Besides Cammy and alt-costume DLC Chun Li, personally I feel that the TE sits better on my lap. Aside from the spacious 'palm-rest' area, its front edges have just the right thickness and is not too chunky as the HRAP3, though when gaming seriously whichever stick I use will always be ON a steady table.

The HRAP3 shines in many ways the TE doesn't - backwards compatibility with PS2 games, as with what Mart mentioned is one thing to mention.

For just between RM15 to RM50 more, you can get a TE - which IMHO delivers a more wholesome arcade experience, and has endless modding possibilities if you are comfortable with its quality shell.

Aside from its external aesthetics and lesser-scale features e.g. cord storage compartment, start/select button placements, turbo lock and mounting screw holes, the TE really shines when you whip out a hex key and its internals are revealed.

I have never seen a more neater and convenient placement of wiring, PCB and QDs. They are even labels to each Quick Disconnect, to prevent confusion when reconnecting the wires. Switching/replacing components are simple and has a steady mounting plate - it seems they made the stick with the modder in mind. Definitely a step forward as compared to HORI which solders their sticks these days mostly, as opposed to using QDs.

Both are good sticks and I'd strongly recommend a TE to those who wish to have the complete and authentic Vewlix experience. The HRAP3 is like a Proton Wira whilst TE is a Lancer. Both are highly modable, gives high performance and can outdo each other in the correct hands. It's either that or a custom DeLorean all the way, baby!




This post has been edited by rawfish: May 4 2009, 08:23 PM

Based on your exact words describing your specific situation, I am trying to understand, and let me help you with this decision - get the HRAP3.

For better or worse, I am assuming you are a user with a simple wish to have a decent stick to play on. You also display a little hint of curiosity towards the TE, and mind you the HRAP3 is an excellent piece of work, right out of the box. I used to, and still play on HRAP3 sticks owned by my other friends before having acquired two TEs recently. They were both carefully thought-out, coordinated decisions, and not impulse purchases.

DoTEs really hold substance? To me, as a personal decision - yes. Then again my choice is based on a few factors which is mainly driven by my passion for fighting games. I want something with the extras. I am compelled to have something which looks, feels and performs good, and better after modded - without having to take the more respectable path of making your own stick from the ground up. It's needless to tirelessly list out the TE's unique features here. Just think of what each sticks have AND don't have, when compared, and if you can accept that, I believe you will have your final answer.

Getting the arcade stick of your choice should be a very happy and delightful experience. Just because something is more premium-priced doesn't mean it's the best choice for you. Some people like grilled cheeseburgers at Carl's Junior, some like it at Chili's. Once you've made the decision on the venue and gobble that burger down, you can't deny that sense of satisfaction. Get the HRAP3.

I am sorry, you must be mistaken - I am not a pro in networking. Perhaps the answers you seek are at the PS3 FAQ, or under this site's Networking area.

Hi Senzr, it's me again

Different strokes for different folks? Port-forwarding works best for some and it's necessary, while some just DMZ without (any) fear.

I port-forward and am on NAT2 (Streamyx 1MB line), and still cannot connect to a certain group of people each time. Nevertheless I mostly get 3/5 to 5/5 bars with most local people and I do not feel any deterrent lag. It helps that I reconnect my router-modem to get the 60.48.*.* IP range. I avoid 1xx.x.x.x entirely. A few hits and misses here and there may cause me game but it would not cause my e-penis to grow flaccid. This works to my favour as I tend to look more forward to play with you guys or take a weekend drive across town to crash at a buddy's place for the live experience.

I'm sorry if this doesn't contribute to your effort to find the optimal connection. All I can share are my experiences, and not provide sound advice

To be honest, it's always nicer to see and have more discussions about the game itself and not connectivity issues which IMHO is at a stalemate and in a sad state.

P.S. Do you know we have an arcade sticks thread?
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1012173/+20

Dear everyone,
I'm trying to get together a bulk order for laser-cut plexi-glass panels for your HRAP3 and TE sticks. Check the link at my sig if you are interested - thank you. To everyone who's enquired about the Sanwa order, it's still not happening. What is coming up though, will be Seimitsu orders - but please let me fill you in on the details at a later time.

