Spinner-DOT or Vortex- thoughts?

[clok]

Im going to add a spinner to my arcade machine but Im having a tough time. Ihave watched the Video review somebody did about 2 months ago on spinners (thanks was very good, sorry forgot who did it). My problem is : My favorite game is most probebly Tempest (and Tempest 2000 on my Jag), but Discs of Tron runs a close second. I would love if somebody would tellme that the DOT spinner is "almost" as good as the VOrtex. Now I do understand the VORTEX will be a sweet "as close as it gets to the Original" spinner for Tempest and the DOT will not be as good. But Im hopeing somebody can let me know the DOT spinner is a good all around spinner. I have heard there is a Little wobble in the DOT spinner, this is a small concern, and that its not a Spin just to spin and time spinner (this does not concern me much as I have games to play, timing spinners is best left to others who enjoy it) I play tempest without spinning for short or long periods of time, I am more a hand on spinner at all times guy. WHich is one of the reasons Im thinking the dot will work fari for Tempest.

I know this is hard question to answer as my explanation above will sound like gibberish to some (if not all of you), and we all have differing opnions on what is good and what is not. Im just looking for some  "well this is what I think" from some of you who have them. Please none of the  "this is the greatest Spinner" stuff, Im sure we can all agree Oscar makes a good product, I have been convinced of that from previous posts (as well as the other spinner guys, from what I read they all make good products). I would really like to hear comments on other games. Im sure its hard to really put into words what Im looking for, but if you want to try please do (if your still readign this).

Im almost sure Im gettign a DOT, but I would like to hear why or why not for a general spinner. It does seem a bit silly as the DOT is really only for 2 games while the Vortex will do all (but those 2).  Oh well I have rambled way to long, any info would be great.

Clok

[Inaba]

I'm not really clear on what you are asking... so I'll just give you my experience.

I bought a Push/Pull spinner from Oscar.  It is a solid spinner... it has very little wobble.  It's nice and heavy, so you don't get the flakey controls of some of the cheaper/smaller spinners.  It works awesome for DoT and Tempest.

It's not exactly like the Tempest spinner (because of the push/pull nature, requires more room than almost flush of the Tempest spinners) - the knob I have has no skirt either, it's more of the oval type.  My biggest gripe with the Push/Pull is twofold, and neither affect Tempest, only DoT.

First, the push/pull action is a little mushy, I'd like it to be more crisp.  Secondly, the pull in DoT only activates AFTER the circuit cycles, as opposed to when the closes.  This may be an issue in DoT and not the spinner itself, I haven't checked yet, as I only noticed it last night.  Aside from these two very minor flaws, if you want to play both games (DoT and Tempest) w/ one spinner, the Oscar Push/Pull is a very good choice for this.

If this isn't what you are asking, then I apologize in advance.

[Tiger-Heli]

Ihave watched the Video review somebody did about 2 months ago on spinners (thanks was very good, sorry forgot who did it).

KevSteele of www.retroblast.com

I would love if somebody would tellme that the DOT spinner is "almost" as good as the VOrtex.

Ok, it's "almost" as good as the Vortex.  This was asked before (search the threads around the time the DOT first came out, and I think OSCAR basically said that the DOT was as maybe better than the Model 3 and not as good as the Pro.  (going from memory, though)

It does seem a bit silly as the DOT is really only for 2 games while the Vortex will do all (but those 2).  Oh well I have rambled way to long, any info would be great.
Clok

Yes, the DOT is only for those two games, but those two games are virtually unplayable with anything else.  If I had to only get one spinner, it would likely be the VORTEX, b/c I have never gotten to the advanced levels of DOT anyway, and it's not one of my all time favs.  Since it is for you, I would recommend the DOT.

[Tiger-Heli]

Found the thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7311;start=msg52566#msg52566

OSCAR says the DOT actually spun LONGER than an original Tempest spinnner.

[OSCAR]

Found the thread:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=7311;start=msg52566#msg52566

OSCAR says the DOT actually spun LONGER than an original Tempest spinnner.

That was an old Tempest spinner that the bearings were pretty much shot in...  Then when I put new bearings in the Tempest spinner, it increased it quite a bit.

However, I improved some of the shaft/bearing tolerances on the Vortex so it is actually smoother than any Tempest spinner I've used.  The Tempest shaft is a tad undersized (about .005") for the bearings, and this resulted in the Tempest "BRRR" sound that you have probably heard of before.  I corrected this on the Vortex, but it still retains part interchangeability with the Tempest.

[Tiger-Heli]

If I understood correctly, the OP was mainly asking how the DOT performed in standard games like Tempest, if you could comment, OSCAR?

[Inaba]

The DoT performs well in Tempest, it's a little heavy, but I like heavier stuff... gives some tactile feedback... but if precision is what you want, a lighter spinner is the way to go... but if you want to play DoT as well with the same spinner, the DoT would be a good compromise between the two.

[OSCAR]

If I understood correctly, the OP was mainly asking how the DOT performed in standard games like Tempest, if you could comment, OSCAR?

I have no problems using the DOT spinner in Tempest, in fact I even had my Tempest hi score record with a DOT for a little while.  However, obviously the DOT isn't going to perform in Tempest the same as the Vortex since it is a Tempest repro spinner.

[Sasquatch!]

It's funny, because all of the hoopla over the DOT spinner was lost on me, because I never played (or hell, even saw) DOT in the arcades.  So I guess I never really cared about it.

I do have the Vortex spinner (review here, thread about it here), and it ROCKS.  Seriously.

If DOT is really important to you, I'd recommend the DOT spinner since that is the only way to really play that game.  Otherwise, you can't go wrong with the Vortex.  For me, Tempest-like spinner action is way more important than being able to play DOT.

[clok]

This is exactly the responces I was looking for!  many thanks all of you. I have been looking at a spinner for a long time and Oscar keep releaseing great stuff so I put off my purchase just alittle longer... Well I dont think I can wait any longer, im pretty much set on the DOT.

Thanks again guys

Clok