Analog stick for Food Fight?

[dave_in_sanfran]

I'm looking for recommendations for a decent analog stick to use in MAME with Food Fight.

I'm on a DOS machine with Advance MAME, using an old Soundblaster card for audio.  I'm not sure if the joystick port and dos driver for the card is any good in this case.

I'm not sure I want to pay Happs prices for an analog stick, but I'm not sure how good a regular consumer PC stick will look mounted in my control panel.

Your ideas or past experiences would be appreciated.

[1UP]

You can always hack a consumer stick.  If you wanted, you could even take off the trigger stick and put on a ball top.  One thing you'd definitely want to do is reinforce the shaft with metal.

Also, there's always Ebay.  And the buy/sell/trade section here, if you want a true arcade analog.  You might try your local arcade vendor as well, they might have an old machine they'd part out for cheap.

[Xiaou2]

 
 Well,  just remember that those arcade sticks use 5k pots which arnt compatible with pcs.   Unless happs sells some sort of pc converter... your out of luck...

Unless... you use 1ups dual strike hack.  I think that may work.

[Lilwolf]

If anyone finds a good analog ball top joystick I would be interested.  For foodfight but mainly for n64 type emulation.

I would love to see a good premade 49way joystick -> pc interface.  There are tons of these joysticks around cheap on ebay, plus you can still buy new ones since they are used in a lot of todays games... and this would probably be enough for most people / most games.

[1UP]

 Well,  just remember that those arcade sticks use 5k pots which arnt compatible with pcs.   Unless happs sells some sort of pc converter... your out of luck...

Unless... you use 1ups dual strike hack.  I think that may work.

Actually, there are 2 options:  Replace the pots with 100k pots, or hack the analog stick to an analog gamepad (doesn't have to be Dual Strike, there are other pads that work as well.)  I have 3 analog arcade controls on my machine, working fine...

[Dave_K.]

If anyone finds a good analog ball top joystick I would be interested.  For foodfight but mainly for n64 type emulation.

I would love to see a good premade 49way joystick -> pc interface.  There are tons of these joysticks around cheap on ebay, plus you can still buy new ones since they are used in a lot of todays games... and this would probably be enough for most people / most games.

49-way sticks are no longer being made (although happs still has some spare parts left).  This is why they are so cheap now on ebay.  Unfortunally the only other analog arcade stick happs offers is the $116 analog with ultimate handle (w/2 5k pots).  Why does it have to cost so damn much!  Its highway robbery!

-Dave

[Dave_K.]

I have 3 analog arcade controls on my machine, working fine...

Which analog joysticks do you have?  Or are they just hacks from pc analog sticks?

-Dave

[1UP]

Which analog joysticks do you have?  Or are they just hacks from pc analog sticks?

-Dave

I said they were arcade controls!  I have an original Star Wars yoke and 2 Terminator 2 positional guns, all have the original 5k pots, and all are hacked to Dual Strike USB boards.  They work fine with my system!

[dave_in_sanfran]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I like 1Up's hack, but I'll need to see if my machine running DOS 6 can do anything with a USB port.  I can't believe the price of Happ's analog stick, so I'll keep looking for used ones, or a consumer stick.

[u_rebelscum]

I can't believe the price of Happ's analog stick, so I'll keep looking for used ones, or a consumer stick.

Anybody have suggestions on a good consumer stick to use on a CP?  The ones I've taken apart (read: cheap) are all plastic and would brake in a second.  Plus the mounting issue...

Open to any ideas.  Thanks.

[1UP]

I can't believe the price of Happ's analog stick, so I'll keep looking for used ones, or a consumer stick.

Anybody have suggestions on a good consumer stick to use on a CP?  The ones I've taken apart (read: cheap) are all plastic and would brake in a second.  Plus the mounting issue...

Open to any ideas.  Thanks.

The most solid stick I've seen is the Suncom F-15 line.  It's an authentic-looking flightstick.  The construction is all plastic, but with a metal base to give it weight.  The plastic is very thick, especially on the shaft.  I'd bet you could cut down the shaft to a stub, and put a hollow metal shaft coming out, with one of Oscar's future balltops for the handle.  Might work!  Would also make a really cool flightstick for other analog flight games...

Hmm...their site seems to be down.  Dunno if they're still around, but might be some on ebay.  It seems a web search will turn up a few online stores that have them...

[Xiaou2]

I can't believe the price of Happ's analog stick, so I'll keep looking for used ones, or a consumer stick.

