What to pick?

[trekking95]

Greetings!  

I have been thinking about it and thought I would treat myself to something, so after having a vote it was decided that I would buy some good arcade parts (its hard to not win in a vote when your the only one voting  )
So I have figured out what I want but don't know what type, so here is where you guys come in. Please help me decide what type of these items to get. I would like reasons, pros, cons, your opinions, etc. on why these are the best (or really, really good). So here it goes!  

Control encoder (like an Ipac but whatever is maybe better)
Spinner (push-pull and regular)
Trackball (how well it mounts and how the edge on top looks matters)
8 way trigger stick (happ 8 way trigger stick is the only type I think so in case I am wrong you can say)


Well this is all I can think of right now so I will add to this if I can think of more. What are some good arcade parts in general?  

[Unstupid]

By themselves they are all kind of useless!  Are you sticking them on a cab you already own or are you building a new cab around them?

[elkameleon]

I have a miniPAC, I think its a pretty great product personally, albeit a bit confusing to setup at first. Having options can do that to ya!

[drventure]

Encoder - IPac (i have the 4 but the 2 is the same only for 2 players)
Spinner - I went with Ultimarc spintrack with flywheel and USB, has worked great.
Trackball - I went with dual Happ 3" with transluscent balls. Mounting is very straightforward and they're USB so they're easy to hookup.
Sticks - I like the U360's, but for 4or 8 way, I might very well have chosen the Magstick+ over them, knowing now how finicky my U360's have been

But I'm no arcade purist either, so there is that.

[trekking95]

Trackball - I went with dual Happ 3" with transluscent balls. Mounting is very straightforward and they're USB so they're easy to hookup.
Sticks - I like the U360's, but for 4or 8 way, I might very well have chosen the Magstick+ over them, knowing now how finicky my U360's have been

I meant a trigger stick, like for Tron.
And what about this for the trackball?
http://www.ultimarc.com/trackball.html
Or is the Happ one better?

Also what about this for the spinner?
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=268

Or this for a push pull spinner. Or are they worth it?
http://www.apachecontrols.com/products.html

[GregD]

Sort of a broad question without knowing what you plan on using the parts for.  What type of control panel will you be building?  You mention how the trackball will look on the control panel.  Do you prefer it to be high in the control panel.  if so, Happ makes a high ball trackball.  The Ultimarc trackball is a good trackball.  It is easy to mount in 3/4" material without a plate or having to do any routing.  The downside is that it is expensive.  Both the Ipac/Minipac and the Groovy Game Gear KeyWiz are really good encoders.  Both will be fine for you.  If you are ordering a bunch of parts from Ultimarc then get the Ipac.  If you are ordering a bunch of parts from Groovy then get the KeyWiz.

[trekking95]

By themselves they are all kind of useless!  Are you sticking them on a cab you already own or are you building a new cab around them?

 
Kinda like asking for a 4 topping pizza and no dough to put it on.  

No really though is that meant to be serious?

[trekking95]

Sort of a broad question without knowing what you plan on using the parts for.  What type of control panel will you be building?  You mention how the trackball will look on the control panel.  Do you prefer it to be high in the control panel.  if so, Happ makes a high ball trackball.  The Ultimarc trackball is a good trackball.  It is easy to mount in 3/4" material without a plate or having to do any routing.  The downside is that it is expensive.  Both the Ipac/Minipac and the Groovy Game Gear KeyWiz are really good encoders.  Both will be fine for you.  If you are ordering a bunch of parts from Ultimarc then get the Ipac.  If you are ordering a bunch of parts from Groovy then get the KeyWiz.

What about a 1/4 inch panel for the ultimarc one? Its not about the high part, just that the edge looks nice (like the ultimarc one).
Does the GGG one need routing and would it look nice? I can do routing if needed. Also the GGG one needs the Opti-Wiz, right?
Anyway besides the Ipac there was not much else from ultimarc that I needed, but from GGG there was the Tron joystick, the trackball for $59 and a spinner so yeah maybe it will all be from them, except the Happ trigger stick.
And are the Keywiz ones good?


Anyway its like a Tron panel with the trigger stick and spinner and the trackball since there will be room for it.

