A History of Arcade Sticks (Feat. Markman)

Arcade sticks (or fightsticks) are a dime a dozen these days, but that wasn't always the case. at Evo 2022 I had a chance to speak with Markman and walk through his collection of fightsticks and learn just how we got to the controllers we have today.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:27 Introduce yourself, Mark!
1:14 MAS Stick
2:12 Neo-Geo
2:36 Hori Namco Arcade Stick
3:12 Agetec Green Goblin/Hori Real Arcade Pro
3:52 Hori Tekken 5 Arcade Stick
4:22 Virtua Stick High Grade/Mad Catz Fightstick
5:39 Sponsors embrace the FGC
6:30 Evo Gold Sticks
7:46 How Arcade Sticks are evolving today
9:15 Is that Kenny Omega?
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Description tags:
#evo2023 #arcadestick #retrogaming

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Want to see me dive deeper into more arcade stick lore? Let me know what stories I should be looking into. (Also, sorry about the messy office. Still settling into my new place!)

[@jackjadoenath7075]

Would love to see a little video on fightpads, I'm a fightpad user myself and I think they feel great.

[@Daniel4119]

I would love to learn more about the technology behind the arcade sticks... where there any changes or breakthroughs in technology that made one generation better than another? Are there differences in the types of sticks and types of buttons? Is there a reason why you might pick one type over another? Like what separates a fight stick made in 2023 compared to one made in 1991? A dive into the technology and manufacturing differences would be fascinating!

[@Mario_bland]

This is super wonky, but I'd love to see a comparison of the Japanese candy back to back cab vs the American stand up cabinet. Also why each country picked their different styles.

[@jamesbevan4479]

I too would love to see a deep dive. From brands small and large, to customer demand, the technology used etc. I'd watch an hour long session no problem ❤

[@cabbusses]

Pre-fighting game "real arcade" joysticks is a pretty good idea. The NES Pro Play arcade was a dual arcade home cabinet setup with big red joysticks and buttons that I recall hearing were real HAPP parts. Meanwhile, in Japan, ASCII released the first "ASCII Stick", a Famicom stick that was the first joystick that resembled a Japanese arcade control panel. These made the NES Advantage look like a kid's toy. Also: Hori made sticks for 16-bit systems that are comparable to their 32-bit offerings. I am also familiar with some more obscure SNES/SFC Fightsticks that are on the "heavy duty" side of things, like the Top Fighter, the C&L Controls stick which is similar to the MAS sticks, and a Sigma stick which was similar to the Famicom ASCII Stick.

[@RavenofSD]

Mark is being humble as usual. How Mark took Mad Catz, who was known for making junk peripherals, and turned them into the best arcade stick manufacturer for a long time is a great story. Hell, Mark wan't even a consultant when he started working at Mad Catz. He was just a no name employee until one day him and a friend (Nate?) were in the office playing (probably Tekken) on their personal sticks and somebody higher up saw how much better quality their stuff was compared to the company, they got to talking and the rest is history.

[@jcchaconjr]

Ah yes - someone remembers the days of having a Mad Catz controller for whenever friends come over, haha!

[@curio5220]

great story =]

[@duxnihilo]

So, this guy is responsible for the only good things Mad Catz's ever done? lol Seriously, what did they do before him and after he left that isn't complete garbage.

[@fernandocasillasjr]

​@@duxnihilo Yeah. Dude doesn't even brag about it. He pretty much states everything about his involvement as a matter of fact, not ego.

[@Luptonium]

I would love an even deeper dive into fightstick history.

[@jamesbevan4479]

Everything from the obscure knock offs to the high tier. The brands to the technology, I'd watch an hour long deep dive on the subject ❤

[@hickknight]

I 2nd this comment. This reply is just for the algorithm.

[@Clos93]

Hori is pretty much responsible for all the console arcade sticks. Them and ASCII were making sticks since the SNES era

[@deleriumslayer4931]

Just got ordered one. I love the dual sense controller but the dpad n I don't mesh great on sf6 😂

[@ShadowBlade79]

Gotta pour one out for Thao and Lynn. They set the tone for this hobby, and we'll always feel that impact.

[@HushMySweet1]

Right on! The arcade stick museum up at EVO last year was really cool and it only looks to have been improved this time around. Really cool trip through a bit of the history behind the devices! Fightsticks are just great.

[@ripamoramee14]

My stick collection has fluctuated and changed over the years but my favorite will never leave my collection the MadCatz TE full, with the smooth squared off sides I’ll never get rid of it. Awesome video man your documentaries are always phenomenal!

[@beelzeburbia]

I'd love to see a deeper dive into fightstick history, but, more specifically, the history of Qanba. I'm a huge fan of their fightstick output and I would love to see more documentation of them as a company (or, at least have all that documentation put into one place through an entertaining video).

