Quantcast
Channel: Tech Talk — shoryuken
Viewing all 8072 articles
Browse latest View live

Hori Hayabusa unboxing + mods!

$
0
0
Ok, shit got real at about 8 pm at the UPS office when I had to pick this package up because someone, somewhere, got my apt # wrong. Anyway, look at this!!

I wonder what's inside!
Spoiler:
100_1561.JPG

Oh my, is that a PERSONALLY signed letter of thanks? Damn, Hori you know how to treat a man. If you keep this up, I may love you long time...
Spoiler:
100_1563.JPG


Oooh, so pretty! Sanwa never sends me such pretty boxes and Seimitsu? I don't even think they know what boxes are! But look at you Hori, I think you've sent me Pandora's Box! It's so dark and mysterious, I wonder...
Spoiler:
100_1564.JPG

What's this at the bottom of the box? *Gasp* The rumors are true! There ARE stickers! Hori, I'm taking a wild guess that you'd love it if I stuck these stickers all over my stick and went out in public, to a place like EVO maybe, right? Well... maybe if you treat me right, you know I might just do it! They aren't THAT bad looking! Yeah, ok, maybe I'm a little convinced, maybe...
Spoiler:
100_1565.JPG

Pandora's box in all her glory, just look at it.
Spoiler:
100_1566.JPG

Yeah, these are definitely going on my stick. Hori, are we going to go steady soon?
Spoiler:
100_1567.JPG


Oh my, look at all that protection you have. You wrapped it up just for me? Well, I don't like it wrapped, so we about to get raw in here.
Spoiler:
100_1568.JPG

Well, maybe lets not be too hasty now...
Spoiler:
100_1569.JPG

Aye, ye like foreplay, yea? Perhaps I was too eager, Hori. Look at these textured washers, allow me to illustrate their textured glory!
Spoiler:
100_1570.JPG

Ah, finally I have unwrapped thee. See the ball top? See the shaft cover? See the dust washers? And see Hayabusa in all her glory to the left? Oh, I can't wait! I'm going to get you so naked and raw in just a minute!
Spoiler:
100_1571.JPG

Alas, I hast unscrewed thine gate, and shall probe and prod hither and to! Glorious!
Spoiler:
100_1573.JPG

I see thou hast familiar parts... couldst thou be akin to mine past love?
Spoiler:
100_1574.JPG

Now I hath pulled mine shaft out. Gaze in awe at the glory of the pivot! See, tis well lubed! Nay, can't be! For ne'er hast I seen the lubing of shafts out of the box afore!
Spoiler:
100_1575.JPG

Aha! I thought thine parts familiar! Gaze at those pulled from the Elleste Fitty Sixt! Ye doth share, ye do! Welcome back to thine castle, Matsushita!
Spoiler:
100_1576.JPG

From the same mold, yea?
Spoiler:
100_1577.JPG

Oh, Hayabusa, as much as I love the obvious quality and care put into thee, alas, ye lack levers.
Spoiler:
100_1578.JPG

Doth mine eyes deceive! What trickery is this?!
Spoiler:
100_1579.JPG

Stock spring, meet mine friend, Elleste Fitty Fith spring! Thou aren't tense enough, mi'lady.
Spoiler:
100_1580.JPG

Ah, such a friendly PCB thou hast, for those nights ye feel alone and old, thou shalt hath new parts!
Spoiler:
100_1581.JPG

Tis true what hearest me about thine V...
Spoiler:
100_1582.JPG

Alas, thou shalt not do. To the lake, with ye!
Spoiler:
100_1583.JPG

And thou shalt meet Excalibur (*cough* Dremel *cough*) and mine grip shalt wield it so!
Spoiler:
100_1584.JPG

And thou shalt hath levers forever more!!
Spoiler:
100_1585.JPG

Plus a shaft and dustwasher of the purest silver! And a Dragon bat top bathed in the fairest moonlight of the night!
Spoiler:
100_1586.JPG

I hope you all enjoyed! Apologies about the delay but the mod had to be done before I posted. Why? Because, Tech Talk! I told you all I wouldn't go 5 minutes without modding it out the box. For what it's worth, this is like the best of both worlds for Sanwa and Seimitsu. As you can clearly see, the inclusion of the metal washer is clearly Sanwa inspired. The actuator as well, is Sanwa inspired. The material for the actuator has to be ABS. It's definitely not nylon or delrin, and definitely not acrylic. The gate is clearly Seimitsu inspired right down to the hole design and the switches and the tension also Seimitsu inspired. Considering they share the same brand switches, this is a no brainer but then the placement of the switches also feels clearly Seimitsu inspired. When I did the mod to the body no plastic melted even at a high speed and no funky odors as well. I definitely like the stick a lot so far. It has a ton of mod potential, a LS-55 spring has more tension and fits right in with no modding necessary. The shaft looks to be JLF inspired to a degree. The pivot has a high quality design but the material is not delrin or nylon, it feels much harder like ABS. I would have preferred delrin but, considering how limited the points of contact are on the pivot, I do not think this is an issue.

