Where can I find a Front Line twist-fire control?

[VanillaGorilla]

I know this is probably a fruitless attempt, but is it possible to find one of these anywhere anymore? I'd love to have one for a multi-Taito I'm planning...

If anyone has any alternate suggestions, I'm all ears. I've been dying to play a game of Front Line for , oh about 30 years now

[ahofle]

Ultimarc has a rotary board:
http://www.ultimarc.com/rotary.html

which converts this Happ rotary stick to USB:
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50561800.htm

[VanillaGorilla]

I didnt think the Happ would work quite the same, how would you fire? Am I missing something?

[mgb]

Here's one.
http://www.videogameparts.com/product.sc?productId=838&categoryId=48

[Bender]

could you use a push pull spinner?

[mgb]

I would think in mame that using a push pull spinner would be the easiest way, right?

[ahofle]

Sorry I was thinking of a different game.  Yeah definitely push/pull spinner would be your best bet.

Here's one from groovy game gear:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=311

[Xiaou2]

FrontLine is a special type of controller..   Its not really a spinner.

 Its closer to a rotary stick, however, only has like 4 directions.
Each turn of the dial activates one of the switches, as the dial spring-snaps into place.

 In addition, theres a 'push to fire' vertical switch as well.


 A spinner would be problematic, as it does not lock into place at the appropriate angles...
Not even sure if the game supports that anyways.

 A combination of a standard rotary stick (for turning) and a trigger stick with 2 buttons would probably be a decent compromise.

 The biggest problem would possible be the way things are wired.

 Sadly, currently, mame has no true Rotary Stick support.
In order to use a rotary stick, you need to buy a special hacky controller board which converts the inputs from 12 switches, to 2.  This is not accurate.  May not be accurate at game start (character facing a different direction that the switch being activated), and may easily become de-calibrated in game if you turn the dial too fast.  (which is exactly why they didnt make it a 2 switch system)

[mgb]

The frontline controller is an 8 way rotary. but the problem still may be in the way that mame handles it all.
If you were to use an frontline rotary/fire controller, I guess you would need a rotary interface board too

[isucamper]

Try these guys: 

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=164542&highlight=frontline

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=103292&highlight=taito+spinner

[huygens]

The Taito Frontline Controller is wired like a regular 8-way joystick + a button. A rotary Interface isn't required.

[RandyT]

The GP-Wiz40's built-in Roto-X feature supports a special mode for games controlled in the way Front-Line was.  But you still need a rotary switch based control to use it.

[VanillaGorilla]

Here's one.
http://www.videogameparts.com/product.sc?productId=838&categoryId=48

Nope, the page says out of stock... I'm thinking I might just be better off looking for an entire front line to restore..

[mgb]

Sorry about that, I didn't notice the out of stock

[Xiaou2]

The Taito Frontline Controller is wired like a regular 8-way joystick + a button. A rotary Interface isn't required.

 Yes, but we were talking about using a mechanical rotary as an alternative control method. Afaik, Mech.Rotaries are far more plentiful and easier to get hold of.

The GP-Wiz40's built-in Roto-X

 Correct me if Im wrong, but isnt there a keypress buffer delay?  Meaning, if you turn 8 clicks in less 1/4 a second, it might take like 1 full second for the onscreen character to fully rotate to the intended position due to mames need for consecutive keypresses rather than the direct switch?

[isucamper]

The GP-Wiz40's built-in Roto-X feature supports a special mode for games controlled in the way Front-Line was.  But you still need a rotary switch based control to use it.

Randy!  Sorry to be a pill but have you done anything to fix the bug in Frontline mode?  Just to refresh your memory, the GPWiz should send an always on signal instead of a pulse when in this mode.  Otherwise, between each round or after each death your aim resets to a default and jumps when you turn the rotary.

Also, just a plug for this device: besides this small issue (and another small bug in certain versions of MAME that won't let you use the player 1 rotary inputs) it works great!  Played a ton of Frontline, Wild Western, Tin Star, and Sherrif with it, and I got to like those games so much I bought a Wild Western.   

[isucamper]

Correct me if Im wrong, but isnt there a keypress buffer delay?  Meaning, if you turn 8 clicks in less 1/4 a second, it might take like 1 full second for the onscreen character to fully rotate to the intended position due to mames need for consecutive keypresses rather than the direct switch?

No, MAME interprets the inputs as an 8 way stick, so it can jump to whatever direction is input.