[@GatsuRage]

the TE line up of madcatz were legendary and game changer, even tho now days I use razer panthera I can pick up my TE round 2 at any given moment and use it just fine, the ONLY thing I've done to it was the lever by just putting a thicker washer inside so the spring is more compressed and made it almost brand new feel other then that even the button still work just fine after all these years.

[@Skyshadow733]

I have one of those sanrio x street fighter sticks, glad I got one at release

[@071086]

You should do a video on the split between bat-top Happ style layout vs Sanwa Japanese style layout in the US, just like how it started with the MAS sticks but stuck with the Japanese style until recently with stickless. The video you posted showed a Street Fighter 15th anniversary stick amongst the Madcatz and Sanwa sticks, but that was a bat-top Happ style stick. One of the last ones of that style released.

[@KurokiSamurai]

I’ll say as many times as I need to but thank you. This channel has given great knowledge and alot of inspiration since its creation. ❤

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Will keep on trucking if y'all keep on watching. Thanks for your support!

[@KurokiSamurai]

@@Holdbacktoblock Nothing but love. You have my support and admiration.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Very interesting! Appreciate Markman sharing his knowledge with us.

[@shadowmind424]

Thank you for the video! I also would like to see more. Especially of the history into Suzo Happ and Industrias Lorenzo: their business relationship in the old days, their split, and current operations.

[@zakutenakazumiya1516]

Mark definitely said it best, sadly: "Arcade is dead" 😢 But they live on by those who adapted to the change but still retain the legacy with every twist of that lever and every press of those buttons. Fightsticks are as relevant today as they are in the arcade era, and I'm grateful to see the evolution.

[@jcchaconjr]

The arcade may be dead, but the arcade experience doesn’t have to be. As long as FG developers maintain that spirit in their games, we can at least continue enjoying it. My competitive days are way behind me, but I personally would like to see FightStick culture live on. At the same time, I can understand that top tier competitors are looking for any and every edge they can get, which is most likely why all those hitbox styles have become so popular in recent years.

[@zakutenakazumiya1516]

@jcchaconjr well said I still believe that despite the competitive landscape's shift for better controllers like Leverless, the Traditional Fightstick still has its place in the scene. I hope it stays alive as long as fighting games are.

[@cMARVEL360]

It also comes down to what you are willing to put up with as well. You can say Arcades are dead, but there is a smaller community of people soooo in to Arcade Gaming of the 90s that they play Online Everyday on Arcade 1up cabs. Yup. Even though we can play the same games on Janky Fightcade 2 with all it offers. There is still room for people to find the cabs and their level of Emulation good enough to keep rh Arcade Spirit alive at home. So na, I wouldn't Call Arcades Dead. And yup. Just because of Arcade 1up, but also stack on top of th various other ways we can play. Having a cab at home does change the perception of things.

[@garageink74]

The original madcatz TE is still to this day my favorite stick

[@DWedge]

I'd love to see a video on the differences on each stick, what changed if anything through the years and each company. Why did some have bats and others balls? Why did some use the indented buttons others not? Arcades sticks are probably my favorite gaming accessory they're fun to smack buttons on and you can customize them like a skateboard to show off your own style! Definitely hope you can make a video on them in the future!

[@Daniel4119]

I second this! I would love to learn more about the evolution of options and different technologies and styles and why you might have picked one over another?

[@jumpfold]

LOVE THE SHIRT!

[@thebigcor]

YO! nice shot of the RASC logo

[@supersonicsaga]

Please do more videos on this subject. 🙏

[@ITNoetic]

I have over a dozen sticks. This is my kind of video.

[@JoroTheSpaz]

that was awesome to learn about! the actual history and evolution of these things were something i never really researched before, so this was a fun watch

[@feelgoodhorizon4084]

I have a old ps1 madcatz stick and the sf4 TE Round1. They still work flawless

[@AndesBlaz]

As Smash Bros commentator Coney would say: "Great movie"

[@NickyG_vz]

Fellas

[@MoKVidel]

wow great piece. thanks a bunch. fucking love markman for his great work

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Mark is the homie for sure

[@curio5220]

I love that Tekken 3 stick, i had two of them. My first good stick was the ps2 Ascii with the big logo. But my fav sticks are the first edition Hori Fighting Edge and then Sega High Grade

[@thisistherun4015]

What an excellent video. I had a great time seeing this live

[@math001]

That SFIV Madcatz stick really brings back lots of memories. Nothing beats that for me

[@rodgercampo5332]

1:55 Poongko's ancestor lol

[@komodoswagdragon]

Damn I was really typing on that keyboard 8:59

[@Keeman45]

Time to change the "bell" from personalized to all. I normally get notifications for all vids, idk why I didn't get this one!