So far, I'm rating this a 10/10. Out the box it feels good, nice tension, decent engage though the throw feels large to me (I play on no throw mods) but isn't anywhere near as large as a JLF. The stick has a nice tension out of the box as well, not too loose like a JLF. I'm thinking this is more akin to a LS-40 in feel. The smooth pivot, the engage and throw, all reminds me of the 40. Very different from the LS-56 and JLF. I haven't used a LS-32 yet except briefly and this doesn't feel like that, either. At the moment, I'm going to say if you want to try a LS-40 and are willing to do a minor mod to get levers on the stick, then get a Hayabusa.

Official Street Fighter IV FightSticks & FightPad Thread (More on the way!)

$
0
0
READ BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS!!!

3245710615_3ef85c5de0_o.jpg


Mad Catz official response regarding the Arcade FightStick (standard edition)...

ADDED 02/18/09
Hi there,

My name is Alex Verrey, Global PR & Communications Manager for Mad Catz.

In recent days, there have been reports of quality issues surrounding our Street Fighter IV range of products, largely focused on our standard edition Arcade FightStick.

Mad Catz is committed to providing quality products and we fully stand behind our product warranty. We are very proud of this range which has been met with overwhelming critical enthusiasm. We also wish to be honest and transparent with the gaming community. We are here to help and will not shy away from our responsibility thus, after investigating the issues mentioned on blogs, websites and forums, we would like to take this opportunity to relay our official position:

1. Some customers have reported issues with their standard edition Arcade FightStick. A very small amount of users have experience problems with the sticks responsiveness. Please note that this issue does NOT happen on each Arcade FightStick and has been reported on a small number of units. The issue is due to a metal washer shifting out of place and is easily rectified. The issue and the resulting fix have been extensively documented on several forums. However, to avoid voiding your warranty, we recommend contacting Mad Catz technical support who will be happy to assist. Mad Catz is committed to fixing all sticks that exhibit this issue. Our contact information lies below.


2. Some customers have reported scratches on the top of their Tournament Edition. This could have occurred during the pack-out portion of the manufacturing process. It is not the result of recycling old or used parts or the result of any kind of rushed manufacturing process. Mad Catz would never do such a thing. Mad Catz will replace tops with serious scratches caused by the manufacturing pack-out process. Again, in the highly unlikely occurrence of your Tournament Edition Arcade FightStick exhibiting serious scratches, please contact us and we will be happy to assist.

Mad Catz recognizes the enormous trust the Street Fighter community has placed in us. We want to make you aware of the known issues and our plans to remedy the situation. For all of the issues listed above, we encourage you to contact Mad Catz customer support by phone or email (see below). Your local retailer will not be able to repair or provide replacement parts. We have asked our retailers to direct you back to us for warranty repair and service. We would like to stress again that we believe this is a limited and isolated issue that may affect a small number of sticks.

When you call, Mad Catz support agents will diagnose the problem over the phone and based on their diagnosis, they will work with you to solve the problem including providing free shipping and repair. Please note all support agents are based in California (USA) or in Bristol (UK) and are die hard gamers that want to help you. Our contact info is as follows:

USA:
Tech Phone: 1-619-683-9830 ext. 3799
Toll Free (USA): 1-800-659-2287
Email: techsupport@madcatz.com

Web: www.madcatz.com (select support menu option)
Support Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am - 4pm (PST)
Closed Saturday, Sunday and most major US holidays


UK/Europe:

Europe Support Number 01454 451900 (UK Only 0845 050 8428)
E-Mail Address mczsupport@saitek.com
Support Hours 9 - 4.30pm Monday - Friday

Last, the Standard Edition and Tournament Edition Arcade FightSticks feature a Turbo function which we specifically tested on beta/pre-release versions of Street Fighter IV and the retail release.


They perform as documented in the user guide and there are no known issues. If however, you should identify a game not compatible with our Turbo function, please email tech support (techsupport@madcatz.com) and we will investigate the issue. Currently, we are investigating reports of an issue with the Turbo function on the PS3 versions of both the standard and Tournament Edition Arcade FightSticks when playing Street Fighter HD Remix. As we learn more, we will post more information in an FAQ on our support site.

Mad Catz welcomes all constructive feedback and comments. Your feedback will help us make better products and identify unknown issues. For those of you that do not have any problem, enjoy the sticks. Those that have issues, call us. We want to fix the problem. Thank you for your time.


Yours sincerely,

Alex Verrey
Global PR & Communications Manager
Mads Catz Inc.
averry@madcatz.com
QQ
:lovin:
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has secured a license from Capcom(R), a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, to produce branded controllers and accessories based on the Street Fighter(R) IV, Bionic Commando(R) and Resident Evil(R) 5 videogame properties. The agreement gives Mad Catz North American and European rights to a range of accessories for all current videogame platforms, including the PC.
"We are excited to partner with Capcom to create branded controllers and accessories based on three of the videogame industry's most popular and enduring franchises," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "We look forward to offering unique and exciting accessories to fans of these games, as we continue to grow and diversify what we believe to be the industry's leading portfolio of branded videogame accessories."
"This is a real collaboration between Mad Catz and Capcom," said Germaine Gioia, senior vice president, licensing, Capcom. "We are developing a broad variety of game peripherals for a wide game-playing audience -- from the casual to the most loyal, core fan. These innovative peripherals will maximize the overall experience that comes from playing Capcom games."
FAQ

NOTE: Opening either stick voids the Warranty which is 90 days U.S. and 2 years in Europe.

