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How do you guys do it?
time to give up:
Dr. Venture--
Thanks for the encouragement, but what I get from your post is that I'm going to have to do lots more research and hope that what I come up with is suitable for classic games, then go through it all again if I want to play other games. Frankly this is what I have tried to do already. For instance, I had to learn that the JLW's restrictor would be better than the JLF for 4-way games. Didn't help, though.
time to give up:
TypeFighter--
1) If I play games on the PC I'll probably restrict them to mouse-friendly ones.
2) Well, I was hoping to try something of everything, and was doing arcade games partly to do something familiar while I learned about using the PS2 and different types of controllers.
3) I'm fine with bolting and clipping and stuff like that, and like it, but have trouble with things that require a steady hand (I have a little bit of tremor).
4) I would really like to get out cheaply. I spent a grand total of maybe $65 for the console, dualshocks, and games. I had no idea that the cost of a joystick would dwarf the whole rest of the investment. And, frankly, if I was going to spend $300 I'd probably get something with a motion controller and tons of fun attachments, rather than a joystick.
...and it was Dig Dug, which I had taken to playing lately because it tolerates joystick errors better. Not better enough, I guess.
time to give up:
Unstupid--
You are certainly welcome to believe whatever you wish. What I wrote was true regardless.
WindDrake:
There's not a whole lot of "Simple" in this hobby, sadly. It takes a fair bit of patience, willingness to learn, and most importantly, TIME! This can be an amazingly free time-destructive hobby. :)
Here's some questions to answer that'll help us point you in the right direction.
1: Platform. What do you want to play the games on? PC, PS2, X-Box, Grandma's Toaster?
2: Budget. This stuff isn't cheap. What can you spend?
3: Skills. Can you paint? Solder? Do any basic woodworking? Can you assemble Ikea funiture?
Edit: Okay, looks like PS2 is your poison of choice, and you're at least good for Ikea funiture, but you want cheap.
http://www.focusattack.com/foehammer-diy-arcade-wood-joystick-case-black/ <- Case
http://www.focusattack.com/toodles-cthulhu-multi-console-pcb/ < - MC Cthulhu control board
Check out FocusAttack, and the FoeHammer case. Combine that with a MC Cthulhu control board, wiring harness, and controls of your choice, and you should be all set.
Though, if you like 4/8-Way options, you might want to look into an Ultimarc ServoStik. Just add a small button somewhere on the case for easy 4/8-Way switching.
Hope this helps.
time to give up:
WindDrake--
Wow, that really IS helpful! Will you do my taxes?
OK, seriously, this is just what I needed. I'm too burned out by this process to go shopping around, but this looks like it will all work, and for about $200, and can be relatively easily changed for different platforms.
I just want to note that my one accomplishment in all this was solving the 4-way/8-way changeover problem when I cut a hole in the bottom of the case under the joystick!
Many thanks.