TE stick is what they're all using but it's expensive.

I still use the kb, it's not so bad, just can't do giefs ultra n' shit.

You will want a proper fighting stick, if you buy it just for SF4. The madcatz sticks works for PC+the console it is target for and the Tournament edition stick that Liam mentioned is supposed to be one of the best sticks you can get. The regular ones are supposed to be good as well. Stay away from the xbox 360 controller, which has a terrible D-Pad (only flaw in that controller IMO).

Just bought myself the TE stick last week for my 360. It's pretty bad ass. However I have had some problems with losing button inputs. Sometimes all of a sudden all my kick buttons go out and I have to unplug and replug the stick back into the console. The TE (and SE stick) seem to have a lot of button issues. There are many threads about it. It hasn't been acting up on me lately though so hopefully I don't see the issue again. Kinda sad when you know that you've paid $100+ for something that seems to have a major issue. Other than that I would say the stick is well worth it. You can use it for other fighting games, shmups, and old school arcade games. In the end I plan to get a lot of use out of it.

Why don't you return it?

Hasn't been acting up lately so I'll just play it out at this point. Some people think it might have to do with the cable. The advice is to stretch it out after removing it from the storage compartment. Don't let it stay twisted when playing.

Its a problem I am getting too and so do many other people (check SRK).Usually the fierce kick (RT) button.

Bit pissed because I thought that this was a problem with the SE, and these problems did not exist with the TE, they do and plenty of people on SRK are reporting the same.

Its not really bad enough to warrant not buying the stick though, but for the money I paid, I don't expect these problems.

its pretty difficult to enjoy Sf4 properly without a stick, I'm sort of meh about the game, its fun, but I think there is too much emphasis on super attacks. You cna skillfully ship someone away, then if they land one ultra, its evens again, plus the ex attacks and regular super moves are so easy to tag on for some and almost impossible for others.

The game needs a universal patch I think.

MadCatz TE or this: http://www.hori.jp/us/products/xbox360/xbox360_realarcade_proex/index.html
I got the HORI and while I'm very happy with it, replacing the buttons with Sanwa's is kind of a must. If u can get a hold of the TE u might aswell save urself the hassle.

Buying a cheap stick and modifying it with sanwa parts > *

I'm not sure it really works out that much cheaper and its still stuff you have to do at the end of the day which is open to error if you mess it up. Plus the base of the TE is really good, it really is like having a little chunk of the arcade, I'm not sure you'll get that feel by modding one that was cheap from the word go.

The fightstick TE is now about 95-100 pound new, so its not too bad when you consider it is the stick the best players in the world use to win. And it will work for all other games on the pc/360.

(buy the 360 version for more freedom)

Doesnt a stick or pad allow you to move in 8 directions, Does it?

What I wonder is why cant you bind the keyboard in 8 directions? (Or would it even be an advantage?)

Joysticks/pads have 4 analogue microswitches (don't know what the pad variant is called), the diagonals are defined by two switches being pressed at the same time.

You are perhaps confusing it with "the gate" which come in 4 way and 8 way variations. These control how the stick feels, but not how it operates on a technical level.

4 way (square) for Asia.
8 way (octo) for USA/Europe.

So to jump forward/backward in street fighter on a keyboard you would press up and right/left.

I don't know how people play on a keyboard, but like anything else, if you get used to it, you can be effective, its easier to use charge players (guile) as oppose to directional players like (ryu/zangief) for obvious reasons.

I was referring to user interface, i mean what my question is, when speaking about moves like shoryuken, are 4-way players in disadvantage?

Because I find it hard to press the two keys the exact same time, Im wondering would it get and how much easier if I got a 8-way stick so I could simply move it to "one" direction?

you have 8 directions on keyboard too.. just hold two directions pressed (duh)

it's the same thing with sticks: there are 4 contacts for directions, when you move the stick to a diagonal it triggers 2 directions out of those 4

Yeah I didnt go like "derrrr how i jump fwd", what I was looking for was the easiness in user interface level because the two keys simultaneous press feels bit unconvenient. If you can get those directions with "one key" press with joystick, why isnt there keybinds for those directions for keyboard players? I could play with numpad or something