Why do people like MAS systems?

Stuffmonger

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I will start off saying that before this experience I have never used a MAS system joystick or supergun. I had also never opened one up before. I have, however made a couple joysticks for arcade and game console use prior to this job.

I was asked by another arcade collector to look at one of his MAS joysticks in the past couple of weeks. The joystick had a bad switch. I figured I'd fix it up for him since it would be a simple switch swap job. After opening it up (for the supergun), I noticed the tiny 26-28 gauge wire. I have never used anything smaller than 22 in anything I've made simply because it's really easy to break anything smaller, and you can't strip smaller then 22 with a regular stripper. So, after gawking at the tiny wire, I see the ground is uninsulated solid wire. Ok, that isn't terrible, but it's still too small. Everything is soldered and there was no slack in most of the wiring. I ended up putting quick disconnects on all joystick switches (so the guy could change them out easily in the future), and replaced the ground with beefier wire.

Ok. That one was done. So, he brought me 4 more to change to QD's and better ground. So, I did, and noticed all of them were the same with the tiny wire, and one of them (for the 360) had everything held in place with packing tape. One of the 4, he told me had the same problem as the first one (for neo AES). It wouldn't go left. So, I changed out the switch again. I also noticed the connector was glued together instead of using the appropriate casing, but didn't think much of it except that it looked like junk. Lo, and behold, he tells me that it still has the problem. So, I unscrew the connector housing, and notice the wire twists freely in the shell (not a good sign). After taking the screws out, the casing was still held together by a bunch of glue that held the connector on the front of the casing. So, I pried the casing a bit so I could look inside. The clamp to hold the wire in place in the connector shell falls out (apparently, it was never clamped on), and I see a bunch of cut wires and at least one broken wire in there. I couldn't get the whole casing off since there was a big glob of glue holding onto the wires as well (probably leaked back from the front).

So, there's my rant. I don't really understand how this company sold so many and had as good a reputation as it has had with the cheap quality of materials used. Sure, they look pretty, but the least they could have done was use a proper connector casing on their joystick instead of gluing on a smaller one since it wouldn't fit.
 
MAS was really desired back in the early 90's. I plunked down for a MAS superstick back then. The dude lived down in Laguna hills. might still be there...real nice guy, but I can't remember his name, lol. His operation was right out of his townhouse. Sounds like his quality may have slipped. I wonder if its still made by the same guy after all this time, or if he sold off the name?

On a side note, nice to see ICB/zeke's peak in your wanted sig, how the heck did that happen? :)

Tom
 
MAS was really desired back in the early 90's

+1. On top of their superguns, their sticks were...at one point...very desirable in some of the fighting game scenes. Especially the 90's into early 2K's (still see them being used by a few players, but other sticks have taken over now days). Having to open those suckers up to swap wires/components was a constant complaint.
 
+1. On top of their superguns, their sticks were...at one point...very desirable in some of the fighting game scenes. Especially the 90's into early 2K's (still see them being used by a few players, but other sticks have taken over now days). Having to open those suckers up to swap wires/components was a constant complaint.

Yeah, at one point, They were ace.
Then DIY'ers came out with better superguns and better component encoders. MAS just kept putting out the same stuff (with a few slight changes).

Their sticks remained about the best you could get (unless you count Neo Geo Home sticks) until the stick builders over at shorkuken started upping their game with custom graphics, sleeker designs and real hardwoods.

I still have a MAS 8 button stick that used to have a Playstaion/Saturn PCB in it. I rewired it for supergun.

Not a bad stick, I have been meaning to wire it for 360 or PS3. But I haven't gotten around to it.
 
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I find this thread somewhat amusing, as i was the person who created the "Championship Joystick", which was VERY successful back in 1992-1993, when the Street Fighter 2 craze was at it's peak. it was a Super Nintendo specific controller, and was sold through Electonics Boutique (later EB Games and then named Gamestop), Babbage's and other retailers.

Electronic Gaming Monthly named is as "Best SNES Joystick" in their 1992 holiday buyer's guide. I am quite confident that even though we sold it for a brief period of time (in comparison), i am quite certain that we sold a lot more of them than "MAS" has sold over however many years they have been around. We used ALL Happ arcade components, a nice thick ABS housing (with a metal plate in the based for added weight and balance), large guage wiring and good quality connectors. Brings back lots of memories reading people talk about someone else making similar products...
 
I actually a prefer a plastic abs pactec panel enclosure with sanwa buttons and sticks.
 
I find this thread somewhat amusing, as i was the person who created the "Championship Joystick", which was VERY successful back in 1992-1993, when the Street Fighter 2 craze was at it's peak. it was a Super Nintendo specific controller, and was sold through Electonics Boutique (later EB Games and then named Gamestop), Babbage's and other retailers.

Electronic Gaming Monthly named is as "Best SNES Joystick" in their 1992 holiday buyer's guide. I am quite confident that even though we sold it for a brief period of time (in comparison), i am quite certain that we sold a lot more of them than "MAS" has sold over however many years they have been around. We used ALL Happ arcade components, a nice thick ABS housing (with a metal plate in the based for added weight and balance), large guage wiring and good quality connectors. Brings back lots of memories reading people talk about someone else making similar products...

I built my own sticks weeks before SNES SF2 was released in the US. I was ready to hit the ground running. I used Particle Board and plywood. It didn't slide around like ABS or flip over when held in your lap for being top heavy.

I think it was one of the very first home built joysticks.

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Attached is the FIRST style advertisement that we had placed in EGM. The "Later" style ad was a bit more professional looking, as we worked with an ad agency to make one with more "bling". I suppose that I should scan an old magazine, so that I will have an electronic copy for future use...
 

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I find this thread somewhat amusing, as i was the person who created the "Championship Joystick", which was VERY successful back in 1992-1993, when the Street Fighter 2 craze was at it's peak. it was a Super Nintendo specific controller, and was sold through Electonics Boutique (later EB Games and then named Gamestop), Babbage's and other retailers.

Electronic Gaming Monthly named is as "Best SNES Joystick" in their 1992 holiday buyer's guide. I am quite confident that even though we sold it for a brief period of time (in comparison), i am quite certain that we sold a lot more of them than "MAS" has sold over however many years they have been around. We used ALL Happ arcade components, a nice thick ABS housing (with a metal plate in the based for added weight and balance), large guage wiring and good quality connectors. Brings back lots of memories reading people talk about someone else making similar products...

C&L Controls, correct? I loved that stick, wish I never had gotten rid of it.
 
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