[GregD]

The Ultimarc U-Trac trackball is for mounting in 3/4" wood panels.  A Happ trackball looks really nice above the panel if done correctly.  I have only used the KeyWiz so that is all I can recommend.  If you search on the two products you will find that both are good encoders and each has a following.  You can get a Happ trackball with a USB and PS/2 interface built in.  I got mine on ebay for $10 and had to buy a $15 optiwiz.  No big deal.

[Unstupid]

By themselves they are all kind of useless!  Are you sticking them on a cab you already own or are you building a new cab around them?

 
Kinda like asking for a 4 topping pizza and no dough to put it on.  

No really though is that meant to be serious?

Hahah good analogy...  No it would be easier to make recommendations if we could analyze what you already have... that way we can see your weak point and recommend what would net you the beiggest benefit.

[Le Chuck]

Really take a look at the cost benefit of the push pull spinner.  Absolutely go with a GGG turbotwist2, you can mount it in a button hole, great all around spinner, but a push pull is a more expensive and different animal with a very restricted game selection.  Once you decide what peripherals you want that will help determine what encoder you need since different ones do different things differently.  Different.   

[paigeoliver]

Isn't the push pull spinner just for one game? Or did something other than Discs of Tron use one?

Really take a look at the cost benefit of the push pull spinner.  Absolutely go with a GGG turbotwist2, you can mount it in a button hole, great all around spinner, but a push pull is a more expensive and different animal with a very restricted game selection.  Once you decide what peripherals you want that will help determine what encoder you need since different ones do different things differently.  Different.   

[Le Chuck]

Isn't the push pull spinner just for one game? Or did something other than Discs of Tron

Zwackery and Forgotten Worlds. That's it. I got mine because I'm a DOT diehard but really have started to enjoy Zwackery which I started playing only recently.

[trekking95]

Yeah if its only for the 3 games I will go with the GGG one. But should I get an flyweight for it?

So the 3 inch GGG trackball should be okay?

[trekking95]

Hahah good analogy...  No it would be easier to make recommendations if we could analyze what you already have... that way we can see your weak point and recommend what would net you the beiggest benefit.

I guess a Tron type panel (Happ trigger stick with non-Happ spinner) with the trackball is what I want.

All I have right now is the 2 player style with 2 bat sticks and 7 buttons each.
So yeah I would be building a new CP for the 3 things. Then just swap 'em for different games! XD

[trekking95]

Would a Tron Atari joystick work with a computer? And would it work good as a Tron arcade game joystick?

[alfonzotan]

Would a Tron Atari joystick work with a computer? And would it work good as a Tron arcade game joystick?

First question:  Only with an Atari-to-USB converter like Stelladaptor.

Second question:  No.

[trekking95]

Also would the GGG Tron handle fit the Happ 8 way trigger stick?

And would the Tron restrictor make the joystick useless for normal 8 way games?

[trekking95]

Second question:  No.

Why is that?

[alfonzotan]

Second question:  No.

Why is that?

Because it's a glorified Atari joystick.  Not only does it not have the diamond restrictor from an arcade Tron stick, it's a sub-par controller all around for anything other than Atari 2600 games. 

[alfonzotan]

Also would the GGG Tron handle fit the Happ 8 way trigger stick?

I think so, but you should email GGG and ask to be sure.

And would the Tron restrictor make the joystick useless for normal 8 way games?

No.  I have an original Tron stick on my CP, and it works fine for other flightstick games like Gorf or Satan's Hollow. 

[Le Chuck]

And would the Tron restrictor make the joystick useless for normal 8 way games?

No.  I have an original Tron stick on my CP, and it works fine for other flightstick games like Gorf or Satan's Hollow. 

For select games you might not notice a difference, any 4 way game or 2 way (Satan's Hollow) you will have no issues but if the game requires you to hit solid diagonals then you'll notice.  I wouldn't recommend a round of streetfighter with a triggerstick.
Most flightstick games require an analog control which a TRON stick isn't.     

[alfonzotan]

And would the Tron restrictor make the joystick useless for normal 8 way games?

No.  I have an original Tron stick on my CP, and it works fine for other flightstick games like Gorf or Satan's Hollow. 

