Sanwa or Seimitsu

Steve X2

So, we all have our own preferences for buttons and sticks.
What's yours and why?

At the moment I'm a fan of Sanwa sticks. I know Seimitsu are supposed to be better for shmups and Sanwa for fighters but I think Sanwa is the best all round stick for both as Seimitsu is a bit rubbish for fighters whereas Sanwa is excellent for fighters and very good for shmups. I play a mix of game styles on my candy cab so I really need sticks that play well on them all.

On the button side I'm actually not sure at all. I have Sanwa buttons in my Egret 3 and they're excellent but I really should switch to Seimitsu for a while and give them a go.

And then you have Happ, oh dear deary me
I modded my iCade and replaced the generic Happ style buttons the real deal and the controls are stile a pile of $h1te.

Votes are public on the poll by the way.

Retr0gamer

For sticks really it's what you prefer. Seimetsu seem to be better for shmups because they are tighter while the looser Sanwas are better for fighters, however I prefer a Seimetsu in both cases.

For buttons it's a very slight difference but I much prefer Sanwa buttons, you press them with a feather and they would register which is superb for fighters.

Steve X2

Seimitsu

Retr0gamer wrote: »

For sticks really it's what you prefer. Seimetsu seem to be better for shmups because they are tighter while the looser Sanwas are better for fighters, however I prefer a Seimetsu in both cases.

For buttons it's a very slight difference but I much prefer Sanwa buttons, you press them with a feather and they would register which is superb for fighters.

Do you not find Seimitsu sticks a bit too tight for fighters and other genres?
You are of course right in that the best stick/button is the one you personally like the most. But I'd like to hear the arguments for each all the same

o1s1n

Suzo-Happ

I'd be the complete opposite to you Steve_SI, I quite like Seimitsu sticks for fighters too. I usually mostly play shooting type games, but do play a lot of Alien Versus Predator and Last Blade. Seimitsus do me great.

When I was in Casino in London a few weeks ago, I was playing some fighters and can only assume they were Sanwa sticks. Either they're extremely loose from loads of play or else I've gotten so used to Seimitsu that Sanwa feels like I've to push the stick half a mile to get any sort of contact!

I honestly couldn't imagine playing a Shmup with a Sanwa!

TechnoFreek

The Last Blade eh oisin? I've seen it lurking on my 161 in 1 cart bit haven't tried it yet.

You've just unintentionally just endorsed it for me!

o1s1n

Suzo-Happ

Play it this instant! Best Neo Geo fighting game ever!

Zantetsu is my favourite character. He wears one of those hats like Raiden in Mortal Kombat. You can really go mental with his knives. Tis a lot of fun.

Retr0gamer

Steve SI wrote: »

Do you not find Seimitsu sticks a bit too tight for fighters and other genres?
You are of course right in that the best stick/button is the one you personally like the most. But I'd like to hear the arguments for each all the same

Definitely not too tight for them. I just find Sanwa's a bit too loose and think A Seimetsu the directions are better defined, although that's entirely a feel thing.

Also I wholeheartily endorse the last blade series. Superb fighters, and the NGP version is great as well.

TechnoFreek

A date with Last Blade tomorrow it is so!

Steve X2

Seimitsu

Yeah, The Last Blade and also The Last Blade 2 are definitely worth a good play. The second one doesn't get as much love but I really like it.

On the whole stick/button thing. Maybe I should put some Seimitsu sticks back in and use them for a month or so, that way I'll know for sure if I like or hate them.
I put them in before for about a day as I really missed the Sanwa.

What's the absolute best quality stick that Seimitsu do?

TechnoFreek

The pacificists at J+ like seimitsu sticks and sanwa buttons in their cabs.
And they know everything and are totally awesome!

o1s1n

Suzo-Happ

The LS-32 is the standard Seimitsu shmup stick of choice. But it again just comes down to preference really.

I think a lot of people like the LS-56 for shmups too?

Try one out for a bit anyway. I'd be really surprised if you didn't see a huge improvement in your Metal Slug 3 game. You really need precise movements in that game which I would have thought Sanwa wouldn't be able to give nearly as much.

Steve X2

Seimitsu

o1s1n wrote: »

The LS-32 is the standard Seimitsu shmup stick of choice. But it again just comes down to preference really.

I think a lot of people like the LS-56 for shmups too?

Try one out for a bit anyway. I'd be really surprised if you didn't see a huge improvement in your Metal Slug 3 game. You really need precise movements in that game which I would have thought Sanwa wouldn't be able to give nearly as much.

I think the LS-32 is what I bought a while back to test(might be the LS-33).
Ok, I'll stick them back in at some stage over the next month or so and give them so time.

sengoku

All I've ever owned was Happ joysticks.

I didn't like the ones used on NAOMI cabs, they just feel too slack.

