Trackballs...

[zimmerman]

I was just noticing that a wico 3" trackball is much cheaper than a happ 3" trackball.  Is this reflected in the quality, or is happ just overcharging for their trackball (like many of their products)?

thanks

[Lilwolf]

Happs are easier to get into if you are doing a mouse hack.  Imperial has a cheap 3" also which has a ps2 port.

Happs is considered the best... but many many many games come out with wico components.  

note:  I don't have a wico but have used them often.   If they aren't right next to each other, I can't tell the difference.  I've never had them next to each other to see.... but who cares.

One more note.  teh 2 1/4 are MUCH cheaper (2 for the price of 1 happs 3") and the cool part... you can put pool balls (8ball, 9ball) in them.  VERY nice feature.

[greywolf22]

Funny, I had that exact same question.  Also are the 2 1/4" trackballs good for games such as Centipede and Missle command?
I am looking to put a trackball into my new control panel, but I am looking to save money as well.  Also does the
Wico trackball interface as easily with the Opti-Pac as the HAPPS one does?  Sorry but I'm new to all this.   Thanks

[Tiger-Heli]

Funny, I had that exact same question.  Also are the 2 1/4" trackballs good for games such as Centipede and Missle command?
I am looking to put a trackball into my new control panel, but I am looking to save money as well.  Also does the
Wico trackball interface as easily with the Opti-Pac as the HAPPS one does?  Sorry but I'm new to all this.   Thanks

The 2-1/4 Wico's are half the price of the WICO (not Happ's) 3-inch ($24.99).

Centipede originally had a 2-1/4, so it should work fine with it.  Missile Command originally had a 4-1/2 (AFAICT), but I plan to use a 2-1/4 for my panel.

Wico will work fine with the Opti-Pac or the Happs Interface (or probably) any other.  I have heard the Active HI is better for a mouse hack (which is also what I plan to use).

[Smack]

I've got a 3 inch happs on one cab and 2 Wico 2 1/4 inch one on my cocktail. They both play fine with me. (I put 8-balls in the wico ones)

The only pain was the little connectors that hook onto the circuit boards on the wico balls. I ended up just soldering my wires directly to the optics board. Other than that a snap to hook into the Optipac.

My 2 cents.

[SirPoonga]

I have a wico 3" with white or tranclucent red/orange ball ball.  No rollors, I think one of the optics is bad.  But I'll sell it.  PM me.

[JustMichael]

<sarcasm mode on>
I can't understand why people think Happ overcharges for their products.  Take a look at the stupendous bargain they have on a flight yoke.  Who wouldn't buy it for the minuscule price of $1041.90?
<sarcasm mode off>

[Lilwolf]

hahahahahahaa

I was about to lecture about how adding forced feedback arcade quality to a yoke could cost a lot... and that they give price breaks to big companies...  So to them it's probably ok..

BUT NO FORCE FEEDBACK???  I can't think of how they came up with that price unless they only sell them to the military  

[anoon]

..and people wonder why arcades are dead.

[greywolf22]

Okay, one more idotic question...what is the difference between the 2 1/4" trackballs from Wico... I mean, what is the
difference between Active High and Active Low?  If this has all been addressed already I apologize in advance
Thanks for all the great info above though  

[Tiger-Heli]

Okay, one more idotic question...what is the difference between the 2 1/4" trackballs from Wico... I mean, what is the
difference between Active High and Active Low?  If this has all been addressed already I apologize in advance
Thanks for all the great info above though  

Not real sure, I was planning to do a mouse hack and I e-mailed the person who had done one before and he said Active Hi was easier to hack to.  The opti-pac has a jumper so it will work with either one.  And Andy Warne said the Happs stuff will work with the jumper set either way . . .  FWIW