figure ill wait till october for the hrap ex se..thatll give me some time to start saving up for it..Seimetsu stick and buttons right off the box sounds good enough to warrant a preorder
 
brentsg

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Saturn2dfreak said:
after months and deligating whether to pick up the TE stick, i figure ill wait till october for the hrap ex se..thatll give me some time to start saving up for it..Seimetsu stick and buttons right off the box sounds good enough to warrant a preorder
Click to expand...

I think you're right. I may sell off my (still new) TE when I receive the Seimetsu stick.
 
TheGreenMachine

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Damn, that is a good deal. Makes me wish I hadn't already bought mine :D

If importers don't crazy inflate the price of the HRAP EX SE, it should be a better value than the standard HRAP EX. The HRAP EX retailing for 12000 yen whereas the HRAP EX SE retails for 13500 yen. That paltry extra 1500 yen getting you all Seimitsu buttons.

Hopefully you guys can get yours without having to pay a big premium mark-up.

- TGM
 
Electric Grave

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Any stick like the EX2 will be ten times better than any HRAP after is modded. The EX2 has six buttons and it needs no plugs.

Better button layout = better stick.

I'm kind of tired of all the HRAP whores ignoring the fact that there are better products out there.
 
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