List of specialty controller games here

[RayB]

I found a web page which lists some games that use specialized controllers or controller configurations. I don't know how complete this list is, and perhaps maybe this page is already well-known (if so I apologize for posting the obvious). For those who don't know about it, I'm sure this is a great resource when planning your control panels:

http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/underpass/24/arcadeplan01.htm

 

[Pasqualz]

Ray, nice find! I was just talking to a friend about specialty controllers, so it's timely and topical. . .

[spidermonkey]

Here's a few to start the list.. I'm not including games that used mechanical and optical rotary sticks since these sticks were used in MANY games and I don't consider them to be extremely specialized.

Berzerk.. 9-position optical but later converted to a Wico 8-way leafswitch stick.

Moonwar.. GIANT optical roller controller similar to the Major Havok controller but three times the size.

I-Robot.. hall effect stick

Escape From The Planet Of The Robot Monsters.. hall effect stick

Xybots.. special 8-way twist to turn sticks.

Quarterback.. Leland spring action potentiometer sticks.

John Elways Team Quarterback.. Leland spring action pot sticks,

All American Football.. Leland spring action pot sticks.

Strike Zone.. Leland spring action pot sticks.

Paperboy.. special handlebar controller (optical or pot based ?)

Steel Talons.. Analog trigger stick with buttons and a rudder pedal.

Sinistar.. Williams 49-way optical balltop stick

Gauntlet Dark Legacy.. Happ 49-way optical bat style stick.

Gorf..analog trigger stick (can be played with a regular digital 8-way without great difficulty)

Major Havok.. optical roller controller (basically a spinner mounted sideways)

720.. special balltop joystick that is either optical or pot controlled but uses some sort of drive chain to transfer the joystick movements to the  encoder)

Lunar Lander.. pot based throttle lever.

Food Fight.. analog balltop stick.

Title fight..twist to turn sticks similar to Xybots sticks but with different style hand grips.

Frontline.. 8-position mechanical rotary dial with built in push down fire button.

Tin Star.. same as Frontline controller.

Wild Western.. same as Frontline controller.

I'm sure there's many more I can't think of at the moment.

[Xiaou2]

 Would be great to have a site that had a pic of each special controller from many angles - and or the blueprints for them as well.

 I dont think there really is much controller documentation - and I think it should be done.... as the controller plays a big part in how a game is played/feels - as well as just for historical/intrigue reasons.

 I also think that even simple joystick games should be documented on which type of stick was in it.  IE:  What type of stick did Gyruss use?  Was it a standard wico leaf 8 way - or a modification - or a special gyruss only joystick...    There seems to be many variations on stick designs...

[spidermonkey]

I believe Gyruss used basically a standard 8-way leafswitch stick with no restrictive feel in the corners what so ever. Similar to the feel of a Happ super. Unlike a Happ comp stick the Gyruss stick could be held in whatever direction and then rolled all the way around in a circular motion whithout feeling any restrictive corners what so ever. This open circular movement feel was needed for playing Guruss. Personally I think that a spinner would have been a better suited control for Gyruss since the game is fairly similar to Tempest in that you have to rotate around your enemies and shoot them from the outside in. On second thought I kind of like the use of the joystick for Gyruss because it gives the game its own style of feel rather then just being a copycat of Tempest.  Gyruss used a joystick made by a company called Monroe which unfortunately has been long since defunct. Too bad because it was a very well built joystick. (mostly metal componants) The stick was used in a couple of Konami/Centuri games incl. Time Pilot . I believe Paige Oliver has one of these sticks in his Time Pilot cocktail so he could describe the characteristics of this stick to a tee. I've been trying to get one of these off Ebay but always end up loosing the auction. I gave up trying to win one because I'd rather see the stick go to someone who has a Konami/Centuri game and really needs one of these to complete their restoration project since the sticks are so damn rare now-a-days.  Ok I've probably rambled on with more info then is necessary so there you have it.

[Industen]

For the newer generation:

Beatmania IIDX 7 key controller

Pop N Music 9 button controller

Dance Revolution Pad

KeyboardMania

Guitar Freaks

Drum Mania

Para Para Paradise

...plenty others