[@CZARCALIFORNIA]

Great as always

[@tinlunlau1]

I had a custom arcade stick which was fine at the time but I never did like bat-top arcade sticks. So i picked up the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro. Now i need a silicone cover for it cuz that stick is slippery!

[@fgcgamer]

evo is this weekend as a reminder and markman knows his sticks

[@SeedSnatcher]

MarkMan turned around MadCatz's reputation

[@wirikidor]

In the late 90s I used to build a wooden box with a HAPP stick and concave buttons with cherry switches and would solder the wiring to the pads of a PS controller. These days I can just buy one.

[@crustis5958]

You have one of the best radio faces ive seen in a while

[@leggocrewtv2052]

Neo Geo is the first one I remember ... wow time flies

[@yourchildrensghost9736]

This was Awesome, Thank you.

[@goldsocks9999]

I'm still rocking on a modded MadCatz fight stick pro with custom artwork to this day. Still stock controller board tho lmao

[@fXoKDM]

Keep up the great work bro I love this Documentary on Fight sticks especially the Mas Arcade sticks I use to own two of those arcade sticks and I met Tao and his Family God rest him and his Wife soul he gave me my first arcade stick I will never forget the time he sacrificed to bring us old school players a high quality arcade stick R.I.P Tao thank you to bro for bringing us this great Documentary bro

[@Cyndadogo]

Amazing vid! ❤

[@Mario_bland]

Ive always wanted to see a mas in real life. They were so expensive (like 200 dollars for your 200 dollar ps2). RIP

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Expensive, but they're works of art.

[@robertmanes9333]

Still got mine .. dreamcast model

[@evangel1460]

$200 for a MAS sounds like a steal. I swear I've seen some for like $450

[@charleschase7945]

Wooo glad to see the stick I own back in my childhood box. The namco limited edition stick

[@The268170]

I bought a Qanba Crystal from Amazon but it never came so they gave me a refund. So I bought a Mayflash F500 Elite which did come. Then a bit later the Qanba Crystal came :D

[@thugX52]

I really love that people are now accepting of leverless controllers. I live in SEA, where internet cafes are prominent, and whenever someone has downtime from playing online games they would just invite people to play neo geo emulators on PC and that's how me and my friends grew up to playing fighting games on keyboard

[@nikalussuper9875]

Awesome!

[@KillahManjaro]

Good stuff!

[@jcchaconjr]

"The best selling Arcade Stick of all time..." And I'm proud to say that I still have my SFIV TE! 😁

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Cherish it and all the memories it brings

[@jcchaconjr]

@@Holdbacktoblock Definitely! I’ve got 7 sticks (just a few less than Mark’s collection, haha!) but yes, the older ones bring back that nostalgia. I can’t see myself getting rid of any of them.

[@Clos93]

I always wanted a MAS stick. Pretty much just made my own out of thin plywood and IL sticks and buttons.

[@amkrishnan8732]

I just got a leverless (Fightbox F1). Would love to see a deep dive into the history of arcade sticks!

[@fburhop]

Hori needs to produce more premium VLX sticks.

[@Vuden13]

More history on fgc topics! Very interesting!

[@CrossfacePanda]

I remember back in the lead up to SFIV’s release, I really, really wanted to get a custom Byrdo stick. He made these beautiful, handmade, wooden sticks during a time when professional looking custom sticks was still kinda rare. Their design and craftsmanship still stands out, even to this day. I ended up going with a TE stick instead, just out convenience and budget restrictions (getting that thing from US to Europe wouldn’t have come cheap…). But I still kinda regret never having gotten a Byrdo. I wonder if he’s still making sticks today?

[@HattoriZero]

8:55 GamerFinger buttons !

[@shaideyfresh1]

I'm waiting for official #XBox Fightsticks

[@D3stinySm4sher]

Would love a deeper dive on this subject. For me, I actually play on pad now but I totally got sucked in by SF4 and got one of those SF4 sticks and had a blast.

[@yiggs]

lol, i had a friend lug a T5LE from USA to Aus for me. really wanna check this out irl one day

[@ShinSHOGO]

Damn, the SF15th Anniversary Stick just got shafted and skipped over. 😢

[@mikeadam80]

I had a Happ 6button stick on SNES for SF2. I bought it at Babbages or Electronics Boutique. Also the official Capcom SF2 stick was the first time a balltop eastern style stick was sold in the USA. Too loose for me. I still use IL Euro Sticks in my Mame builds

[@ms08gouf]

Love it

[@tendiesandnuggies]

I never really played with a fight stick until I got a Snackbox Micro

[@robertmanes9333]

You aren’t old school legit unless you owned a MAS stick

Hell yeah

[@ThoughtlessDNB]

Shoutout to the Razer Panthera, my first stick and still one I have a lot of love for.

[@shapular]

What a classic, giving us great moments like Momochi's stick disconnecting during Evo grand finals.

