Special controls: Do you use them? (Trackball, spinner, etc)

[keilmillerjr]

I'm not sure spending just under $100 on a trackball is worth it. How often do you actually use it? What games do you like to play that utilize a trackball?

I've seen a few cabinets that have a spinner. It would be neat to have one to scroll through games. Once again, we are looking at another just under $100 feature.

Any other special controls that you guys use often? Or perhaps a control that you thought that you would but didn't?

[thatpurplestuff]

Never had a spinner, but I used my trackball all the time.  In the process of a new build and probably still won't have a spinner, but I wouldn't even think about not having a trackball on my next arcade.

[keilmillerjr]

Never had a spinner, but I used my trackball all the time.  In the process of a new build and probably still won't have a spinner, but I wouldn't even think about not having a trackball on my next arcade.

What do you use the trackball for? Games? Navigating the frontend?

I'm not really concerned with using it as a mouse to configure things. I can use my bluetooth mouse and keyboard to configure the machine, or I can remotely access it over the network, or I can yank the disk and use another computer.

[Xiaou2]

Personally, I think Spinner games are far more fun that Trackball games.

 They can also be used to steer in driving games.

[05SRT4]

It seems like when I have friends over all we play is track ball games. (bowling, horse shoes, shuffle board) Plus using it as the mouse helps to.

[DaveMMR]

If you have to ask, you probably don't need it.

Having a trackball was a no-brainer when I built my panel because there was specific games I had in mind: Centipede, Marble Madness, Missile Command. (And it was a Centipede cabinet so it should be able to play that game properly if nothing else.) And the spinner was an afterthought because I do enjoy Tempest and Arkanoid (and Cameltry as well).  That said, they only got 10% of the action - it was mostly joystick games being played.

As I said in another thread, don't add controls simply because you think you may, possibly, need it one day. Have a very specific reason (i.e. must play games) for adding them. You can always 'upgrade' your panel down the road if you change your mind.

That being said, some people do use their trackball as a mouse. But so long as you're setting things up ahead of time and only using MAME and/or other emulators, you really don't need a "mouse" on your panel*. Most, if not all, frontends allow joystick navigation (or keyboard if using an encoder that emulates key presses).

(*I personally think anything that requires a mouse for navigation is a poor candidate for inclusion in a cabinet - but some people don't mind that.)

[shponglefan]

If you have to ask, you probably don't need it.

^ Yep, this.

Personally, I don't have/use a trackball because the only game I would want it for would be Marble Madness.  I thought about getting one in case others wanted to play trackball games, but haven't bothered yet.

A spinner on the hand has been great to have both for spinner games and 360-degree driving games (i.e. Super Sprint and 4x4 Off-Road).   I opted for a TurboTwist w/ the driving wheel attachment.  Lots of fun.

[Buick455]

I installed a trackball just to play Centipede, MM and my wife liked the golf games (Golden Tee 97 was in the bar), I still don't have a spinner though.

If I replaced my one and only cabinet with another I would install a TB again. If you install one, and you do play centipede, marble madness etc.. I don't think your going to look at it and say "I wish I never installed a TB".

[thatpurplestuff]

Never had a spinner, but I used my trackball all the time.  In the process of a new build and probably still won't have a spinner, but I wouldn't even think about not having a trackball on my next arcade.

What do you use the trackball for? Games? Navigating the frontend?

I'm not really concerned with using it as a mouse to configure things. I can use my bluetooth mouse and keyboard to configure the machine, or I can remotely access it over the network, or I can yank the disk and use another computer.

Sometimes the frontend, but mainly for "party games" when people are over.  Shuffleshot, Shuuz, World Class Bowling, and sometimes Golden Tee are ALWAYS a hit and really fun when you've got 4+ people that don't traditionally play video games hanging out and wanting to casually play some games.  A trackball is something that everyone can understand so it's really easy for non-gamers to participate and actually get into it.  It's also awesome to play the classics like Marble Madness, Centipede, Millipede, Missile Command, SNACKSON JACKSON!, etc.

Plus if you're feeling frisky you can use the trackball sorta like a spinner or light gun to play any games that you don't have the correct controls for... obviously not ideal but you can make it work and personally I still think it can be pretty fun playing T2 on a trackball.  Again like others have said, it really comes down to what you are wanting to play once your cabinet is built.

[Fursphere]

I don't have one on my cabinet because I screwed up and forgot about it.  (seriously)

I have plans this summer to take my cabinet apart and correct that (after I finish the sit down driving cabinet)

[rablack97]

Or you could buy a refurbished from me for 45.00 shipped u.s.....

My thinking is you will regret building your panel without one...you'll come across a classic game where you it and can't play it.

Search around the trackball doesn't have to be brand new...get a used one they all work the same...

