Ram Controls Yoke - The circle is complete!

[ChadTower]

Pole Position is an optical wheel... sure you could do some translation in the software but it will never really feel like Pole Position does.

[Donkey_Kong]

 

[smalltownguy]

Unless the handles were changed out, Havok's yoke is NOT the prototype. The prototype was photo'd with the cast aluminum handles, Havok's yoke has a completely different set of handles on it. As I (correctly) guessed, they are the machined aluminum handles. Not to mention the powder coating, which is also absent from the prototype, according to Havok.

Looks like a production unit to me. Havok, was Dave kind enough to stamp it with a serial number for you?

[HaRuMaN]

Havok, was Dave kind enough to stamp it with a serial number for you?

Will it read 1 of 1?

[Havok]

Havok, was Dave kind enough to stamp it with a serial number for you?

I did ask for that way back when, but didn't check. I'll have to pop the cover and take a look. Good thing I have a Bob Robert's security bit set!

Will it read 1 of 1?

[S0L]

Out of interest, did you get the Mame USB converter in with it Havok?

I think Dave said he's include it with the pre-order ones? I'm quite keen on that (as a pre-orderer!) - as I don't want to start hunting down Dual Strikes or hacking 360 controllers!

Mostly as I can rig it up quick in some form of box and then take it for a test spin Well when it shows up!

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S0L
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[bkenobi]

Pole Position is an optical 360° steering wheel game.  The SW yoke is an optical control, but it has a physical limiter that stops rotation at some angle.  Thus, PP would not play correctly with a restricted wheel.

[ChadTower]

Pole Position is an optical 360° steering wheel game.  The SW yoke is an optical control, but it has a physical limiter that stops rotation at some angle.  Thus, PP would not play correctly with a restricted wheel.

The SW yoke uses pots.

[Havok]

Out of interest, did you get the Mame USB converter in with it Havok?

I think Dave said he's include it with the pre-order ones? I'm quite keen on that (as a pre-orderer!) - as I don't want to start hunting down Dual Strikes or hacking 360 controllers!

Mostly as I can rig it up quick in some form of box and then take it for a test spin Well when it shows up!

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S0L
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The USB controller isn't ready, however if you haven't purchased anything yet, I would get the AKI controller for it, which is available now. I pre-ordered a controller from Dave, but in the meantime I have a dual Strike that I've been sitting on for a few years that I intend to hack until I get Dave's controller. Here's a link to the AKI:

http://bspeclabs.com/Electronics/8-AKI30JoystickInterface

As far as Pole Position, if it works somewhat, great, if not, not an issue. The yoke is essentially a 270 degree wheel, so I'll just have to see how that works with Mame on a 360 degree game. I know that when I play PP I don't spin the wheel like a madman, I just steer a little left or right, so we'll see what happens. Race Drivin is my favorite driving game, so PP would just be a nice extra. I purchased the yoke primarily for three Star Wars games (well 2 really - ROTJ isn't one of my favorites.) However, I'm glad to see Firefox in Mame now, so that will also definitely be setup.

[S0L]

The USB controller isn't ready, however if you haven't purchased anything yet, I would get the AKI controller for it, which is available now. I pre-ordered a controller from Dave, but in the meantime I have a dual Strike that I've been sitting on for a few years that I intend to hack until I get Dave's controller. Here's a link to the AKI:

http://bspeclabs.com/Electronics/8-AKI30JoystickInterface

Ta - I am one of the original pre-orderers (so called Dirty Dozen!) so I was hoping it'd come along with it. I might grab an AKI on the off-chance, though there was also the A-PAC I was considering before Dave suggested there would be a straight plug-in USB solution.

I'll wait see - not in any rush

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S0L
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[HaRuMaN]

So, you have not yet received your yoke?  The plot thickens...

[ChadTower]

Didn't he say the USB controller is ready and would ship with the yokes for those with preorders?

[Hoopz]

Didn't he say the USB controller is ready and would ship with the yokes for those with preorders?

