This is probably my most requested walk-through articles on how to upgrade a Madcatz Standard Fight Stick that I originally wrote for Pineconeattack back on 08.06.2009. I hope this article will still be useful to those still modify and upgrading your fightsticks. I will keep it up here for archival purpose.
--Nathan
The fighting craze is back in an upturn for the mainstream but you can take advantage of this trend by picking up some of the best joysticks out for the North American market which is the Madcatz Tournament Edition fight joystick with 100% Sanwa arcade joystick and buttons. Of course such awesomeness does come at a hefty price tag of $150.
The problem is that not everyone can justify the hefty high price tag for an expensive joystick to play Street Fighter IV, Blazblue or King of Fighter XII so many have opted to pick up the cheaper Madcatz Standard Fight Stick. Good news! This guide will show you how to get your cheaper standard fight stick up to arcade standards by upgrading the components yourself, which can save you some money or at very least make it so you don’t have to come up with $150 immediately.
Of the cheaper joysticks at are readily available in your retail chains, you basically have a choice between the Hori EX2 and the Madcatz standard fight stick. I’ve already shown you how to replace the buttons and joystick on your Hori EX2 in past
walkthroughs with
Sanwa parts and I even shown you how easy the Madcatz fight stick can be upgraded with Sanwa joysticks and buttons in
my video, but now I would like to kick up notch, so to speak, by really making this Fight Stick into something truly original and bad ass by staining the case, adding custom artwork, installing Seimitsu joystick and adding art in your Seimitsu buttons. By replacing the stock joystick you will also avoid the headaches with substandard suicidal Madcatz quality parts.
The one thing that I freaking LOVE about the Standard Madcatz Fight Stick is that it’s so damn easy to modify. You do NOT need to have any soldering skills to replace the joystick or push buttons to improve the Madcatz Fight Stick’s reliability and performance. A lot of forward thinking was used to design this stick and you can get it up to speed with the expensive $150 Tournament stick big brother by replacing the buttons and joystick with minimal effort or go hog wild and customize it to your heart’s content.
This walk through will show you step-by-step on how to disassemble the standard Madcatz Fight Stick and get it ready for staining as well as applying custom joystick art, walking you through adding art work in your Seimitsu push buttons and the little quirks on getting a Seimistu joystick to work with the existing wiring setup. Please understand that my goal in this how-to walk through is to provide you with plenty of pictures with a “by the hand” approach to present the most complete and comprehensive guide so anyone from beginners to the experts can mod their own joystick with ease.
WARNING:
Attempt at your own risk!
DO NOT ATTEMPT unless you have some technical skills and can follow instructions. This walk through is as simplified as I can make it so if none of my instructions makes any sense then please DO NOT ATTEMPT.
This project will void your warranty.
[Pineconeattack.com (Outdated References) will not take any responsibility if you kill your joystick.]