Main > Main Forum

Defender Joystick Options

Pages: << < (2/5) > >>

1500points:

maybe you are thinking of Atari 2600 Defender?

the Chinese 19-1 board's defender has been recoded so that it works like that, not very efficient for the gliding reverse maneuvers required in defender or tagging mutants at close range.

one more ergonomic detail about defender.  you don't want the joystick to be too tall, on the real thing the movement is more of a palm, with the index finger wrapped around the balltop for quick adjustments.  and if the reverse button gets too far from the stick, it is hard to tag.  playing with a configuration that is out of spec will cause severe tendon soreness if you practice too much.

RandyT:


--- Quote from: happyfunball on December 12, 2013, 11:44:10 am ---being in the same position you are, I chose to try out this joystick:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=365

you can carve out a corner to put the reverse button in the right spot. the throw is a little tighter than feels right for defender, but I was considering messing with the spring to loosen it up a bit.

edit: however, looking at the pac pro 4 way leaf switch joystick, that might be a better option.

--- End quote ---

I'm not sure the Pac-Pro would be better for Defender.  The throw is longer, and the feel is a little tighter than the Leaf-Pro.

If there's interest, I can look at making a 2--way version of the Leaf-Pro.  I intended to do this a while back, but it fell off my radar.  With a 2-way resistrictor, and some switch tweaking, I suspect that this would be a great Defender stick (with the mod for the reverse button.)  A while back, someone (Kowal, I think) suggested that placing a spring in a vice, compressing it to the desired length and heating it with a torch, can be effective in shortening it.  If that works, you should be able to tune it to your desired centering tension.

1500points:

I haven't ordered your products yet as I was just recently made aware of them, but they look great.

there was a UK supplier of repop Williams 2 way sticks but he since ran out of a source for some leaf parts (or some specific piece) and discontinued selling them.

There IS a huge interest for a good 2 way inexpensive stick for the Williams fans. it would sell great!

it would be really nice if the stick was similar to a Williams stick so you can make the height lower, the balltop 30mm, and the base narrow enough that you could saddle up a normal button to be 1.75 inch center to center on the vertical between stick and reverse button.  :)



happyfunball:

I would buy the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of this. however I am only one person. but I'd probably buy two of them if it helps.

I was looking at the pac pro cause the description made it seem like you could tweak it more than the leaf pro. but if its tighter than the leaf pro probably not. that one feels too tight to me already, for defender.


--- Quote from: RandyT on December 13, 2013, 10:51:05 am ---
--- Quote from: happyfunball on December 12, 2013, 11:44:10 am ---being in the same position you are, I chose to try out this joystick:

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=365

you can carve out a corner to put the reverse button in the right spot. the throw is a little tighter than feels right for defender, but I was considering messing with the spring to loosen it up a bit.

edit: however, looking at the pac pro 4 way leaf switch joystick, that might be a better option.

--- End quote ---

I'm not sure the Pac-Pro would be better for Defender.  The throw is longer, and the feel is a little tighter than the Leaf-Pro.

If there's interest, I can look at making a 2--way version of the Leaf-Pro.  I intended to do this a while back, but it fell off my radar.  With a 2-way resistrictor, and some switch tweaking, I suspect that this would be a great Defender stick (with the mod for the reverse button.)  A while back, someone (Kowal, I think) suggested that placing a spring in a vice, compressing it to the desired length and heating it with a torch, can be effective in shortening it.  If that works, you should be able to tune it to your desired centering tension.

--- End quote ---


leapinlew:

I've built 2 bartops to play Defender. The first time I used a Super Joystick and the 2nd time I was lucky enough to get a NOS Defender stick. I really like the actual defender stick, but a super joystick carved to allow a close reverse button works well too. I never posted this project, but here it is near the end of it's build. It's about a year old.

Pages: << < (2/5) > >>

Go to full version