What are people using for cheap trackballs these days?

[abrannan]

Okay so a while back everybody was crazy about the Crayola Kidsball, but that's out of stock, being re-released as a USB&ps/2 version later in the month.  

Then everybody loved the iBall, since it was going out of stock at Outpost and sold for ~$3.  You can still get them for about $15 if you look in the right places.

My question is:  What's the latest craze in cheap large trackballs for cabinets?  I'd really like something larger than the 2-1/4" iBall, but cheaper than the (currently on pre-order) $55 Kidsball.  

Anybody got any great secret recommendations they'd like to share with the group?

[SirPeale]

How about an actual arcade trackball from Wico for ~$25?

http://www.wicothesource.com

[abrannan]

Nah, those are 2-1/4".  I'd really like something in a 3", if possible.  I may break down and get the 3" one on that page for $50, but I'm really trying to stick to a low budget for this cabinet.

[GamingGreg]

I'm using a 2 1/4" trackball from Ultimarc (it's the same as the WICO one mentioned above).   It seems to work well for me.

If you want a cheap 3", your best bet is to try ebay for a used golden tee or similar.   You may be able to find a Crayola Kidsball or similar, but it would be difficult.  Mounting such a trackball has it's own challenges.  It's easier to find the hardware to mount an arcade trackball (usually), but extra hardware (Optipac, Oscar's USB board, or mouse hack) would be needed to interface it to the PC.  A PC trackball would already have that built in.

Good Luck on the search!

[Lilwolf]

Dont' go anything cheaper... you WILL regret it!

25 bucks for 2 1/4" is a great deal... and the size of the original centipede!  Not bad..

MUCH BETTER then any PC trackball hack you will find.

You can go ebay... I did... and I ended up needing to get new rollers because they where so worn... the ball isn't smooth either.

If you can get a 3", you wont regret it either!

Last thing... you will probalby need a mounting plate.  Expect another 10 - 15 bucks.  I've never really seen an acceptable mounting without one...  

I would add room for one and put it off before putting in a PC trackball or some shotty install.  Something easy to add later, and you can run only about 4k games that don't use it....

[jcoleman]

Last thing... you will probalby need a mounting plate.  Expect another 10 - 15 bucks.  I've never really seen an acceptable mounting without one...  

Oh yeah?!?!?!

Check this out.

[jcoleman]

This is a shot of it on the workbench without the buttons and plexi CP overlay.  This is a 3-inch Imperial/Betson tb with a PS/2 mouse interface.  I found it on eBay for somewhere in the neighborhood of $70.

This proves it's possible to go without a mounting plate...I actually have a plate but it wouldn't fit on my Galaxian cabinet without an extra-deep cp.  This way I don't screw up the profile of the cabinet.  More pictures are available if anyone wants them.

[bionicbadger]

If you want a cheap 3", your best bet is to try ebay for a used golden tee or similar.   You may be able to find a Crayola Kidsball or similar, but it would be difficult.  Mounting such a trackball has it's own challenges.  
Good Luck on the search!

It isn't that tough to mount a Crayola ball.  The toughest part is cutting and sizing a perfect circle in your CP for the thing to poke through.  I love my crayola ball, it works great, looks good, and was cheap.  I would pick up another if I ever find another one, just incase I want to build another cabinet..  

[abrannan]

Dont' go anything cheaper... you WILL regret it!

25 bucks for 2 1/4" is a great deal... and the size of the original centipede!  Not bad..

MUCH BETTER then any PC trackball hack you will find.

The wallet bug always bites me on these projects.  I may have to look at 2-1/4", it just strikes me as small.  (*Wonders where he can try out a 2-1/4" trackball for feel*)

I would add room for one and put it off before putting in a PC trackball or some shotty install.  Something easy to add later, and you can run only about 4k games that don't use it....

Thing is, this is for my "second" cabinet.  The first is a stand-alone "box" project the hoooks into my TV, giving me access to the other 4000+ games.  The cabinet will probably be a "golden age" cabinet, and losing the big hitters of tempest, centipede, and missle command just doesn't feel right, even if it is temporarily.

[rampy]

betson imperial usually sells the 3" refurbished  trackball (no interface though -- you'll need an optipac, oscar's usb mouse hack, or roll your own mouse hack) for $29.99 direct.

That's where I got mine and am reasonably happy with it, other people have snatched 'em up at 29.99 and were happy, and I think I know of at least 1 and half people that were less than totally happy with their betson imperial 3" refurb. *Shrug* ymmv but 25 beans for a 2 and 1/4"  wico tball or 29.99 for refurbished, certified preowned 3" trackball...

good luck!

Rampy

PS where did you hear that kidsballs are coming back?!

[Sasquatch!]

I may have to look at 2-1/4", it just strikes me as small.  (*Wonders where he can try out a 2-1/4" trackball for feel*)

IIRC, the 2-1/4" is the same size as a billiards ball, if that helps.  Also IIRC, a lot of classic games (most notably Centipede) used a 2-1/4".  The only ones that used a 3" that I can think of off the top of my head are Marble Madness, Missle Command, Football, and the Golden Tee series.

[Howard_Casto]

Actually there were quite a few 3 inch centipede rigs.  The cabaret and cocktial versions used the 2 1/4 though.  

I have one word ebay.  If you are patient enough (and that's the key, patient means waiting a few months, not a few weeks) you will eventually get a imperial/atari/happs/whatever  3 inch, fully working, ball for around 30 bucks.  You'll need to buy an interface hack of course, but that's a given.

Btw main difference between the two (I have both)  Smaller tbs spin faster as they are smaller, but it's easier for large hands to be precise on a larger ball.  So pick your posion.  

[abrannan]

PS where did you hear that kidsballs are coming back?!

I found it on this site:
http://www.infogrip.com/product_view.asp?RecordNumber=98

Oh, and I ended up getting a used 2-14" Wico trackball from coin-op warehouse in Hagerstown, MD for cheap today so that pretty much makes this topic moot for me now.  But thank you all for the suggestions!

[Fred Smythe]

Forgive me, but I'm new and looking into building my own controller console (I figure a full-sized cab is down the road for when I get more experience / out of my apartment with more room )

Am I missing something? I was under the impression that trackballs were insanely expensive...the Happ ones are $89 each, or $145 with the USB interface built in. What's the difference between those and this one for $25?

And do they make spinners?

[ErikRuud]

You can get a new Betson 3" inch (White or Red Translucent) with a PS/2 interface for $80.00 plus shipping.

[Wienerdog]

This is just my thoughts:
-you should plan to fit a 3" arcade ball into your cab if you have the room, even if that isn't the route you are going right now.  In six months your favorite game might be a TB game and you want to upgrade.  If not, you didn't lose anything.
-If you are on a budget, go with the iBall for now (remember to leave room for the big daddy 3" when you get the money.

Why go for the iBall now?  Because it's a nice looking ball, you can get one for about $9, and you can hack it as an iterface when you upgrade to the three inch ball later (again, it's more work to hack your own interface, but if you are on a budget...).  If you don't want to bother looking or can't find it for $9, PM me and I'll sell you one.