If you experience any issues with your FightStick or Pad please call Madcatz tech support @ 1.800.659.2287 8 AM PST - 4 PM PST

Q: So I take it that the Japanese stick comment means that it uses a square gate? If I were to pick up one of these would it be easy to mod it to an American style stick?
A: Comes with square gate. American buttons? Maybe. Joystick? No.

Q: Also I've never been able to find a good answer as to the difference between the TE and regular stick.
A: Standard stick has standard parts, not Sanwa. Standard is smaller, lighter, cheaper, etc.

Q: Are these joysticks PC Compatible?
A: YES. YES. YES.
At most you might need to download drivers from Microsoft's site for the 360 versions.

Q: Are these joysticks wired?
A: Yes, USB for both 360 and PS3.

Q: How Much do these things cost?
A: The regular Fightstick is 70 for the PS3 and 80 for the 360. The Tournament edition is 150 bucks.

Q: Why is the 360 one ten dollars more?
A: Because Microsoft has higher licensing fees for accessories than Sony.

Q: When are these going to be available?
A: Around the same time as Street Fighter 4 is released. (2/11/09)

Q: Where can I get one of these?
A: Update: Most places are sold out of pre orders. There are some vendors online selling them but there are major questions about actual availability

Q:Can I walk in on that day and pick one up?
A: Very unlikely. Stores will only stock the Tournament edition if you pre-order, and while some of the more popular Gamestops might have a few of the regular edition in stock, it would be best to pre-order to make sure you get one. Supplies will be limited.

Q: What about those of us outside of the United States?
A: The sticks WILL be available in the UK, but details are still scare. Other than than not much has been said.

Q: Will there be a territorial lockout on the sticks?
A: No, they'll work on any region system.

Q: Why does the Tournament edition cost twice as much?
A: All the reasons have not been revealed yet, but what we've heard so far:
-Genuine Sanwa arcade joysticks and buttons, the same ones found on official Street fighter 4 arcade cabinets in Japan
-Larger and heavier base (heavier than an HRAP)
-Other neat things like a compartment in the back for storing the cable, a switch which disables the pause and guide buttons

Q: Does that mean the regular edition is crap?
A: No. According to those who are in the know, it's a better stick out of the box than Hori's Fighting stick ex2 or Fighting stick 3. In addition it is easily moddable, as in replacing the joystick and buttons (wired up using a 5 pin connector and quick disconnects, just like the Tournament edition).

Q: Do the 360 joysticks have headset ports?
A: Yes.

Q: Does the older 360 headset work with both sticks?
A: Yes, they will include an adapter

Q: Are the sticks four-way or eight way?
A: They have square gates, which are the norm for Japanese sticks. (By the way, that's still eight way, but you can feel the corners.) If you so choose you could replace the gate with a Octagonal Restrictor Plate to make it feel more round.

Q: What model stick is in the TE edition?
A: JLF-TP-8YT-SK-W

Q: Uh, I hate square gates
A: Put a Sanwa GT-Y Octagonal Restrictor Plate in there

Q: Can I put a Happ american style stick in there?
A: No, not without major modding however a Sanwa LB-30-N Joystick Bat Top &
Sanwa Joystick Adapter in there with an octagonal gate and that should get you close

Q: Is the top panel (the artwork) of the Tournament edition still replaceable?
A: Yes, however opening the stick will void the warranty

Q: Will there be templates available for artwork?
A: Yes! You can find them here. Right click and save as:
SE: http://shoryuken.com/FightStick_Template_MadCatz.psd
TE: http://shoryuken.com/Tournament_FightStick_Template_MadCatz.psd

Templates and FightStick Mockups can be found in
The Official Street Fighter IV TE/SE Fighstick Template Thread DO NOT POST ART WORK IN THIS THREAD!

Q: What does the stock art consist of?
A: As a heads up, the artwork on the TE is a decal fused on the bottom of an acrylic sheet

Q: What about the regular fightstick artwork?
A: For the regular FightStick, it is a decal on a METAL plate. It will be harder to swap out art here. You will have to figure out your own thing

Q: Why don't these joysticks work with both systems (like the anniversary stick)?
A: Because Microsoft won't allow it, security chips needed to have a controller work on a 360, Etc...

Q: Do these sticks work with BC games?
A: Yes on the 360, NO on the PS3. This may be changed via update so email Sony.

Q: What if I want to mod the joystick to work with both 360 and PS3?
A: You should probably get the 360 one.

Q: Are the PCBs in the sticks Common Ground?
A: Yes.

Q: Are there Six or Eight buttons?
A: Eight.

Q: What kind of Button layout is it?
A: a layout identical to a Vewlix Cabinet Street Fighter IV cabinet.

Q: Are these the same measurements as the real Vewlix
A: Yes

Q: What is the case made out of?
A: Plastic with metal panels on the top and bottom.

Q: Are the buttons Screw ins or Snap ins?
A: Snaps.

Q: What size are the stock buttons?
A: 30mm - top buttons 24mm - start/select

Q: Does it have Turbo controls?
A: Yes, both stick have independent Turbo controls for each button.

Q: Can I put a Seimitsu Stick in either version?
A: Yes.

Q: Are these joysticks PC Compatible?
A: Yes.

Q: How long is the cord?
A: 4 meters

Q: Are the cords on the stick breakaway's?
A: On the 360 version yes, it is a Microsoft spec.

