Just caved and ordered a TE stick for myself, as a long time pad user may the powers of chaos guide my hand in this transition because I know its gonna be very very bad to start.
Good god it’s relieving to see others are having the same problems as I did. I just got my TE stick and frankly, I’ve come very close to spiking it into the ground like a football. Random hopping, sadistically inaccurate quarter circles, and a really sore wrist just added even more insult to losing 15 consecutive matches on live. The plus side is, I can tell that I’m getting slightly better, even after just two days. Secret shame? I never used the D.pad… I used the 360 thumb stick. Yep.
But a lot of the problem is I can’t tell what my failings are now. Am I losing because of my inexperience with the stick, or because my technique is inadequate? I jusssst took the step up from casual, and trying to absorb all the terminology is giving my brain some sort of leak. I tend to mash a bit more than I should, and longer/complex combo’s elude me sometimes. I’m not bad, I just know that I could be better.
If my damn fingers could produce the right results constantly. After charging back for a kikoken or sonic boom, I’ll often just jump in and punch instead. This is just one problem I have.
I guess what I’m wondering is, does it become natural at some point, or will I constantly have to be mindful of the delicate workings of this mystical object of power known as the “stick”? It is my goal to get to the arcades one day and be good enough to cause someone to rage IRL.
You think you know…but you have no idea.
Oh god, how deep does this rabbit hole go?
All the symptoms you are describing generally are derived from one problem with the joystick… well, there are two things combined together that are holding you back. 1) The Square Gate. Now, unless you wanna modify your stick and buy an octagonal gate and stuff, there’s nothing you can do about this. So the main thing you have to worry about is this: 2) You are using the joystick too aggressively.
This is an EXTREME exaggeration, but try using the joystick almost like you are playing Operation. God, have I exposed my age? Do people even know what Operation is these days? Hahaha… But yeah, when you use the Thumb Stick, the tendency is to rub the stick against the edges and to snap the stick from side to side, like when you throw a Sonic Boom.
With a joystick, especially one with a square gate, it’s actually all about very subtle movements. Again, instead of rubbing the stick against the edges and letting the edges do a large portion of the work for you, use the joystick like you DON’T want to touch the edges. Move it in very small motions and let your wrist and arm perform the majority of the motion. Do NOT let the edges of the joystick be a guide to help you move the stick.
Also, when you do Sonic Boom motions, you don’t have to do them very forcefully. Do them with subtle flicks. The tendency to Jump comes from you pressing too hard to the side, and the square gate forces you to run up to the top corner, making you jump. Instead, lightly move the stick to the Forward position when you hit the button. Or, if you want to do the move and immediately go into charging, just flick the stick to the right really quickly, but with a very VERY small flick.
Using a joystick is ALL about small motions, small movements, and subtlely and control. It’s probably less intuitive, as the joystick is this thing you can grip in your hand, the joystick is large unlike a pad, so it feels like something you can be rough with (God, this is really starting to sound horrible). But in actuality, you need to be MORE careful with the joystick than an XBox Thumb Pad. That also prevents you from wasting a lot of time and movement resetting the joystick to optimal positions. With smaller, subtle motions, you’ll always be in the ready to do Fireballs and Uppercuts and such when you need them.
- James
I just picked up the TE stick the other day, the GameStop that I work at received one in on shipment and I bought it right away.
I grew up playing SF and MvC in the arcade so I’m use to the stick. The only thing that I’m having issues with is the square gate but over the past couple days I’ve been getting a better feel for it. Getting use to the stick comes with time!
it’s been 3 weeks since I’ve switched to stick. It’s been frustrating to say the least. The speed of my execution and my execution itself is crap compared to pad. Maybe it’s because I’ve played sf4 on pad for about 4 months. It’s kind of weird that I started playing BlazBlue on stick, and I’ve had no problems on it thus far.
Just got my stick in and so far its not as bad as I feared it would be. Sure I have problems pulling off a few things consistently atm hooligan and occasionally cannon strike but doubtless I will adapt. Funny though now my games with Bison has improved enough with the stick that I can use him as a secondary.
