Trackball Size

[marcopolo]

Two questions regarding trackballs:
1. what was the size used in the original Centipede games: 2 1/4", 3" or 4"

2. any recommendations on which size is best for MAME control panels - centipede, Cabal, marble madness, etc.

Any advice / recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Mark

[Tommy Boy]

You're in luck: TigerHeli just posted a link to an awesome FAQ that answers this and a few more questions.  Give it a read.

http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/faq.htm#Should%20I%20use%20a%203-inch%20or%20a%202-1/4%20inch%20trackball?
(link fixed by moderator)

[marcopolo]

I still need some advice on this please... the FAQ did not fully answer my questions.

Anyone you currently has a trackball on their MAME control panel please let me know what size works best for a majority of the games..2.25", 3" or 4".  YOur feedback is greatly appreciated.

mark

[hyiu]

I am currently using a 3 inch trackball (the crayola ball or kidsball)....

feels good... reason I use it is because its simple and cheap... result is acceptable for my $30.....

[u_rebelscum]

2. any recommendations on which size is best for MAME control panels - centipede, Cabal, marble madness, etc.

Any advice / recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Mark

centipede: (answer in the FAQ ref'ed) 2 1/4"
Cabal: some machines had 2 1/4", some 3"
marble madness: I think were 2 1/4"
golf games: I think all are 3"

In addition to the happs trackballs, Imperial 3" trackball can be bought with a ps/2 connection (~$80), and wico sells 2 1/4" for ~$25, 3" ~$50 last time I looked.

my 2 cents:
Testing a 2 1/4" kensington expert mouse against  a 3" happs and a 3" wico: I like the 3"s better.  Longer spin, bigger "grip" area, plus the arcade quality.  My happs spins longer and the ball/casing fitting is better than my wico, but my wico spins smoother.  I think others have found the wico smoother also.  Still debating which 3" I like more.  However, the 2 1/4 vs 3 test isn't really fair since my 2 1/4" isn't a real arcade trackball.  

[brandon]

sort of OT, but I was wondering what mouse is best to use for a hack... as far as sensitivity and strobbing.  does the encoder on the original mouse have to be similar "pitch" as the trackball?  I mean I'm sure it would work either way but as far as performance which is best??

[Chris]

I have a 2-1/4" trackball that was part of a keyboard/trackball combo... I see some people have replaced their 2-1/4" ball with a billiard ball.... would the extra weight of a billiard ball bring my trackball to a more arcade fee, or would it just wear out the plastic rollers in the trackball faster?

--Chris

[Tiger-Heli]

Answering a bunch of replies here:

Marcopolo:  Beyond what I said in the FAQ, I think more arcade games used the 3-inch tball than anything else.  If these are the games that you usually play, (or even if not), I doubt you'd be disappointed with the 3-inch tball.

Chris:  I have heard that the 2-1/4 inch billiard balls improve performance of the ARCADE trackballs b/c of the added density.  I'd be nervous about trying it with plastic rollers, though.

Brandon:  I haven't done any of these first hand.  I've played around a little.  Nathan Strum of www.cheeptech.com recommended the Kensington 3-button Valumouse USB for his projects.  If you are going to use the mouse optics with a trackball encoder wheel it definitely helps if the encoder wheels are similar pitch.

BTW, http://www.oscarcontrols.com/order.htm sells prehacked Logitech mice for $16.00 and compatible encoder wheels for $3.50, dunno if these wheels would fit your trackball though.

Personally, I prefer the concepts in http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html and http://www.members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm, both of which use the original trackball optics and then hook into the mouse at a higher level.  If you try this route, OSCAR has posted that Logitech mice DO NOT like to work with optics other than their own, so I would hack a non-logitech mouse for this.

[brandon]

yeah tigerheli, I was wanting to use the trackballs existing optics and encoder, I didnt know which mice would be compatible and also how they would interpret the pulses from the optics.... I like the idea of trying some cheap USB mice and see what happens... that way with win98 and analog+ I can always add more!!    thanks for your input...