在家用游戏机(consoles)接管世界之前，街机是提供最前沿游戏体验的地方。要玩这些投币式系统，您无需使用游戏手柄。相反，街机摇杆是首选的控制设计。今天，您可以通过购买USB(USB)街机棒在自己的家中拥有相同的街机控制器体验。
什么是 USB 街机棒？
虽然有一些变化，但现代街机摇杆的基本布局大致相同。
有棍子本身，它由一根末端有一个球的杆组成。虽然存在不同的握球方式，但最常见的是在中指和无名指的根部之间握球，手掌朝上。
USB街机棒上的按钮很大，通常以两排四排的形式排列。你的四个手指（食指到小指）可以放在任一排上并在它们之间切换。
可能会出现其他按钮，例如Start或Select，但摇杆和八按钮布局是产品设计的核心。
有些游戏使用街机摇杆(Arcade Stick)会更好(Games Are Just Better)
大多数人购买街机摇杆的主要原因是玩 2D 格斗游戏。例子包括街头霸王(Street Fighter)系列和BlazBlue特许经营权。虽然这些游戏无疑可以使用标准游戏手柄玩，但任何想要进行竞争的人最终都会转向街机摇杆。这是这些棒的日常使用，它们通常被称为“街机格斗棒”，但当然，您可以将街机棒用于任何游戏类型。
还有一个蓬勃发展的街机模拟社区，尤其是在 PC 上。可以使用MAME等(MAME)街机模拟器(arcade emulator)应用程序来播放原始街机ROM(ROMs)。街机棒也可用于DIY家用街机柜、改造旧电脑或Raspberry Pi等设备。即使您对仿真不感兴趣，这也是复古游戏发行的黄金时代，因此您可以在每个中央控制台上找到街机系列。
街机棒设计
虽然有这样的棒的基本布局，但不同的制造商使用不同的设计。有些是为了像游戏手柄一样在沙发上玩。其他用于桌面，玩家站立。您的球杆可能会被加重以使其在激烈的比赛中保持稳定，或者它可能很轻且易于运输。该类别中有许多变化，因此值得考虑您想如何以及在哪里玩。
2 人街机摇杆
大多数玩家可能希望自己玩，但如果您想要本地 2 人街机体验（或者您想构建 2 人街机柜），那么值得一提的是您可以购买 2 人街机摇杆。这些的主要优势是两个玩家都使用完全相同的球杆，因此对任何人都没有不公平的优势。它也比购买两个单独的棍子便宜一点。
质量很重要！
街机摇杆社区中总是存在关于哪种摇杆最好的争论，但每个人都可以同意的一件事是组件质量很重要。你会用摇杆和按钮非常暴力，所以里面的开关能经受住激烈游戏的磨损是至关重要的。
在街机摇杆中，三和(Sanwa)制造的组件被认为是黄金标准，使用真正的三和(Sanwa)零件的摇杆价格更高。但是，这并不意味着其他品牌的零件也不能很好！
无线街机摇杆怎么样？
您可以选择使用无线街机摇杆而不是有线USB型号。对于大多数休闲玩家来说，这应该没问题，但如果您有竞争的愿望，那么蓝牙(Bluetooth)可能发生的额外延迟可能是个问题。在格斗游戏中，玩家计算单个动画帧，有线控制器可能意味着胜利和失败之间的差异。而且，你也不用担心电池在关键时刻没电了！
你可以买到很棒的街机棒
既然我们都在同一个页面上讨论街机摇杆以及它们为何如此令人难以置信，让我们看一些您可能会考虑的好例子。
Mad Catz的控制器产品历史有些复杂。有些受到高度评价，有些则雄心勃勃。但是，没有人可以否认它们一直是控制器市场中必不可少的存在。这款“The Authentic Ego”控制器通过在摇杆和按钮中提供“锦标赛级” Sanwa组件开始强大。(Sanwa)不错，考虑到有竞争力的价格。但是，由于它具有涡轮增压功能，因此您可能不会被允许使用它参加任何实际比赛。
您可以在桌子或膝盖上使用此棒，因为它有金属底座和防滑泡沫。贴花可以定制，并具有漂亮的锁定功能，所以当事情变得疯狂时，您不会不小心按下暂停按钮。再加上它与游戏机和 PC 的广泛兼容性，我们拥有适合几乎所有人的强大全能摇杆。
虽然这个小棒作为Switch控制器正式销售，但它也适用于 PC。因此，在基于 PC 的模拟器或本地街机风格的 PC 游戏中使用它应该不会有任何问题。至于Switch，它拥有大量街机游戏端口，因此您可以使用这款小巧的摇杆玩游戏。
Mini最好的部分是你可以把它扔进包里随身携带。当您不需要它时，也很容易将它藏在某个地方。大多数街机摇杆都很大，所以如果空间是一个问题，迷你(Mini)可能是答案。
Qanba以其高端摇杆而闻名，例如Qanba Dragon，但它们也制作了平均预算的街机摇杆。索尼(Sony)授权这款无人机(Drone)，因此它可以与Playstation 4和 3 以及 PC 一起使用。
虽然无人机(Drone)不像HORI Mini那样紧凑，但它专为运输而设计。例如，它有一个方便的USB线隔层，这样您就可以避免在包中缠结。
尽管相对紧凑，但操纵杆和按钮本身是全尺寸的。还有一个强制性的锁定按钮，以防止在您玩游戏时意外按下系统按钮。在一个很好的接触中，Qanba将(Qanba)Drone布局隔开，以完全符合日本街机的标准，以增加一些不错的真实性。
第二轮。斗争！
无论您是想掌握街头霸王(Street Fighter)，还是只想以正确的方式重温那些NEOGEO经典，街机摇杆都是最好的方法。这就像我们都如此深情地记得的街机时代一样好，减去陈旧的啤酒气味、香烟烟雾和对代币的需求。
What Is a USB Arcade Stick and Why They’re Awesome
Before home consoles took over the world, arcades were the place to be for the most cutting-edge gaming experience. To play these coin-operated systems, you didn’t use a gamepad. Instead, the arcade stick was the control design of choice. Today, you can have that same arcade controller experience in your own home by buying a USB arcade stick.
