Main Restorations Software Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Everything Else Buy/Sell/Trade
Project Announcements Monitor/Video GroovyMAME Merit/JVL Touchscreen Meet Up Retail Vendors
Driving & Racing Woodworking Software Support Forums Consoles Project Arcade Reviews
Automated Projects Artwork Frontend Support Forums Pinball Forum Discussion Old Boards
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board controls.dat Linux Miscellaneous Arcade Wiki Discussion Old Archives
Lightguns Arcade1Up Try the site in https mode Site News

Unread posts | New Replies | Recent posts | Rules | Chatroom | Wiki | File Repository | RSS | Submit news

  

Author Topic: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?  (Read 1813 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

eds1275

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2166
  • Last login:August 18, 2025, 05:02:15 pm
  • Rock and Roll!
Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« on: September 11, 2010, 10:26:48 pm »
I KNOW I want a trackball on my machine - a spinner would be nice, but in order to keep a nice clean control panel, I was wondering if it is easy enough playing spinner games on the trackball? Adding a spinner would be nice but I'd like to keep the control panel streamlined and symmetrical.

So who here wants to let me know how it goes? I suppose if it doesn't work on this cab, there's always the next...  ;D

taylormadelv

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 377
  • Last login:February 18, 2019, 05:46:59 pm
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2010, 08:47:07 am »
It'll suck. Just install a real spinner.

Ginsu Victim

  • Yeah, owning a MAME cab only leads to owning real ones. MAME just isn't good enough. It's a gateway drug.
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10092
  • Last login:June 28, 2025, 10:45:55 pm
  • Comanche, OK -- USA
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2010, 10:59:56 am »
Get a spinner. A trackball can work for some spinner games, but mostly it's just going to hinder gameplay.

Smeghead

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 415
  • Last login:November 05, 2015, 11:41:08 pm
  • Better Smeg than dead
    • MY MAME BUILDS
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2010, 12:23:22 pm »
I play Tron fine with a trackball and Flightstick with trigger

But, if you can afford it, get a spinner its worth it yeah
My MAME Build:


severdhed

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2975
  • Last login:December 14, 2024, 05:01:52 pm
  • RIP Dinosaur Hippo
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2010, 01:26:36 pm »
I guess it depends on how much you really like spinner games.. if you are a die-hard tempests fan, then get a spinner.  Personally,  I like some spinner games,  but I play them with my trackball.  Fortunately, the turbotwist installs in a standard button hole, so it is easy to add on later
Current Projects:      Zak-Man | TMNT Pedestal | SNES Pi | N64 Odroid
Former Projects:     4 Player Showcase | Donkey Kong | iCade

eds1275

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2166
  • Last login:August 18, 2025, 05:02:15 pm
  • Rock and Roll!
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2010, 02:39:40 pm »
Hmm well I LOVE breakout/arkanoid games, but other than that I haven't really played many. I think I'll see how the trackball works out, and then go from there. It'll unfortunately be a while since I am self-employed and it's pretty slow going for now. All I can do is plan and daydream.

DaveMMR

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3244
  • Last login:April 28, 2025, 11:33:13 am
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2010, 08:04:06 pm »
Space was limited on my panel but I fit a Turbotwist in there no problem.  Glad I did.   

Marsupial

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 511
  • Last login:April 17, 2024, 09:00:56 pm
  • I am teh Mars!
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2010, 08:16:29 pm »
I think playing spinner games with a trackball - or a mouse - is about as fun as playing trackball games with a joystick.

It works, but you know its not the same.

Now... you might not care, it depends if you like those games a lot, or a little.

Having a frankenpanel might not be better then having sucky controls on games you barely play.

If you like arkanoid, a spinner might be interesting.

Something that I had been considering, was to put a spinner on the front panel instead of the control panel. Not sure how this would work out.
-Mars

Ginsu Victim

  • Yeah, owning a MAME cab only leads to owning real ones. MAME just isn't good enough. It's a gateway drug.
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10092
  • Last login:June 28, 2025, 10:45:55 pm
  • Comanche, OK -- USA
Re: Tarckball and spinner, or just play spinner games with the ball?
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2010, 12:55:26 pm »
Something that I had been considering, was to put a spinner on the front panel instead of the control panel. Not sure how this would work out.

Done right, you can also attach a steering wheel to it.