Edit: Ok square gate makes getting the ultra off a pain. Online matches I am loosing a lot because of the stick not doing what I want it to and when sigh gonna be a pain to adjust to this, loosing to all the worst players you could imagine right now…
The square gate takes a while to get use to, I’m slowly becoming comfortable with it and I’m finding the supers and ultras easier to pull off.
If you ever want to get a couple games in, add me on XBL and we will get a couple games in.
Slowly getting used to it, after many many losses lol but sure I’ll add ya though I won’t be able to play tonight likely not tomorrow either.
Had a nice run tonight actually, kept playing hooligan mind games with this bison player, and got the chance to seriously practice with bison myself. I made a new friend to boot lol.
Thanks James - this is the truth.
I’m finally getting comfortable with stick…with good execution mostly in practice mode.
I find execution really dwindles in matches and what you stated above is why. In practice mode I’m ho-humming just casually doing the motions, however in matches I get nervous and start jamming on the stick and forcefully moving it around.
At this point it’s just controlling nerves.
Thankfully for me I have some time off college coming up, so I should have more time to practice with the stick.
I have noticed in past player matches that nerves get the better of me at times, especially when matched up with chars I hate dealing with gief, rog, guile. The results is as you could imagine.
Wasn’t sure if I should post a “Custom Cammy Stick” thread…but decided not to clutter…
but my new baby should motivate me to keep on keepin’ on with stick execution.
i can always tell when i’ll have a horrible day playing Street Fighter. I’ll wake up…whip out my T.E stick…put my hands on the joystick…and it feels really really odd.
Next thing i know…i break my block…jump around like a moron…my fingers"lock up" (so i’ll miss dashes and stare at focus attacks etc) and completely lose the feel for charge
just venting…been in a huge mental slump for 2 days. I’m a really streaky person. I can turn from an above average player to a total noob in seconds for DAYS at a time
Just got my hands on a TE stick and it seems like its gonna take awhile to get used to, ive been playing on a hori ex2 n i was doing much better with that. Theres times when i hit the wrong buttons cuz im not used having the other 2 around, it also feels like the square gate on the TE is smaller than the ex2 my execution is worse than b4. I do like the button sensitivity but the stick sensitivity is whats giving me trouble. ahhh well…
I know this is an old post but I use an Octo gate and I would never go back - I can’t stand the square gates.
This thread is great. I been on pad my whole life I didnt want to till I got smashed on the net and he told me he was using a stick it seems more fun to have stick. Plus I’m anxious to mod one up with my art .
Does the TE stick come with the square gate which would you say is better to use.
Yes, TE comes with square gate. All Seimitsu and Sanwa joysticks’ stock restrictors are square.
It’s all about personal preference - whatever you practice on will ultimately be best for you. IMO, it’s worth learning square gate because it’s stock and in arcades - so you’ll be able to pull off your moves on the majority of setups out there.
Got my TE a week ago. Never played with sticks before, except for few times on arcade machines, but it was so long ago, that I guess it doesn’t count.
After few nights of practice found out that whenever I try to play with my PS3’s Dualshock I eventually reach out for the left stick, rather than playing on D-pad. Didn’t even notice that I was playing with the left stick for the first few matches :lol:
I’m currently playing both Street Fighter 4 and BlazBlue, although will not be able to play online for 3-4 weeks. Kinda new to both games, but the fact that I played Guilty Gear series, and previous Street Fighters sure helps.
Possibly one of the most annoying things was not being able to do backdash (air backdash) as easily (still can’t do it as if with pad). Even tried cross-hand playing (right hand on the stick, left on the buttons). Dashes are easier to execute that way, but I decided not to complicate things more than they already are.
I guess left hand will just have to get adjusted to that motion.
Apart from this only motion didn’t have very much trouble executing any other move, at least not in BlazBlue. SFIV is a bit trickier, but I’m pretty sure that I’ll be able to overcome any difficulties that will come my way.
May be the fact that I’m a piano player helps a bit.
Will be maining Cammy - whatever it takes, position for a sub is still vacant.