Is Tron 4 or 8 way?

[trekking95]

Greetings, Programs!  

So I was going to buy a crane game joystick to play Tron with (can not find a real one, do you guys have one you don't need?) and I was wondering is Tron played with a 4 or 8 way joystick? I played it a little with a mouse, joystick and a button (don't ask how hard that was) and it seemed 4 way is right (light cycles, tanks, grid bugs and mcp cone all only move 4 ways) and Mame control setup only showed up, down, left and right was available. So is that true?

Also I found a Tron joystick handle at Groovy Game Gear but they don't have the joystick base unit. Would it be possible to attach it to the crane stick and wire the Tron trigger to the crane stick top button?

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[alfonzotan]

It's both.  Read this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=78233.0

[Hoopz]

Here's a thread with a few pics of the restrictor.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53406.0

[ghettodish]

Link to joystick:

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50997000.htm

[trekking95]

Link to joystick:

http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50997000.htm

I know that one, but its too expensive for me right now.

[trekking95]

Unless I missed it in each of the links, it didn't really say. And why would it be 8 way, what Tron game has 8 ways?

[CheffoJeffo]

The stick used for Tron is an 8-way stick. ALL of the games use 8-way, including light cycles.

The Tron stick has a special restrictor that makes the diagonals harder to hit, so you don't spaz out on the light cycles.

Yes, expensive. More expensive if you try to do it properly.

[MajorHavoc]

Keep an eye on Ebay.  I scored one a year or so ago for $50.00, still kind of pricey but sometimes you just have to get the real thing.  Once you have the flight stick in your hot little hands, run, don't walk to your computer and order a Tron restrictor from our very own Encryptor and a Tron grip  from our friend Randy at GGG.  The restrictor mod is not difficult, intimidating perhaps but not all that difficult. The grip is pretty much just a remove and replace, you will need a torx security bit to dismantle the original grip but they are readily available (I got a set at Harbor freight for about $7.00). Good luck and have fun.  

[trekking95]

I will keep a look out for one!
Still what about adding a Tron handle and restrictor(how much for that?) to a crane game stick?

Also the Mame setup only shows 4 ways so I don't think an 8 way could be used.
Could it be because I only have a 4 way hooked up or because X-Arcade keyboard encoders only allow 4 way sticks?

And still why would Tron have 8 ways, light cycles and tanks have 4 so I guess 8 ways is for the other 2 games? Its not really needed though.

[mytymaus007]

Does anyone know if the restrictor plate is also used for DOT i would like to make a control panel dedicated to tron games but if DOT doesnt have restrictor plate then its not worth the effort. Im using a 4 way plus flight stick to plat both Tron and DOT but for a dedicated control panel it will look sloppy!!!

[trekking95]

EDIT:

What about this, guys? I could always try adding the Tron handle and restrictor to it!
And its cheaper than the crane stick!!!!    

THEN TRON COULD BE PLAYED THE RIGHT WAY!!!!    

This is it!!!!

Its called the MiniGrip Stick and is about half way down the page.  

[trekking95]

Does anyone know if the restrictor plate is also used for DOT i would like to make a control panel dedicated to tron games but if DOT doesnt have restrictor plate then its not worth the effort. Im using a 4 way plus flight stick to plat both Tron and DOT but for a dedicated control panel it will look sloppy!!!

I thought DOT had a button on the back of the joystick. But since I have only seen a few pictures I cant be sure!
EDIT:
Yes they do. There is a thumb button on the back for deflecting.
The picture is part way down this page, its by the member rdagger.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53406.0

[trekking95]

Really guys, I need to know what you think of the MiniGrip Stick!  

[Le Chuck]

I haven't seen it on a lot of CPs yet.  I made a wireless trigger stick that you can hot swap on and off your panel from a ball top.  Takes about 5 or 6 hours to do some start to finish.  Fun little project.  Put it on an auto 4way to 8way stick that automatically switches to 4way when light bikes comes on.  (that project takes a bit longer).  If you don't mind having the stick there all the time I'm sure Andy's stick would be fine, and you can very likely mod it to a tron handle with a bit of doin'. 

