Spinner or Trackball??

[javeryh]

I'm designing my CP right now and I'm only going to have room for one (bartop).  Which should it be?  I know it's based largely on the games I want to play but I'm not really sure which games need what.  Is there a list out there somewhere that someone can point me to that lists which controls are used for what games?  Thanks!

[paigeoliver]

If you only get one, then get trackball, as a trackball makes an a passable spinner, but nothing can replace a trackball.

[Minwah]

If you only get one, then get trackball, as a trackball makes an a passable spinner, but nothing can replace a trackball.

What he said.  Definately.

[NoOne=NBA=]

My personal game selection would lean more toward the spinner.
I have alot more spinner games that are on my must-have list, than trackball games.

The best option would be to do a modular system.
That way you could have BOTH.

[juggernaut]

I agree. Modular is the way to go. Ive got molex connectors coming off my ipac, optipac, and pc's joystick port. Panels are held on with industrial strength velcro so swapping is fast and easy.

This way i can swap between:
Standard 2 Player 6 button
Steering Wheel and Pedal
Tron
Trackball
Dual Steering Wheels
Paperboy
and Star Wars

and eventually, Sarge, Spy Hunter, and Terminator 2 panels.

Modular = Goooooooooooooooooooooooood!

[hunky_artist]

is velcro strong enough to withstand the pulling and pushing on joysticks? that's an interesting option I hadn't thought of really..

(sorry, didnt mean to highjack the thread, you can answer in pm if you want)

[Bgnome]

If you only get one, then get trackball, as a trackball makes an a passable spinner, but nothing can replace a trackball.

What he said.  Definately.

i dont know..  i have seen some guys with mad crazy etch-a-sketch skillz that may be able to pull off a dual spinner setup..

[juggernaut]

yeah the velcro is really strong...i have it going up the "rails" of my cabinet where the cp sits(its a main event cab) the pieces are each 1/2" wide by 13  1/4" long. the only time it budged a little was when my friends 3 year old son was hanging from the steering wheel...and it didnt move that much.  ive had no problems with it moving when i play, and theres times i can really lean into a joystick...like when i play tron.

[Stingray]

Tempest is a must play in my book so I could not do without my spinner. I know you can play it with a trackball, but it really isn't the same (at least in my opinion). Having said that, I have both.

-S

[NoOne=NBA=]

I tried velcro, and wasn't happy with it.

It held OK, but wasn't ideal.
(It didn't let go under normal play, but you could MAKE it let go by pulling the stick too hard).
The reason I didn't like it was that it allowed some wiggle on my modules from the hook part wiggling around on the loop part, so I stuck with a bolt-on system.

[exibar]

use those quick bolts that they use on Winston cup racers... err, Nextel cup race cars.  They might not be the cheapest thing, but they would sure work awesome, nice and flat on top when closed and only a quarter turn gets them completely up swap out the panel, quarter turn and your playing again ;-)

[DougHillman]

use those quick bolts that they use on Winston cup racers... err, Nextel cup race cars.  They might not be the cheapest thing, but they would sure work awesome, nice and flat on top when closed and only a quarter turn gets them completely up swap out the panel, quarter turn and your playing again ;-)

Dzus fasteners.  There are some other brands I think, but Dzus were the innovators and the most popular.  I actually considered them for my modular CP panels, but I'm going a different route now I think.

[Tailgunner]

use those quick bolts that they use on Winston cup racers... err, Nextel cup race cars.  They might not be the cheapest thing, but they would sure work awesome, nice and flat on top when closed and only a quarter turn gets them completely up swap out the panel, quarter turn and your playing again ;-)

You mean Dzus Fasteners. They came to racing from the aircraft industry, where they've been used since the 40's. They're a pain to install, but I'll agree that they'd be ideal for a swappable panel setup.


As to the original question, I'd go with a spinner if the cab will use a PC monitor,  or a trackball if you're using a TV or arcade monitor.

[telengard]

is velcro strong enough to withstand the pulling and pushing on joysticks? that's an interesting option I hadn't thought of really..

(sorry, didnt mean to highjack the thread, you can answer in pm if you want)

I've used velcro for a few things on my cab, but I personally wouldn't use it to hold down controls.  I use it to hold the monitor controls in place.  I guess it depends on how rough you are when you play.  I can't imagine *just* velcro holding down a joystick.  The worst thing I can think of when playing is worrying more about the joystick coming loose than your score.