Hori Fighting Stick EX2 Review!

Woooo. That looks very nice.

 

Yea, those look really nice. How fast did the DOA sticks sell out? I don't think I'll be able to get a stick until christmas, anyone think they'll still be available by then? This is in UK.

 

doa sticks have been around since the game came out and once hyper fighting came out they all got snatched up and then started going for insane prices on ebay.

i'd think the ex2 should be around for awhile since it is a generic stick. if anything they will rerelease them again once ssf2thd comes out or come out with one with a super turbo based graphic or new stick all together.

 

Reports from the mod room!

I've found that to be honest I really don't want to destroy a beautiful Sanwa JLF.

So I decided to cut the whole plastic underbelly of the stick out. Using a mill, drill a counter sink hole matching the Sanwa's mounting plate INTO the top metal cover.

This stick will probably be strictly for VF (or DoA if it ever gets good again) as I have opted for 3 buttons and 3 button plugs. Get that arcade feel.

 

My modder went with the hole, but I preferred it on the side for aesthetic reasons. So I do have mic support, and it wont cost me 60 dollars for wireless mic.

 

Got my stick, and ran home to play with it. WARNING to those who get a modded stick. Make sure the modder does something about the analog triggers, or doesn't connect them at all if they do a straight PCB gut and replace. They randomly go off on my high grade. It makes me scroll randomly on my friends list menu, and makes the character randomly do moves in the game. Good thing the game lets me disable them (I have to disable every other button anyway, since I sometimes accidentally touch them - boy the VSHG buttons are sensitive). I'm going to have to open this up and remove the connections or something else.

001 do you have an idea? I might have to turn to you if you know of some kind of resistor that can kill it from going off and make them usable (although I don't know when I would ever need to in any fighting game).

 

thanks for the mini review...i ordered one myself earlier this week. from what you've said the stick will be identical to the vf4 hori sticks that came out on ps2?

if so i'll be happy enough....those sticks did the job and more as far as my skill level is concerned.

 

you just need some 4.7k resistors on the legs of the trigger pads or not having anything connected to them is fine too.

 

Unfortunately I don't have my soldering iron here. I'll just open it up and cut the wires for now. How much would you want for the adjustment if I bring it over (once I feel solid enough with the game mechanics - about a couple or so weeks after the game is out) to one of the gatherings?

Edit: Actually notanoob just got back to me and said I would need to disable the whole analog system on it. Do you agree? If so how? I'm guessing I'm going to have to open it up and do it myself (he said I don't have to pay him the extra 30 bucks - so basically I just bought it for the price of the VSHG, with no shipping).

 

you are supposed to either put 4.7k resistors on the the legs of the lt and rt pads if you want them to be functional or have nothing connected to them at all if you don't want to use them.

i'd have to take a look to see what kind of pcb he used if it was an official or something else. if the triggers are still connected on them then just cutting off the wires should be fine. if he took off the triggers you will need the resistors since there is no way of knowing what position the pots are at if they are still attached which is causing your random presses. (i'm just using an educated guess because i have no way of knowing 100% unless i can see things with my own eyes)

it should be an easy fix though if you just want those buttons disabled. if you want them functional just pick up some resistors at radioshack and i'll install them for you whenever you want to roll through for free since its not a big deal.

 

Alright, well I opened it up and taped a piece of paper over the connects for the LT and RT, which should hold it over for ever if I want, but at least until I bring it over. I think it is more than just that there isnt proper resistance, I think there is a short, because on the guide both do the same function, then in the game, they are separate... sometimes.... Errr, ya... analog. Oh well, not a problem for now. Back to VF!

 

Wow, after a day and 8 or so hrs of play later, sometimes the stick inputs won't work! I'm really pissed about notanoob now. Perhaps he was just a noob at stick modding. 001, looks like I'm going to be stopping over this Saturday. I don't know what he did in there, but it seems like it was a shoddy job. I'm seriously disappointed.

 

It could be that the solder points are loose as that happened to me with my stick. Check those out to see if that is a problem.

 

Okay so I went through some CAM processes and though it didn't come out perfect (and my trusty End Mill couldn't save me from the mistake) I should have my mod down tonight.

I'll try my best to give you pictures of the Hori EX2 mod and why this thing sucks.

 

I like this stick just fine, I even play 3rd Strike online with this one.

 

I duno what it is, I don't really care for this stick for ST, but for VF it's doing the trick. Really thinking of swapping out the aesthetics though lol.

 

Hmm turns out there was something loose for the directions. I had to go buy something to remove nuts because of the annoying-ness of the VSHG screw removal system where you can't just do it by hand. I'm gonna try to solder on the 4.7k resistors. Looks like notanoob did take off the triggers. Hope this works....

Edit: Ok, so 001, I tried the 4.7k resistor, and it seemed ok for a bit, then I saw one moment of sketchiness and got rid of it. I'm not gonna bother connecting them ever. I can't forsee any situation where I would need them. Works great now! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

Ugh, I mod sticks like a bitch. Guard button works only half the time. I know what the problem is but still. Such a pain in the ass :|

 

I have finally finished the mod and put it up on the image forum.

I decided to go with 3 buttons and 3 button plugs for a more arcade perfect feel. I'm planning on making a REAL custom in the future so if I need to play SF4/HD remix I'll use that when it comes out. Otherwise 3 buttons in fact covers both fighters for the 360: Virtua Fighter 5 and Dead or Alive 4.



This is it finished, excluding art top as I just didn't feel like putting something on right now.

To sum this job up: This mod fucking sucks, and if you have limited experience with electronics or lack effective tools like drills/dremel I would not suggest you attempt this mod. Hori has done it's best to keep you from turning this thing into anything but a Sanwa arcade stick.



This picture sums up my feelings after this mod.

 

ah, yeah i'd just set up the buttons on the far right to be lb, rb if you ever want a 6 button layout. i don't think the triggers are useful unless you need them to scroll through leader boards (i think).

i'd hot glue the connections on the pcb though if you want to make sure things are solid. vibration from pounding on buttons can easily break a solder joint.

haha, and good job getting the mod done unsafe dan. believe it or not the ex2/doa stick is my favorite to mod just because they play so much better when they are finished.