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Idea for a Multi Williams Plus panel.
jimmer:
--- Quote from: 1500points on February 10, 2013, 10:51:24 am ---With a proper leaf you will be able to doubleflap by doing that little sweet spot wiggle to get that ostrich to blaze straight up.
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Please describe this wiggle a bit more. Are you rocking the button or sliding your finger across it?
If you wiggle your finger sideways over a convex or concave button you can get 2 hits per cycle, compared to 1 hit per cycle if you press up and down. This will be easier/better with a leaf switch. Also, for me at least, I can wiggle my fingers sideways faster than up and down.
I've been experimenting with this technique for Defender but haven't got it down yet. It puts me into a thrust then burst fire mode which isn't as smooth as my normal contiunous fire mode, but for special circumstances it could be useful.
Sliding more than 1 finger across the fire button can give some awsome bursts of fire.
jimmer:
--- Quote from: RandyT on February 09, 2013, 02:36:53 am ---
--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on February 08, 2013, 10:18:19 pm ---I have to say Jimmer.. for one who spends so much energy trying to argue a position, without even knowing what the grass is like on the other side of the field... One would think plopping down a few dollars for a real leaf wouldnt be a big deal.
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He does have a real leaf switch button, but not an original. I agree, however, that someone intent on finding the best solution, should at least run one of these through the same gamut of tests.
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As I already said, if I had spotted original style leaf buttons for sale I would have bought them, and probably not the CLASSX true-leafs. But then I'd have chosen convex buttons and missed out on seeing what concave is like (not having been to an arcade for years).
I would still buy an original leaf now in any case, because as you both say I'm kind of obliged to. But today they seem to be all sold out. http://www.arcadeshop.de/index.php?cPath=79_84&osCsid=eh7m6favojblngrqb7uetc42g4
Is this the end of the line for original style leaf buttons? or just a temporary stock problem (yeah, i'll ask the shop too)
Xiaou2:
Defender isnt a game in which rapidfire is required for success. It just helps greatly in certain situations. Try Halleys Comet. To get all the powerups in the rocks, while taking on the enemies, will put your fire rate, & fatigue level, to the test. And it never really lets up. Halleys comet actually will allow some of the craziest fire rates Ive seen.. and is not limited like galagas 'you must hit something + fire at that same moment' trick... nor limited by number of bullets on-screen, like other games.
Galaga is good, but there are moments of rest. Still, if your a good player, after 6 to 10mins, your gona start to really feel the burn. Xevious, if you want to try to catch all the enemies as well as bomb the ground... you will be non-stop firing, with little to no rest... is also a good test of endurance and fatigue.
Fatigue being the biggest issue. As for mere speed requirements, try killing every block on the MCP cone in Tron. If you can do that, you will get a bonus. Also, while the first may be manageable... by the 2nd or 3rd MCP cone, the speed is so great, that it becomes very difficult (or impossible) to get every block before the cone crushes you.
While yes, I can play many of these games and lay down some good damage using my laptop style keys keyboard... which probably are similar in to micros, I can get that smooth effortless floating that comes from a non-bottoming out leaf.
And with Joysticks, I still cant do anywhere near as good in Robotron, due to the quicker shorter throw activation, and smooth easy feel that come from a rubber grommets non-edge bashing, gives.
--- Quote ---We got to see Lon play on 1500points Mame cabinet. The thing that struck me was how good he was playing on non-original hardware. While we were there he didn't once complain or comment about the hardware either. It just struck me at the time as somewhat funny with all the hand-wringing (myself included) that goes on about controls being accurate.
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The worlds fastest runner could run with small rocks in his slippery dress shoes... and still probably be do way better than the average joe. Just as a really good martial artist, may be able to kick just fine with heavy boots on. Win or not, it does not mean theres disadvantages.
Whether it be comfort, fatigue, reaction time or performance.
Xiaou2:
--- Quote ---Is this the end of the line for original style leaf buttons? or just a temporary stock problem (yeah, i'll ask the shop too)
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I appreciate your dilemma... as even in reality, I dont have all NOS leafs, which may or may not have some metal fatigue due to their age and use.
But some things I recommend, are to grab a used control panel off ebay. A lot of times you can get them with a good deal of leaf switches, and their buttons + mountings.
Another thing to immediately do, is check the local craigslist for games being sold, like Asteroids Deluxe, Joust, etc.. and also, if you have newsgroup ability.. search the arcade section, and as to visit any local collectors house. Get a feel for them 1st hand, in a real machine, thats hopefully been cleaned, repaired, and well maintained.... (and verify under the CP, that all controls are original too)
1500points:
The UK is a bit sparse when it comes to buying loose control panels, so that is a tough one. Shipping over the pond is expensive. I recently shipped a populated multi-williams panel of Defender proportions to the UK via USPS- shipping was $70US!
Jim, those joust buttons are just pinball style buttons. all this stuff originated in pinball, ie was stocked in the Williams pinball factory. for example on a joust, the leaf is a plain old leaf like you'd use in a pinball machine, screwed right to the wood. so that means those buttons and leafs can all be sourced directly from pinball sites, you don't need arcadeshop to be in stock. check places like marcos specialties, and anything else that googles. but still i guess that really isn't so important, and not really worth the $$$. did you know there are a couple retro arcade events going on around London this year, might be able to play some real Williams machines if you are lucky.
the sweet spot wiggle is this-
1- take your first and second finger and wiggle them real fast. practice hitting your keyboard in a soft quick repetition with the pads or edge of finger just below the fingernail. slight arc in hand.
2- a real williams button is a bit taller than the buttons we've been discussing, but the concept is the same.-- practice the "double flap" while pre-loading the button by pressing it a bit. your fingers will start making tiny movements instead of exagerated back and forth
3- then apply more downward on the button or less until you are flapping when the button is exactly at that moment of contact
4- when found, the sweet spot, you will find the ostrich blazes because you are barely "scratching" those 2 leafs together with miniscule opening and closing of the contact.
5- it is a fine motor finesse thing that you won't fully get for over a month of playing a game like joust every single day. then it's like a bicycle, it'll feel normal and you'll do it without conscious thought.
6- handy for track and field if you aren't a multi-finger masher style player.