Q: Can I use screw in buttons?
A: As a heads up Sanwa screw in nuts will not fit in easily around the X (PS3) / A (360) button due to the stick bracket blocking the way. However a Seimitsu yellow screw in nut will fasten a screw in button just fine.

Just a heads up. This is due to the Vewlix panel not having a universal mounting plate to support an LS32. It is something we added on our own. We didn't want to sacrifice the spacing/layout of the stick/buttons.

I reccommend you use snap in buttons, but if you wanna screw, take note!

Final TE stick:
8838.jpg

TEStick.jpg

3211613952_f93d524458.jpg

Inside pics, Too large to post
http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.media/ars_stick1.jpg
http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.media/ars_stick2.jpg

ars_stick1b.jpg
ars_stick2b.jpg

Stats:

3046866079_b49d805c5c.jpg
WEIGHT COMPARISON
1) Official Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition

* 6.5 lbs; 2.95 kg

2) Hori Real Arcade PRO

* 5.7 lbs; 2.59 kg

3) Virtua Stick High Grade

* 6.5 lbs; 2.95 kg

MEASUREMENT COMPARISON
HEIGHT (measuring from bottom of base to tallest point on panel)
1) Official Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition

* 2.75 inches; 69.85 mm
* Including Joystick: 5.0 inches; 127 mm

2) Hori Real Arcade PRO

* 2.75 inches; 69.85
* Including Joystick: 5.0 inches; 127 mm

3) Virtua Stick High Grade

* 2.25 inches; 57.15 mm
* Including Joystick: 4.5 inches; 114.30 mm



VERTICAL LENGTH


1) Official Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition

* 10 inches; 254 mm

2) Hori Real Arcade PRO

* 9.0 inches; 228.60 mm

3) Virtua Stick High Grade

* 9.5 inches; 241.30 mm



HORIZONTAL LENGTH
1) Official Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition

* 16 inches; 406.40 mm

2) Hori Real Arcade PRO

* 15.75 inches; 400.05 mm

3) Virtua Stick High Grade

* 13.75 inches; 349.25 mm

Here are pics to help you visualize it better (pic measurements shown in inches only):
3189812809_03c4e54e2e_o.jpg
3190658016_eb96f8e735_o.jpg
sf4.jpg

Final regular FightStick:
51CsxvLuibL._SS500_.jpg

3210768236_2662019c51_b.jpg

Fight Pads:
http://www.gamecyte.com/ces-2009-mad-catz-street-fighter-iv-arcade-stick-pad

ces-202.jpg

ces-203.jpg


MarkMan's Writeup:
I finished my writeup awhile ago. It didn't turn out how I wanted it to, but there is some info in there (preview pics, initial concepts etc.)... Also the art templates for both sticks are in there!

Check it out... via http://sdtekken.com

http://sdtekken.com/2009/02/07/making-the-grade-a-fightstick-story/

REVIEWS:

1up: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3172420
IGN: http://gear.ign.com/articles/947/947933p1.html
http://kotaku.com/5138267/hands-all-over-street-fighter-iv-tournament-edition-fight-stick
Gamepro: http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/208589/mad-catz-street-fighter-iv-arcade-sticks-reviewed/
Kotaku: http://kotaku.com/5139955/street-fighter-iv-tournament-edition-fight-stick-review-shoryuken
Kotaku: Brian opens the TE http://kotaku.com/5140845/hands-inside-the-sfiv-tournament-edition-fightstick
SRK: [media=youtube]y1e4k3Myyak&eurl=http://shoryuken.com/[/media]
Eurogamer: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/mad-catz-fightstick-tournament-review

SRK Tech review playlist by ShinJN: http://www.youtube.com/user/shinjnSRK

SE FightStick Review:
IGN: http://gear.ign.com/articles/948/948655p1.html
Play Online:http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showGamePage&Game_ID=963

Pad Review:
http://gear.ign.com/articles/946/946596p1.html
http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=hardware&game=madcatz_fightpad


Media:
Unboxing:
[media=youtube]fSasAr_Dxmk[/media]


CES:

* http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...n-new-products
* http://kotaku.com/5128016/ces-09-han...rnament-sticks
* http://gear.ign.com/articles/943/943834p1.html
* http://arstechnica.com/journals/thum...-arcade-sticks
* http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming...=rss&attr=news
* http://www.gamedaily.com/gear/2009/0...ck-first-look/
* http://play.tm/news/22833/mad-catz-o...iv-controller/
* http://ces.gamespot.com/story.html?sid=6202941
* http://www.ps3attitude.com/new/2009/...-sf4-1st-look/
* http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=58701
* http://www.destructoid.com/ces-2009-...n-117539.phtml
* http://www.accessmaterial.com/mad-ca...s-accessories/
* http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10134747-100.html
* http://kotaku.com/5125288/mad-catz-h...wx-controllers
* http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2009/01...s-accessories/
* http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56649
* http://gaygamer.net/2009/01/capcom_a...sfiv_with.html
* http://www.psu.com/Mad-Catz-reveal-o...0006046-p0.php
* http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news...ounced-at-Last
* http://www.xboxsolution.com/2009/01/...tick-fightpad/
* http://www.videogamer.com/news/08-01-2009-10318.html
* [URL]http://www.*******.com/2009/01/07/ma...s-accessories/[/URL]
* http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ma...iv-peripherals
* http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=16788


Previews:
http://www.gamecyte.com/ces-2009-mad-catz-street-fighter-iv-arcade-stick-pad
http://ces.gamespot.com/video/6202965/
[media=youtube]rcsQ17oGm_M&feature=channel_page[/media]
[media=youtube]CwfcVaOETfE[/media]
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/44693.html

Xbox One Sticks

$
0
0
So I'm thinking about picking up a stick for my x1 and its pretty much between the Mad Catz KI TE2 or the Razer stick.

