I have a MAS Stick and I’m completely new to this modding thing…The current main problem I have is that the stick moves around too much when I play and thats due to the STIFF joystick I have (Optical 360) can any recommend a part that can make it less stiff or a whole new softer maybe 8-way part?? I’m also looking for good button covers (i have a 8-button and want to change it back to 6-button the other 2 buttons get in the way
If you like that butter-smooth optical feel, replace the (hard) spring with a normal or lighter one. It’s very easy to do and shouldn’t cost you more than a few cents.
If you want to go microswitches (clickety click click), replace the whole thing with a Happ Competition or an iL EuroStick: they have normal springs, and the shape of the movable area feels a little more octagonal than the perfectly circular P360 that you have in right now. Afterward, sell the removed P360 in the Trading Outlet to make your money back.
you can get a new spring and button plugs from lizard lick. spring is listed on this page as Light (Standard) Spring, Happ part # 95-1309-00 and button plug is here listed as Happ hole plug. also lizardlick is good at refunding unused shipping costs so don’t freak out if it says like 6 bucks shipping for like a spring and 2 button plugs.
and yeah going on what deadfrog is saying it takes longer to adapt to an optical stick because there are no clicks to guide you so you have to find the directions yourself. if you jump right into playing without really knowing how to finesse an optical stick it can be very frustrating so if you have a game that has a practice mode with input readout or if you can hook it up to your computer you can goto controller properties and just move the stick around slowly and get familiar with how far and at what angle you have to move to activate each direction.
Thanx SRK…one more question…I have the convexed buttons that curve out…and looking to change it to the American style buttons that cave in what’s the best model to change it to?
well the best would be the iL Concave Pushbutton w/Cherry and it’s sold by ponyboy on the forums but there’s also the
Happ Pushbutton with Horizontal Microswitch from lizardlick. The happ buttons should be good too cause they use cherry microswitches but most people really do not like playing with concave buttons. the buttons you have now are really much better suited for fightings games but if you are100% sure you prefer concave buttons then those are you two choices. hopefully someone else can comment on happ’s quality as of late. iL used to make happ parts but happ changed to a chinese manufacturer but they both use the same microswitch (the white thing on the bottom of the button with the metal prongs) so the performance of the happ buttons should be on par with the iL concave push button but I can’t say for certain.
For those, go with ‘Pushbutton with Horizontal Microswitch’. Looks and feels exactly like the Competitions from the bottom down, and when pressed, but has the concave surface you’re more familiar with.
Whatever you do, though, don’t get what are called the ‘Ultimate’ buttons. Instead of the spring providing resistance and the plunger pressing directly on the switch, they use a plastic lever to both provide resistance and activate the switch. When they crap out, it’s usually by having the plastic lever break. Then, in order to fix it, you need an entirely new button. And going by Murphy’s Law, it’ll happen when you least need it to (I watched some poor soul have it happen at a tournament I was at. Naturally, he was without a stick the rest of the day).
I feel ya, honestly. I take it you’re like myself, someone who grew up playing on Supers and Competitions for sticks, and the tried-and-true concave buttons. Since the depression in the middle guides your finger, I feel it’s more suited to playstyles that keep the fingers touching the buttons lightly.
Also, since you said you have a MAS, and I know how they have their panels laid out, I’d recommend getting at least a Yenox switch for your Start button. Because the penalties for pausing accidentally in the middle of a tornament match are harsh (an opponent can take a game win for it), having the stiffer Yenox switch will make pressing that button much more of a conscious effort. Combined with the more out of the way location on a MAS, it’s practically mash-proofed.