Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick Review (for PS3 and PC)

Presentation of the Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick

It is time for arcade stick review! We bought the Qanba Q1 arcade stick (Cut version) from Dealextreme (sku.169538) and would like share our experience with it. So far, is a great arcade stick for PS3 and PC. I, the person who is writing this review, was used to play fighting games on keyboard, PS2 and Xbox 360 wireless controller, until I decided to get this Qanba Q1 arcade stick. Not sure how it performs compared to a Mad Catz or other famous arcade sticks that come with Sanwa or Seimitsu parts, because it is the first that I bought. However, for me, it was a good deal since I am starting on fighting games. Continue reading this Qanba Q1 arcade stick review to know more about it and conclude for yourself.

The product cost about $100 and comes with the following items inside the package:

• 1x Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick (Cut version).
• 2x Table clamps (check the image gallery above to understand its usefulness).
• 3x Restrictor gates/plates (square, circle and octagonal) - 1 installed and 2 spare.
• 2x Dummy buttons (dummy mounting hole cover used to fill empty button holes - no function).
• 1x Cleaning cloth.
• 1x Chinese manual (and some others Chinese papers).

Check the Qanba Q1 unboxing video below to see those items.

Features of the Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick

As you probably already know, this Qanba Q1 arcade stick is for PS3 and PC, which is a good feature (it would cost more money to support Xbox 360), but that is not the only feature to a serious fighting gamer looking for a new arcade stick. So, we put below its main features (our opinion):

• Arcade stick for PS3 and PC (Qanba Q4 RAF is compatible with PS3, PC and Xbox 360).
• 185cm USB cable (there is a compartment on the left).
• 13 buttons (8 on the right of the stick).
• Turbo function (2 modes - detailed later in this Qanba Q1 arcade stick review).
• Equipped with Qanba buttons and Qanba stick (Omron microswitch).
• Anti-slip bottom pad (on the arcade stick and on the table clamp).
• Adjustable / removable table clamps (check image gallery for dimensions).
• Weight: about 2.0 Kg (2.7 Kg packaged).
• Dimensions: 33.5cm x 21cm x 5.5cm (without clamps).

Case those features are too much for your needs, the Dealextreme also sells other arcade sticks. Try to find a cheaper one that fits your needs, but know that it probably will have an inferior overall quality (stick, buttons, features, etc.).

What are the Compatible Fighting Games?

There are a lot of fighting games compatible with this cheap arcade stick. Actually, every game tested so far worked fine. If you have problems, try to go on "button config" menu of your game and configure for yourself.

Case you are curious about the online fighting games library, know that this Qanba Q1 arcade stick can be used for you to play some PS3 games, like:

• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
• The King of Fighters XIII.
• Street Fighter x Tekken.
• Tekken 6.
• Blaz Blue.

For PC users, there are a lot of online fighting games options, most of them are classic fighting games that can be played on GGPO/Supercade (or similar software). Some of these PC games are:

• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.
• Street Fighter x Tekken.
• The King of Fighters 2002.
• The King of Fighters 98.
• Super Street Fighter Alpha 3.
• Garou: Mark of the Wolves.
• Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo.
• Marvel vs Capcom.
• Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike.
• Vampire Savior (aka Darkstalkers).

Obviously, the lists above are only examples. There are many other fighting games for PC and PS3.

How to Turn ON the Turbo Function (2 modes)

This Qanba Q1 arcade stick has 2 turbo modes: one that will activates when holding a button (manual turbo) and one that will keep a button in turbo (automatic turbo). Each button can have only one of those two modes activated per time and the turbo function is activated per button. When USB cable is disconnected, the turbo memory will be lost.

Now, to turn ON the turbo in one button, do the following:

• Step 1: Press and hold the turbo button (top-left).
• Step 2: Press and hold the button that you want to activate turbo.
• Step 3: Release the picked button.
• Step 4: Release the turbo button.

After that, the turbo light should be on. That means that button you pressed is in "manual turbo", which means when you press and hold it, the turbo on it will activate.

If you repeat all the previous steps, for the same button, it should enter in "automatic turbo", which means that button will keep in turbo automatically. If you press it, the turbo on that button will off temporary. If you release it, the automatic turbo will come back.

Finally, to disable the turbo in one button, do the same previous steps. Briefly, these are the orders of the states in one button:

• 1. Button starts with turbo OFF.
• 2. Do the steps above. The button will enter in manual turbo.
• 3. Do the steps again. The button will enter in automatic turbo.
• 4. Do the steps for the third time. The button will turn OFF turbo function.

Square Gate vs Circle Gate vs Octagonal Gate

As mentioned early, the package contains 2 restrictor gates (or restrictor plates). Case you do not know, the stick has one of it inside it to limit the movements (check the last image above for better understanding). Depending which restrictor gate you use (square, circle or octagonal), and depending which fighting game you are playing, you will probably have different experiences. For instance, this Qanba Q1 arcade stick came with the square restrictor gate. After some time playing SSF4AE, I (person writing this Qanba Q1 review) noticed that I was missing too much commands (hadouken, shoryuken, special moviments, etc.), so I decide to switch the restrictor gate. After removing the square restrictor gate and plugging the octagonal restrictor gate, my command execution got better.

Anyway, you should try different restrictor plates. It is easy to switch them (check the image gallery above) and the results can be satisfying.

Modding the Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick

Thinking that some fighting gamers would buy this Qanba Q1 arcade stick and, in future, mod it to add Sanwa parts or Seimitsu parts (or any other compatible parts), we decided to take a look inside it. As you can see on the images above, it is very organized internally and the wires and buttons are plugged by crimp-on quick disconnects, which means no problems for electronic enthusiasts. Also, the button hole is 30mm, so compatible with Seimitsu or Sanwa buttons.

So far, we have not had the need to mod the Qanba Q1 arcade stick, but we hope that those information and images help you case you intend to mod it.

Where can I buy this Qanba Q1 Arcade Stick?

Case you got interested after reading this Qanba Q1 arcade stick review, know that it is for sale on Dealextreme for about $100. Buy it on this link. Also, take a look in other Qanba arcade sticks for sale on Dealextreme.