learning to use a stick

I'm a little new to fighting games but I've owned vf5 for a while and I really like the game so I thought I would get an arcade stick and see what I could do with that.

I got this one Real Arcade Pro. 3 Fighting Stick. Yes its for a ps3. Anyway, so it occurs to me now that I've never actually used an arcade stick set up probably in the last 10 years. There pretty much aren't any arcades around where I live. Needless to say I'm finding using it kind of challenging.

I don't know if I'm holding the stick wrong. Currently I just kind cup it on the top with three fingers. Anyway, I find it difficult to tell where I'm at and if the stick has returned to the neutral position. Then the buttons are huge. My fingers can barely reach from the furthest right to furthest left button. Trying to use the second row was also really difficult.

The default layout is basically not so great. I tried using all the buttons like I had done with the controller but it really got confusing trying to keep track of them all. I got the idea to remap the bottom row to /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif + /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif + /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif and the just do the 2 button inputs with the bottom row so I don't have to move my hand. This works a little better.

I'm still painfully slow and the directional inputs feel really sloppy compared to the ps3 controller in some situations. Occasionally the joystick wobbles so like when I flick it trying to OM I get /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/u.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif + /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif + /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif when I try to OM down. It actually OMs the wrong way sometimes.

So am I just going through the growing pains of trying to learn to use an arcade stick? Should I stay the course or should I change what I'm doing with my grip. Any recommendations for button layouts or input styles?

Edit: while I'm at it any tips on how to do quarter circles and half circles? I could do them sort of regularly but on the stick I'm even more inconsistent. I'm really hoping to make Eileen my alternate.

 

set it up like this:


P K

G

Its slanted perfectly for that, forget about P+K+G, those are shortcuts that are not even allowed in a turnament, hence lots of pad players are not even able to partecipate to important turnaments lol.

Talking about SEIDON there if you were wondering.

 

Really? those buttons aren't allowed? That seems kind of extreme. I can manage the two button inputs pretty well. I guess I'll try practicing the three button one.

 

Set it up like Matteo shown you and you use your thumb for /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif and you first two fingers for /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif. I wouldn't worry about your directional inputs too much, probably will just take a few months to get used to it properly /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

The only difference a stick would make to my game is that I would be able to dash faster.

 

What about ETEG? Not so easy on pad?!

 

The only difference a stick would make is that we wouldn't have to reconfigure the button assigment every time a scrubby pad player wanted to joyn with the big game players, "THE STICK GUYS".

 

On a side note:

Have you guys seen the movie about surfing penguins? there is this champion surfer who explains that you got to build your own board to really enjoy surfing....I agree with it, I love working on my sticks, I just wish I had more time, because it sure takes ages to mod stuff...

 

I'm just starting to use ETEG but I'll get back to you when I've had some practice.

 

I'm in the same situation as OP, sorta, I don't have a stick yet but plan on getting the SF one. I've never been good with sticks and was actually planning on getting the Fightpad instead of the stick because of that. But I guess with some practice I can actually go beyond my current pad skills. I'm nowhere near a pro, but I'm certainly an above average player. However, yeah, I face problems when playing in an arcade. Not much with the buttons layout, but the grip and moving.

Moves that start with 4 and end with 6, oftentimes, end up with a 9 instead (lots of retarded jumping) and I have never tried advanced moves like (speaking of Street Fighter 3 here) 6 + Fierce -> Dragon Punch -> Cancel -> Shoryureppa. I can pull one of these easily on pad, but on a stick...? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

What do you recommend? And should I really bother investing on a fine stick?

 

I can only play 2D on a stick.

 

I tried out the new layout. It works pretty well much easier than what I was doing. I'm glad I asked, thanks for the tips.

Any tips for the joystick grip? Currently, I kind of cup it on top with my pointer,middle, and ring finger. Its worked so far but seems a little flimsy and sometimes my hand slips off the stick.

 

Hath

That's pretty much how I hold it as well; I guess you will need to find the best way to hold it for you, there is not right or wrong, my advice would be to try and sit in different positions: with the stick on your laps, or on a small table, and see if your execution improves!

 

or you could play tiger style

where you cross your hands and use your left hand on the buttons and right hand on the stick

i couldnt beleive it when someone told me they played someone who used that style and that they were actually good.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Warning, Spoiler: <input type="button" class="form-button" value="Show" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div').getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" /></div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div style="display: none;">do not use tiger style</div></div></div>
also guys dont forget learning stick means you can play in the arcades /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbs_up.gif

 

one armed warrior beats tiger style, easily.

 

Drunken Buffoon FTW!

 

I recomend getting a good stick.

Think about it for a second!

A stick is just a tool to get decent input. The parts and shape of a stick are functional to get the best response, but they only last a determinate amount of time, then they need to be changed.
with a decdnt stick, you will be able to judge the response of the lever and buttons over time, and be able to get new parts easily.

It will not make you a better player, but at least you will not fudge your excectiion so much!

 

I just got one today. I got the Hori EX2. I didn't want to spend a lot on a stick, plus, I love customizing and modding things. I just ordered a Sawra stick to play with, and I'm going to order the buttons for it later.

 

Yeah after playing SSF2THDR and VF5 a bit more today, before work, I realized there are some moves I avoid doing because I can't input them consistently and quick enough and some others are just too hard to do on pad (Akira, lol). I'm importing that Tournament Edition Street Fighter IV stick.... as soon as I find someone who can sell and ship it to me.

 

I rage when people bring up playing Akira on a pad. If I can do it anyone can. Even Feck.