Question about spinner games like Heavy Barrel, Forgotten Worlds, Victory Road..

[soslo]

I am starting my second mame cab, and I am trying to figure out how to do a control panel that will work for games like Heavy Barrel, Forgotten Worlds, Victory Road, Mercs, and so on.

I have pictures of the CPs, but how did the characters move? Some spun with the spinner, but did some also walk up/down/left/right with the spinner? If so, are there any spinners out there that do this? The ones that used joys and spinners, how did they shoot?

My first cab used a standard 2 player/6 buttons each CP, and I am happy with that, but I am ready to move to the next level for these classics that I really want to play (like Forgotten Worlds) without using buttons for the rotation.

Also, how was shooting in FW accomplished? Did the player have to move with a stick, rotate with a spinner, and shoot with a button at the same time? I've never actually plaed it in the arcade...just Genesis/MAME.

Side note, I also got a large computer trackball for $3 so that will be used in place of a mouse.

TIA for your help.

[hyiu]

ok... ikari warrior... victory road.... heavy barrel...

these games uses a rotating joystick....
(some uses the exact joystick as your pic...)
I believe ikari warrior uses a similar functionality but slightly different model....

the yellow "thing" is actually a joystick itself....
and the yellow handle can rotate....

so, you move the joystick and your character will move 8 way...
and by rotating the top part of the joystick.... you sim accordingly....

well... keep in mind that the rotating part is not a spinner like... but you feel clicks.... (I think 12 positions.... but not sure...)

as for forgotten world...   IIRC.... it uses a standard joystick... and a spinner..... and that spinner, you can press down for fire....

there is someone out there that makes a circuit that you can interact with the rotary joystick that can be hooked up to Mame....

I guses do a search for rotary joystick....

hope it helps....

[jcoleman]

Those are SNK LS-30 joysticks.  You can find them for $30 a piece at

http://www.videoconnect.com/pages/joys.htm

Enjoy.  Druin's adapter is required to connect them to an IPAC for use with MAME.  You can also try an MK64; it has the LS-30 interface built-in.

John

[Lilwolf]

Your building a cab dedicated to rotary games... but you never played them in the arcade?

Wow!  Cool!

Their GREAT games... but I wasn't happy with them in mame without the right controls... And I would have only known that if I played them there.

They are also games that are really a lot more fun with 2 people... I don't know why... but I always thought so.

[CitznFish]

Frontline also had a clicking spinner. but you also pushed it down to fire

[Lilwolf]

Frontline also doesn't use a 12 way (like the others).  Its actually an 8way joystick that is always pointing in a specific direction.

Hopefully someone converts it to use a mouse / "l" and "r" buttons... then hack it to use the original SNK joysticks sometime...  

I really have to spend more time in the mame source...

[Nannuu]

Frontline also doesn't use a 12 way (like the others).  Its actually an 8way joystick that is always pointing in a specific direction.

Hopefully someone converts it to use a mouse / "l" and "r" buttons... then hack it to use the original SNK joysticks sometime...  

I really have to spend more time in the mame source...

Druin has a solution:

http://members.rogers.com/druins22/arcade/

click on Rotary Interface Expander, it has all of the instructions to build your own adapter the convert an LS30 and his interface to work with Frontline, Wild Western and Tin Star.  Cheap too if you don't mind boarding a few parts together.

[Tiger-Heli]

Additional things to consider - There are three types of rotary joysticks - see http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/faq.htm#The Rotary Joysticks you mention are not available yet and I want to play IKARI! What should I do?

Slightly out of date, though, I think the LS-30's are $30 EACH now, and the MK64 will work in place of Druin's interface.

Also, I still recommend MC-Escher's fixes with the mechanical (not Happ Optical) rotaries, but they have now been added to the latest MAME Analog +  (Thanks again, Urebel)

[soslo]

Everyone, thank you for the informative replies.

There is a lot to choose from...fortunately and unfortunately  

That link to fraggersxtreme has a lot of good info.

[soslo]

I bought a pair of ls-30s from video connection - they rock!

[menace]

which interface did you go with?  Druin's?  Mk-64?  I am thinking of using rotaries as my dedicated 8 ways but was a little hesitant on the interfaces.

[soslo]

Druin's - but let me clarify - I haven't connected them yet, but just the feel of them is very reassuring. They are not flimsy in any way.