Mike has a good point, along with other users' opinion on other sites. Game-branded HRAP3 sticks usually have soldered buttons and very often it's confirmed on the Sanwa JLF stick. Soldering on parts may not be a big deal, but when it's close to the PCB belonging to your precious - there's your risk.

Heads up on the all-alt costumes DLC - US PSN just released for $12.50.

Use a philips-head screwdriver or very thin penknife to slowly push it out? Once you manage to insert it into the groove it'll be easier.
EDIT: flathead (-), not philips (+)

Anyone wants to order plexi-glass panels for their TE and HRAP3 sticks?

This post has been edited by rawfish: May 10 2009, 12:07 AM

Anyone interested in Seimitsu parts? Check out my thread:
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=886221

That's aside the plexi-glass bulk as well. Bringing Tech Talk @ SRK to our local shores (or trying to-lah)

Do you mean the SE (Standard Edition)? It's a whole world of difference, performance wise - but it still gets you 'there', with a few tweaks.

It uses Mad Catz' proprietory stick+buttons and first-batch stocks are known for its "loose washer" issue which means the stick will grind against the PCB with gradual gameplay. Newer ones reportedly do not have this issue, and it's unsafe to go by the batch number on the box - no guarantee you will get a good one. Since these are grey-imported as with TEs, there's no warranty coverage so this is the risk you need to take.

People who are willing to live with this defect have pseudo-solutions like glue-ing down the washer to the stick, but if you have the intention to replace the stick with a Sanwa or Seimitsu one and opt for matching buttons, it's still quite decent as it has the same button-layout, lockable turbo buttons, side-placement of START/SELECT, mod-friendly internals - and a good modding community.

The TE has no such issues and comes with much more features. Pricing-wise it's nearly double the cost of an SE and stock itself is scarce. I myself do not find it feasible to spend an an extra RM80-RM200 to enhance its features. I'd rather go for a HORI Real Arcade Pro 3 stick if I can find one, and looking at the market, RM400-450 is realistic. Play-Asia will be opening the 2nd pre-order batch for the Blazblue HRAP3, by the way. It has more weight to it and feels sturdier than the SE.

So it's TE > HRAP3 > SE. It all depends on how much you want to pay to experience fighting games like they are meant to be played.

Heads up guys, I'm selling one of my spare TE sticks, PS3-only - it's brand new and priced at RM800, firm.

To those who switched off sigs, here's the link:
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=886221

HRAP3 with changed Viper artwork:



Selling this on behalf of my friend, for RM450. Contact him at 012-six-five-five-0536 (Freddy)

This HORI's cheaper and I've seen it - it's in good condition and a great deal:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1036805

I'm helping a friend to sell as well - this comes with a matte-printed Viper background. Perhaps you can look him up:
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=886221

Hey Tony, with a TE I don't think it'll be a problem for you. I used an old HORI stick, and it's not impossible on a DS3 for others. The key is muscle memory and plenty of patience! To condition your mind, try staying relaxed, have a plan, spare some time for SF-love and ensure you don't have to rush off to anywhere or bedtime. Love the characters. Know that the reason for these trials is not only for the Platinum trophy. It's a subtle way for Capcom to give ideas to discover everyone's B&B combos, Viper's TK cancel mixups and Elf's infinite loop. In fact, I really wished they'd release a DLC add-on to have more of these trials - I really had fun trying to complete it, with a fair share of anger as well!

Try to complete the harder ones first, and if you're stuck move on to other characters. Don't feel pressured and compelled to stick to just one character. I was surprised to get everything cleared really fast right after getting the game as I was also practicing other moves (non-scripted) on Dan as a lazy man's alternative to Training Mode. I discovered that Dan could not be stunned! (I later on found out that you could switch this option OFF in training - oops.)

