Qanba Q4 Q4RAF Black PS3 & Xbox 360 & PC Joystick (Fightstick)

UPDATE: I've been using this stick now for 4 years, through dozens of gaming tournaments. Not one single problem. Now I'm swapping out the buttons, which is very easy. Best stick ever.I recently bought this as an upgrade/replacement to my Qanba Q1. After reading dozens of review on this and comparable sticks, and getting recommendations from my hardcore gamer colleagues, I decided to continue my loyalty to the Qanba brand. My Q1 was my first "real" stick, and it was fantastic throughout the various tournaments and gameplay it experienced. I abused the stick and buttons with fighting games, shmups, and button smashers, and the Q1 never failed me.The first noticeable difference between the Q4 is the weight. The Q1 was so light, you really did have to use the built-in clamps to secure it to a table/desk for decent gameplay. The Q4 is much heavier, but that's a huge plus. For playing on a surface, it has 4 good-sized rubber feet, which keep it very secure, thanks to the extra weight. For playing holding in your lap, the felt bottom keeps it from slipping or sliding while playing. It's a perfect combination of utility and function.The stick itself and buttons are Sanwa, the arcade standard, and are an improvement over the Q1. I never really had complaints about the Q1 stock buttons, and while I always heard great things about Sanwa hardware, I doubted how much difference it would really make. I tried a run at Track and Field for MAME, and blew away my previous personal best at the 100m Dash. There really is a difference in having a stick with quality buttons, and it took one game for me to see how noticeable the difference really is. For the price, this is a no-brainer. I'm sure there are other fight sticks out there within this general price range, with equitable performance, but for the money, I couldn't be happier with this purchase and this product. I'm using it for PC, and it was literally Plug and Play.On a last side-note, the packaging is just awesome. The box is presented elegantly, with embossed, foil symbols, with fantastic artwork on the inside. The stick was very well protected by plastic wrap and well-packed foam outerwrap. Very satisfied so far.

I've owned three fight sticks up to this point, and this is by far the best one. The parts are all made by Sanwa, who are the gold standard in arcade parts. I also own a MadCatz stick, and I've modified it with Sanwa parts. You really can't do much better.The high point for the stick is the unbelievably solid construction. It's got an excellent heft to it, and with the rubber feet and the felt bottom, it's not going to go anywhere once you set it down. Being compatible with all three platforms is also a huge plus. Finally, there's a little compartment on the side of the stick that you can stash the cord inside of. It doesn't sound like a mind-blowing design, but it's super convenient when you're carting the thing around between friends' houses and tournaments and such.This is a fantastic product, and if you're in any way serious about fighting games it's definitely worth considering the purchase.

Moneys WELL spent. I owned a Madcatz stick for the longest time, Mod it etc, but it finally gave out. Saw Qanba Ad during EVO 2015 so I said 'why not." Look at all their sticks and this one just reached out to me. Everything is solid. The stick is not too loose or tight. Buttons are very sensitive. Also just pluged it into my computer, and played away.If you do not have this stick. You're missing out.Only thing that bugs me was in the description it said "Retractable carrying handle, USB cord compartment" I thought WOW the Cord is retractable, but it not.Also the Box they ship the stick in says "Professional Fighting Joystick" right on the outside. Lucky I have good neighbors, but I recommend Qanba ship this stick in a Amazon box or something less welcome to strangers.But still 5 Stars

I currently own a Madcatz TE-S (dual modded with a Phreakmods Cerberus board) and was looking to pick up a second arcade stick just to have a backup/if a friend comes over and after searching around, I was recommended the Qanba Q4RAF.After I received it in the mail, I noticed that the Q4 is a few inches wider across than the TE-S and definitely felt a lot more hefty in weight. This is something that definitely suited my preference as the larger size/weight, along with the base of the stick which is entirely covered by a felt material, made it feel like that this stick wasn't going anywhere when I played with it on my lap.The main selling point of the Q4 is the dual mod already built into the stick, which makes this arcade stick one of the only ones out there ready to play out of the box on an XBox 360, Playstation 3, or PC. You can buy a Madcatz TE and a dual modded board for $140-$160 and do it yourself (WARNING: Keep in mind, modding the stick voids the warranty and some basic knowledge of wiring/soldering may be needed), or pay $200+ to have it installed by any number of reputable modders out there, but most would benefit from the peace of mind of the Q4 at $170.One big underrated feature is the large carry handle located at the top of the arcade stick which makes traveling with it a breeze. This feature may not benefit you if you plan to keep your stick sitting at home, but for tournament players/local casuals/and players who want to take their arcade stick over to a buddy's place for some matches, the handle is really convenient.All the components in the Q4 are the same genuine Sanwa parts you can find in the Japanese arcade machines. For people who may not be too familiar for what this means, the quality of the buttons and the joystick you find in cheaper arcade sticks are much different than the pricier sticks. You get what you pay for essentially. Pretty much every serious fighting game player will either have Sanwa or Seimitsu brand components in their sticks for a reason. The higher quality buttons and sticks just feel more responsive and are built to last through the rigorous button mashing.(Note: I've seen older reviews of the Q4 that have said the Start button on the face of the Q4 isn't a Sanwa button, but the Q4 I received definitely feels like a Sanwa. I suppose they might have updated it for the latest sticks.)And on the topic of the Start button, yes, it's located on the front panel of the stick right next to your main 8 buttons. For some it's a deal breaker or an inconvenience. I know personally that in the first 5 hours or so of playing with my Q4, I hit the start button twice, which would be an automatic DQ or match loss in competitive play. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it just yet, maybe I just need to get used to playing with it. For the more disciplined players, this may not be an issue. One thing I may suggest down the line if it continues to be a problem, is to open up the stick (I believe Qanba has a 90 day warranty) and to just disconnect the start button which is simple and easy.The biggest comparison the Q4 gets is to the Eightarc Fusion. Eightarc's products are made by Qanba so they're virtually the same stick with just a few minor differences. The Eightarc doesn't have the Start button located next to the 8 button layout, doesn't have a carry handle, different artwork, and is around $30 more than the Q4. While personally I do like the appearance of the Eightarc slightly better than the Q4, along with the Start button not being directly to the right of the buttons, the convenience of the carry handle as well as the cheaper pricetag of the Q4 sealed the deal.If you're interested in stepping up your game and buying your first stick or just looking to add another one like I was, I highly recommend the Q4. It's a great investment due to the dual modding pre built in which is great for people who play in tourneys (since what console they use for the games always change) or if your buddy has an XBox 360 but you have a PS3.

Work's with my PC!