720 + P360 = Close Enough?

[Knoxximus]

I was just wondering that since the P360 is an optical joystick with no clicking or "corners" to hit, does using these make for a decent game of 720?

[Jakobud]

Well 720 actually uses a spinner, not a joystick.  I'm not sure if you can setup 720 to play with a joystick in Mame.  I am probably wrong, but I know by default it uses the spinner, like in the arcade.

[Magnet_Eye]

I have the Happs Optical sticks and have played 720 with them..not too bad, better than a regular joy, but nothing compares to the real thing!
 

[Minwah]

I wouldn't have thought the P360's would be much/any better than most other 8-way digital sticks.

I think you have to use MAME Analog+ to use an 8-way (or analog, or orig. arcade stick) stick well with 720deg in MAME.  I have never done it so please correct me if I'm wrong...

[jerryjanis]

Yeah, p360's would probably work the same as an 8way.  You can use Mame Analog+ so that when you push in a direction the skater will jump into that direction.  The biggest problem is that the game itself uses 16 different directions, so with an 8way  joystick, the skater's direction will skip over directions making it substantially more difficult to control.

http://jstookey.com/arcade/720/720-instructions.php

It got me thinking, though - if you could throw a ball top onto a 49way and use the new 49way->PC analog joystick interface, that might be a pretty good alternative!

[Knoxximus]

So it works good with a spinner then?

[jerryjanis]

So it works good with a spinner then?

I can't stand playing with a spinner.  The 720 joystick has a second encoder wheel attached which keeps the joystick calibrated so that the direction you point the joystick will be the direction the skater will point in.  You know what direction you are going blindfolded.  With a spinner, there is no such control which makes it a lot more difficult to come out of a wild aerial spin without crashing.

[Lilwolf]

I think the closest will be (other then original controller) will probably be using an analog joystick and hack a ball top stick.  Then use analog+ or noname mame.

But most others do stink.

you have to be able to stop quickly in a given direction.  Spinners don't allow this.

[Knoxximus]

It got me thinking, though - if you could throw a ball top onto a 49way and use the new 49way->PC analog joystick interface, that might be a pretty good alternative!

Where can I get information this type pf control?

[jerryjanis]

Where can I get information this type pf control?

I don't have any first-hand experience.  Here's the thing, though:  a PC analog joystick is functionally a pretty decent alternative to the 720 joystick, except for the problem that they don't have an arcadey feel at all.  The other problem is that they have a centered position (unlike the 720 joystick) which means that it might take some discipline to stay on joystick's outside circumference.  The 49way should have a much better arcadey feel to it.  Since 720 demands 16 directions, and the 49way can supports that and more, I think it might work pretty well.

Here's a link to a thread which discusses daveb's 49way joystick interface:
http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17230;start=msg136541#msg136541

Of course, if you're feeling really hard-core about 720, then you may need to look into interfacing an actual 720 joystick like I did.  There's details on how to do that on my site:

http://jstookey.com/arcade/720/

[Minwah]

I don't have any first-hand experience.  Here's the thing, though:  a PC analog joystick is functionally a pretty decent alternative to the 720 joystick, except for the problem that they don't have an arcadey feel at all.  The other problem is that they have a centered position (unlike the 720 joystick) which means that it might take some discipline to stay on joystick's outside circumference.  The 49way should have a much better arcadey feel to it.  Since 720 demands 16 directions, and the 49way can supports that and more, I think it might work pretty well.

I hear what you're saying about PC analog sticks, but is there any reason why a 49-way stick would work better than a 'normal' analog arcade stick?

Edit: Are 49-ways just analog in the directions?  What I mean is do they have the analog range than normal analog stick's do?  (I should know the answer but I've never used a 49-way before)...

[ericball]

Edit: Are 49-ways just analog in the directions?  What I mean is do they have the analog range than normal analog stick's do?  (I should know the answer but I've never used a 49-way before)...

49ways have a 7x7 positioning grid, versus 8ways which have a 3x3 positioning grid.  Analog grid is dependent on the resolution of the analog to digital converter (i.e. an 8-bit ADC would give a 256x256 grid).  49ways are halfway between an 8way and an analog stick.  They provide some additional resolution while still being digital and therefore accurate & consistent.

[jerryjanis]

I hear what you're saying about PC analog sticks, but is there any reason why a 49-way stick would work better than a 'normal' analog arcade stick?

What's a 'normal' analog arcade stick?  Most of them are flight sticks, aren't they?  For 720 there wouldn't be any difference functionally, it's just that the feel of a flight stick would be terrible for 720.  Happs sells their "analog joystick with ultimate handle", though, so maybe that would be good, too.

[Minwah]

49ways have a 7x7 positioning grid, versus 8ways which have a 3x3 positioning grid.  Analog grid is dependent on the resolution of the analog to digital converter (i.e. an 8-bit ADC would give a 256x256 grid).  49ways are halfway between an 8way and an analog stick.  They provide some additional resolution while still being digital and therefore accurate & consistent.

Thanks, that explains perfectly

jerryj: I suppose most are flight sticks, but I was just thinking of the working principal rather than the handle...

[Lilwolf]

btw, I have a 49 way + daves board

but it has the spider on the bottom.  So it won't work well.

[jerryjanis]

btw, I have a 49 way + daves board

but it has the spider on the bottom.  So it won't work well.

What do you mean it has the spider on the bottom?

[NoOne=NBA=]

It's a big rubber X, that they used on the Sinistar sticks to help center them quicker, and provide resistance to movement.

It's basically like having rubber bands connected to the bottom of the stick, and then stretched to the outsides of the joystick base.

[Knoxximus]

Kinda like a shock mount on a condenser mic.