[darthpaul]

Been waiting for your input on this Le Chuck, I'm considering attempting your Tron solution.

[Le Chuck]

Been waiting for your input on this Le Chuck, I'm considering attempting your Tron solution.

The software solution is really a neat piece of work and takes about an hour or so start through testing if you follow the directions and don't try to do your own thing like I did.  I want to make another wireless triggerstick using a Tron handle, would be too easy, more room for the wireless presentation clicker also.  By the way the battery life has been fine thus far, haven't had to change out yet.

[trekking95]

I don't mind it being a fixed handle, I might even make a Tron control panel as not to clutter the one I have.  

But what about the restrictor and the MiniGrip Stick, would it work together?
And is the Tron restrictor the same as the DOT one?

So those Tron handles from GGG have no button on the back like DOT ones but the MiniGrip Stick has the back button.
I was thinking about drilling a little hole in the backplate from the Tron handle then wire up a small push button like the DOT has.
Then I could play DOT and not waste the back button on the MiniGrip Stick. What do you think?  

EDIT:
Also does anyone know how to mount the MiniGrip stick to a 1/4 inch wood control panel?

[trekking95]

 

Really need to know, guys! 

[Le Chuck]

Really need to know, guys! 

Tron restrictor is made for the Tron stick.  Without looking at the bottom of the Ultimarc trigger stick I can't say for sure but I am 99.9% sure you would have to do one helluva remodel to get the Tron stick restrictor repro to work with that joy.

DOT does not use the same restrictor, that game is pure 8-way and also has a push pull spinner.  There are three ways to get a push pull spinner if that is what you want. 
1) Find a DOT, Zwackery, or other push pull original spinner CP and harvest it
2) Buy an Apache Control push pull
3) Find somebody who is totally down on their luck and thus willing to sell you their totally awesome Turbo Twist High-Low since Randy of GGG is out of parts to make more.

I have a TRON CP.  It is untested and unclean as I just go it but the mechanics on the trigger stick are in good shape.  The leaf switches have good movement and the rubber grommets are still supple.  No idea if the spinner opti board works but all part are there.  All it should need would be an optipac and a good cleaning to rock and roll.  PM me if interested.

If I was going to rock a frankenpanel I would make sure that the Tron joyrod was present and accounted for.  Committing to a frankenpanel with a Tron substitute just seems to not be worth the trouble.   

[trekking95]

So how much is a Apache Control push pull spinner?

[Le Chuck]

So how much is a Apache Control push pull spinner?

$130ish

[trekking95]

So is that the best/cheapest push-pull there is?

[Le Chuck]

In my opinion it is not the best.  The GGG High-Low is, but as I mentioned, RandyT is out of the parts and is currently working on a slight redesign to make mounting less of a bear.  A lot of folks are very happy with the Apache and as it is the only commercially available one right now I'd say that you're kinda stuck. 

If you only occasionally play DOT I would really think hard about how important a push pull is for you to have.  There are ways around that push pull functionality if you're willing to get a little froggy (foot petal, ring and pinky micro button on the stick), but if you're a dedicate DOT'r there's nothing like the real thing.  Only reason I bring it up is that you didn't seem familiar with the push pull function on DOT. 

[trekking95]

Not really, cant find much info on the DOT arcades. Unless there is some here I missed?

[trekking95]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SPACE-ENCOUNTERS-CONTROL-PANEL-MIDWAY-ARCADE-/300668881320?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46014309a8


What do you think?
Please tell me quick, it ends soon!

[Le Chuck]

That there is one o them analog sticks

[alfonzotan]

You really need to read this.  It's a good rundown on what is and isn't a Tron stick, and some options for modding other flight sticks:

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/TRON_joystick

I bought a "real" one off eBay myself a few years back, but they're fewer and farther between since the new movie came out...

Here's a somewhat-cheaper Happ flightstick:

http://www.arcadeemulator.net/cgi-bin/shop/cp-app.cgi?usr=51F8032884&rnd=2175291&rrc=N&affl=&cip=&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=HeavyDuty8-WayTriggerJoyst&cat=Joysticks&catstr=HOME:Joysticks