Spinner to me is eye candy on the panel it just completes it with that badass look....although its a need to have for arkanoid...tempest...tempest 2000...those games suck without one...and are super fun and addicting...

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[ids]

This topic again? 

I got a whole bunch of Betson trackballs (NOS) at a surplus store for $10 a pop.  Randy's upgrades turned that deal into quite an expense, but it's sorta worth it.

Centipede, missile command, crystal castles, etc.  What is a cab without these?  There is also a lot of golden tee when people come over.

[Connorsdad]

I'd rather have them and maybe use them than not have them at all.

[severdhed]

it really depends on what games you want to play..

the spinner i installed never gets used, but the trackball is used very heavily. I play millipede more than any other game on my cabinet.

[mgb]

I have both a spinner and trackball.

I would say I rarely use either.
I really only added the spinner for tempest and arkanoid but there are a couple of other games that use a spinner which are fun.

The track ball mostly used for missile command, marble madness and irritating maze.

Like others have said, if you have to ask, you may not need it.

I bought my trackball years ago but I think it was only $80 brand new on eBay. It's a 2-1/4" USB happ that I have since changed the ball to an ice ball.

[happyfunball]

if there are games you like to play that use them, then have them. there are maybe 6 trackball games and 3 spinner games I like to play regularly so for me they are a must have. To the point I actually find myself owning 4 trackballs at the moment. although 2 are spares at this point.

[RandyT]

if there are games you like to play that use them, then have them.

This is really what it boils down to.  There are a few "must play" games which use these specialized controllers, and using a joystick or other means of controlling them will leave one wanting more.  Centipede on the 2600 anyone?  It was fun for it's time, but bleah as far as the control scheme goes

What happens more often than not, is folks will put these controls on the machine for a particular game they really want to play, and end up finding many more they hadn't considered.  I was most interested in Arkanoid when planning to put a TT2 on my machine, but realized soon after that the old-timey games I used to play as a kid, like Avalanche, started getting a lot of play time.  Driving games are also immensely better with a high-resolution spinner control, so all of those get a benefit as well.

RandyT

[sharpfork]

I had a CP with a trackball and a spinner but redid it to mess around with some new button layouts and left them both off.  I'm going to redo it again and add them both back on, I miss them.

[welshjpc]

My 4 year old LOVES the trackball, his high score on world class bowling Flash is over 700 (difficulty 3/10). Even when I try to I can't beat him!

Also Golden Tee is a good social game (as mentioned previously in this thread).

[mgb]

It's funny but my 6 year old insists on playing both centipede and missile command with the joystick   

[Warborg]

I have both a trackball and a spinner and use them both moderately...  The spinner is primarily used for Tempest, but I like Tempest enough to have the spinner just for it... 

The trackball I use to navigate the PC, plus many different games such as Marble Madness, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Missile Command, golf games, etc...

But I guess it really boils down to what many others have said, it's really just a matter of what you enjoy playing on the cabinet, and if you are concerned with catering to other potential players as well.  In my household we are all gamers plus many of my friends are, so I tried to give it as much flexibility as I could without making it a frankenpanel.

[gildahl]

I was "into" arcade emulation for at least fifteen years before I finally built a cab for myself.  Among my top 10 favorites of all time are Tempest, Missile Command, and Centipede.  So it was a no brainer to make sure I included a trackball and spinner.  I actually ended up with two spinners since I also figured that a universal cab that couldn't even play Pong properly would be a shame. 

Part of the joy in having a cab is having arcade controls.  When someone plays Pac Man on my cab it's certainly fun (and also in my top 10), but they know its fun on their PC too--or even their phone.  But get them into a serious trackball frenzy with Centipede or Marble Madness, or a great spinner game like Tempest or Arkanoid, and they know this is a treat they're not going to be able to effectively duplicate at home.

Since building the cab, I've "discovered" many other games that use these controls that have made them well worth the investment.  Millipede, Tac/Scan, Omega Race, Blasteroids, Cameltry, Wacko, Mad Planets, Tron, Off The Wall, Slither, Reactor, Quantum, Crystal Castle, Snake Pit, Rampart, Golden Tee, Shuuz, and Major Havoc among others.  And of course, if you don't have a steering wheel, a spinner can work quite well as a substitute for certain racing games such as Pole Position, Night Driver, etc.

Naturally, if these games are a yawn for you, it would be silly to include these controls; but if even a few of them are in your top 20 list I'd strongly consider giving them proper support.

[mgb]

Oh yeah, I forgot. Wacko.
That's worth a trackball right there.

The only problem I have with wacko on my set up is that I find it most comfortable playing with the left stick for shooting but my left stick Is a dedicated 8 way so I have to be careful to hit it right.