What do you think to be the best way to play a fighter?And what's the best for you?Some possible choices:KeyboardController D-padController JoystickAmerican Joystick (baseball bat)Asian Joystick (ball on a stick)I personally use Keyboard and D-Pad the most, since there aren't many arcades around where I am. I can't use the controller joystick at all (PS2) since I can't be very precise with it.I've heard that Arcade Joysticks allow for more precision, since your wrist moves faster than your fingers.If you use a Asian style joystick, how do you grasp it? I've seen people grasp it by holding it like the American style, or even bending their wrist around and moving it with their elbow as the base joint.

Fighting games? Happ Competition (baseball bat style) sticks with round guides generally. For everything else (shmups mainly), I like Sanwa balltop sticks with 8-way guides. With the balltops, I generally let it rest in the recess between my thumb and index finger and wrap half of my thumb around it.I have an arcade stick setup for just about every system I own. IMO it's the only way to play a lot of 2D games.

Joysticks are always the best choice. It's just not natural to be playing fighting games on a d-pad because of several good reasons, 1) it is too small, 2) it is not easy to manuever around and, 3) it feels awkward.Joysticks recreate the sensation of being in an arcade, for which fighting games are meant for. I use the Japanese sticks more because that's what feels more natural to me. I hold the ball in my palm, and let my fingers grasp the stick. I suppose my method of holding the stick is a "downward pressure" type of deal. Whatever feels most natural to you.I want to get my own arcade stick for the Dreamcast and PS2. There are tons of games on these two systems and it would be great to have a stick. It's a good investment if you just want to have a better time playing. Of course, if you own with the D-Pad, more power to you.

I play the best on Dreamcast controllers.. lolim decently good on Xbox and on Keyboard but DC is my fav.ps2 controllers hurt your hands after a while of playing seriously.im okay on arcade controllers but i havent really played them enough to get a good feel for it.

Yeah, I've tried using joysticks, but I suck at them.Probably because of the lack of access I have at them.I really need to get a joystick though, for PS2.I'm pretty pissed I can't play Akira on Virtua Fighter 4 Evo with a Dpad...Akira players know what I mean <!--emo&-_---><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleep.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleep.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Wootazn: I could never get clean directions out of the Dreamcast gamepad. I do alright with it in Soul Calibur, but anything else and I just suck on it. The PS2 pad is a lot cleaner (IMO), but it's hard on the thumbs for long sessions.As far as gamepads are concerned, the Saturn Mk. 2 (80116) is amazing, but I still have a certain fondness for the original NA Saturn pad (80100).

I've never used a Saturn pad before <!--emo&-_---><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleep.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleep.gif' /><!--endemo-->Apparently it's godly amongst gamers, hehe.I know they're coming out with an official Saturn pad for PS2.

There is no way to describe how perfect the d-pad is on a Saturn controller. It has to be experienced.I know how you feel on Akira also, scarletwillow. At least the PS2 controller helps out by having a single button for P+K+G and a couple other combinations. Even if it is practically cheating. <!--emo&:P--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Can you pull off his harder attacks?Like his three-hit sidestep rushing knockdown super-cool looking with awesome sound effects attack?The one you have to input like, a crapload of stuff in 2 seconds <!--emo&-_---><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sleep.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sleep.gif' /><!--endemo-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Eso+Feb 20 2005, 03:36 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Eso @ Feb 20 2005, 03:36 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I use the Japanese sticks more because that's what feels more natural to me. I hold the ball in my palm, and let my fingers grasp the stick. I suppose my method of holding the stick is a "downward pressure" type of deal. Whatever feels most natural to you.

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<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> Heh, sorry, I just HAD to point that out. Hilarious XDI personally, prefer directional pads mainly because I'm so used to it already. Though I gotta agree that the joysticks are much better for fighting games.

Haha! Err, I mean... such sophomoric humor. You should be ashamed. <!--emo&;)--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->scarletwillow - typically you have to use the 'slap' method with a stick (no pun intended) to pull off VF4's tougher moves. It's just too much to input in too small a time span by normal means.

Controller d-pad is best ...well i actually i just like playing with it most even though sometimes you get mad at the stupid controller and blame it for lagging <!--emo&:ph34r:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ph34r.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ph34r.gif' /><!--endemo-->

American arcade joysticks are besti cant stand the asian ones, they are retarded

Lol asian ones are easier to do circle moves with. =P

I personally just cant stand the japanese machines. i go to Little Tokyo now and then and the arcade machines are freaking small! <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> but it is true that its alot easier to do 360 degree moves with them.