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OMNI-Stik PRODIGY (TM) - New Product Announcement
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Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: eightbit on December 06, 2003, 02:39:27 am ---I have 2 of the omnisticks and 2 of the prodigys. I like them a lot. Especially the prodigys. If I had a choice I would have ordered them with regular bat handles but I wouldn't have ordered ball tops. I would have ordered the handle they have now over a ball top.

I don't understand where this demand for balltops came from? Don't most of you guys demanding the ball top have supers, competitions and ultimates? Those are all bat sticks....

--- End quote ---
Eightbit, first off, I somewhat agree with you.  I would prefer the current Omni-Stik/Prodigy handle over either a ball or Bat stick.  The last true arcade game I played was a ball-stick and I remember blisters on the sides of my fingers from gripping the steel shaft.  I don't want to return to that part of the nostalgia.  (Just like I wouldn't won't to put a worn-out Pac stick on my panel so I can get stuck in the corners just like in the real arcades . . . )

But I understand the allure of the ball tops.  It comes down to the games you played growing up and re-creating some of your mis-spent youth.

For me, (and many others), this means the Pac-Man series, 1942/1943, Galaga, Galaxian, Frogger, Time-Pilot, Donkey Kong, Gyruss, Tiger-Heli, Top Gunner, Sky Shark, Robotron, Dig Dug, Gun.Smoke, Karate Champ, etc.  These were all ball-top games in the arcade's.

For the younger crowd, this will mean Tekken, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat, etc.  (After my time, so I can't give a longer list).  Fans of these games will prefer a bat handle stick.

Now, here's why there is so much interest in a ball handle Prodigy.

For the second group of games, these were all 8-way, all play fine on a Happ Competition, and I imagine their fans either don't care about 4-way games, or would use a dedicated ball top 4-way like the Happ Ms.Pac Reunion.

But, if you look at my group A list, there's an almost 50/50 split between 8-way and 4-way games.  But there aren't a lot of 8-way ball top options, and most people won't want a dedicated 8-way balltop and 4-way ball top on their panel, thus the popularity of an above panel switchable 4-8 way stick like the ball-top Prodigy.

FWIW.
PacManess:
I think TigerHeli is really summing it up well there. I mean I really really REALLY think it would be cool to have a Ball Top joystick just like the machines had when I was growing up.
However, the more I look at this design (the Bat Ball), the more comfortable it looks (you weren't kidding about blisters!)...almost as comfortable as a bat handle stickie but with more of a nostalgic feel...that ball really gives you something to grip when you are smacking around some poor little ghosties.
Like I said before, after the promise that I WOULDN'T get stuck in corners on Pac-Man (I swear to Blinky if I do...so help me....*grin*), I think that these sticks are the way to go. Nice hybrid shape, a little pricey, but really really worth it.
I'm still trying to figure out what color scheme I want to go with...do I make my P1 Stick Blue, and my P2 Stick Red...and then make my buttons for P1 Red and my Buttons for P2 Blue? Or do I use blue sticks for boths players, then make the buttons other colors? So many many choices.
Thanks for reading my rambling posts. Now off to go play some Pac-Man Jr. with my frickin' keyboard.
Spaced Invader:

--- Quote ---I lived in Germany from 1983 to 1987 and that was pretty much the only thing I saw.
--- End quote ---

Ditto...'87-'91...Germany is in Europe isn't it?  ;D
mushmouth:
Tiger-Heli,

Word.

mushmouth
eightbit:

--- Quote from: Pac-Maness on December 06, 2003, 11:54:16 am ---I think that these sticks are the way to go. Nice hybrid shape, a little pricey, but really really worth it.

--- End quote ---
Prodigys are a little pricey but the omnistick is priced around the same as other sticks and is still easy to switch if you reach under the panel.
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