Is there a clear difference in quality ? any advice and guidance would be great =D

Looking for a converter for my Eightarc fightstick

$
0
0
Please help me guys. I have the Eightarc ebony fightstick for the Playstation 3, and I recently purchased a converter through amazon, but it didn't work at all. Does anybody know of any converters that for sure work for my brand of stick. Here is a picture of the failed converter I purchased. Please guys, any information you have will be helpful.

Questions concerning LEDs and the Guilty Gear Xrd MadCatz Tournament Edition 2 arcade stick

$
0
0
So I've been contemplating on having LED lights for the Tournament Edition 2 arcade stick when I get my hands on it and I would like to know what are the available options for me that would work well with the Tournament Edition 2?

I have had experience with LED lighting with the Injustice arcade stick and had some usage with the Uila S Flash sometime earlier this year but I felt I had a handicap with modding that stick since there was already an LED board included.

So what are some good LED brands for lighting up Sanwa and/or Seimitsu buttons and would any kind of LED modding work with the TE2? I have seen some crazy LED functions such as the stick in this video:
image

Any helpful recommendations are appreciated!

Anyone on PC have any experience with the KI Arcade FightStick TE 2?

$
0
0
I'm looking to buy the Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=13_195_1265&item_id=067848) and i play on a PC and wondering if this stick would work well for PC (Windows 8.1).

Anyone have any experience with this stick? does it work properly? button issues etc?

Main reason why i'm looking at this stick is because it's currently $50 off and a 5 minute walk away from where i live.

crown 303fk

$
0
0
so i just ordered one of these from focus attack cause i dont like jap style sticks,wanting to try the k style(fanta doesnt fit and im not drilling a hole in my case) and im wondering if the build quality has increased in the last few months. i see a lot of people complain about the rubber inside. Is it possible that the one i get is flawless or will i prolly have to return it? Anyone been using it the past few months/weeks and want to share some words of wisdom.

Modding my qanba q1

$
0
0
Hello, This is my first time modding my stick. I am wanting to mod my qanba q1 with Hori hayabusa joystick. I fell in love with this joystick after playing on my friends fighting edge, but what I have read is that is has some "fitment issues" with the q1. I was wondering if this means it wouldn't work at all or if it would just have some trouble fitting and would just need a little modding. I really like the size of my q1 so I would actually prefer to use it with better parts. If anyone has had experience with it or know about it and could share this information I would appreciate it very much. :smiley:

CNC Paper Cutters

$
0
0
Anyone have any experience with these? I was looking at the Silhouette Cameo and Cricut Explore getting exact cuts after having artwork printed out. The Silhouette is definitely priced at a point I like, but wasn't sure how reliable any of these printer type versions are compared to cnc laser cutters. Seemed cool to have for other projects and just being able to print and then get the exact cutouts to change artwork often.

cricut_explore.jpg

silhouette_cameo.jpg

Here's my custom MK arcade stick :D

$
0
0
Hi everyone!
I'm finishing this project and I wanted to show it to you.
I want to make a couple more in the future and feedback would be of great help.

This is my first time doing a wood project. But when I get something like this in my mind, I tend to get very obsessed about it and use as much time as possible to investigate tools, materials, etc.
In this case, I based the case design on the PDP MK stick, but due to a mistake that I made early on, I had to make the lid open sideways instead.
One of the hardest things to do was calculating the sizes of the pieces of wood. I made it so that it's comfortable to me, instead of copying the actual sizes of other sticks. But to give you an idea, it's top part is very similar in size to a Mad Catz TE. It's just a little bit taller.

The parts are all made here in Argentina. The buttons and joystick are of a brand called "AGC". They are very similar to the IL or Happ ones, and are very sturdy. I've grown accustomed to the joystick and it's been hard to go back to the softer Sanwa ones.

The artwork is a mix of drawings found online (that I had to touch up to improve the quality) and other parts designed from scratch to suit my layout.
The plexi was designed in Illustrator and cut with laser. The wood is cut by hand and it was a great chance to learn how to correctly use some tools.

The front plexi can be removed to change the image.
On the back, the cable can be connected via a Switchcraft plug, and stored inside the case when not used.

The only thing left to do now is wiring, but I'm still looking for a PCB, I will probably order a Cthulhu in the future).

Thanks and I hope you like my new stick!


Full gallery on: https://www.flickr.com/photos/129405357@N04/sets/72157649792226456/

Cerberus: Unleash the hellhound in your arcade stick

$
0
0
Cerberus-300x194.png
Picture-004-300x225.jpg
Cheesy title.. I know >: )

The Cerberus is, ultimately, a revamp of my TEasy Strike/TEasy Mod. It's goal is to provide the user with solderless modding options for their MadCatz Xbox 360 T.E. arcade sticks to allow them access to PlayStation 3 consoles for "dual" functionality in a single stick.