Somebody mentioned buttons earlier, leaf switches are the best for beat 'em ups IMO. They just respond that little bit better when doing "quarter circle" or "half circle" moves.

o1s1n

Suzo-Happ

A happ stick and a cab with concave buttons is really great for that traditional arcade feel. Sure it's what we all grew up really. I don't think I saw a proper ball top stick on a cab until the Naomi Universals came along.

But in reality, they just don't compare to Seimitsu and Sanwa. Even the shape of those bat tops - how are you meant to hold them? It's more like a gear stick than an arcade stick. There are ways of holding a ball top properly which really help with playing the game - I can only see one way of holding a Happ stick, with a claw or a fist!

With a ball top you can get your hand right under the ball so it's in your palm like a wine glass. Far more control.



Although saying that, I can only really use a ball top sitting down. I tried using one on a stand up cab recently and it wasn't comfortable at all, couldn't hold it properly. So for big woody cabs I guess happ bat tops are the only way to go. (Unless you have a stool!)

Good article on different joystick types here

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/attributes_brands.html

Doctor DooM

Suzo-Happ

o1s1n wrote: »

I'd be the complete opposite to you Steve_SI, I quite like Seimitsu sticks for fighters too. I usually mostly play shooting type games, but do play a lot of Alien Versus Predator and Last Blade. Seimitsus do me great.

When I was in Casino in London a few weeks ago, I was playing some fighters and can only assume they were Sanwa sticks. Either they're extremely loose from loads of play or else I've gotten so used to Seimitsu that Sanwa feels like I've to push the stick half a mile to get any sort of contact!

I honestly couldn't imagine playing a Shmup with a Sanwa!

They 100% use Sanwa. Sanwa is the default for fighting games. Back in the day the FG people in Casino would some times being in new sanwa parts for them to replace themselves, according to a certain Irish born SF player.

sengoku wrote: »

All I've ever owned was Happ joysticks.

I didn't like the ones used on NAOMI cabs, they just feel too slack.

Somebody mentioned buttons earlier, leaf switches are the best for beat 'em ups IMO. They just respond that little bit better when doing "quarter circle" or "half circle" moves.

No no no. A thousand times no. There is not one person in the Irish fighting game scene who uses leaf switched sticks. In fact, the majority use Sanwa (although I am yet to be convinced of their superiority).

o1s1n wrote: »

A happ stick and a cab with concave buttons is really great for that traditional arcade feel. Sure it's what we all grew up really. I don't think I saw a proper ball top stick on a cab until the Naomi Universals came along.

But in reality, they just don't compare to Seimitsu and Sanwa. Even the shape of those bat tops - how are you meant to hold them? It's more like a gear stick than an arcade stick. There are ways of holding a ball top properly which really help with playing the game - I can only see one way of holding a Happ stick, with a claw or a fist!

With a ball top you can get your hand right under the ball so it's in your palm like a wine glass. Far more control.


Although saying that, I can only really use a ball top sitting down. I tried using one on a stand up cab recently and it wasn't comfortable at all, couldn't hold it properly. So for big woody cabs I guess happ bat tops are the only way to go. (Unless you have a stool!)

Good article on different joystick types here

http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/attributes_brands.html

Can't you get HAPP with ball tops?

sengoku

o1s1n wrote: »

So for big woody cabs I guess happ bat tops are the only way to go. (Unless you have a stool!)

Oddly enough, that is my setup!

o1s1n

Suzo-Happ

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Can't you get HAPP with ball tops?

You can fit ball tops, but I can't say I've really seen them around. When people talk about Happ sticks they'd nearly always mean bats.

Steve X2

Seimitsu

I tried bats on my Sanwa sticks for the craic a while back(using an thread adapter).
So so bad, feckin awful.

Doctor DooM

Suzo-Happ

o1s1n wrote: »

You can fit ball tops, but I can't say I've really seen them around. When people talk about Happ sticks they'd nearly always mean bats.

If they're American, maybe!

I don't think I was ever in an arcade in Ireland (in Dublin, certainly!) where bat tops were dominant. If you're going for the authentic arcade feel it's happ ball top all the way.

Andrew76

Suzo-Happ

o1s1n wrote: »

The LS-32 is the standard Seimitsu shmup stick of choice. But it again just comes down to preference really.

I think a lot of people like the LS-56 for shmups too?

Try one out for a bit anyway. I'd be really surprised if you didn't see a huge improvement in your Metal Slug 3 game. You really need precise movements in that game which I would have thought Sanwa wouldn't be able to give nearly as much.

Yep, LS-56-01 in use in my cab. Had 32s for a long while and nothing wrong with them but for shmups I much prefer the 56. Tighter, shorter throw. I have the 58 also with the coloured shaft and it feels much the same. I don't really play fighters so there's no conflict for me. Other games on Mame feel fine too.

I moved from Sanwa to Seimitsu buttons also. As retr0 says the slightest touch will set off the sanwa, I now prefer the tiny bit more effort needed to trigger the seimitsu, just a feeling thing.

/Edit: I defo do not grip the stick like the above, way too awkward for me.