Fightpads // Arcade Sticks

[vyn]

So ive been researching these a bit since ps3 controller is just not good enough and id like to hear some experiences, the options i have are

Fightpad (most likely since its quite cheap) http://www.citizengame.co.uk/cms/images/articles/StreetFighter4Controllers/fightpad.jpg

Cheap Arcade stick (madcatz SE) http://www.trmk.org/kapture/komplete/1232124901-PS3%20Street%20Fighter%20IV%20FightStick.jpg

Expensive arcade stick (madcatz tournament editon) http://www.donotfeedthekea.com/secretprojects/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mad-catz-street-fighter-iv-fightstick-tournament-edition.jpg

Ive heard real good things on the fight pad but i dont understand how the d-pad on it is better than a controller stick, if i try to use dualshock3 d-pad i cant even pull hadoukens consistently. SE arcade stick is supposed to not have actual arcade components making it crappy and flimsy but if its "good enough" and most importantly a lot better than dualshock then ill consider it.

MvC3 will be here next year (maybe), so its not such a bad investment if im using it for at least 2 games.

are they superior enough to a dualshock controller to justify the 40-50 bucks? or is it just a slight improvement.

So, experiences, opinions?

[SnowShingo]

as a user of both the sf4 fightpad and a horiex2 stick, i can say with 100% certainty that the only big gripe between either is being able to pull off shortcuts a lot easier (read unexpectedly) with the pad than with the stick. the thing about the sf4 pads is that MadCatz rushed the release on some of them and the  d-pad is too floaty, i guess is the word. i've tried the sf4 stick out once, and aside from size and the feel of the materials used, thought it was no different in response than my hori. purists will tell you that you can get more "precise" movements with a stick, which is bullshit. personally, i would just go with whatever you're used to. or save up and get both.


comedy option use a keyboard

[vyn]

but would you say that they are superior enough to a dualshock controller to justify the 40-50 bucks?? or are they just slightly better

[SnowShingo]

they're both pretty good for the money, for both ps3 and 360. i use the fightpad for a number of fighters, including KOF, and think it's largely better than any of the standard gamepads for the systems.

[iTorres]

I made the change from PS3 controller to TE some time before Super came out. There's definitely things I can do better with the stick that I had trouble doing with the pad. I also like the fact that the TE is big and doesn't move around easily when it's sitting on my lap. I suggest you try them out first if you can and see if you can notice any difference.

[vyn]

Ps3 users play with the D-PAD?? why not the left stick?? its much easeir or is it just an expression?, i also see a lot of xbox users complaining about the dpad on their controller being crap, why not use the little stick on top of it?? is this a pro thing or am i just understanding one thing for another?

[SnowShingo]

the analog pad on the 360 feels awkward to use in 2d fighters. the d-pad is just horrible.

[Jmorphman]

Ps3 users play with the D-PAD?? why not the left stick?? its much easeir or is it just an expression?, i also see a lot of xbox users complaining about the dpad on their controller being crap, why not use the little stick on top of it?? is this a pro thing or am i just understanding one thing for another?

Analog sticks suck for everything except 360's.

I personally use a FightPad cause I suck with sticks. I was also fortunate enough to have one that worked correctly.

[Vans]

I use a Real Arcade Pro 3 with custom parts.

I can definitely say that it is way superior to a pad, pads always died on me really quickly and there's some type of strange curse on them that makes it so each and every one you get is different in build and you end up having to get used to it again.

The one I probably liked the most is the DualShock 3. But I would definitely never touch a pad again unless I have no other choice.

[Formerly Hoshi]

I use an HRAP3 with Sanwa parts.  I find that its much easier to go between a console and an arcade version of a game because of it.  Also, playing Megaman 9 and 10 on a stick is fucking awesome.

[TempesT]

Dual Shock 3 with the left analog stick here. It's much easier than the D-Pad I find, less stressful on my girly fingers too lol

The learning curve from switching to stick from pad if you've been with the pad for a long time can be a bit overwhelming at first, sometimes not even worth it. PAD WARRIORS UNITE!

[Hadoabuser]

Ps3 users play with the D-PAD?? why not the left stick?? its much easeir or is it just an expression?

Because the left stick slides to much with "manly" fingers.  J/k j/k. It actually does slide from under my thumb when I try to use it. I will agree tho stick > d-pad, from my experience using the 360 stick.

~Just turn around~

Temp do u hold the stick with ur thumb and index, I've seen some ppl do that b4.

[TempesT]

Nope, I just use my thumb. It doesn't slide off, I have good stick control

[S.D.]

I play with a Dual shock 3. The D-pad isn't that bad.

[shin. [OFWGKTA]]

Maybe I'm a little biased, but sticks still take some getting used to as well. While the reward is great, pads are also a bit more accessible(IMO); if you often play at the arcade and you're used a stick, it's a different story, but for someone who may have grown upon playing fighters on consoles, pads might feel a little more at home for some people.

My opinion aside, I also use Dualshock 3. I would invest in an actual fightpad but Dualshock 3 is just comfortable and practical enough for me.

[swipergod]

I bought the fightpad for the 360 and was sorely disappointed.  I'm used to using the Saturn pad for everything.  If I had a PS3 then I could've, but Microsoft is run by b*tches.  Anyway, the reason I'm not a big fan is because of the position of the d-pad.  It's way too high and it makes it awkward to pull of certain moves like quarter circle forward upforward (the Hooligan).  It's better than a basic 360 pad since you get a string of 6 buttons on the controller's face and the dpad won't rape your thumb, but I've already resigned to the fact that I won't be able to play at 100% since none stand up to the Saturn pad (which also had less spacing between the face buttons).  So I'm ass online.  Oh well.  My buddy owns a PS3 and says he much prefers the PS3 pad and hates playing 360 with me.  Dunno about sticks since I grew up on fighters for SNES and Saturn and can't use 'em.

[Jesuszilla]

I play using a modified HRAP3 with cthulhu board and RJ-45 mod. Multiple console support FTW.

For the record, Vyn, do NOT get the SE as the buttons are shitty and they're a pain in the ass to mod. Dole out the extra cash for a HRAP or TE.

[Kamekaze]

I grew up on pads, my favorite being the D-pad on a ps controller, however at the beginning of this year i switched to a stick. It was a long road but around march I was better than I was on a pad. The stick I used was built from scratch using mostly sanwa parts. My joystick is a semimitsu square gate(square gates ftw) . But I haven't looked back since. I can also say that using a stick made it easier for me to use the analog on any pad if I have no choice. My stick is Multi-Console as well.

[Jesuszilla]

Seimitsu? Is it the LS-32? I've been wanting to get one of those, but sadly it is not a drop-in replacement for the HRAP3.

[orochi-x]

I mainly use either a Fightpad or a Sega Saturn USB pad on my PS3. The Saturn pad feels much better than the Fightpad , is certainly more reliable and is plug and play. Best of all , it is only about 5GBP!

I have the arcade stick that came with tekken but I'm not confident enough to use it online!