However, it may overall result in the same basic principle to give the user a dual mod with next to no effort, it's method for accomplishing that is far different. The TEasy Strike/Mod used spring loaded pins to access the original signals, the Cerberus does not. Instead, it utilizes undermounted sockets that interface with the original board. This method allows for a more solid installation, and also is actually easier for the user to do since there is little alignment required. The top right of the board has an alignment hole to see the top right most mounting screw through to give you one alignment point, as well as the board being thinner than the original Xbox 360 PCB so that the user can actually see the connection's alignment while it's happening.
Picture-008-300x225.jpg
The Cerberus board mounted to the original Xbox360 enabled PCB.
Picture-009-300x225.jpg
Alignment hole to view the mounting screw.
Also pictured are solderable points for Ground and VCC for usage with other modifications such as LEDs and optical joysticks.
Picture-010-300x225.jpg
User’s view when installing, you can actually see the connection for instant feedback on alignment.
As you can probably tell, the USB cable connection points look different this time as well. They are in fact IDC terminals (Insulation Displacement Connection), which make it so that you only have to remove the outer sheath of the USB cable. The 4 wires (VCC, D+, D-, GND) do not have to be stripped. Simply inserted into the terminals and closed tightly with your fingers, you don’t even need a flat head screwdriver like the TEasy did to punch the terminals down. They’re smaller, sleeker, and do a bang up job for ease of installation. Although they are easier to use, it’s good to note that extra care should be taken to ensure they are down all the way, which I will show an example of in the Installation section.
Picture-006-300x225.jpg
IDC Terminal front view. Note that “USB IN” is only labeled on the prototype, you will see “X360 IN” for this particular pair in the final version.
Now, the name Cerberus is not just picked because it sounds cool (although I do really like it). The PCB does in fact have 3 accessible faces for the user.
  1. Bottom Face – Accesses the original Xbox 360 PCB
  2. Top Face – Accesses the JST connector harnesses that go to the rest of the arcade stick.
  3. Inner Face – This is a special advanced face that the user can access by soldering directly to.
The third (inner) face, has been specially planned out for advanced users. You may notice that all of the components are centered into a small area of the board. The reason is shown below:
Picture-005-300x225.jpg
Third face shown, the silk screen outline denotes cut lines. The gold pads are solderable for advanced usage.
The top/bottom board components that allow the PC/PS3 controller circuit to function are smashed into a tiny area to give the more savvy user the ability to literally cut the board down to the size of a quarter. This allows the user to install this board into not just it’s standard function of MadCatz Xbox 360 T.E arcade sticks, but into virtually anything.
Picture-002-300x225.jpg
Bottom side for easy soldering, the cut away section to the left.
Picture-003-300x225.jpg
Top side, denotes what’s left after cutting, the heart of this board.
*It should be noted that although the advanced operation is available, once you begin cutting the Cerberus PCB you void any and all warranty/support. This is for advanced users with the abilities required to perform such modifications.

*Also note that if you are using the cut down board and wish to use the Player LED signals. They are controlled via open collector configuration for usage with Common Anode LEDs. There are 4 0402 resistor positions (R2, R3, R4, R5) that you may wish to use. The original components are 0 (zero) Ohm resistors, so jumpers. Do NOT connect LEDs directly to these signals as you could cause irreparable damage to your setup.

Picture-032-300x225.jpg
Install FAQ Section:
Spoiler:
First make sure the pins are lined up nicely and try again. You can see where the pins are rubbing into the plastic of the connector on the Cerberus and adjust by that. Then if that doesn't work try out what mistcore has done below:
Klbti.jpg
This was my solution to installing the Cerberus successfully.
The JLF connector was rubbing up against that white guide, so I snipped the side of the guide.

Features

The Cerberus‘ list of current features are as follows:
  • PC/PS3 Functionality
  • Player indications for PS3 (Player numbers will appear on the guide ring of your arcade stick after a standard instllation)
  • LS/RS control by switching the control panel of the arcade stick
  • Auto-detection on supported systems
  • Forced passthrough mode for Xbox360 mode. Hold 1P (x) while plugging into allow this.
  • Forced PC/PS3 mode for debug/forced mode on PC. Hold 1K (a) while plugging in. (FW 1.01)
  • S+S=H ability on both PS3/360. Pressing a dedicated Home button will disable this. (FW 1.01)
  • Updatability through a USB bootloader for any firmware upgrades/bug fixes in the future. Hold START while plugging into your PC to access this mode.
Upgrading your firmware

TODO – Firmware update section

For those who know how you can upgrade the board via Atmel's FLIP DFU. The chip is an Atmega32U4

Firmware Downloads:

v1.01
  • Added code for S+S=H with a ~1/3s delay, dedicated home will disable the function. Will show up on new plugins with 1.01 as the version.
  • Also gave it a forced PC/PS3 mode, use LK to do so.
Arcade Stick Compatibility

Due to the measurement based install of the Cerberus. It will only fit SSF4 T.E. arcade sticks and newer. This means round 1/2 and SE sticks are not compatible. Obviously the cut down board does not follow this rule.
For quick reference if your stick is compatible, look on the PCB. If there is a KGND signal on the top row, it is compatible. The ONLY exception to this rule is BrawlSticks which are not compatible.
Quck Reference List of some compatible sticks, variants of these exist and more than these are compatible: *For the Fightstick PRO and the Soul Calibur V sticks, an extra step or two is required. Please see the installation section for details.