Nope.  I'm pretty sure the pre-orders were supposed to be done first.  When they were shipped, he would work on the USB interface.

[ChadTower]

Maybe I'm thinking of the overlays, then.   

[Havok]

I might grab an AKI on the off-chance, though there was also the A-PAC I was considering before Dave suggested there would be a straight plug-in USB solution.

I'll wait see - not in any rush

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S0L
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Ultimarc's U-hid Nano would also work, but if you buy the cable it costs more than the Aki, and the Aki is way more versatile...

http://u-hid.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=19

[Level42]

HAH !

Congrats to Havok for being SO patient and congrats to David for a _perfect_ product.


For those who do not know, I own a SW cockpit, and I can tell you that the original handles SUCK in quality. The halves do not match, making edges "stick out" over the others etc. I discussed this with David before. Although it's no macro pic, I can tell that those handles look SMOOOOOOTHHHHHH

100 times better then the original. I seriously consider getting some of those handles .......

Could you make some close-up shots of the handles Havok ?

[Level42]

Original handles:






Would be great to see some same-angled shots of David's work....

[Havok]

That really does highlight the differences. I'll grab some similar angle pictures and post them later tonight...

[Havok]

Sorry for the poor quality, but I only have a point and shoot digital. I have a really nice Canon SLR, but it's 35mm...

Here's two that came out at least halfway decent. Even though the quality is not the greatest, you can still see how superior the tolerances are on Dave's yoke:

[XtraSmiley]

Wow, much improved!

Try using the macro setting on your digital.  It's the one that looks like a flower.  Helps with up close shots.

[Havok]

Yeah, I tried that. Perhaps if I had better lighting and used a tripod - I took about 35 pictures and those were the best...

[Xiaou2]

Firstly, not all cameras are good at capturing low level spectrum's... That said,

A key to capturing black objects well, is even controlled lighting.

 You have to illuminate all sides of the object well enough, and the lighting
must be flat/even... so it will not create sharp contrast.  A cameras un-diffused
flash for example, will create a bright high contrast area... and reduce the spectrum
of visible blacks captured.

 Many such objects are photoed in a "light-tent".  A small wire frame that has white
translucent bed-sheet type material mounted to it.  They place the object in the tent,
and light all sides of the tent from far enough back to keep a spotlight effect from
occurring.   The camera then may either not use a flash, or will have some sort of
light diffuser attached to it, which will spread the light out more, and keep it from
making bright hot-spots.

 If the object is too light, one can always use photoshop to create contrast,
reducing the spectrums a bit.  However, one can not take a bad photo which is
missing a wide range of spectrum, and make it look good with photoshop.
Turning up the brightness with missing spectrum will reveal the missing colors
that much worse.

[davespicer]

Hmmmm... not so sure about those "improved" handles.  They're much less rounded than the real ones, giving a rather boxy look.  Don't get me wrong, it's a nice yoke, it's just that I would never mistake it for a pristine version of the original.  Given Dave's commendable obsession for perfection, not to mention the time taken, I'm surprised to see results which aren't quite authentic.

Level42... wow that alignment is bad.  My handles align perfectly, which makes me wonder whether Atari messed up when making additional mould sets.

Dave (another one)

[TheShanMan]

Looks to me that the original appears rounded because of the poor fit, so I don't see it as really being different from those pictures, other than correcting the poor fit, and of course the finish.

But then again, I don't have an original yoke to serve as a reference like you do.

[ratzz]

Glad we have a happy ending to this saga.

Hope the rest of the extreme doubters out there enjoy some humble pie in the next few days.

Since I like apple crumble - here's the first slice for Ratzz



Nice Yoke you have there Havok!

 

Yea, fantastic service that - proper customer services - you got your order in?


saint's note - don't do that! Attachment deleted.

[davespicer]

Looks to me that the original appears rounded because of the poor fit, so I don't see it as really being different from those pictures, other than correcting the poor fit, and of course the finish.

But then again, I don't have an original yoke to serve as a reference like you do.

