Hey guys. So I’m about to purchase my first fightstick to begin the arduous process of leveling up my game after deciding the button layout on the pad is just to awkward for me when it comes to playing fighting games. The stick I’m really considering is the Madcatz Arcade Fightstick Pro. It’s current price ($99) seems reasonable enough and I’ve seen a few sponsored players (Daigo, Tokido) using it on streams and such. My question is how good of a choice is it for a relative beginner?
Honestly as a beginner you want a set up to be as close to the arcade original or now-a-days to the standard as possible.
Thew Vewlix (including variations) layout is about the most used layout to date, 2nd being the Sega player 2 layout.
Sanwa is the industry standard right now, with the default square gate being recommended by Pros for players of all skill levels.
Biggest advice to beginners is PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. You will see a slump in your skills until you get used to using a stick, then and only then do you see you start playing better than you are with a game pad.
its too easy to blame the stick for your missed executions. Read up on various how to play guides to get the most out of the executions themselves, Someone suggested start thinking your quarter and half circles not as a circular movement but a square motion (L shape movements) and your quarter and half circle execution gets better.
So…is that a yes or no to the Madcatz Pro? lol
@MakesTrouble I will not give you a YES or NO answer.
Try not to tell straight out what arcade stick you should pick, but to show the facts and have you lead to your own conclusion. Help you make an informed decision of what to pick.
But I spell it out as simply as I can.
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The Mad Catz Pro has industry standard Sanwa Parts, most of the better premium sticks have Sanwa or Seimitsu parts as stock.
I normally hold a stick against having knock off or In house parts, Hori and Qanba are known for having their own “brand” parts in many of there sticks, same with Mad Catz’s SE, TVC and Brawl sticks. -
The Mad Catz Pro has the most commonly used stick layout, with the wider consensus of players out there saying the layout is just fine for them.
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The Mad Catz TE, Pro and V.S. can be argued to being very similar layout and feel of the controls to a Tatio Vewlix arcade cabinet (very similar if not the same layout).
Also the idea that if you have to borrow a stick from someone its better to train for what other people uses.
In the world of arcade sticks, there are no training Wheels, using something too far removed from the standard (by theory) is supposed to hurt rather than help.
What I am trying to say is there No BEGINNER STICK, only budget sticks (and I don’t always like to recommend the really cheap stuff) .
Want to play like Pro then use the same tools as the Pros.
blah, excuse the double post.
Well, I wasn’t really looking for a “beginner stick.” I was looking for a stick that would be good for beginners. Not in terms of ease of use - I fully understand that practice is a HUGE part of it - but, in terms of everything else. Maintenance, carrying, ease of modding, etc. Essentially, when I said “beginner” I meant someone new to the peripheral, not necessarily someone new to the game. Though I am also new to the game outside of casual button mashing, so I do appreciate the advice. Make no mistake, I’m not looking for training wheels.
“beginner stick” or “stick that would be good for beginners” same difference. Those are training Wheels.
THERE IS NONE PERIOD. The only real difference when it comes to BUDGET.
It does not help you, or anyone else (readers who see this and use this to make their own decisions) if I hold you hand and tell you, “YES Choose X brand Y Model arcade stick”.
Especially if you ever go for another arcade stick later on, or worst you try to mod your own stick. I got this Huge guide on PAGE 1 and the title of the thread ask to please read page one before asking questions.
You saw a sale that puts a arcade stick closer to your means, it is industry standard designs, on par with some of the better Hori Hrap SA sticks.
Industry standard parts means you have no issues swapping parts and there tons of Sanwa, Seimitsu and some Korean Options.
Only sticks that more mod friendly are the Mad Catz TE and V.S., new the TE2 and the Razor Atrox.
Carrying? There not much in the PS3/ Xbox 360 arcade sticks that offer those options in your price range, maybe one of the Qanba sticks.
Most people use a bag of some sort, Book Bag, messenger bag, bags dedicated for sticks
Actually, there is a big difference. One does have to do with what you’re talking about: a stick helping in performance, which I neither what expected nor would I want; and the other has to do with everything else. I don’t see how wanting to know how easy a stick is to mod, carry and maintain has anything to do with me wanting these imaginary training wheels you keep bringing up. Also, I never said anything about a budget. Money is and never has been an issue. In fact, that’s why I asked the question to begin with. The Pro seems to have the high quality parts that come standard in most good sticks, but is far more reasonably priced than say the Hori or the old TE. I presume this has something to do with the chasis (in addition to the sale), which is fine. I was simply looking for some clarification.
Thanks again for your time, anyway.
I am not getting at what clarification you need. If you want a Yes or No answer to should you buy this stick, I am not giving one.
The Pro is essentially the same stick as the TE with some obvious cosmetic differences. And you never said Money is not an issue, budget is always a issue even if your funds are unlimited as you want the most for your buck. Also Beginners tend to choose cheaper or at least more reasonable priced stick if in case they decide a stick isn’t for them that player isn’t out $100 to $200 for a fancy controller they may or may not need. And I also pointed out you not automatically start to play better as its proven time and time again those who are new to sticks start to play worst before they get better. Switching from pad to stick is ALOT like starting fresh anyways, it may as well be a new game.