If you feel that you're doing something wrong, YouTube "Kalelulen4" (thanks, mikeeeee) as he had taped all chars' trials. Scripts for each character can also be found at EventHubs, e.g. Viper's one here:
http://www.eventhubs.com/guides/2008/jul/0...haracter-guide/

My experience:

Viper: Use the HP TK cancel only, it has the fastest recovery. Some of my friends do like this (HP~hold, qcb~release HP~LP+MP), this way after HP comes out the TK cancel is done. White folks call this 'Negative Edge' as it involves 2 inputs with a single button press. Or you can try (HP, qcb+HP+MK~hold, LP+MP). Ring finger on HP, thumb on MK (MK won't come out, only HP due to higher hierarchy rule), index and middle fingers on LP, MP respectively. Why include MK? I find myself reacting to (HP -> qcb HP+MK) better than (HP -> qcb HP) faster, as the MK works like an anchor for me to progress to the next move. You may also want to read on her SJCs (Super Jump Cancels). Hope I explained it well and this may not work for other players with better reflexes. Also, if you really really want to pass her trial, you may want to remap the buttons to your own taste to make TK cancels easier.

Haha, I bet some of you are immitating the finger presses now

Vega and Cammy: Get your links' timings correct and you should be on your way. P-linking, kara buffer, or whatever it's called, is documented here and it's a good read: http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=186686. More importantly, I find that it really improves my poor execution

I forgot how Sakura and Fei Long's was, but it was easy if you spare time with it. After EX-shinpuukyaku dash forward then Ultra is an effective way to get the timing correct, from what I see in real matches.

Seth, Rose, Dan: I assume the hardest trials are those involving holding the Focus to Level 2 at the correct length to count within the combo, right? Since you cleared Chun's then I don't think it'll be a problem with this bunch. Don't hold the FA too long as their FAs can reach Level 2 pretty quick.

Gen: All "multi button press" attacks in this game needs x5 inputs. Same with Lightning Legs and Electricity. Buffer x4 punches before the actual one's supposed to come out. Try this simple training: (MP x4, once the punch frame is almost finished, kara MK~HP). You will know what I mean. If you want to cheat, just use Turbo! One thing about Gen in this game: In Crane (PPP) stance, if you qcf x2 + KKK you will execute his Mantis Ultra; and vice versa ;-)

Abel: As with the others in general, it'll help if you don't follow the script and monitoring it to see if you're doing it correct. Try envisioning the actual combo execution and work TOWARDS the outcome. I got his hardest one done this way. Noticed that it uses the same theory for his infinite loop involving LP and fwd+MK? Capcom gave that one away free.

ELF: Okay...

Despite the script (HP first), start the combo with him running. You can treat this as a sort of RSF (Run-Stop-Fierce) training and you can really get the tempo down this way (qcf+LP). This is the actual loop I managed to get used to:

While running, (kara LP~HP(hold), qcf+LP) - repeat loop.

Why hold HP? In both SF and KOF games I am used to holding the 'opponent-hitting-button' before buffering to a special. This works like an anchor so other unwanted moves do not come out. Example: for Iori's HP, fwd.LP, Super it's extremely easy with (HP(hold), qcf+LP, release hold~HCB+HP). The button hold will prevent his fireball move from coming out, and counts as an input for his Super. Same goes with Ryu/Ken's d.HP into Super. It's to prevent srk/hadouken from coming out due to Negative Edge.

Coming back to RSF, try to fool your mind into thinking that the objective of this 'combo sequence' is to get ELF to run, instead of HP coming out - maybe this will help. Remember - he needs to stay in his run frame animation for a short while to close-in on distance which resulted from the previous HP impact. If you find the 3rd HP to be hitting too far away then you are cancelling the run too fast!

Try to train with this infinite loop (not combo) of hits first, to condition your muscle memory. Make it an automatic reaction. Once you get this correct, narrow the time gap between running and the kara LP~HP so he gets in closer WITHOUT the opponent recovering from the previous HP stun.

