Switchable ball top?

[chrisindfw]

Are there any ball top joysticks that are switchable from 4-8 way without messing with a restrictor plate? I saw some with a switch flip but didnt see any with a ball top.

[rampy]

Are there any ball top joysticks that are switchable from 4-8 way without messing with a restrictor plate? I saw some with a switch flip but didnt see any with a ball top.

j-stick  j-stick (scroll down) from ultimarc

*shrug* (of course now you'll say... any that don't require me to go under the control panel to switch it from 4/8 way action... )

rampy

[rdagger]

I turned a Perfect 360 into a ball top using a Wico handle.  It is 4/8 way switchable by reversing the actuator.   I also bent the C-clip which holds the actuator, so it is easier to remove.

[RandyT]

Are there any ball top joysticks that are switchable from 4-8 way without messing with a restrictor plate? I saw some with a switch flip but didnt see any with a ball top.

Patience, my friend.......


RandyT

[RetroBorg]

Patience, my friend.......

RandyT

You produce one of these and you will be considered a joystick GOD.

[eightbit]

If anybody can do it Randy can.

Peope doubted you could do a better keyboard encoder cheaper and Randy did.

People doubted that you could have a elegant above the control panel true 4/8 switchable joystick and again Randy did it.

I can't wait to see what he does next...

[Jakobud]

btw, pretty soon Andy is going to give the option to choose what sorts of handles to put on the T-Stick.

[RetroBorg]

btw, pretty soon Andy is going to give the option to choose what sorts of handles to put on the T-Stick.

That sounds great, do you know whether there will be a choice of different colours as well?

[RandyT]

I think this may be what you are looking for.



RandyT

[AndyWarne]

btw, pretty soon Andy is going to give the option to choose what sorts of handles to put on the T-Stick.

The ball-tops for the new T-Stik plus are currently being shipped from Sanwa. We ordered from them for the best quality.
They are due to arrive on 28 Jan. The Mark 2 version of the T-Stik plus which replaces the switching bracket with a mechanism integral with the joystick, will ship on 2nd Jan.
Round mounting plates for all of our sticks, for users who prefer this method of mounting, will be available early Jan.

[RetroBorg]

btw, pretty soon Andy is going to give the option to choose what sorts of handles to put on the T-Stick.

The ball-tops for the new T-Stik plus are currently being shipped from Sanwa. We ordered from them for the best quality.
They are due to arrive on 28 Jan. The Mark 2 version of the T-Stik plus which replaces the switching bracket with a mechanism integral with the joystick, will ship on 2nd Jan.
Round mounting plates for all of our sticks, for users who prefer this method of mounting, will be available early Jan.

Will there be a choice of colours Andy?

If so, what colours will be available?

[paigeoliver]

Now if someone would just make a 4-way/8-way switchable balltop stick that uses a rubber centering grommet rather than a spring, well, then I will be VERY happy.

The rubber grommet is the reason that wico sticks feel so darn good compared to spring based sticks. A lot of people think it is leaf vs. microswitch, but not really, I have some of the rubber grommet Wico microswitch sticks too, and they feel just as good.

[AndyWarne]

The colors initially will be black, red and blue, with a choice of 30mm or 35mm diameter balls.
The Mk 2 T-Stik will be 4-8 way switchable by pulling the stick outwards and rotating either clockwise or anticlockwise, just like the current MK 1 design but with a neater implementation.

One thing I have not yet decided (and could use some feedback!) is whether to go for chrome or black shafts. I think that all currently produced cabinets (including my own Sega Naomi cabinet) seem to use black shafts but as we're looking at retro here, I'm trying to remember what most classic cabs used, black or chrome. Help required!
Cheers
Andy

[Carsten Carlos]

Personally I prefer chrome. Black looks less retro for me and somehow "cheaper". Don't like this plastic-look that much!

Is there a way to make the t-stick spring less stronger? Perfect would be a J-stick with the same easy switching!

[RetroBorg]

Chrome is the way to go!

[paigeoliver]

Andy, almost every joystick I own has a chrome shaft.

Wico balltops - Chrome (Most Atari titles, many conversion titles up to about 1992).

Happ supers mostly chrome. I am unsure about the current ones, but 5 of the 6 used ones I have owned had chrome, the other had chrome with a black plastic sleeve. (Many 90s games).

The Monroe joystick used a grey metal shaft that wasn't chrome. (Gyruss, Time Pilot, many other KONAMI pinout titles).

Original pac stick chrome.

Circa 1981 aftermarket Pac replacment stick chrome

Modern pac replacement chrome.

Data East style sticks - Black (Dedicated Robocop, Bad Dudes, and other games as well).

Every stick in every Sega game I have ever owned = Chrome (Clutch Hitter, Carnival cocktail, Space Firebird mini and the shifters on Turbo and Out Run).

Artic/ATW 4-Way = all black (looks a lot like an Atari 2600 stick, except hard plastic instead of soft). These don't hold up very well. They make a good stick if you just want to add a 4-way to your panel, but they quickly shatter microswitches if used as a primary stick.

Williams' 49-ways = Chrome.

Basically, out of the 15 cabinets I own, the 5 my neighbor owns, and the 20-30 I have owned over the years, I an only remember a couple joystick handles that were not chrome. And the ones that weren't also seemed to be the same ones that had a chintzy feel to them (Black handled super is the exception, feels the same as a normal one).


As for current cabinets. Newest joystick game I have seen on location (at least the newest one in a new cabinet) was an ultracade, and it had chrome handles.

Oh, and when I say chrome, I mean any shiny metal handle, as not all of them are actual chrome.

[AndyWarne]

Thanks for the feedback. Chrome it is then... I suppose it's easier to slip a black sleeve over the chrome if you need, rather than the other way round.

About the spring.. In fact if you examine the stick, you will find that the tension is coming from the microswitches. The Crouzet switches used on the stick are quite stiff and clicky. I have sourced an alternative switch from NTE (Japan) which is lighter and almost silent. Initially these will be available as an inexpensive kit to swap out the originals. Some people like the sticks as they are, but there will be a choice. Depending on feedback I might move to using these new switches as the standard fitment.

[SpamMe]

Depending on feedback I might move to using these new switches as the standard fitment.

As long as the original ones are still available. I wouldn't want them any other way, personally. I'll second chrome, too, by the way.