The Questions you want to ask YOUR SELF
- Are you interested in this stick? You not be asking if you are not interested.
- Do you have the money? You answered YES.
- Is this a Worth wild buy? a $150 stick for $99, you tell me.
- Will you Like it once you get it? Only you can answer that
- Will you play better? That is up to you.
Hello,
The Madcatz Pro tend to be - in Europe - the new “reference” for pro gamers. Yes, you can see many of them using it.In fact, if you’re looking for madcatz products, you have the choice between the Pro one and the S+ one.
Both have the same parts inside.
Hey I’m looking for a custom full Sanwa stick. Size should be approximate a Mayflash stick, but I’m tired of putting too much work into it atm. I rather spend time to improve my skills. Since there isn’t any small full Sanwa stick, you have to build your own one.
Some of you might remember that I already own the SC:V Madcatz Stick (V3), but it’s too sturdy too carry it for any tournaments.
I was thinking about grabbing the WWE Madcatz Stick (PS3) for 69.85€ = 95,32$ at amazon (Yeah, I know it’s cheaper in the US, but for europe the price is reasonable). It’s smaller than the SC-V stick and would definitely fit in my bagpack.
The good news is that I can get a JLF-TP-8YT and Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons directly from Japan without shipment.
Any other options except the SFIV-SE and Tatsunoko stick?
www.tek-innovations.com got their own stick. i think there’s a topic here for the mini tek-case thats actually a very compact small awesome looking stick. im not sure that the size is fine, but its smaller than the te
the original one is also fine, you can also throw in art really easy and its made in plexi (acrylic or whatever) so it’s looking real fine. you can fully customize the layout etc aswell which is a big bonus
i think the total of it is around $100 with shipping but you’d need a PCB aswell (im not sure if u need one if you’re modding the WWE stick. however, there are many options including padhacking thats bit tricky and standalone pcbs like ps360+ that requires little to no skill
No you don’t. That stick does not actually exist.
Hori Makes the V3 and the VX stick not Mad Catz.
This is the Mad Catz Soul Edition stick often called SC:V. It is essentially a Mad Catz TE
This is the Hori V3
This is Hori’s Soul Calibur v stick (PS3 version pictured)
Spoiler
http://iplaywinner.com/storage/HoriSoulcalibur5.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1339556531476
I think you mixed up the names of 2 maybe 3 completely different sticks.
Nope not really. Unless you count the Hori V3 and VX (non- Hrap), The PDP Injustice Stick, Qanba Q1 Cut and the Exar sticks.
Anything else you have to spend considerable effort modding like the Dreamcast Agetec arcade stick or the old Namco PS1 stick.
Or you have a custom wooden case made.
@Dej: There’s sth. similar like tek-innovations here in europe. Unfortunately it’s way too expensive compared to tek-innovations.
Btw. I don’t care about artwork. It just a need a handy stick for tournaments.
@Darksakul: Yeah, you are right. I could have at least wrote SC:V Mad Catz Stick (PS3).
This stick also attract my attention: http://www.amazon.co.jp/iBUFFALO-USBアーケードスティック-PS3対応-13ボタン-BSGPAC02BK/dp/B005037T06/ref=pd_sim_sbs_vg_13
Even smaller and much cheaper than the WWE All Stars Brawl Stick, but worse stick, buttons and it requires more work to mod it. Almost all rewievers highly recommend to mod this stick. One dude wrote a detailed description of which parts are needed to turn it full Sanwa. And the full Sanwa mod is often compared with a cheaper version of RAP, but smaller case and weight.
I’ll get this stick , if I can purchase it for 2000 yen. Apart from that the WWE stick is the best option yet.
You seem like you’ve done a lot of research on the subject. Your journey is complete, you don’t need our advice.
I don’t know enough about the stick you linked us too to make a full evaluation.
I will warn you that these cheaper sticks are much, much harder to mod correctly and sometimes end up sinking more money into.
Hi guys, I’m interested in buying my first arcade stick to play SSFIV and I’ve been searching for days for a good stick for not too much, and I’ve found these 3.
What would be better? I’m from Spain and it’s hard to find a good stick, because buying from american sites are too expensive due to shipping, so yeah looks like in germany the prices aren’t too bad.
Edit: Nevermind, these don’t even ship to Spain, gosh I’m stupid. Guess I’ll stick to the Qanba Q1.
Well to answer your question, all 3 of those sticks are good. They are all technically the same stick with different colors and art design.
As your issues in Spain? I can’t help there as I am in the United States so I have no idea how is the market there. Hopefully someone else from Spain like to chime in.
Thanks for the information!
I doubt there are many people from Spain in this forum, but if someone knows of some nice stick for around 70 Euro or less in Europe let me know and I’ll apreciate it!
I found the Qanba Q1 for 50 euro though, so that seems like a good deal.
If your limit is around €70, it’ll be tricky. I ordered the SCV stick from french amazon (was cheaper, ps3) and it was a total of €120 - but you won’t need to mod it or do anything, just plug and play.
they shipped to sweden from french amazon atleast, prime retilers for like €10, so might be worth looking into it.
sticks are stupidly expensive in sweden and most homemade ones are going to cost more anyway