Which arcade stick with pinball buttons possible for ZP2 ?

[DanHD]

I love my new ZP2 on PS3 (in 3D), and I would have more precision controls (and feeling) than the official Sixaxis PS3 Controler.

So, I try to find a "dedicated" arcade stick with pinball buttons (on each side) compatible with PS3.

Not so obvious to find on gg...

The only "official" one I have found is the X-Arcade™ Joystick :
http://www.xgaming.com
But it's not clear for me :
- if the controls buttons on the side are analogic ones ? (as the Sixaxis ones controler are),
- if it's really compatible with ZP2 on PS3 ?...

I have also find here these old threads about arcade stick :
https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthr...6-Arcade-stick
https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthr...cade-Stick-Mod

So if you know which arcade stick is possible to use as pinball controllers type for ZP2 , it would be helpful..

ZP2 is so great in 3D, that I would want to increase the "feeling" by adding an arcade stick with pinball buttons, and it shoud help also with the hand problems (as cramps)..

[Bearded_Warrior]

I love my new ZP2 on PS3 (in 3D), and I would have more precision controls (and feeling) than the official Sixaxis PS3 Controler.

So, I try to find a "dedicated" arcade stick with pinball buttons (on each side) compatible with PS3.

Not so obvious to find on gg...

The only "official" one I have found is the X-Arcade™ Joystick :
http://www.xgaming.com
But it's not clear for me :
- if the controls buttons on the side are analogic ones ? (as the Sixaxis ones controler are),
- if it's really compatible with ZP2 on PS3 ?...

I have also find here these old threads about arcade stick :
https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthr...6-Arcade-stick
https://forum.zenstudios.com/showthr...cade-Stick-Mod

So if you know which arcade stick is possible to use as pinball controllers type for ZP2 , it would be helpful..

ZP2 is so great in 3D, that I would want to increase the "feeling" by adding an arcade stick with pinball buttons, and it shoud help also with the hand problems (as cramps)..

I can't give you a great answer but I know a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into modding and making their own arcade sticks. That may be something you could try if you really wanted to get into it. I have a Street Fighter IV Arcade Stick but I have yet to try it out with pinball. If it's that important to you let me know and I'll try my stick out for you and let you know how it plays. Or redirect you to the arcade stick parts website I found.

[DanHD]

I can't give you a great answer but I know a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into modding and making their own arcade sticks. That may be something you could try if you really wanted to get into it. I have a Street Fighter IV Arcade Stick but I have yet to try it out with pinball. If it's that important to you let me know and I'll try my stick out for you and let you know how it plays. Or redirect you to the arcade stick parts website I found.

Many thanks for your answer,
I need answers for these side buttons on an arcade stick (analog or digital), and maybe I could try to find a model already "ready to play" for my PS3 ZP2, even a second hand unit if I found one...

[X DrLobo]

Really it's not that hard, find a joystick you're confortable with, then buy a pair of buttons like these :

arcade-pb-sl-orange.jpg

Or wichever suit you taste...

Make two holes on the side of the stick, wire the buttons to L&R ...done ...

It's a 15 minutes job if you have the goods !

[DanHD]

Really it's not that hard, find a joystick you're confortable with, then buy a pair of buttons like these :

[ATTACH=CONFIG]176[/ATTACH]

Or wichever suit you taste...

Make two holes on the side of the stick, wire the buttons to L&R ...done ...

It's a 15 minutes job if you have the goods !

Many thanks,
I should want to follow your advice !

you seem well to know this type of product... (I am a newbie in this arcade stick matter, sorry) :

so do you know if it's analogic or digital ?
<== it depends of the new button or of the arcade stick itself ?

The idea to "map" the nudge function of the actual leftjoystick to 2 or 4 buttons located (on each side) near each flipper button, is it a good or bad idea ?

actual nudge = leftstick, so with 4 directions = 4 buttons needed ? :
- 1 button "Left nudge" (located close to the leftflipper button)
- 1 button "Right nudge" (located close to the rightflipper button)
- 1 button "Up nudge" (located close to the leftflipper button)
- 1 button "Down nudge" (useful ?) (located close to the rightflipper button).

What arcade stick box do you prescribe/recommend for doing this for my PS3 (if I am only interested by the pinball usage for it) ?

[DanHD]

To build a dedicated pinball controls box for PS3 ZP2, yes !

I have contacted a site which sell interface for PS3 and buttons to buy the different parts needed.

I need to build a "wood box" to insert the different parts in it.

It will be more simple in fact to simply build the "pinball controls box" that I want, than to try to modify/adapt a "standard arcade stick" (that I should need to buy).

And the cost is not too expensive (interface circuit + buttons ) around 50€, + wood.

[X DrLobo]

Building it from scratch is also a solution, all you need is a PS3 PCB, buttons, wires ....

Especially if you make a pinball only controller

Regarding the nudge function wiring buttons to the actual directions of a stick certainly works , only issue remaining is the 'launch' button wich imo can't be emulated with anything else than an actual 'right analog stick' ...finding it is easy (in any ps3 compatible controller) the wiring though is another problem since joysticks pcb do not have analogique inputs....

Maybe the easiest way to do it then is by using a ps3 controller's pcb then soldering the extra buttons to it but then the layout of the box gets more complicated to buid ....

Try something and let us know

[Thirdrail]

I use this on the 360. You give up analog ball launching, but having the flippers be up on the LB/RB is much better. The stick cradles perfectly with your left thumb, so nudge works quite well. I map the auto-ball launch to the green button for magna-save. I'm sure you find a similar stick for the ps3.

sticksmaller.jpg

[DanHD]

Modding in progress...

