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Author Topic: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME  (Read 2047 times)

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Propdept

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Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« on: January 28, 2020, 08:25:17 pm »
Hi dumb question here
Is there a place that has a complete list of settings for the various arcade games to properly set your Spinner, Trackball,  flight-sticks so that they closely Match what is found in the arcade? :blah:

Or is it a matter of trial and error :dizzy:

OR just go what FEELS right to you? :soapbox:

I love these little things   :applaud:

Thank one and all who read my words  :cheers: and look forward to your replies :notworthy:

DarthMarino

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Propdept

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Re: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2020, 09:22:39 pm »
Thank you
What about for track ball and gun games?

DarthMarino

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Re: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2020, 09:31:50 pm »
They mention trackballs briefly in the link. Guns are usually calibrated in-game.

Propdept

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Re: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2020, 09:58:26 pm »
Thank you this is helpful. Not too sure how to figure out track balls. Can you help

KenToad

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Re: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2020, 03:35:40 pm »
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Spinner_Turn_Count

If I go to that Wiki page, it says that Arkanoid has 486 counts per revolution. Using the formula, 486 * 100 / 1200 = 40.5, which should be the correct sensitivity setting in MAME.

The Wiki page also states that 120-130 degrees will move the Vaus from one side of the screen to the other. However, in my testing, including on a machine at a barcade last night, the Vaus seems to move all the way across the screen with a full half turn of the spinner, so 180 degrees.

I have my Turbo Twist 2 spinner sensitivity set to 30, which feels totally correct to me compared to the original machine and, indeed, moves the Vaus from one side of the screen to the other with a full half turn.

Changing the setting to 40 definitely feels too sensitive. This is all subjective, of course, but I would be curious to see a list of everyone's preferred settings for spinners and trackballs and see if people go mainly by what feels right, by what feels authentic, or by math based upon the Wiki numbers.

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Re: Settings for Spinner trackball for MAME
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2020, 03:41:35 pm »

Always keep in mind that knob size plays a huge role in how sensitive a game feels, even when set at authentic sensitivity in software.  As I recall, the original Arkanoid knob was pretty large and it was geared.  This did two things: It made it feel less sensitive than it really is, and the resistance on the knob helped prevent overshoot, again, making the control feel less "twitchy".

To get the feel of a game as you might remember, with a knob which is smaller than the original, one will likely want to lower the sensitivity a bit.  Conversely, a larger knob might require the sensitivity to be increased.  It's all about surface area at the circumference.

Anyone who doubts this can do a little test for themselves at the extreme end, simply by removing the knob entirely and trying to play by using just the much smaller shaft of the spinner.  It will all be clear after that ;)