Question about UltraStik 360 and TurboTwist 2™

[iceblast]

Hello all, nice site you have here. Didn't know there was a place like this. 

I'm looking to make my own Controller for my PC, and I play M.A.M.E. I've checked on this and all over the place, but haven't found anyone asking or saying anything about the UltraStik 360 and TT2 playing PC games.

I play alot of Trackmania. You can't really use a big steering wheel with this game. Many years ago, I had a RC like control for racing games. Small knob like the TT2, very easy to control, worked great playing Nascar games.

Question is, Can you play a Racing game like Nascar, or Trackmania with a TT2, or the UltraStik 360 in Analog mode? Trackmania has some very fast turns, and slow turns, and you really need to be able to hug the walls and corners. With a big wheel you just can't turn fast enough, or you would get very tired trying to control your car. With a Knob like the TT2 it would be very easy to make these turns, and it's analog, so you should be able to drive how you like.

Spinners don't return the knob to center after a turn I would imagine, like after a regular Wheel. So, you would have to control your car at all times. Also, a spinner doesn't have a center, so how does this effect the start of a race, would the race start with the car already turning?

Would the analog mode on the UltraStik 360 be good in a racing game like Trackmania. Is the control easy to move, and easy to be smooth. Does it have really good Analog control? Plus do you think a restrictor would make it easier, or harder to control for a game lilke Trackmania.

I don't have any experience playing with either of these controls. I have the Xbox 360 controller, I use the analog thumbsticks, but it's hard to get a good feel for small or fast movements with your thumb. I saw the TT2 and thought this would be great to use, if you could use it in a game like this, or the UltraStik 360 because the handle can fit in your hand, you should have better control, and a better feel for things.

Please, if anyone knows, or if there is another option out there that would be a better choice then these 2 let me know. But the TT2 would be awesome to me if I can use it in PC racing games. I plan on getting the UltraStik 360 anyway for games like Ms. Pacman and Donkey Kong and so on, and play Trackmania if the TT2 would be a bad choice, and if the UltraStik 360 is able to Trackmania.

Thanks for the help. 

[iceblast]

I was really hoping that someone had experience with 2 of the most popular controllers out there. I mean, there has to be someone that had bought these controllers, and has try to use them in a regular PC game. I honestly didn't think this was going to be a stumpier question. These aren't new controllers, they have been out for years.

Sorry, if I'm coming off rude, I was really excited to find these controllers, and I've had these controllers in my shopping cart 6 times now, and I still can't find someone that can answer, or has answered questions like these about these controller. I don't have a ton of money, and I want to buy something that's good, and that fits my needs on the first try, can't really afford trial and error right now. I like all kinds of video games, not just arcade games. I would assume other people are this way also, and have these controllers and have tried them in racing games to see how they play.

Would really appreciate the help.

Thanks

[DashRendar]

You can probably use those, but you'll want to lower the polling rate on those analog controls.  With spinners especially, you'll find yourself spinning out of control easily if you don't adjust it.

The best way to test it is to use your mouse for PC games, and try to control using side to side motions.  Whether it's in MAME or for a PC game, it's going to look at it the same- as a mouse.

The Turbo Twist has an optional steering wheel you can buy for it that sits on top of it for driving games and can be removed.  You need to have the spinner mounted in a good spot on your control panel so it's comfortable to use.

Regarding the question about returning to center, it depends on the game.  I have played some racing games with my spinner (and also my track ball) which played fine.

I would avoid using a U360 for anything other than games that require the control to go back to center.  You'll want to map the controls to that game specifically so it ignores all up and down inputs from the stick.

I have a TT2 Hi-Low spinner and U360s on my cab that I can test out for you, at least for MAME games (I don't have Trackmania though-sorry).  I'll try to remember to and post the results back here.

[iceblast]

Thanks for the info. I was giving up hope on anyone answering. 

I don't know if you know what Trackmania is or not. If not, it's a great free racing game, all with user created race tracks. You have jumps, loop to loops, and sometimes you can even find the finishline. You should give it a try, and if you do, you could try out the controls while your at it. 

Thanks again for the info.