I've done a bit of testing and I can confirm a couple things about PS3 sticks for this game:
-The
HRAP3 will work great out-of-the-box. Just like in any other PC app. Simply the best PS3 stick option that'll also function on a PC.
-The
VSHG, surprisingly, also works swimmingly out-of-the-box. A quirk of this stick, if used on a PC, is that the stick input will be read as POV/hat input. Interestingly enough, MBAC Ver.B will read POV input just like axis input, so there's no need for something like joy2key, which is an often-required work-around for other programs.
I have a
HFS3 available to me, so I'll test it out later and get back to you peoples. In general, don't get this stick if you want to make sure you get something that'll work on PC. All the driver options I've tried have never worked on any system I've tested.
I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but I think the VSHG feels a bit more sensitive than the HRAP3 in MBAC. I'll get more hands-on time with my friend's HRAP3 w/Sanwa buttons soon and try to verify.
If anyone is considering either the HRAP3 or VSHG, here are a few things to think about:
-The HRAP3 will work better with games other than Ver.B. Unless all you'll do is play in MAME. In which case, either stick will be just as good.
-The HRAP3 has Sanwa stick and Hori buttons. It's a generally accepted practice to swap the buttons with Sanwas for the genuine JP arcade feel. The procedure is made simple by quick disconnects, so it's not hard, but it is still an extra expense on a stick that's already more expensive than the VSHG.
-The VSHG is cheaper overall and has entirely Sanwa parts. It is also harder to get because it is, from what I gather, the preferred stick for PS3.
-If anyone has played on any prior HRAP or the Tekken 5 stick, you'll know the basic feel of a HRAP3. The VSHG feels overall more solid and substantial. The case is slightly smaller than the HRAP3, but it is heavier.
Either way you can't go wrong with either stick. I personally have a VSHG and I'm thinking of ordering a HRAP3 & Sanwa buttons soon.