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Which spinner?

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RandyT:


--- Quote from: t3design on September 28, 2011, 08:07:45 pm ---Is there a way to increase the resolution of an old optical spinner (like a Tempest spinner)?

Would creating a new encoder disc with more holes make any difference?

--- End quote ---

Possibly.  You would need to make sure the aperture density is compatible with the spacing of the sensors, and that the sensors worked with the finer pitch of the encoder wheel.  But you probably won't achieve what the native high-resolution encoders can achieve without a much larger footprint.

Xiaou2:

Mame allows you to sort of cheat, which makes the illusion that control is Ok with a low resolution spinner on a high resolution game...  with analog adjustments that the user can tweak.

 How does it work?   Instead of each optical signal counting as one pixel movement on screen... mame can allow you to make each signal worth 10 pixels movement on screen.

 While this gives the needed resolution to use a low resolution spinner... it does not give the player precise accurate control.  The players movements can also be a bit jumpy visually.  It can also make the game easier, by limiting the range of possible responses.

 
 On the other hand, a spinner too sensitive may not work well with a low res game... unless you can adjust the sensitivity by a huge factor.   Many high resolution laser mice have a button or setting which enables you to do just that.  Ive not checked Randys method, and Im sure he will chime in, but it probably works the same way.  (as I dont think mame has enough range to reduce the resolution enough on its own)


--- Quote ---Is there a way to increase the resolution of an old optical spinner (like a Tempest spinner)?

Would creating a new encoder disc with more holes make any difference?
--- End quote ---

 Tempest has an encoder which has a ton of holes on it as is.. and putting more on it would create structural problems with the disc itself.  Dust would also be a big problem at that level of density.  As far as it appears from looking at the outside assembly, the high res encoders are near microscopic, and are fully enclosed to prevent any damage and dust issues.

 There might be a way to modify an older spinner with a lasermouse on a encoder wheel what has no holes on it.  Only problem is that lasermice are probably still fairly pricey, and theres still modification needed.  Anything less than a decent lasermouse is probably going to be too erratic and laggy.
 

 

RandyT:


--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on September 28, 2011, 10:33:01 pm --- On the other hand, a spinner too sensitive may not work well with a low res game... unless you can adjust the sensitivity by a huge factor.   Many high resolution laser mice have a button or setting which enables you to do just that.  Ive not checked Randys method, and Im sure he will chime in, but it probably works the same way.  (as I dont think mame has enough range to reduce the resolution enough on its own)

--- End quote ---

MAME can do this fine on it's own.  When reducing, it works in percentages.  A sensitivity of "1" (the lowest) would make a 1200 transition per revolution spinner be seen as a 12 tpr spinner. 2 would be 24 tpr, 3=36 tpr, 4=48 tpr, 5=60 tpr and 6=72 tpr...and so on.  6 is the magic sensitivity number that coincides with the original 72 tpr encoder used on Tempest and similar titles, when using a 1200 tpr spinner like the TurboTwist 2.

There are no drawbacks to using a high-res spinner, only advantages.

D_Harris:


--- Quote from: pinballwizard79 on September 28, 2011, 07:21:21 pm ---Phooey

I play racing games & Arkonoid with my Apache all the time.

We shall just agree to disagree, I dont want you to ignore my future orders  ;D

--- End quote ---

You never mentioned why you thought the Apache was the best.

Does it have to do with the "feel" of the spinner?

The only third party spinner I have an original Tornado gathering dust. (All the other spinners I have are original arcade spinners from Arkanoid, Tempest, Star Trek, & a couple of Midways from unknown games).

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

NelsonPJ:


--- Quote from: RandyT on September 28, 2011, 11:10:35 pm ---MAME can do this fine on it's own.  When reducing, it works in percentages.  A sensitivity of "1" (the lowest) would make a 1200 transition per revolution spinner be seen as a 12 tpr spinner. 2 would be 24 tpr, 3=36 tpr, 4=48 tpr, 5=60 tpr and 6=72 tpr...and so on.  6 is the magic sensitivity number that coincides with the original 72 tpr encoder used on Tempest and similar titles, when using a 1200 tpr spinner like the TurboTwist 2.

--- End quote ---

This is interesting... I'd never thought about what the analog sensitivity setting actually meant.  As a recent TurboTwist 2 customer, do you have a list of recommended MAME settings for spinner games?

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