02-26-2010, 03:10 PM
NOTE: This thread is going to be a series of updates on my 'arcade project'. I will have a full review of the stick I'm talking about on DigiMantis later on as well. Keep checking back if you're interested to see how I'm going to change it though. I'll probably even post this same thing (but more in depth) on DM also. But anyway, here we go.
As you all are aware I have an obsession with arcade titles old and new. More specifically, fighting games. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Street Fighter IV, the Capcom VS series, etc. So to get closer to that arcade experience I even got a 21 inch CRT monitor since that is pretty much what the arcade machines used anyway, and obviously MAME (and Street Fighter IV PC version). My last little addition to my "setup" is an actual arcade stick. I decided to go with the Hori FS3 since I didn't want to fork out over $100 on an arcade stick. It costs $50 retail but I got this one brand new for $30. I also plan on getting a triple core processor (Phenom X3) shortly, but it's not a must. I just want SF4 to run better. But anyway, here's the stick.
![[Image: arcadestick.jpg]](http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8391/arcadestick.jpg)
As you can see it's pretty compact from the looks of the picture but surprisingly enough, it's got some weight to it. Whether you play on a desk or in your lap, it's perfectly comfortable and it's not going to move around while you're playing. I already tried that part out. Out of the box, it feels really solid for the most part. I had a stick a long time ago with HAPP style parts (like the American arcade machines. This stick is japanese style) and as far as the buttons go, the stock Hori buttons on this stick feel pretty cheap and mushy and they're not as sensitive to touch as a real Sanwa or Seimitsu button would be, however that's why I'm posting this anyway.
The joystick itself is really nice so I probably won't change out the joystick, other than the ball top to maybe a different color. I also surprisingly like the square gate on it alot. I don't use charge characters. I use 360 characters, so I thought that this would be a pain in the ass to have a square gate but to be honest I think it's even easier because you can tell your down-ups, etc exactly. o.o So about the modding..
![[Image: ps2pcb.jpg]](http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1226/ps2pcb.jpg)
This is actually a stick for a Playstation 3, but I don't have a PS3. (it works just fine for PC though. Plug 'n play. No driver downloads needed) Problem is, the PC is pretty much ALL I can use it on. So, I'm going to take the stock PCB out of the stick, and put that old wireless Logitech PCB in, and wire the buttons to it. It's a PCB for a PS2 controller though, and as any gamer who may be reading this knows, PS2 buttons are pressure sensitive so I'm still kind of debating on whether I should do that. I'm only considering the PS2 PCB because it's wireless (without lag too), and I can't use the controller anyway because the dpad (the rubber pad on the inside) tore from extensive use. I do have 3 perfectly good PS1 controllers however, which are all digital. So I might snatch the PCB out of this old MadCatz:
![[Image: madcatz.jpg]](http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/9987/madcatz.jpg)
The primary reason for switching the PCB is simply to make the stick more versatile. If I have a PS1 PCB in there, I could use this stick on PC (I have an adapter for that already), PS1, PS2, PS3 (using an adapter), and Dreamcast (also using an adapter). Dreamcast is a definite must for me because..well, it's like having an arcade machine in a tiny little white box. 90% of the fighting games I play are on the Dreamcast.
Aside from the PCB, I also plan on switching out the stock buttons for either Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons. Sanwa and Seimitsu are two companies that make the buttons on the real Japanese arcade machines. Authentic stuff. The stock buttons are okay, but they definitely don't feel as good as the real thing. They're still usable for right now though. When I do change the buttons, I'm going to most likely get them in clear. Why? Because I'm changing the stock face plate too with my choice of artwork. Make it more spiffy, yes? Yes.
Last but not least, I'll change the cherry top with a Seimitsu clear (or maybe even blue. they look cool too) with bubbles inside. Here's a picture of what I mean by that:
![[Image: bubble.jpg]](http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/7258/bubble.jpg)
As far as artwork goes, I'll most likely make my own design and get it printed somewhere. Not sure what I want the theme to be though. There's alot of possibilities. Wrath Oskvro, DigiMantis, a tribute to Bruce Lee (with yellow buttons instead of clear
Game Of Death FTW ..well the original Game Of Death anyway. Not the garbage Hollywood turned it into). Either that or I may take something from Deviant Art. Who knows. The reasoning behind getting clear buttons though is so the artwork will sort of show through. Here's an example of what I'm talking about.
