Got my cab, rotary joystick question

[Lance]

So I picked up my cab today, it is originally a centipede cab, but was painted over and made into a 1943, and now it has control panel setup with two 8 way/12way rotary joysticks, and 4 buttons (2 buttons per player).  

My question is about the joysticks, they are not the SNK type rotary (with the yellow hex handle), instead they have a large yellow ball on top.  Any idea what these were from?  The control panel overlay has a data east logo on it.

Also are these rotary joysticks worth anything?  I can't really see myself using them since I've never played a game that needed them.

lance

[Lance]

Here is a pic of the control panel:



The joysticks on the underside look just like the rotary one from happ

lance

[paigeoliver]

Possibly they are Wico rotary sticks. I have a Wico rotary with the round handle, but it looks like it could just as easily take the normal Wico balltop handle instead.

Are they leaf switch or microswitch?

[menace]

Definitely wico's--bought a pair myself.  They work and feel the same as the SNK's but have the ball top--I made my own SNK like tops to replace them.   There is a thread somewhere on the dimensions of the snk handles if you want to recreate them.

They are good for ikari warriors series, heavy barrel and others.  if you are maming you will need the druin or rdagger interface or use the Mk-64 to use them properly in mame.  If you've never played these games and have no desire to in the future, you could either e-bay them or use them as 8-ways with an eye to possible future use--just a thought (you could also sell them to another BYOAC'er who would like a set)

edit: here we go:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=13028

[Tiger-Heli]

if you are maming you will need the druin or rdagger interface or use the Mk-64 to use them properly in mame.

Or you can use them directly with MAME Analog + if you have an encoder with enough inputs.  24 additional just for the rotation feature of the two joysticks.

[Lilwolf]

Quick note:  I don't have druins interface... but I believe I know how he uses it.

Analog+ is MUCH better then the MK64 solution.  But it requires a 12 EXTRA inputs per joystick (so 12+4 for directions + 4 for buttons per player)

It goes directly to the driver and sets the the controls.  MK64 and druins (I believe) goes through the standard mame by holding down a button for a set amount of time.  This is because mame uses an analog controller for the games... and you have to get the right timing for left/right... Sometimes you miss one... but more of... you cant turn very fast.

With the drivers that analog+ works with... you can turn 180 then 180 degrees and be at the right spot...  You notice a HUGE difference and allows you to do things that the other can't..

but take note:

There is a bug in about 1/2 the drivers.  Ikari and Victory road being 2 of them.

You loose the ability to play Xybots (I played it for about 3 days straight before I changed my controls... after getting the MK64 working well... I ended up playing Xybots more then timesoldiers... but because of the input problems).

But even after all that... And even if the analog+ never get fixed... I would have to say... I wouldn't change it back.  You realize that this is the RIGHT way to hack the controllers... Everything starts feeling like it should.

btw, I would LOVE to hear if anyone has druins board and if it works better...

One las note:

Analog+ also has the option for 'L' and 'R' to directly move the value.  This worked well for MK64... but you had to speed it up as much as you can... I never got it as good...but close.  Now I'm going to try (when I get time) to setup the MK and see if I can map 12 inputs to the 6 he currently requires and see if I can use the MK 1/2 the time and directly to analog+ for the other.   This would give me back my XYBots (but xybots controllers are only about 20 bucks)