When you purchase a Cerberus, you will receive the following:
1 x Cerberus PCB with reference sheet for installation.

Assembled Cerberus ($40.00) :

Picture-037-300x225.jpg

Advanced Cerberus (Advanced Users, Special Request ONLY, $30.00):

Easy print reference for the bottom of the board

Picture-004-300x225.jpg

Picture-006-300x225.jpg

Unfortunately I pulled a stupid and when I went to process the board files, I used the wrong file to do so. Luckily the only thing that is botched is the bottom designators, the silk screen still remains. This will only affect advanced users, since the top silk screen/labels are all picture perfect and have been improved upon since last build.
I will make a downloadable/printable image that has these designators for easy reference, they just won’t be ON the board this time, sorry guys.

One possible extra use for the advanced version is a cheap fix for a 360 TE that has a busted PCB. Just remove it and swap it with the half assembled one, and voila you have a working stick again. With a little fiddling you can get this to work with round 1/2′s for a fix also since it’s no longer reliant on attaching to another PCB.

Head over to the Cerberus page of my website for the latest updates/downloads/install notes.

New adapter SNES -> Genesis (for MC Cthulhu)

$
0
0
As mentioned in the topic a new adapter is out, which allows the use of SNES controls on Genesis:

http://www.raphnet-tech.com/products/snes_to_megadrive/index.php


Has anyone tried this with MC Cthulhu, would it work?

I've searched around and there is a mention of PCB hack with the MC Cthulhu, but the only tutorials describe a 360 dual mod.

Whats the best option for Genesis/Amiga (same control works in both) support with MC Cthulhu.

PS360+ and Windows7 64-bit issues

$
0
0
I'm in the process of fitting my Madcatz SFxT stick with a PS360+. All's going well so far, just doing the most basic installation - got it hooked up to my PS3 and everything is working perfectly (I've not had a chance to test on an Xbox360 but I'm assuming that it will be likewise working as the PS3 mode is working). However, the board isn't registering at all when I hook it up to my PC.

I've tried connecting the stick and letting it auto-detect the platform, forcing PS3/PC mode, forcing Xbox360 mode, loading in Bootloader moded ... nothing registers on my PC. I'm running Windows 7 64-bit. I've tried installing the Atmel drivers but windows fails to actually install them, claiming they're not signed for 64-bit ... this is all a bit strange to me because if I plug in an actual 360 pad, it works perfectly. Yet connecting the PS360+ in force-Xbox360 mode doesn't work. It just shows up in device manager as an "Unknown Device"

Any ideas what might be wrong here?

I have noticed a lot of sticks say PS3/PS4

$
0
0
Do all PS3 sticks work on PS4?
Don't have a PS4 stick yet and I played my fighting games on 360 previously. I was thinking about picking up the Guilty Gear Ps4 stick, but if Ps3 sticks work, I might get something else.

Absolute Question and Answer Thread (ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE!)

$
0
0
Obligatory link to the original thread.

Please check out this thread for a comprehensive list of quality posts.

If you have execution questions then please check out this thread.

Intro by Starcade RIP.

Welcome to the world of arcade sticks!

Many fighting game fans, both casual and competitive, decide at some point to ditch the pad for an arcade stick. At one time, the options for American consumers were very limited, but following the release of Street Fighter 4 and subsequent revitalization of the fighting game scene, many new products are available on the market.

Why use a stick in the first place?

Simply put, most fighting game fans find them to be the superior control method. The stick itself is generally considered to be more precise and fluid than a d-pad. Having access to six (or eight) buttons on the control panel is also extremely useful for many advanced techniques in a variety of games. Some of the older, grizzled veterans also prefer them as they grew up playing on arcade parts. The ?authentic feel? is very important to them.

That being said, when most people first change to a stick from a pad, they find their execution suffers in the short-term. This is totally normal! It takes most people a few weeks of practice to get used to playing on a stick. Spend some time in training mode before considering going back to pad, or altering your stick in some manner. You will adjust.

What is the best stick?

The truth is there is no ?best? stick. The answer is subjective. The important thing is understand the differences, so you can make good decisions for yourself.

What is the difference between Japanese and American parts?

In short, Japanese parts tend to be more sensitive and responsive. American parts typically require more effort to move and engage button commands. People generally view Japanese parts to be of higher build quality. That doesn?t mean they are necessarily ?better.? Most of the top Japanese and American players use Japanese arcade parts.

On top of that, these days pretty much all of the commercially available off-the-shelf arcade sticks use Japanese arcade hardware, so they are easier to find.

What is the difference between Sanwa, Seimitsu, and other manufacturers?

Sanwa and Seimitsu are the two largest producers of Japanese arcade hardware. Which should you get? Ideally, try both out and decide which you prefer. If that isn?t an option for you, just get a stick with Sanwa parts. The Madcatz TE stick is full Sanwa stick and buttons and most of the Hori Real Arcade Pro (HRAP) line has a Sanwa stick at minimum. Seimitsu parts also have a lot of fans, but really, you can?t go wrong with Sanwa.

As far as American parts go, ironically the best American parts currently come from a European company, ?iL.? If you?d like to know more about Sanwa, Seimitsu, and the other arcade part companies, consult the essentials thread.

What stick should I buy?