Many thans for your replies,

I am in the process of a new mod based on an Madcatz arcade stick (used 2 months, paid 35€) : PS3 WWE All Stars - Brawl Stick;
modding in progress with the help of a dedicated arcade shop.

it will have all (old) buttons replaced (by Sanwa ones), and + others buttons :

Controls :
- L1 button (on the left side of the box) (US type button)
- R1 button (on the right side of the box) (US type button)

Nudge :
- Left digital cross (small button on the left backside of the box) (nudge Left)
- Right digital cross (small button on the right backside of the box) (nudge Right)
- Up digital cross (small button on the left backside of the box) (nudge Up)
- Down digital cross (small button on the right backside of the box) (nudge Down) (maybe not so usefull this one for pinball nudge, and could be replaced by mapping the X button, X for automatic launch and validation).

Of course, it will be also possible to use the stick for nudging I think...

Any other ideas ?

More news in a few days, with pictures and tests (I'll hope)...


EDIT 24th september :
I have only kept the side buttons idea mod (L1 and R1) dedicated for pinbal use.
And forget the others ideas to add more other buttons...

[X DrLobo]

Great deal on the stick well done !

I'm more of a seimitsu guy regarding stick buttons but as far as pinball is concern, you should avoid sanwa and seimitsu alltogether ... those are veeeeeeery sensitive and just looking at them too much may trigger the flippers !

If it's still possible try to find some 'american' buttons like the one i showed in a previous post, some are leaf switchs, others are 'clicking' microswitch, you actually have to press them for them to work and they can take a lot of abuse, just like you wou'd hit a pinball machine's sides

Anyway whatever you choose to do, pictures, pictures, pictures !

I love me some tech topics, plus it may give others ideas !

[DanHD]

Changing my type of button for surface also ?

Thanks X DrLobo for your reply,

in fact the L/R pinball/flipper buttons (each sides of the box) will be US types ones, as you mention on your picture and in your posts...
So I think they are the ones adequate for pinball usage !

For the replacement of the classic buttons (on the main top/surface of the box), you do not recommend to use any Sanwa or Seimitsu ??

My idea was to put "better" buttons than the ones used on the box by MadCatz...
And it was to prevent, if the usage of the buttons in the sides of the box will not be as easy I have thought...

So, If I well understand you, you think I must not change the 8 top/surface buttons for Sanwa or seimitsu ones, but for also US type ones (same as the side L/R ones used for pinball L/R usage) ?

I am a bit confused, because for me it is not the same feeling and shape that you must have for top/surface buttons (on top of the box) and side buttons (on each side L/R of the box), due to the position of your hand...

On the surface, I thought than you do not put the same "effort" on the button (than on side buttons), so it can be different with a faster response, and more a convex one type than the concave ones used for side of the box...

But maybe I am wrong...

I did not tested it of course...

And in my mind, put not as a priority usage, I have had also the idea to test/use (in a futur time) my mod arcade stick with Street Fighter 4 (I am a newbie in it) like games...
But, again this will be a side usage, not a main one, but another reason to replace the standard surface buttons by Sanwa/Seimitsu ones...

Thanks in advance for your answer, it will be appreciated...

[X DrLobo]

you're 100% right ... sorry for the misunderstanding !

The 'american' buttons i suggested are ONLY for the pinball use, in your case the L/R buttons on the side of the stick.

Regarding using it also as a fight stick for fighting games, sanwa or seimitsu are the best you can find...

Make sure the stick is not already sanwa equipped before buying new buttons though ... unless you want to change them colors
I know for a fact that the TE arcade sticks from madcatz already have sanwa buttons, maybe yours has too !

BTW i'm french wich may cause 'english' misunderstandings

[DanHD]

French modding...

you're 100% right ... sorry for the misunderstanding !

The 'american' buttons i suggested are ONLY for the pinball use, in your case the L/R buttons on the side of the stick.

Regarding using it also as a fight stick for fighting games, sanwa or seimitsu are the best you can find...

Make sure the stick is not already sanwa equipped before buying new buttons though ... unless you want to change them colors
I know for a fact that the TE arcade sticks from madcatz already have sanwa buttons, maybe yours has too !

BTW i'm french wich may cause 'english' misunderstandings

Many thanks for your reply,

No, my stick is not already in Sanwa...

And thanks for the confirmation of the usage of american buttons for pinball use (L/R on each side of mine).

BTW, I'm also french !
which may cause...

[X DrLobo]

muahahaha Irony !

Fait peter le psn id

[DanHD]

My Pinball Arcade Stick mod !

My brand new Pinball arcade stick mod for Zen Pinball 2 is ready !

Based on a Madcatz WWE All Stars Brawlstick,

- 2 new side US type buttons dedicated to pinball use (one on each side of the box)
- (also standard 8 buttons replaced by new 8 Sanwa buttons (maybe for futur other use than pinball)...

Picture of the pinball mod :


Pinball Right Button :


Pinball Left Button :


Cables for 2 side Buttons :


One important thing for people interested by this mod :
inside the box, the upper left "global" connector has all the different buttons positions marqued all along the connector.
That's a very good and pratical thing.
Except the mark is false ! !
Yes, you have to 2 inscriptions (of a total of 10) which are not the good ones :
- you need to read L1 instead of R1
- you need to read R1 instead of R2.

The last picture (Cables for 2 side Buttons) has the cables in the correct slot for connection to the pinball sides buttons.

The feeling of my pinball arcade stick is excellent during playing Zen Pinball 2 !
Love this mod !