Anybody have suggestions on a good consumer stick to use on a CP?  The ones I've taken apart (read: cheap) are all plastic and would brake in a second.  Plus the mounting issue...

Open to any ideas.  Thanks.

On my site, Ive hacked a Fox pro 2.  They arnt that expensive... and they have incredible accuracy.   While its also plastic... the shaft is thick,heavier duty plastic.  Much stronger than any Ive seen before... and Ive broken a lot of sticks appart !!!  

 The mount is pretty easy.  The stick uses micro pots... and it takes up so little space.   I cut the entire base off, and left only the circular center.  I then drilled a few holes in the outter circle, and bolted it to the metal plate.

 Only prob... is that I didnt get a USB version.   Ill have to look and see if they make one, and grab it.  I think they do.

 Of course, mine is a Sinistar stick, and uses bike tire tibes for the special 'accumaltive' resistance.








More info here...
 http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com


 Also... How was the show?

[Dave_K.]

Holy crap Xiaou2!  I just checked out your site and I CAN'T BELIEVE all the stuff you made! Its not just the INSANELY HUGE rotating control panel, but you freaking made your own starwars controller, 2 tron sticks, shifter, and motorcycle controller all from SCRATCH using HAND CARVED WOOD!!  Topping it off with this analog stick hack using bicycle tire tubes for resistance is just pure genius!  Your creativity in solving these problems is simply outstanding!

[Xiaou2]

 *blush*    

  Thanks Dave, I appreciate the complements.  

  I guess Im just a nutcase for video games.  I simply must have the correct controls to play them too.    I didnt always have the money to go out and buy the parts...like an 80$ yoke off ebay... and also, I wasnt sure how to hack 5k arcade pots to PC... so I had to try and see what I could come up with.

  Of course, the sinistar controller was impossible since they are hard to find, and mame dosnt support them.   So thats one that is actually practical to build instead of buy.

   One thing Ive always enjoyed doing, is designing things.   I really like the challenge of trying to re-design or improove things.   Only wish I had more $$$ so that I could finish this project...and start many more. (like my mini-pinball machine idea  - 2.5ft long by 1.5ft wide - slightly larger than marble sized balls)

  If you think these ideas were great.... you should see my video game designs.       (stuff thats up on the page are my throw aways as I dont want my others ripped off)  Unfrotunately, I cant program for beans.   I have all these great ideas with unique control systems drawn out...yet I cant seem to get a talented team together.  Everyone wants $ up front  

 Anyway... Ill keep pluggin away as I can afford it


 Thanks again for your high praise    
 

[u_rebelscum]

The most solid stick I've seen is the Suncom F-15 line.  It's an authentic-looking flightstick.  The construction is all plastic, but with a metal base to give it weight.  The plastic is very thick, especially on the shaft.  I'd bet you could cut down the shaft to a stub, and put a hollow metal shaft coming out, with one of Oscar's future balltops for the handle.  Might work!  Would also make a really cool flightstick for other analog flight games...

On my site, Ive hacked a Fox pro 2.  They arnt that expensive... and they have incredible accuracy.   While its also plastic... the shaft is thick,heavier duty plastic.  Much stronger than any Ive seen before... and Ive broken a lot of sticks appart !!!  

Okay, I'll look around.  Guess I shouldn't have dismissed some 'sticks just because they were plastic.  Thanks you guys.

 Also... How was the show?

The CAextreme was pretty cool.  Only got to go Friday (for setup & a little playing) and Saturday;  I wanted to go Sunday too, but couldn't make it.  A lot of stuff, about half video games, half pinball.  

A few stuff I thought interesting/played:
2 Marble Man (Marble Madness II) cabs (joystick only )!
DOT
Starwars
4 SF Rush 2049 TE
Assault
Toobin'
Gondomania
Demolition Derby (2p)
Spy Hunter
720
LASERmame & Dragons Lair projected on the wall

Full list: http://www.caextreme.org/2002-show/2002games.html

[1UP]

The CAextreme was pretty cool.  Only got to go Friday (for setup & a little playing) and Saturday;  I wanted to go Sunday too, but couldn't make it.  A lot of stuff, about half video games, half pinball.

AWWW...  Wish I'd known about the show!    I'd have driven up for the weekend!    (I'm LA local...)  But then I'd have to explain to my wife why I drove 4 hours to play games when I have a Mame cab at home.  Hell, she looked at me funny when I spent a quarter to play an original Ms. Pac-Man at the car wash today!  Yes, Mame is great, but ain't nothing like the real thing, baby!