What Is a USB Arcade Stick?
While there is some variation, modern arcade sticks have roughly the same basic layout.
There’s the stick itself, which consists of a rod with a ball at the end. While different grip styles exist, the most common is to grip the ball between the base of the middle- and ring- finger, palm-up.
The buttons on a USB arcade stick are large and usually laid out in two rows of four. Your four fingers (index to pinkie) can rest on either row and switch between them.
Additional buttons, such as Start or Select, may be present, but the stick and eight-button layout are at the core of the product’s design.
Some Games Are Just Better With an Arcade Stick
The main reason most people buy arcade sticks is to play 2D fighting games. Examples include the Street Fighter series and the BlazBlue franchise. While these games are undoubtedly playable using a standard gamepad, anyone who wants to play competitively eventually moves to an arcade stick. This is such an everyday use of these sticks that they are often called “arcade fight sticks,” but of course, you can use arcade sticks for any game type.
There’s also a thriving arcade emulation community, especially on PCs. It’s possible to use an arcade emulator application such as MAME to play original arcade ROMs. Arcade sticks can also be used for DIY home arcade cabinets, on repurposed old computers, or devices like the Raspberry Pi. Even if you aren’t interested in emulation, this is the golden age of retro game releases so that you can find arcade collections on every central console.
Arcade Stick Designs
Although there’s a basic layout for sticks like these, different manufacturers use different designs. Some are meant to be played from the couch like a gamepad. Others are intended for tabletops, with the player standing up. Your stick may be weighted to make it stable under heavy play, or it could be light and easily transportable. There are many variations within the category, so it’s worth thinking about how and where you want to play.
2-Player Arcade Sticks
Most gamers are likely looking to play by themselves, but if you want a local 2-player arcade experience (or you want to build a 2-player arcade cabinet), then it’s worth mentioning that you can buy 2-player arcade sticks. The main advantage with these is that both players are using precisely the same sticks, so there’s no unfair advantage for anyone. It also works out a little cheaper than buying two separate sticks.
Quality Matters!
There’s always a debate within the arcade stick community about which sticks are the best, but one thing that everyone can agree on is that component quality matters. You’re going to be pretty violent with the stick and buttons, so it’s critical that the switches inside stand up to the wear and tear of intense play.
In arcade sticks, components made by Sanwa are considered the gold standard, and sticks that use genuine Sanwa parts command a higher price. However, that doesn’t mean that parts from other brands can’t be great as well!
What About Wireless Arcade Sticks?
You have the option of using a wireless arcade stick rather than a wired USB model. For most casual players, this should be fine, but if you have aspirations to play competitively, then the additional latency that can happen with Bluetooth could be a problem. In fighting games, where players count individual animation frames, a wired controller could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Also, you don’t have to worry about the battery dying at a crucial moment!
Great Arcade Sticks You Can Buy
Now that we’re all on the same page about arcade sticks and why they’re so incredible, let’s look at a few good examples you might consider.
Mad Catz has a somewhat mixed history with their controller products. Some are highly-regarded, and others were ambitious flops. However, no one can deny that they’ve always been an essential presence in the controller market. This “The Authentic Ego” controller starts strong by offering “Tournament-grade” Sanwa components in both the stick and buttons. Not bad, considering the competitive price. However, since this has a turbo-fire function, you probably won’t be allowed to play in any actual tournaments with it.
You can use this stick on a desk or your lap since it has a metal base and non-slip foam. The decal can be customized and has a nifty lock function, so you don’t accidentally hit the pause button when things get frantic. Add to that its broad compatibility with consoles and PC, and we have a tremendous all-around stick suitable for almost everyone.
Although this little stick is officially marketed as a Switch controller, it works with PCs as well. So you should have no trouble using it with PC-based emulators or native arcade-style PC games. As for the Switch, it’s home to a large number of arcade game ports, so you’ll have no shortage of games to play with this compact stick.
The best part of the Mini is that you can throw it in a bag and take it with you. It’s also easy to just tuck it away somewhere when you don’t need it. Most arcade sticks are massive, so the Mini might be the answer if space is a concern.
Qanba is known for its high-end sticks, such as the Qanba Dragon, but they also make a mean budget arcade stick as well. Sony licenses this Drone, so it works with the Playstation 4 and 3 and PCs.
While the Drone is not as compact as the HORI Mini, it’s designed for transport. For example, it has a handy compartment for the USB cable so that you can avoid tangles in your bag.
Despite being relatively compact, the stick and buttons themselves are full-size. There’s also the obligatory lock button to prevent accidental presses of the system buttons as you play. In a nice touch, Qanba has spaced the Drone layout to exactly match the standard for Japanese arcades to add some nice authenticity.
Round Two. Fight!
Whether you’re all about mastering Street Fighter or you just want to relive those NEOGEO classics the right way, an arcade stick is the best way to do it. It’s just as good as the arcade days we all so fondly remember, minus the stale beer smell, cigarette smoke, and the need for tokens.
