i took advantage of the new mk5.org search feature to find this old post i made.

seeing as how a lot of new people are checking out this site i thought they might be interested in this, because for me, if thers no stick, it just ain't MK.

i went to EB and picked up the SHADOWBLADE aracde stick for ps2..$19.99 a good god damn deal. the thing is HEAVY, made of all steel (but plastic buttons) and an MK style stick, not that crappy ball on the end.
and is big, real big, fits nicely on your lap when yer laid back on the couch.

i highly recomend them if your a true arcade warrior like me and refuse to degrade the game with a pad.

in fact this a re-release of the same stick i saw a year ago for ..get this.. $49.99! when i saw the price i cleaned em out, and bought the only 3 they had left!

got the $3.00 warenty on it too fo if they do ever stop working i can go and have them give me a new one!

the buttons are set up arcade style ...all 8 lined up in rows of 2, they are big just like the stick...i set mine up old school MK style best i could...

o o o o
o o o o

stance...1...special...3
(empty)...2... block ...4

the game wont alow L2 to be programmed for some reason,

i carved I, II, III, IV in the apropriate buttons to keep my fingers in place, like brail.

the stick can be set for analog use although MKDA has no anlog control, and it of course has rapid fire which can allow you to cheat in test your might (if you really want to)

it also can be programmed for macro i.e. making a fire ball one button..say the empty L2, although i have no use for it as i think that cheapens the game.

i havnt had any trouble with it, i spilled a little jack daniel's hard cola on the IV button, and it would stick on me(DOH), but i sprayed it with that air in a can stuff you use to clean a keyboard with and like magic it works like new again:)
a friend of mine had his L1 button go wacky, but using the warranty he quickly swapped it for a new stick.

not to bash the other systems, i own all but xbox...(and i may get one yet) but i actually looked into the control issue before i picked the PS2 version of MKDA. i knew this stick was being re-released for ps2 and that was all i needed to know....
but i have heard that you can buy an adapter for ps2/xbox controlers that makes it so you can use your controller on either system. not sure about the cube situation.

p.s. as big and heavy as it is, if i lose to a friend i can pick it up and beat him with it!
EDIT----------------------- the Shadowblade is made by Interact in case you go looking for it. i always forget to tell people that.