Newbie - looking for advice on suitable Star Wars / Firefox controller...

[Ranger3]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site and hobby :-) Since I installed MAME a few weeks ago and re-lived playing Firefox and Star Wars from my youth, I've been hooked! I can't wait to run my own full size arcade machine :-) So I've bought the book, and am raring to go!

But first, I need some advice please...

As above, my two (favourite) games are Atari Firefox and Star Wars (yes that way round surprisingly), and the whole thing kind of hinges on playing those 2 games, and playing them well.
However, you can't get the original controller (flight yoke) any more. (I tried to order a USB one from a company called WESTCONTROLS, but had a few problems with their ordering system, and they are not responding to emails. They've got a nice website but ... does anyone know if they are still trading???)

So I'm looking at alternatives and just wondering what everyone on here uses to play those games? I know Star Wars and Firefox use analogue controls, so I was thinking of the SUZO HAPP 'Analog Joystick with B-8 Grip' (or their other Analog joystick). But I believe to get those working I would also need to get the UGCI. Has anyone had experience of them? How strong is the centering/springback (hopefully quite loose). How accurate are they? How large is the range of movement on the axis? Suitable for Firefox/Star Wars?

Just wanted to get some advice before I spend over £300 on the stick and the UGCI. (I even thought of trying a Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog with the centre spring removed?).

Once I get Star Wars and Firefox sorted, I'll be moving on to other games. My dream plan is to have 'interchangeable' control panels for some of the unique games. We'll see how that goes...

Thanks in advance for your help guys...

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, Ranger3.   

I would also need to get the UGCI.

There are far better (and far less expensive) analog encoder choices listed here.

you can't get the original controller (flight yoke) any more.

If you want a flight yoke, watch e-bay or KLOV for one from one of these games:

Here are the controllers that are compatible or can be easily converted AFAIK:
Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Firefox
Hydra
Lock-On
Turbo Sub
S.T.U.N. Runner - Remove one plate add two thumb buttons. See page 32 for parts breakdown http://www.arcade-museum.com/manuals-videogames/S/StunRunner.pdf Happ sells the thumb buttons and handle parts.

There are several other possibilities listed here. (right column)


Scott

[MTPPC]

Star wars is vector, Firefox is rastar. You can play starwars in MAME on raster, but it won't play "well". If you want to play starwars on a vector, plan on around $2500 and a couple of years hunting to find an original.

[rovingmind]

I've a havoc yoke listed in the Buy/sell/trade section right now.  The difference between the star wars yoke and the havoc yoke is the hand grips.  The action between the two is the same.  However, the one i have listed will need rebuilt (as will most you possibly find on ebay).

[cj138]

WESTCONTROLS = RamControls, no?  Ram Controls is bad news. Just keep an eye out for flight yokes like Scott listed.

[rovingmind]

I said mine was a havoc , It was late, i was tired, its actually Hydra. 

[PL1]

WESTCONTROLS = RamControls, no?

No.  They are NOT the same company.

The Westcontrols site was up 3 years before the RAM SCAM Controls site (2004 vs. 2007) and Westcontrols offers a much wider product line.

Westcontrols was listed on the RAM SCAM Controls vendor page (wayback machine link) along with known good vendors like VGP. (a.k.a. ArcadeFixit)

Ram Controls is bad news.

QFT.


Scott

[paigeoliver]

Star Wars should actually play fine with Happ's off the rack analog sticks, which is what all the newer Star Wars games used. However those also cost a couple hundred bucks new, but can be had for almost nothing used with a bit of luck.

[ark_ader]

Use a mouse.

[cj138]

WESTCONTROLS = RamControls, no?

No.  They are NOT the same company.

The Westcontrols site was up 3 years before the RAM SCAM Controls site (2004 vs. 2007) and Westcontrols offers a much wider product line.

Westcontrols was listed on the RAM SCAM Controls vendor page (wayback machine link) along with known good vendors like VGP. (a.k.a. ArcadeFixit)

Thanks Scott. Sorry for any confusion.

Ram Controls is bad news.

QFT.


Scott

[rovingmind]

I usually end up playing it with an analog joystick.  I've tried it with a xbox 360 gamepad and its not as fun.  Mouse is doable but again not as fun.

[RandyT]

I usually end up playing it with an analog joystick. 

With the high price of analog arcade flight sticks, I'm surprised we don't see more of the relatively lower cost "plug and play" PC flight sticks on panels.  Many of them would seem not too difficult to adapt to this type of installation, with a bit of mounting ingenuity and some hardware hacking to use the buttons, etc...  I was just given a Logitech ATK3 for $0, which I can envision playing games like Star Wars quite well.  Not the same as the original yoke, but still better than many of the alternatives. Would be good for other titles as well.