I like square just because I can always be certain I am in fact blocking, and not just ducking heh
Even with square I still get hit because I’m not crouching my block by my stick being a slight half an inch away from the corner of the square gate xD.
why is riding exactly bad? is it cuz ur taking a few extra mili seconds executing a move cuz u have to extend your stick all the way to the edges? anybody here been using a circular?
You do not need to move the joystick all the way until it hits the gate for it to register that direction. You only need to move it until it activates the microswitches. Riding the gate is added unnecessary movement.
Once you get used to the engage range (how far until until the microswitch activates) of your joystick, the shape of your gate isn’t going to matter much because you won’t be relying on it to register your directions. And in the situations where you may find yourself riding the gate, like charge buffering and TK motions, you’ll be glad that you have a square gate.
The biggest problem people have with square gates is executing SRK motions, and I recommend using the true SRK motion which works very well with square gates: :f::d::df:
If you’re starting out, a gate that shows you where your movements should be can be good. Like an octagonal restriction plate (or you could just use a square from the start and skip the octo). Then… when you’re used to moving that certain way, try switching to a square gate and see if it taught you anything on execution. If you’re having trouble with a square gate, chances are you’re not hitting the switches like you should be (duh!). Learning execution and doing the move is one thing but proper technique on “how” to execute it is crucial. I.e., if you’re doing a DP the lazy way by double tapping df in SSFIV… sure, it’s a DP but it’s the lazy way. Some may say, “Well at least I’m doing it!”. Yeah, well hop on over to SSFIIHDR or a game that doesn’t have a lazy way and try doing it. Ain’t gonna happen, Cappin’. You must learn to do the DP the proper way: f,d,df+attack or it won’t come out in most 2d’s. So, you may have guessed that learning proper execution technique will help you know how to easily perform special, super or ultra moves no matter what 2d fighter you’re playing. To an extent, you should use what’s comfortable to you but in the end you’re going to need hours of practice to do the things that are still difficult for you to do. 
wow. ive read everything, even outside this post. and most problem with the square that people point out are executing moves. thats not even my problem lol. its much simpler than that. my problem is dashing and jumping up/down diagonals. cuz when it try to run forward, sometimes, its gona trigger that bottom right corner and the dash will stop. on MVC3. when i do a jump+ a punch, it will do a wolverine-ish dive kick cuz that downward motion is registering. but yeah ive been on MVC3 for about 5 hours on a square now. just dashing back and forth lol
You’re going to have problems with dashing and movement regardless of the shape of the gate as a new joystick user/new fighting game player. Just keep practicing.
Also, in MvC3, 2x button dashing > tapping forward twice. The square gate is perfect for wave dashing, and “plink” dashing is even faster and doesn’t use the joystick.
This! Your motion when riding the gate is very inefficient, since you’re making your motions larger and less smooth than if you don’t ride the gate.
Technically, the gate isn’t supposed to act like a set of training wheels, redirecting your motions. It’s simply there to prevent the actuator from destroying the microswitches.
hmm, is this logical? can i wrap lets say, tape or somethign adhesive to the joystick shaft to make it a “bit” thicker, making it the distance between it and the microswitches smaller? also i think, the percent of ppl using stick to dash is greater than ppl using 2 buttons? idk if theres any stat to that. i know for sure air dashing is 2 button but ground?
While I cannot deny it’d be most efficient to only go so far for the joystick to register the movement, once you have that degree of acuity, saying the gate isn’t supposed to act as a guiding force in gameplay is a statement I find difficult to understand. The main reason being that we have three types of gate to begin with. (Actually more if you count the 2 way gate games like Space Invaders and Galega uses and the whole selection of 4 way gates Pacman used, also mentioned on Slagcoin but none of those seem to be too largely relevant for a general purpose or fighting game specific stick.)
If it was merely meant to keep the joystick from breaking the actuator, you’d think everybody would simply use whatever was most efficient for achieving that goal. Assuming all joysticks are built the same, the only reasons I can think of for having anything else is to further restrict the joystick beyond what’s necessary to achieve that goal.
