Those aren’t really plungers on those old Hori sticks; they are a part of the stick’s panel itself and not removeable. At least, that’s the way it is with my Hori Fighting Stick SS. Then again, the Japanese versions seem to have a metal plate on the top while the ones that were sold in the US were plastic on the top, so it could be different.
Sorry if this was already brought up, but do we have a confirmation as to what kind of stick/buttons are used in the VFHG stick?
Unverified secondhand information from an unknown source says Sanwa JLF and OBSF-30 :looney:
Heh heh, Mayhem, I always love your posts.
Cow: The VSHG comes out on the 8th (which is right now in Japan) so maybe someone in Japan will confirm for us. I’m trying to get one through Per to add to my already huge order so I will have one in hopefully 2 weeks or so. I really just bought it to see how the construction is. I’m very curious to know. I also like the styling much more than the HRAP3.
Even if parts aren’t Sanwa, as long as it is reasonably moddable, I’ll throw in the new Sanwa K/DH parts to keep the original look.
~Paik
In defense of the Virtua Stick High Grade button layout
The buttons were placed in these positions deliberately, specifically to provide an authentic arcade layout for Virtua Fighter without requiring any reconfiguration.
The default button configuration of VF5 on PS3 is reportedly the same as VF4/VF4e on PS2.
Guard = square
Punch = triangle, X
Kick = circle
This was selected to ensure Virtua Fighter was most comfortable and easiest to play on a DualShock 2 or SIXAXIS right off the bat, without any reconfiguration needed.
Observe now with me the placement of the square, triangle, and circle buttons on the VSHG.
http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vfhg_angle.jpg http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vfhg_top.jpg
Next, look at a Virtua Fighter cabinet. Finally, please marvel at my MS Paint close-up rendition of a Virtua Fighter arcade cabinet’s controls. My goodness, deadfrog… what startlingly pixellicious shading you have drawn!
http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vf_arcade_stick_layout.PNG http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vf4cab.jpg
Neat, huh?
Previous Virtua Sticks have included this same three-button positioning.
PC: bottom left three buttons - http://image4.play-asia.com/350/PA.21983.001.jpg
PS2: bottom left three buttons - http://image4.play-asia.com/350/PA.24132.001.jpg
Sega Saturn: - left top three buttons http://image4.play-asia.com/350/PA.65159.001.jpg
These officially liscenced Hori sticks exhibit the same thing.
http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vf4stick.JPG http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vf4eblue.jpg http://xs412.xs.to/xs412/07064/vf4red.jpg
In conclusion: The buttons were placed in these positions deliberately, specifically to provide an authentic arcade layout for Virtua Fighter without requiring any reconfiguration. For other games where the layout doesn’t work, just reconfigure your controls; I’ve never seen any half-decent PS2/PS3 fighter that doesn’t let you do this.
…
Still, after all is said and done, the button layout is weird. I have no idea what the rest of those buttons are doing there. Reconfiguring for other games seems like a huge pain in the ass. Virtua Fighter is without a doubt my favourite fighting game, and there’s no chance in hell I’ll ever buy one of these! 
If this is the case then there was no need to change the layout…
Actually, we established that this was the reason a long time ago when we first saw the VSHG.
Yes, for PS games you find that VF uses the “top three” buttons for guard, punch and kick (square, triangle, circle), but for arcade sticks you would want it to be (X, square, triangle), so the layout is nice for VF but if they were going to make a stick that’s really convenient only for VF then why add the extra buttons to make a traditional 6 button layout? I guess it’s for all those VF players who sometimes play other fighting games and not the other way around like most people on SRK.
~Paik
Lets just hope the PCB isn’t soldered to the buttons and it shouldn’t be much of a problem…
No doubt about it, she’s a very odd layout. Honestly, I think the stick even looks kind of ugly!
What do you guys think of my MS Paint job? (I’m very proud of it!)
I like the VSHG much more than the HRAP line. It looks slimmer and goes with the more ideal 6 button layout as opposed to the eight. I’m getting one myself.
Demon, my guess is that the buttons will be soldered to the PCB. The only sticks that haven’t really done this are the HRAP line.
deadfrog, kudos on your elite MS paint skills.
~Paik
Looks like the VSHG is being pulled off the shelves: http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20070209/vs.htm
:sad:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
~Paik
ahhh good lord!!!:sad:
Junosynth over at VFDC has confirmed that the VSHG comes stock with sanwa stick AND sanwa buttons with quick disconnects:
http://virtuafighter.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/151351/page/1#Post151351
Looks like an awesome stick for the price once sega gets the quality under control.
That is FREAKING AMAZING! I cannot believe the buttons are Sanwa. I can understand the stick being Sanwa, but the buttons? Wow, all hell has frozen over. Good looking out codyk!
It’s really a shame that it’s delayed. Well I had one on my Akihabara order list anyway, so whenever Per can get it I will get mine.
~Paik
one of the dudes on that forum just said that you have to desolder the wires, which implies they don’t use quick disconnects… what to believe?
can someone confirm if the vshg or hrap3 work on the ps2? since it does have 2 usb slots.
anyway, that’s fantastic news… i’m going to order one for sure. and one of the first things i’ll do is change that akward button placement to:
[] /\ R1
X O R2
He’s wrong, someone corrects him later… and you should always believe the pics showing the quick disconnects! 
according to http://virtuafighter.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/151183/page/1#Post151187 he states that the VSHG does not work for PS2 games on the PS3 in backwards compatibility mode. Is this true?