My result? On training I could get in around 100+ NON-COMBOING HPs until my fingers cramped out. This shows how easy it is if you take a systematic approach to getting your hand-to-eye coordination correct. The maximum HPs I could get to COMBO is a modest 6, and an average of 2.5. Then I trained on Balrog

It's very hard to use Elf in online matches due to the need to constantly perform inputs and cancels. RSF is quite impossible for me, even in matches with 4/5 bars. Timing gets disrupted due to connection spikes. To DS3 users, I know a friend who could do more than 4X consistently on a pad, and his record is 9. When I asked him how he does it, he said he just press what he thinks is correct

Anyone else's input is very much welcomed, and to anyone who's tried my suggestions please give feedback because they really work for me

This post has been edited by rawfish: Jun 4 2009, 12:55 PM

Haha, mine's in storage for the time being but I plan to take it out soon!
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=26330537

Alan's really contributing well to give proper SF4 coverage in this country. Good job, man - this Mid Valley tourney is gonna receive a great turnout!

In here, hope to hear everyone share their experience too. Nice of boogalogist and the rest to give winning tips against their characters, post-matches. Sharing is important - otherwise no one can learn and progress.

Ah keenkeen, you still look good yourself - glad to have met you after many many years of MIA. One day I'll give you a call if I'm nearby your place ok Hey - I'm sure you will also remember TristanX (Mark), you should know him in person too.

Hi there and welcome, fellow 360 brother. How's the network connectivity over Live? PSN'ers are having a bad time, mostly with international matches, even to JP/HK. But I'm doing fine with 4 to 5/5 network bars with local friends - as others mostly do. Most of us are on Streamyx so when it's laggy/down we just give up and carry on with our own lives or rant about it here haha. And with the PC version coming out soon this year hopefully it will bridge the online gap between PS3 and 360! Worse to worse I will play Ryu and Ken as wireframe stickmen with the lowest settings on my old AGP, Athlon64 rig

Hey thanks, just felt I should update you guys. Just go to any arcades and you can see SF/KOF being played by people of all walks of life. I heard the arcade scene in KK is still lively. Sorry to hear about your SE, we all hope to get the parts soon too.

Haha - AI rocks man.

---

Added on June 4, 2009, 4:04 pmI do not know any places around your area, but you can try these 3, in order of closeness to your location:

1) Djinn (his forum nick): shop Gamers Hideout at Cineleisure
2) sce (his forum nick): shop at S&M Shopping Arcade, near Petaling Street
3) Freddy, 012-6-five-five-0536 : shop Games Hypermart at Sg Wang Plaza

This post has been edited by rawfish: Jun 4 2009, 04:04 PM

Hi phyurix, sorry I couldn't make it - by the time I free'd myself in the evening Freddy said you left already. On the second day I was very free but I only heard the news of a meetup a little bit too late!

As mike said, hope blossoms and blossoms and air ticket prices get cheaper and cheaper

Checkout my sig, if you have sigs disabled I'm selling my last one for RM800. It's for the PS3, available at hand, and a virgin - untouched for the very first time

ahtung79: congrats on your HRAP3. The joystick gate is square and maybe you need to get used to it? The diagonal corners really help when doing dragon punch moves, works well when playing charge characters, and overall very good to 'lock' towards that direction you want e.g. jumping up or jumping forward. I tried octagonal gate sticks before and sometimes I will accidentally jump the wrong direction if my stick is not straight on the table. If you can't perform fireball motions well then I guess you're grinding too hard against the sides? I prefer square over octagonal.

I think an authentic Taito Viewlix SF4 cabinet costs US15,000 to 20,000. If I am not mistaken you need a commercial arcade operator license (not cheap) to bring it in, as with anything with a coin-slot as it will be categorized as amusement/gaming equiptment meant for profit. Even if you declare it for personal use you have to go through all the Kastam/Sirim/KDN paperwork and dunno-what-else 'fees' to get it in - not worth the trouble and money.

As mentioned by others, the console version is much better. The arcade has lesser characters and what if SF4 Dash (Champion Edition) comes out? And for a cheaper deal you can get a souped-up setup with x2 Mad Catz TE sticks, the new LED TVs, and sound system with spare change to add. You can always commission a carpenter to fit it all in a custom cabinet and all that jazz.

boogalogist: i tried adding you but your psn friend list is full... just like poongko's (efzzang)

This post has been edited by rawfish: Jun 9 2009, 11:06 AM

You are definitely referring to the SE. If it's really a TE, message me in private and I'll clean up the shop

Thanks guys, but the HRAP3's sold already. Only TE left.

You mean RAP3 people