options for Sega Saturn arcade stick

sylvie · Nov 13, 2016

So all I can really find is a somewhat pricey Japanese Virtua Stick (which I kind of want tbh) and the regular version which is black. I never used either of them before, and looking at picture it almost looks like the black one has some weird plastic buttons and aren't very akin to real arcade hardware. Am I wrong? I haven't gotten a chance to see one up close really. How does it compare to the Japanese stick?

Any other options out there either?

Mr. Mort · Nov 13, 2016

The black stick Sega released here in North America is sub-standard, IMHO.

Buy one of those cheap 3rd-party Saturn pads, and use the PCB to make your own stick. You could buy a used stick off someone, and swap out the buttons/board.

Or, you could look for a used MAS stick, but it'd be cheaper to just build your own.

cdamm · Nov 13, 2016

look for the import hori stick.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/162277900310?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

RAZO · Nov 13, 2016

I use the Japan Virtua Stick and love it. I also use it with my Dreamcast and it works great. Only reason I still don't have a Agetech stick.

FilthyRear · Nov 14, 2016

The US Virtua Stick has those shitty hollow plastic buttons, and the stick feels like it's sitting on a thick layer of dog shit.

The JP stick is much much better.

I have this:

Made by ASCII, it came out in red/white with SFA2 in Japan, and the black one got released on its own. The US one has a battop, but I can't speak to its playability.

The JP one (the one I own) is pure secks. The buttons could use some beefing up, tho, otherwise not a single complaint from me.

daskrabs · Nov 14, 2016

As others have said, the Hori Fighting Stick SS ($$) or the Japan Virtua Stick ($$$) is what you need.

DaytimeDreamer · Nov 14, 2016

daskrabs said:
As others have said, the Hori Fighting Stick SS ($$) or the Japan Virtua Stick ($$$) is what you need.

What everyone said basically. Go for the Hori Fighting Stick SS or for the Virtua Stick HSS-136. Keep in mind there are two version of the last one. One uses nice Sanwa parts and the other crap parts. Not sure on how to distinguish them and get the sanwa version since they are identical on the outside. Read this some weeks ago on the shoryuken forums.

K-2 · Nov 14, 2016

My vote goes to a PSX Namco stick and a Tototek PSX to Sat joypad converter

DaytimeDreamer · Nov 14, 2016

K-2 said:
My vote goes to a PSX Namco stick and a Tototek PSX to Sat joypad converter

Is this a lagless solution though?

suicidekiller · Nov 14, 2016

As pointed out before the only real option for a Saturn arcade stick:

GohanX · Nov 14, 2016

FilthyRear said:
The US Virtua Stick has those shitty hollow plastic buttons, and the stick feels like it's sitting on a thick layer of dog shit.

The JP stick is much much better.

I have this:

View attachment 40555

Made by ASCII, it came out in red/white with SFA2 in Japan, and the black one got released on its own. The US one has a battop, but I can't speak to its playability.

The JP one (the one I own) is pure secks. The buttons could use some beefing up, tho, otherwise not a single complaint from me.

I had the US ASCII stick and I agree with this. It's a great budget stick, you used to be able to buy them NIB pretty cheap from Amazon. It feels a lot like an old style Neo stick. The joystick is microswitched, the buttons are not. Pretty decent all around. If you've got the cash though, go Hori or custom. There's no reason to get a crap stick when the stock pad is already pretty great.

The black Virtua stick is wretched garbage. No microswitches, so it feels like a mushy mess. Before I moved I had two of them, one was still new in box. I threw them both away, as I did not want to subject anyone to those pieces of crap.

WoodyXP · Nov 14, 2016

+1 for the HORI. It just like the Neo version, but with more button.

K-2 · Nov 14, 2016

DaytimeDreamer said:
Is this a lagless solution though?

I'm fairly certain it is lagless. The Namco stick is made by Hori, and is widely regarded as the best arcade stick they have ever made

I own the Sega Virtua Stick Pro and given a choice I would pick the Namco stick. The stock Sega parts are mediocre and not easy to mod.

BTW, modding a namco stick is sacrilege - Don't do it. Keep it stock

Edit

lus it doesn't have a retar....."unconventional" button layout like the Sega Hori stick

sylvie · Nov 14, 2016

thank you guys!!! i talked to stefan about it too he recommended the HORI Fighting Stick SS, i'm gonna go for it when i have some cash. i did use the Namco stick at white castles' place a few weekends ago when we were playing Vampire Savior and they are really nice

sylvie · Nov 14, 2016

my gf just bought me the HORI stick

GohanX · Nov 14, 2016

Nice GF!

sylvie · Nov 14, 2016

she's pretty amazing. she's going to be getting me Akumajo Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight (SotN) for Saturn as well

question: has anyone thought of modding the HORI stick with different colored buttons or Sanwa parts or something? I really like the layout of it. I was thinking of maybe getting a custom balltop or something too... any thoughts? I have never modded a stick before

Atro · Nov 15, 2016

K-2 said:
BTW, modding a namco stick is sacrilege - Don't do it. Keep it stock

I have one and it is way too much overrated. Japanese Saturn Stick > Namco PSX stick any day of the week.

dagoto19 · Nov 15, 2016

Sylvie said:
question: has anyone thought of modding the HORI stick with different colored buttons or Sanwa parts or something? I really like the layout of it. I was thinking of maybe getting a custom balltop or something too... any thoughts? I have never modded a stick before

If the buttons on the Hori stick are 30mm they should swap out with Sanwa easily. I can't recall atm but most Japanese built sticks have parts that are easily interchangeable with arcade buttons and joysticks.

sylvie · Nov 15, 2016

dagoto19 said:
If the buttons on the Hori stick are 30mm they should swap out with Sanwa easily. I can't recall atm but most Japanese built sticks have parts that are easily interchangeable with arcade buttons and joysticks.

cool. im not totally sure what im doing. i was mostly just thinking of customizing the colors and i want one of those cute translucent ball tops!!

dagoto19 · Nov 15, 2016

Sylvie said:
cool. im not totally sure what im doing. i was mostly just thinking of customizing the colors and i want one of those cute translucent ball tops!!

If the built in stick is anything like modern arcade parts swapping the balltop and buttons for new colors should be really easy. There's a ton of youtube videos explaining how to swap parts out of modern arcade sticks so you can check those out if you need some guidance.

sylvie · Nov 15, 2016

thanks! know of the best websites to get parts from??

max 330 mega · Nov 15, 2016

focus attack is pretty a koll site, sign up for the newsletter and they have discounts pretty much every week on various things.

dagoto19 · Nov 15, 2016

Sylvie said:
thanks! know of the best websites to get parts from??

I like to get my parts from Arcadeshock or Focusattack (add the ".com" to either). You should compare the two for better prices and selection depending on your needs.

AJtheMishima · Nov 17, 2016

Sylvie said:
question: has anyone thought of modding the HORI stick with different colored buttons or Sanwa parts or something? I really like the layout of it. I was thinking of maybe getting a custom balltop or something too... any thoughts? I have never modded a stick before

I was pretty sure that the buttons were soldered to the pcb so i checked and sure enough they are. But its a simple enough mod. just alittle soldering required but looks like the button holes are 30 mm so no worrying about modding the hole size. If you do the buttons only make sure to at the very least swap out the joystick spring and apply some fresh lube to the stick.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5305&sid=c972564414996f4297c978f9fac38e39

I pretty much get all my parts from Focus Attack except for afew exclusives from other shops. Def check out FA's facebook page, they have a promotion daily. Sometimes by brand, type of part or sometimes its by color.

options for Sega Saturn arcade stick

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