There are basically three price ranges sticks come in: around $50, around $100, and $150+.

Around $50

Get the Mad Catz SE

In the $50 range, you first need to understand that these sticks do not have real arcade parts in them. They use knock off parts. If you want an entry level stick, or aren?t sure how serious you are about fighting games as a hobby, they are good options.

Why the Mad Catz SE? It?s very easy to mod. If you ever decide you want to move on to real arcade hardware, Sanwa and Seimitsu parts more or less drop right in.

Around $100

The around $100 range generally features sticks with arcade parts, full or partial. The big sticks to look out for here are from Mad Catz and Hori.

Mad Catz offers the TE stick, which features a Sanwa stick and buttons. Hori offers the Real Arcade Pro (HRAP) line, which comes in a few flavors. Normal HRAPs have a Sanwa stick, but have Hori (read: knockoff) buttons. HRAP SAs are full Sanwa, stick and buttons. HRAP SEs are full Seimitsu. Both the Mad Catz and Hori lines are easily modded with other parts, so those knockoff parts in the HRAP3 line can be easily dealt with. The HRAP and TE lines also have slightly different button layouts.

You can?t really go wrong with any of them. The one thing the Mad Catz TE has going against it is the lack of backwards compatibility with playing PS2 games on the PS3. Most people don?t use the PS3 for serious play of PS2 games anyway. Other than that, the TE is a solid choice. There are certain specialty mods (dual console modding) that are much easier to do on the TE than the Xbox 360 HRAP line.

$150+

The $150+ range is generally reserved for custom builders. There are a number of excellent custom builders lurking around SRK.

Sticks in this price range are for people who aren?t satisfied with off-the-shelf sticks, or want to have something unique. If you are just getting started in the arcade stick world, these might be more than you want to pay for. They are worth every penny though!

Third party PS4 padhack options

$
0
0
If my DS4 padhack thread scared you from padhacking the official sony dual shock 4 controller then your in luck... sorta. There are currently two third party pads at the moment that are usable in adding ps4 support. Those being the Hori Fighting Commander 4 and the Guilty Gear pad. Now while they are both very easy to padhack the only downside to them is obtaining them is not as easy as getting a DS4 pad.

Modding the Hori Fighting Stick 3

$
0
0
I've looked everywhere with no luck. I was hoping someone would direct me to a tutorial or help me with modding the Hori Fighting Stick 3 with sanwa or happ parts. Is this a difficult task?

Any help will be appreciated.

PS3 or 360 Stick for longevity?

$
0
0
I'm a PC player about to buy my first Arcade stick and wondering which one would "last" longer? By this i mean will locals start using playstations more because of the recent announcement that SF5 will be Ps4/PC exclusive?

I wanna order the Hori KAI stick but have no clue if i should be getting the 360 or PS3 version, i'm worried that if i buy the 360 version that i'd have to buy a brand new one to play at locals/school since people will probably be playing a lot more on console and last time i checked the PC scene isn't very big.. also i hear from lots of people that PS3 sticks work on the PS4. And if i buy the 360 version, it will work a lot better (since it's a microsoft product and i use Windows) on my PC but then i wouldn't be able to play at Locals like i said because people are using the PS4 to play SF5 and not PC.

Sorry for the weird question but it's a legitimate concern of mine.. any insight would be nice.

Just got a new stick!

$
0
0
So I just got a stick, looking to go pro now.

bxNsGta.jpg

How long will it take do you think?

IC: JP Balltop compatible Suzo 500 Hollow Shafts (Moar Compatibility Version)

$
0
0
Recently I got a Suzo 500 and was disappointed with the lack of compatibility with japanese handles, dustcovers, and annoying mounting heights with the stock stick, and was going to get a custom hollow shaft made out when i realized that there were a few others who had previously wanted a suzo 500 shaft as well.

Shaft would be hollow to fit 3mm LEDs and there will be 6mm thread to support JP balltops. The shaft would be shorter than the stock shaft and will utilize 8mm E clips (provided by me) instead of C clips to hold the spring flange. There will also be a slot for a flat head screwdriver to tighten and remove the balltop. Stock shaft covers will not be compatible unless they are shortened in length. Shaft will be stainless steel.

Pics
Spoiler:
capture-5.png?w=85&h=300
capture-4.png?w=300&h=89
capture-3.png

Currently the pricing would be $20 per shaft

Pre-Orders can be placed here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yVr_hfloSB8vuDgs1QPeSz3Wi5B-Ta4HVSPKtGpazJo/viewform?usp=send_form

Edit 12-21:
Some users may have seen the last post by me on this thread along with the picture of a prototype shaft. Well that model was thrown out the window... and replaced with one that has even more grooves for more compatibility :D

Thanks to many generous users across a handful of different forums, the new shaft now supports the following sticks:

Suzo 500
Happ Competition
Happ Super
IL Eurostick
IL Compact
and the T-Stik

shaft.jpg

There will be plenty of shafts left after the pre-orders so far have been fulfilled, and the price is currently staying at $20/pc. However if I can sell a more I'd be more inclined to reduce the price. That means anyone who pre-ordered at a higher price will also receive the difference refunded!


The order for these babies have been placed so now its just a matter of playing the waiting game. Shafts should arrive in about 2 months from this date.

Thanks to everyone who helped out!



Viewing all 8072 articles
Browse latest View live