Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Stick 3

Aargh! It's listed as Out of Stock again when you go to checkout. It was up there this afternoon while I was asking questions...

 

VSHG is the best joystick I have ever used...I don't have nor have I used the RASP, but I must say It's a cold f*ckin stick.

 

My VSHG shipped today along with the PS3 itself. Already have the game + the Brady Guide here waiting for some new friends.

 

What do I need to do to get the VSHG running on MAME?

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

Download the driver and follow the instructions within the rar: http://dl.qj.net/SIXAXIS-driver-for-PC-PlayStation-3/pg/12/fid/11679/catid/518

Plug in your VSHG after the driver is properly installed.

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

thank you

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

I'm using MAME32 and haven't had to install any drivers. WindowsXP recognized the stick as "Virtua Fighter High Grade" when I first plugged it in.

Is there any benefit to installing the Sixaxis driver? The only "glitch" that I am encountering is that once in a while when I plug in the VSHG, I have to re-enter the joystick inputs.

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

i tested the vshg with VF2 pc and only the buttons work. i used that sixaxis program but it didnt work, maybe i installed it incorrectly, can anyone please test it on VF2 pc?

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

I don't have the answer, but I have a very similar situation. I couldn't get the VSHG to work with NeoRageX. The buttons were mapping, but the control stick was not. I couldn't get it to work at all. I ended up using Nebula, which worked fine.

Is it possible that the joystick is not registering as analog/digital?

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

On windows, the VSHG's stick shows up as the hat switch (the little nub on top of flight sim joysticks). If your software doesn't take input from the hat switch . . .

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

The sixaxis drivers have no effect on anything besides a sixaxis. It simply searches for sixaxis by it's specific usb device id, and sends a single command to tell it to start reporting button presses, and thats it.

I looked into it pretty extensively while trying to get my Fighting Stick 3 to work in windows.

As an aside, has anyone else tried a Hori FS3 in windows and had it not register any button presses? I had heard that it worked fine in windows out of the box, but mine didn't. I eventually managed to get it working, so if anyone else is having trouble with that, I can post details on how I got it working.

 

VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

Last night I finally got the chance to play the VSHG and today I will be getting my own. I currently have the HRAP3 so I am able to compare the two sticks directly. And the verdict is....

VSHG is significantly better than the HRAP3.

Why? There are two main reasons:

1) The buttons make a HUGE difference. The responsiveness (or travel time of the buttons) means that I am able to do multi-button commands with fewer errors on the VSHG. I don't know about you guys, but I make a LOT of multi-button commands with the HRAP3. I.e. when I do /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif only /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif comes out. Or when I do /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif only /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif comes out. There are also lots of times when I inputted something and nothing seems to have registered. Previously, I just assumed that's because VF5's frame buffer is different than to VF4 and I just haven't adjusted yet. After playing the VSHG I realize it's in the way I play with the HRAP3.

There are two theories to explain this. The first is that because the buttons have more travel time one is more error prone to hit the buttons together. Also I think the shape of the stick might have something to do with it. The end result is that your longest finger tends to press the button first (for me that's the middle finger, or /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif which explains why sometimes the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif do not register).

The second possible explanation, and the more disturbing one, is that the HRAP3 itself is mechanically faulty. I.e. it has the same problem the recalled VSHG had, except Hori didn't call anything back. Some people have suggested this explanation, although I personally think it's the first. If you concentrate on how you press the buttons on the HRAP3, you can usually get the multi-button commands accurately. This makes me thing mechanically the stick is OK but the way the human interacts with it is not so great.

2) I like the base of the stick for the VSHG much better than the HRAP3. The HRAP3 is really bulky. So bulky that playing with it on your lap is a major pain...but it is not bulky enough that you can play with it on the floor either. It's got that size that is neither here nor there. The VSHG is much slimmer, which I like, but at the same time it's also heavy so it gives you some stability.

