X-Arcade Cab ... upgrade with Trackball

[mrchrister]

Hey guys,

I would like to know if anybody managed to upgrade a standard two player x-arcade controller with a trackball... I really would like to have a trackball to play such awesome games as arkanoid, missile comand, marbel madness or golden tee!
I just wonder where to put the trackball...

I could just buy a tankstick but that would set me back 200 bucks plus it wouldnt fit in my cab because the form is made for the standard x-arcade controller..

What alternatives are there? Does a trackball fit into the standard housing? does anyone have a setup with the trackball not being in the middle?

[ark_ader]

I use a mouse, but I guess you could decase the X-arcade and put in a trackball IF YOU HAD TO.

I do not play many trackball games, except missile command and that is great with a mouse.

[severdhed]

a standard x-arcade 2 player unit is pretty narrow, it's been a while since i looked at mine, but i can't imagine you would be able to fit a trackball in there.  From your comments, i take it you have a cabinet that you mounted an x-arcade stick to, is that correct?  why not build your own panel?  even if you are stuck with the same dimensions as the x-arcade, you could no doubt tweak the button layout to something a little more suitable, along with space for your trackball.  you could transplant the x-arcade components into your own panel so you wouldn't have to buy anything else.

[mrchrister]

Yeah I have my cabinet built around my X-Arcade... It's a good idea to just rebuilt a complete panel! Since I wanna upgrade my joysticks and buttons this is really a good idea! I could leave the x-arcade untouched this way and just start from scratch with the space I have....!
You got me thinking there

[severdhed]

i too started off with an x-arcade mounted in my cabinet, then i transplanted the components from it to my own panel.  i moved them to several different panels over the years, until i finally just got sick of messing with their horrible wiring scheme, and all black controls.  i eventually ended up getting a keywiz and new buttons and sticks and made my own, and i am much happier with it

[Otifrank]

I use a mouse, but I guess you could decase the X-arcade and put in a trackball IF YOU HAD TO.

I do not play many trackball games, except missile command and that is great with a mouse.

For the life of me, I CAN NOT get the mouse to work with my setup. Mouse works fine in XP but it feels like MAME does not recognize it at all. Currently using GameEX and Advanced Mame .139. PS/2 mouse. My desire is to be able to use the mouse to play Reactor. Anyone got any tips or insight?

[Otifrank]

Self fix.

Apparently within the options for GameEx where you enter the variables to be passed along with the Mame.EXE, you simply need to add -mouse and the mouse will work the next time you execute.