[@CasualGamerThrai]

I grew up playing SNK games on the arcade cabinet. Til this day, I do not understand why the home version stick needs to have the 4 buttons at such a huge curve, it looks super uncomfortable.

[@Khinh-xq6lx]

the hori design is not bad

[@1903tx]

Why didn't you mention the Capcom Fighter Power Stick you had on the wall? I got that for SFII:WW on the SNES bitd. It has a Sanwa JLW. Also the NES Advantage has got to be the OG console stick.

[@iradhill81]

I did manage to see the Mk9 stick for ps3. It would have been nice to see that anniversary SF2 stick for ps2 or even the 16 bit fight sticks like that snes advantage

[@OzonebxGaming]

That Mad Catz TE stick is a work or art

[@yiwei3907]

i need that harada shirt lmao

[@DarthSamuraiRyuu]

SEGA's Virtua Stick High Grade! 😎🥰

[@franksterkb891]

wow! the mad catz sf x sanrio

[@seth410]

I still have my NES Advantage

[@Holdbacktoblock]

I heard you can drive the Statue of Liberty with that thing!

[@SolidWander]

My first stick was the Hori Soul Calibur 4 PS3 stick, and it’s still my favorite semi-compact stick of all time. So much of that last era Mad Catz stuff was amazing. Shame the company died off. Awesome video! Would love to see more history stuff!

[@fellpony34]

Wow 10/10

[@TheRealDustinNunn]

The worst arcade stick controller parts that I tried out were the Hori hayabusa parts. They suck because they extremely oversensitive.

[@milanbaros2005]

Question why do all modern sticks have 8 buttons on them?

[@parkerlewis4991]

Madcatz TE is legendary🔥🔥🔥 I dont understand why the Turbo fire button has become a rarity on most sticks following the TE. I don't care about tournament legality lol. I play old arcade games and would appreciate the option. #FreeTurboFire 😂

[@dreamcastninja88]

Should I purchase a qanba stick? Im used to buying hori.

[@droogsurgeon1440]

Deeper dive hommie! Plz

[@keymot1491]

I really wanna get into fighting games and Arcade sticks but idk how and when for the latter Tekken 8 will be my first real fighting game and I plan to put a lot of time into it and Arcade sticks seems fun but everyone online is telling to wait till the next gen sticks comes out

[@Holdbacktoblock]

There are a few budget options (like the Quanba drone) that you may want to consider. Stick purchasing is a bit harder atm if you play PS5 as compatibility is hit or miss, but if you happen to play mostly PC you've got a lot of options.

[@duo317]

How you not going to go over the incredible mayflash stick or the DBZ arcade stick?

[@Holdbacktoblock]

I focused on sticks in the Evo 2022 museum for this video, but I know there's so much more to explore. Hopefully in a future video!

[@ARCADEFUTURES]

10/10

[@RichiePajooh-r8i]

omg i wish someone would make a korean stick that was more readily available out of the box key word out of the box. I don’t want to mod… i want a korean lever, battop, buttons etc right out of the box specially made for tekken.

I'm so excited that people have finally started to realise that the old 2×4 layout is needlessly limiting. We're in the future now, and it has 11 action buttons

[@Clos93]

Call me a old geezer, but joystick and buttons all day. 🕹️ Can't teach an old dog new tricks I guess. Lol

[@triple_lei]

I tell ya, if it ain't a Mad Catz branded arcade stick, it ain't a "fightstick." I don't much care for the idea of reaching for a "fightstick" when I want to play Pac-Man or Dodonpachi, ya know?

[@user-wl2xl5hm7k]

Dive deeper!

[@ibraibraibraibraibra]

The Sanrio Stick….

[@Holdbacktoblock]

My precious

[@YudaHnK]

Go deeper brah!

[@zZiL341yRj736]

This is how arcade games should be played, not these weakass hitbox buttons only stuff.

[@MasterChibi]

......someone sell me a Namco stick please :3

[@Midori_Hoshi]

Fightsticks were cool, but now that we learned buttons are better than sticks, they are obsolete. I'm hoping more button box companies learn that people have two thumbs and add another thumb button.

[@type_one]

why are ps5 sticks so damn expensive... sony fkn sort out your licensing shit...

[@condescending28]

Unfortunately, the Fight Stick is going to die because some of you People (you know who you are) are all for these damn Easy Directional Inputs Movement & replacing our Motion Inputs. Should there be Easy Directional Inputs? Yes! But don't say you're okay with getting rid of our Motion Inputs. They both can coexist together. I want to keep the Fight Stick alive, but what's the point of using them if we don't have Motion Inputs anymore. I would be done with playing Fighting Games if all these new Fighting Games just feel like NRS, Smash, 3D Games. I would just stick to the Classics.