My first impressions after playing on my PDP Mortal Kombat Fightstick? Comfortable to play on your lap or on a table. Just the right height and just the right angle either way you choose to play. Unlike MadCatz TE/SE fighsticks, the cable is separate so you can easily tuck it inside the fightstick’s storage compartment. Yes, the Tournament Edition have a storage compartment too, but most players end up wrapping their cords around it for easier and faster access when at tournaments. The memory foam on the bottom is nice and the felt like material helps keep the stick from slipping off your lap. When set on a table, the plastic t-molding keeps it from slipping of and moving around.

About the only complaint I have is the buttons and joystick. Claimed to be Suzo Happ parts, they feel kind of cheap. The buttons felt very springy and the joystick loose. Knowing that these parts can be replaced, I decided that I needed to replace them with Suzo Happ competition pushbuttons and a competition joystick with a heavy spring installed. I already had spare parts in boxes out in the garage so when I got home after participating in an MK tourney and losing in the grand finals, I went straight to work.

To get started, you’ll need the following:

1) Phillip screwdriver.
2) Pushbutton wrench. Which you can order from Suzo Happ This will be A LOT easier than using an adjustable wrench when removing and installing the pushbuttons.
3) Your preferred parts that you would like to use instead of the stock PDP’s.
4) A working area and time.

Parts:

Okay, lets get started!

First thing you want to do is open up your fightstick. Pretty easy so far, right? Now you’ll notice a clear plastic cover over the components. We’re going to remove this cover by unscrewing all (19) screws.

It is best to place the screws in a bowl or some other object that you will not lose them. I left them inside the stick enclosure.

Now find a place to set aside the cover. Here, I chose to use it as a dust cover for one of my TEs.

Here are a few close up shots of the PDP stock parts inside your fightstick.

There is no question that the quality of Happ parts has declined over the years. I’m not 100% sure if this joystick was actually manufactured by Suzo Happ themselves, but I am currently looking into it and will be trying to get a hold of PDP’s Senior Product Manager Gerry Block. I have never seen that type of joystick (the one used for PDP’s FightStick) at Happs, so I’m curious as to what type of joystick is used. At first I thought it was a super or ultimate, but it looks like a new version of Happs competition joystick. Pictured below are comparison pictures for you to be the judge.

You see the differences? No more Cherry microswitches, they are using cheap screws, cheap spring (which explains why the joystick is so loose), and what appears to be a new type of z-stop (that T-looking plastic piece that sits on top of the spring, assisting in the control of the joystick. The joytstick’s staff itself is made of a different metal, and lastly the actuator and e-clip.

Displayed here are a) PDP stock joystick spring, b) Happ stock joystick spring, and c) Happ heavy joystick spring. The spring used in the PDP’s fighstick is flimsy, but gets the job done. I just prefer a stiffer stick for better control/accuracy.

Continuing… Simply start removing the stock pushbuttons, and replace them with the desired pushbuttons you wish to use.

The next step isn’t really necessary, but if you want a stiffer joystick for better control, you can replace the actuator, joystick spring, joystick shaft, and even the microswitches and ms screws! I pretty much replaced everything except for the hub, which I couldn’t get to due to the plexi and t-molding. I didn’t want to tear up and destroy the t-molding, so I let it be and figured using the hub will not hurt. About the only thing that hasn’t changed over at Suzo Happ.

The end results will look something like this, however you may choose to use a different color scheme. I’m waiting for a yellow joystick shaft to come in, but until then…

As you can see, our website is now up, but are a bit slow on the updating.  If you would like to help with writing articles, reporting tournaments you’ve attended, have pictures and videos taken of the KTB in action.  Send an email to ktownbrawlers@gmail.com

Requirements: Must be able to read… yes, you must be able to proof-read your work,  have great grammar and punctuation, and be interesting.  Did I mention being able to read?  Oh, and most importantly… KNOW HOW TO WRITE!   Let’s see what type of candidates we get.

-Rotendo