The design looks different to me - the RAM Controls ones are way too chunky looking.

Check out the pics below.  These have been spray painted, rather than recoated, so look pitted as hell.  You can get an idea of the shape though.





The RAM Controls prototype pics seem to have a mix of the boxy and rounded parts for some reason.  Odd.

Dave

[XtraSmiley]

I think it might be the lighting on Havok's that make them look more square.  If you look at the edges, the roundness is there, but hidden in the shadows.

Who knows though, if Havok says it's better, I'm inclined to believe him.

I'm not buying mine for at least a year, so I have time to sit back and wait for a full review (and more shipped units).

[davespicer]

I think it might be the lighting on Havok's that make them look more square.  If you look at the edges, the roundness is there, but hidden in the shadows.

Who knows though, if Havok says it's better, I'm inclined to believe him.

I'm not buying mine for at least a year, so I have time to sit back and wait for a full review (and more shipped units).

Damn, I'm getting all OCD on this now.  Lol.  

Looks like the change happened when switching from cast to machined handles:

http://www.ram-controls.com/blog-sw.html

10/19/08 - PERFECT... 04/14/09 - wtf?  Notice the flat areas around the screw holes.

Maybe you're right and the pics make the difference look more stark than it is in reality.  Where's the emoticon for shrugged shoulders?

Dave

[Hoopz]

Where's the emoticon for shrugged shoulders?

Right next to the bomb and the 'fro.  Your OCD must not have kicked in fully.   

[Level42]

Hmmmm... not so sure about those "improved" handles.  They're much less rounded than the real ones, giving a rather boxy look.  Don't get me wrong, it's a nice yoke, it's just that I would never mistake it for a pristine version of the original.  Given Dave's commendable obsession for perfection, not to mention the time taken, I'm surprised to see results which aren't quite authentic.

Level42... wow that alignment is bad.  My handles align perfectly, which makes me wonder whether Atari messed up when making additional mould sets.

Dave (another one)

Well my cab is Irish, but I think it's very likely that there was only one point of production for the yokes.
I've no idea why they are so bad, but I was shocked when I first discovered it. The hole mismatch doesn't hurt the working of the buttons however, but the top is just unbelievably badly matched.

Let's be honest, the original one's don't look very good at all. You can see all kind of irregularities in the surface and the crumbly finish is also far from nice IMHO.

About the improvement: You can actually feel the bad fit and the sharp edges when playing. Maybe the top is a little bit flatter, but I'm sure it's a lot more comfortable to play...I'd prefer the 1000% better quality of David's handles over the originals any time...

[davespicer]

Well my cab is Irish

Please accept my condolences.  

[MameMaster!]

Sooo.....aside from the merits of this debate. ANYONE get a yoke besides Havok yet?

 

[mytymaus007]

Seems like a fake

[FrizzleFried]

Sooo.....aside from the merits of this debate. ANYONE get a yoke besides Havok yet?

 

I was wondering the same thing.  Who's #2?  When will #2 get their yoke?  "Done & Shipping" doesn't mean only #1 on the list gets his 5 weeks later....


>quack<

[mytymaus007]

I think iM 182

[Gatinho]

I feel like Charlie Brown waiting for a Valentine from the red-headed little girl... the mail box is still empty.

[1UP]

I know I said this before, and quite a while back if I recall, when the last "almost ready" announcement happened...weren't the original pre-orders like, 5 years ago or something?  Glad I held off on ordering, you guys have godlike patience!  

Does look tempting though....   Why oh why did I sell my yoke?!  Oh yeah, probably because I thought I could always get a newer one from Gamecab or Ram.   

[Franco B]

[OT] What happened to ratzz? Did he delete his account or get banned or something?  [/OT]

[Level42]

Well my cab is Irish

Please accept my condolences.  

Well, as long as it's not an Irish priest I'm fine with it.

[saint]

[OT] What happened to ratzz? Did he delete his account or get banned or something?  [/OT]

He asked for his account to be deleted. He's welcome to come back if he wants.