Having the choice between different shapes to achieve a purely mechanical goal of not pushing to far into the diagonals might make some sense. However with the diagram linked above, I can’t make any sense of why a company would make both circular and octogonal restriction plates for that purpose alone, since they both provide the same amount of proportional restriction in the same directions. If you never ride or bump the gate, it doesn’t make a difference, so from a commercial perspective why bother making two molds and maintaining two production lines, while leaving yourself with more potential overstock of a possibly less popular model?
Only gameplay considerations seem to really make sense to me. For example an octogonal plate would allow you to lock into a direction on any of the corners and stop you from rotating the stick too far, while a circular gate would allow for faster circular movement. I suppose the option might merely be there for a larger market of low tier casuals but then the widespread prevalence of square gates make little sense. If riding the gate isn’t meant to happen in any circumstance, I’m curious as to the reality of the situation. I mean, we only need one or maybe in the case of a second joystick type, two of the three kinds to keep us from breaking the stick, right?
I’m so confused right now.o_O
I meant this in reference to square gates.
Sanwa does not make circular gates.
Riding he gate isn’t supposed to happen simply because it is bad execution. It’s like getting used to riding a bicycle with training wheels and never learning how to ride it properly. It’s simply a matter of the shortest, most efficient motion to execute a move. By riding, not only are you using a guide/crutch to do a move (instead of doing the proper motion), but by using a guide/crutch, you’re relying on resistance/friction, which can actually slow you down.
Actually yes you can, because that’s exactly what I did to my actuator. My actuator is thick enough that the gate restricts the throw to nearly non existent, so when I engage I also hit gate. Yeah, I ride the gate, but I also main charge characters and need those diagonals for accurate gameplay. Sure, I could do it without the gate, but the gate is perfect and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, this way, there is no way for me to make unnecessary movements with extra large throw getting in the way of speed and accuracy.
Yes it is. This is how you can “wave-dash,” hit 2 attack buttons, then cancel immediately with :d:, then dash again.
yeah i know i wave dash too but regular dashing i use stick. practicing regular dashing with 2 buttons atm… and i wrapped my actuator with an electric tape once. the actuator itself is thick enough now that there honestly a pixel between the actuator and the microswitches.
actually, I think it’s more like that you’re not good at dashing on a square because you’re not good at dashing period.
Not trying to be a dick but these things take time. And what sort of dashing are we talking about? just straight up f, f and b,b? Wavedashing? FD cancels in GG? Either way practice more.
I think there are circumstances in MvC3 where using the 2 attack button method to dash is more convenient and the old fashion way holds it’s pro’s and con’s as well. Guilty Gear or BB can help you become a great dasher as well. Wave dashing is much easier with 2 attack method but you really shouldn’t rely on using 2 attack buttons all the time. One other advantage I see with using 2 attack method is it is less likely opponents are going to hear your stick doing a double forward motion, lessening the chance of them reading what you’re going to do (if they’re advanced and use their ears. I do.). I think you can also use this to your advantage as well. If someone hears your stick double time, you could confuse them to think you’re going to dash when in actuality, you’re canceling, jumping or whatever. I think that one should not rely on either and find more ways to utilize both methods. I use both, personally. As far as gates… you might as well ride without a restricting plate if you’re playing off pure switches to execute your moves fast. Would that mean a restricting plate is only meant to protect your switches “just in case”? Give me a break!
screw it. im done using a square. was on a match today, cant dash, cant super jump. stick without octagon.
I can play on any type of gate, but I prefer the octagon. In a long tournament that goes into the late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning) I find that the most common fatigue-induced execution mistake I make is an accidental jump when doing hcfx2 or hcbx2. Having an octo allows me to find the left or right directions easily, preventing that from happening in the crucial final rounds.
Square takes time to get down, but I’ve found that I prefer it to the octagon. Having the corners as the diagonals feels much nicer.
Granted, my execution is lacking. One of the reasons why I’m awful at MvC3. :oops:
If MVC3 is the only game your playing, just go with Octo.
It took along time for people to adjust to square, that why it’s hard to go back to octo. If you really want to play square you’re just going to have to grind through it in training mode like the rest of us.
Octo is not frowned upon. It’s a matter of preference. I suggest going with what your used to.
Just mod your stick by using a restrictor plate, it’s really cheap and won’t mess up your stick.