For select games you might not notice a difference, any 4 way game or 2 way (Satan's Hollow) you will have no issues but if the game requires you to hit solid diagonals then you'll notice.  I wouldn't recommend a round of streetfighter with a triggerstick.
Most flightstick games require an analog control which a TRON stick isn't.     

Yeah, it depends on the game.  Certainly I wouldn't want a flightstick (or Tron stick) as the primary joystick on a panel.

[trekking95]

Well I still have the regular joysticks, this is for Tron and what else works. And is an analog one like the modern flight sticks?

[trekking95]

Also would the GGG Tron handle fit the Happ 8 way trigger stick?

I think so, but you should email GGG and ask to be sure.

I did, they said yes. 

[trekking95]

On the stuff at GGG, what is the mouse button harness you can buy with the spinner?
And would this be a good USB encoder of theirs or is it more for rotary joysticks?

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=235

And where it says you can buy the Pro Wiring Set in 10, 20, 30 and 40 switches does that mean it only gives you enough wire for that many switches even though you can have up to 40 on the interface?

[trekking95]

Please guys, need to know on the last question! 

[BobA]

Looks like GGG is down right now.

[trekking95]

Looks like GGG is down right now.

Not here!

[trekking95]

 

Please guys, I need to know!! 

[wizkid32]

Control encoder (like an Ipac but whatever is maybe better)

I am using a KeyWiz Max for my project.  I really hesitate to say it is "better" or "worse" than an IPac.  I like it because it is cheaper than an IPac, has more inputs, and has excellent programming software.

[trekking95]

Would this be good too? It sounds better to me than the KeyWiz Max as its USB.

[wizkid32]

Would this be good too? It sounds better to me than the KeyWiz Max as its USB.

Are you talking about the GPWiz?  If so, be aware that any software you use must support gamepad input.  Also, USB has some keystroke and software limitations that you should be aware of.  For these reasons, I prefer a keyboard encoder.

[trekking95]

Would this be good too? It sounds better to me than the KeyWiz Max as its USB.

Are you talking about the GPWiz?  If so, be aware that any software you use must support gamepad input.  Also, USB has some keystroke and software limitations that you should be aware of.  For these reasons, I prefer a keyboard encoder.

Where did my link go? Must or never posted it. Here it is:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=235



So USB does have problems? Never heard that.
If so which of these is better?

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_80&products_id=199

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_80&products_id=303

[Blanka]

Get a minipac-opti with harness. It will save you tons of frustration!

[trekking95]

Get a minipac-opti with harness. It will save you tons of frustration!

Not really because....

A: they are expensive
B: I am buying all my stuff from GGG and don't want to pay double shipping
C: they are expensive
    

Other than that, what is the reason you like them? Like if they are really good I might get one.

[trekking95]

On the stuff at GGG, what is the mouse button harness you can buy with the spinner?

And where it says you can buy the Pro Wiring Set in 10, 20, 30 and 40 switches does that mean it only gives you enough wire for that many switches even though you can have up to 40 on the interface?

Please guys, answer this!!!!!! 

[Le Chuck]

On the stuff at GGG, what is the mouse button harness you can buy with the spinner?

And where it says you can buy the Pro Wiring Set in 10, 20, 30 and 40 switches does that mean it only gives you enough wire for that many switches even though you can have up to 40 on the interface?

Please guys, answer this!!!!!! 

You know you can contact the retailer directly and he would answer all your questions about his products in detail right?   

Mouse button harness allows you to add switches to the spinner's wiring harness.  These switches when depressed will send mouse click signals. 

The wiring harness numbers do indeed determine how many switches can be wired to that harness.  My board for instance only uses 22 so I wouldn't need all that extra wire that would come with a 40. 

Mini--pac opti allows you to wire your optical devices and your momentary switch devices all through one interface.  They are fantastic little products but if you are getting a GGG spinner with USB or PS2 connection and that's your only optical device it wouldn't be necessary.  If you wanted to use an Atari spinner or trackball that product would get you rolling. 

[trekking95]

Still waiting to here back from GGG.

So would the mouse button harness really be needed?

[Le Chuck]

Still waiting to here back from GGG.

So would the mouse button harness really be needed?

No.  Convenient perhaps, needed no.  I don't like them.  I don't like dedicated trackball buttons either so take my advice with a shaker of salt.