« The Last Minute Arcade Stick Buying Guide Day Four Part One: Etokki »

EVO is in a couple of weeks and you registered for your games of choices. There is a problem! Maybe you play on Xbox 360 but EVO is a PlayStation 3-specified event. Maybe your PlayStation 3 stick is broken. Maybe you don't have a stick and want to get one before the big event or for other future meetups. Well here is a last minute guide on various sticks available in the market today. You guys can check out Monday's edition on Mad Catz, Tuesday for Hori and Wednesday for Qanba/Eightarc. As part one of a double header, this will be based on Etokki and the site's own arcade stick.

Originally, I had this part dedicated to not only to Etokki but to various other independent groups throughout the world that make their own sticks but due to their services catered to their region, I had to omit them. I also wanted to include the OG American company MAS Systems but their activity have been rare so they will not be included in this edition of the guide or in future iterations unfortunately.

I am sure some of you guys heard of the Ryu player Laugh from South Korea right? Ryan "Laugh" Ahn also owns his own small business website Etokki. The site is a portal for international users interested in getting arcade stick levers and buttons from Korea.

Etokki Omni (Multi-console - Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC. Sanwa and Korean versions)

To help expand the site, Laugh introduced his own stick titled the Omni. If you look at it, it recalls the Virtua Stick High Grade but with a new modernized take. Buttons such as home, start and select are now in the front instead of the top panel that's on a modified Taito Vewlix layout with the stick lever and buttons distanced from each other to prevent hands interrupting each other. Another addition is the customization to allow Japanese or Korean stick levers be used in the stick with ease (with help from a special plexi panel). Didn't I mention this stick is multi-console compatible with Joytron's Paewang Revolution? Just by holding the turbo button when plugging the stick in, it will be compatible and will remember what setting it was next time! All in a full metal case with either Sanwa buttons and a lever or a Korean Myoungshin Fanta lever and Crown buttons.

During NorCal Regionals 10, I approached Laugh and tried out his copy. Despite being the Korean version, it felt amazing. I can even go far as saying it felt like a beast. Everything feels right about this stick. The weight of the metal enclosure is right on the spot and the dimensions are perfectly sized. There isnt a cable compartment but it ain't a significant issue. I tried the stick on Street Fighter X Tekken, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Ver. 2012 and Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown and was able to do my inputs fine like if I was using a Japanese type. The Korean lever had circular ends as opposed to square gates but it didn't seem to make much difference once you actually play unlike my experience with octagonal and square gates on Japanese levers. If you ever want to try something different, the stick is a good alternative. If you play Tekken, the Korean edition can be good to make more efficient dash motions.

Overall thoughts

Both the Sanwa and Korean versions of the Omni are priced at $200 USD, a bit more than an Eightarc or a Qanba. Being multi-console with good customization in a very well made case, the Omni is worth it. With my limited time with the stick, it was heaven and I hope it would be the same to you guys if you make the choice to get it.

Stay tuned as I will be posting part two of the day four double header which is all about custom sticks!

You can find me procrastinating in the day four double header guide and talking about my EVO plans on my Twitter @ThePhantomnaut!