Obligatory link to previous 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?
Scroll down for an extensive guide by Darksakul.