There is one major detraction for the VSHG...and that's the unbelievably short cord of the stick. This thing was clearly designed for cubicle Japanese homes.

Overall, whether due to mechanical failure or not, the end result is that the VSHG feels better for me than the HRAP3. If you haven't bought either stick yet, I strongly urge you to choose the VSHG over the HRAP3. If you have the latter and experienced the kinds of errors I did, then I recommend getting Sanwa buttons and hoping that does the trick.

P.S. The gateway between the two sticks is slightly different. On the VSHG I played it was slightly stiffer/smaller than the HRAP3. It wasn't large enough to be material, but switching play from one stick to the other does require some small adjusting. When I get my VSHG today I will report back on whether this difference is systematic.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

Thanks for that very useful post Ice. Even though I don't plan on getting either of these sticks in the near future (if at all), this post may have been helpful to me. You see, I'm having input problems with a lot of the moves in VF5 on my MAS. Button presses involving /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif//forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, are often registering as 1 button (sometimes just punch registers, sometimes nothing at all). These problems also range from 270/multi-throws w/ Aoi, down to the more simple moves (many of which require a double tap in any direction, and even single taps involving /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/uf.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif). The MAS worked flawlessly with VF4 and Evo on PS2, so based on what you said regarding frame buffer; I would have to conclude that it is indeed my converter not giving me the best signal. Funny thing is, I don't sense any lag in it. Or, maybe I'm just not noticing it; yet I would think that I would notice it. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif. Best case scenario, I just have to get my hands on a flawless converter (which unfortunately might mean having to wait until 2nd quarter 07 for a Nyko or Pelican).

Back to the VSHG/HRAP3; I think I remember reading that EVM replaced all the buttons on his HRAP3 with Sanwa's. If he reads this, maybe he could comment on the performance of the HRAP3 since making the modifications. I also believe he has a VSHG as well.

Your post (and others) has convinced me, that if I have no other alternative, the VSHG would be the stick of choice. Perhaps, I would have to totally re-learn playing the game on a new stick. But hopefully, the transition wouldn't be as bad as I think it would be.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

Would a USB extension cord do the trick?

 

Re: Virtua Stick High Grade vs Real Arcade Pro Sti

Please do, Windows sees my HFS3 but doesn't detect any movement or button presses.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

Don't know why they placed the stick and buttons on the VSHG lower down compared to other sticks. Your hands rest on the edge rather than on the base. Doesn't really bother me though.

The stick feels a bit tighter compared to my older stick but I expect this will change after a lot of use. I like the stick to be really loose and responsive for VF (without sacrificing accuracy). It makes the game far less tiring.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

I already put Sanwa buttons in my HRAP3 and I removed 3 needless buttons also. The gates in both sticks are the same size but the HRAP3 is a tad looser. Both sticks are great, the HRAP3 does not come with Sanwa buttons. Don't forget about the short USB cable length of the VSHG, its borderline ridiculous.

Throwmasta, you could buy a cheap usb PS3 pad and hack the PCB for your MAS stick. It can be done, just read up on how to solder.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

I just bought a few USB extension cables from http://www.monoprice.com and should receive them Thursday. I don't have a PS3 yet, but I couldn't resist buying two VSHG for MAME... until I get a PS3 for VF5.

There shouldn't be any lag, but I'll report in what I find.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

In response to ice-9's comments about multi-button command errors... For whatever reason, I've had that same sort of issue with the Hori Fighting Stick 3. It was noticeable enough, though for awhile I was just wondering if I pressed some inputs wrong.

So far, I haven't had that issue with the VSHG though. I definitely recommend the VSHG btw.

 

Re: VSHG vs HRAP3 Review

tokerblue,

I have a USB extension from Monoprice which I am using with my VSHG. I have noticed no lag at all.

As far as the sensitive button presses, I disabled all the buttons except for G P K. My big hands were accidentally hitting some of the other buttons but disabling them in the game solved that issue.