![[Image: clearbuttons.jpg]](http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3783/clearbuttons.jpg)
LED's under the buttons (they will show up on the rings) is also an idea. So yeah..thoughts?
As you all are aware I have an obsession with arcade titles old and new. More specifically, fighting games. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Street Fighter IV, the Capcom VS series, etc. So to get closer to that arcade experience I even got a 21 inch CRT monitor since that is pretty much what the arcade machines used anyway, and obviously MAME (and Street Fighter IV PC version). My last little addition to my "setup" is an actual arcade stick. I decided to go with the Hori FS3 since I didn't want to fork out over $100 on an arcade stick. It costs $50 retail but I got this one brand new for $30. I also plan on getting a triple core processor (Phenom X3) shortly, but it's not a must. I just want SF4 to run better. But anyway, here's the stick.
As you can see it's pretty compact from the looks of the picture but surprisingly enough, it's got some weight to it. Whether you play on a desk or in your lap, it's perfectly comfortable and it's not going to move around while you're playing. I already tried that part out. Out of the box, it feels really solid for the most part. I had a stick a long time ago with HAPP style parts (like the American arcade machines. This stick is japanese style) and as far as the buttons go, the stock Hori buttons on this stick feel pretty cheap and mushy and they're not as sensitive to touch as a real Sanwa or Seimitsu button would be, however that's why I'm posting this anyway.
The joystick itself is really nice so I probably won't change out the joystick, other than the ball top to maybe a different color. I also surprisingly like the square gate on it alot. I don't use charge characters. I use 360 characters, so I thought that this would be a pain in the ass to have a square gate but to be honest I think it's even easier because you can tell your down-ups, etc exactly. o.o So about the modding..
This is actually a stick for a Playstation 3, but I don't have a PS3. (it works just fine for PC though. Plug 'n play. No driver downloads needed) Problem is, the PC is pretty much ALL I can use it on. So, I'm going to take the stock PCB out of the stick, and put that old wireless Logitech PCB in, and wire the buttons to it. It's a PCB for a PS2 controller though, and as any gamer who may be reading this knows, PS2 buttons are pressure sensitive so I'm still kind of debating on whether I should do that. I'm only considering the PS2 PCB because it's wireless (without lag too), and I can't use the controller anyway because the dpad (the rubber pad on the inside) tore from extensive use. I do have 3 perfectly good PS1 controllers however, which are all digital. So I might snatch the PCB out of this old MadCatz:
The primary reason for switching the PCB is simply to make the stick more versatile. If I have a PS1 PCB in there, I could use this stick on PC (I have an adapter for that already), PS1, PS2, PS3 (using an adapter), and Dreamcast (also using an adapter). Dreamcast is a definite must for me because..well, it's like having an arcade machine in a tiny little white box. 90% of the fighting games I play are on the Dreamcast.
Aside from the PCB, I also plan on switching out the stock buttons for either Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons. Sanwa and Seimitsu are two companies that make the buttons on the real Japanese arcade machines. Authentic stuff. The stock buttons are okay, but they definitely don't feel as good as the real thing. They're still usable for right now though. When I do change the buttons, I'm going to most likely get them in clear. Why? Because I'm changing the stock face plate too with my choice of artwork. Make it more spiffy, yes? Yes.
Last but not least, I'll change the cherry top with a Seimitsu clear (or maybe even blue. they look cool too) with bubbles inside. Here's a picture of what I mean by that:
As far as artwork goes, I'll most likely make my own design and get it printed somewhere. Not sure what I want the theme to be though. There's alot of possibilities. Wrath Oskvro, DigiMantis, a tribute to Bruce Lee (with yellow buttons instead of clear
Game Of Death FTW ..well the original Game Of Death anyway. Not the garbage Hollywood turned it into). Either that or I may take something from Deviant Art. Who knows. The reasoning behind getting clear buttons though is so the artwork will sort of show through. Here's an example of what I'm talking about. LED's under the buttons (they will show up on the rings) is also an idea. So yeah..thoughts?