Is there a decent 'off the shelf' StarWars yoke?

[BazookaJo]

Anyone found a decent yoke substitute for the MAME Starwars?

[BazookaJo]

Can't you guys with all your collective genius come up with a quick and dirty StarWars yoke substitute for us mame freaks.

Forget the rocket science that is TwistyGrip - I just want to shove a pipe through a suitable PC steering wheel housing and stick a couple of joysticks on each end .

Seriously though, isn't there some to way to combine the workings of an MS Sidewinder and a suitable PC steering wheel i.e one with a perfectly horizontal tubular spoke through the centre (through wich to thread an x-axis control pipe) with a minimum of cutting and soldering?

You know, something within the capabilities of us mere mortals .

Joe.

[Crazy Cooter]

Have you tried here?
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=search

And do you want answers here or the thread you made 30 minutes ago?

[ErikRuud]

This is the only thing I am aware of that come close.

http://www.avault.com/hardware/getreview.asp?review=chflightyoke

The pitch controls would not be the same as the original game(push in/out instead of twist up/down), but this should work.

[daywane]

He could not wait.. 

[SirPeale]

And do you want answers here or the thread you made 30 minutes ago?

Merged threads.

[Tailgunner]

You could bug Charlie at Gamecab to quit playing with his router and to finish up the redesign of his yokes.

[BazookaJo]

Hi there, posted 2 topics as I thought it would be better as two slightly different threads -

[GGKoul]

You can build your own...

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/

[NoOne=NBA=]

quick and dirty StarWars yoke substitute for us mame freaks.

How about nice analog trigger stick?

Then it'll be JUST LIKE having your own new Trilogy machine.

And you won't have to work AT ALL.

[BazookaJo]

You can build your own...

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/

Cheers for the info dude, but any project where the materials list is over 2 pages long is out of my league.

But just maybe ... it could be adapted it to work with the steering wheel idea...

quick and dirty StarWars yoke substitute for us mame freaks.

How about nice analog trigger stick?

Then it'll be JUST LIKE having your own new Trilogy machine.

And you won't have to work AT ALL.

 

Dude, the Starwars yoke is one of the greatest controllers of all time, in fact I'm dying to play the 90s Sega Star Wars arcade with one (when mame finally have it up and running).

[SirPoonga]

anyone going to mention gamecab's yoke?

[NoOne=NBA=]

Dude, the Starwars yoke is one of the greatest controllers of all time, in fact I'm dying to play the 90s Sega Star Wars arcade with one (when mame finally have it up and running).

Then why do you want to replace it with a home-brew "pipe through a steering wheel" controller?
And an "I don't want to work THAT hard" one, to boot?

That is the point I was making.
You can't just "slap something together", and recreate "one of the greatest controllers of all time".

It will take WORK, or it will take MONEY--your choice.

[mahuti]

Gamecab's yoke... the mention is fairly useless. I think it's been a year since there were any for purchase. I know, I've been on a list to be updated on them.... I would love to get my hands on one.

[SirPoonga]

But if you don't mention and don't bring attention to it Gamecab won't think it's worth pursueing.

[GGKoul]

I know for a fact that Gamecab is working on a Version 2 of his Star Wars yoke.   As I email him all the time about getting a yoke.

But I don't know when it'll be available...

[GGKoul]

You can build your own...

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/

Cheers for the info dude, but any project where the materials list is over 2 pages long is out of my league.

If that is the case, I guess your stuck trying to find one on ebay.

Also, if you think BYO-Yoke is hard.. wait until you start building your cab.  As that takes TIME & MONEY!

One suggestion, get the Project Arcade book...

[Gunstar Hero]

I agree with this guy tho. I know if I was trying a BYO Yoke, it'd...

a) Never get finished.
2) Look like crap.
@) probably not work. 

...and I'd be out anyways. I would like to see a yoke like the Star Wars one out there on the market, and I'd be willing to spend some reasonable coin on it.

[armax]

Heck, I emailed them.  He is excited about the new yoke....now if only one were available for purchase.

[BazookaJo]

Then why do you want to replace it with a home-brew "pipe through a steering wheel" controller?
And an "I don't want to work THAT hard" one, to boot?

That is the point I was making.
You can't just "slap something together", and recreate "one of the greatest controllers of all time".

It will take WORK, or it will take MONEY--your choice.

It's not a question of hard work, I just ain't that crafty if you get my meaning, and since the Starwars controller is basically a steering wheel with an y-control element, it seems like a

[SirPoonga]

Seriously though, isn't there some to way to combine the workings of an MS Sidewinder and a suitable PC steering wheel i.e one with a perfectly horizontal tubular spoke through the centre (through wich to thread an x-axis control pipe) with a minimum of cutting and soldering?

Depends on how clean of a look you want.  If there's enough room int he shaft to run more wires this should be possbile.  Though you'd probably want to make your own yoke as two joysticks on the side of a steering wheel would look funny.

[BazookaJo]

Seriously though, isn't there some to way to combine the workings of an MS Sidewinder and a suitable PC steering wheel i.e one with a perfectly horizontal tubular spoke through the centre (through wich to thread an x-axis control pipe) with a minimum of cutting and soldering?

Depends on how clean of a look you want. If there's enough room int he shaft to run more wires this should be possbile. Though you'd probably want to make your own yoke as two joysticks on the side of a steering wheel would look funny.

The wheel itself would be removed leaving just the 2 central spokes and knocking up the SW style box to stick over the centre of the steering wheel falls within my limited capabilities .

Seriously through, I

[SirPoonga]

Seriously through, I

[BazookaJo]

Seriously through, I  like most people wouldn't have too much problem working on the aesthetics once I had a working peice of kit.

Are you tlaking about making a kit t hat "bolts on" to an existing wheel? That's a bad idea. The PC steering wheel market changes quite abit.

No dude just converting the one wheel.

[SirPoonga]

Then your problem is you are going to have to come up with a better "steering wheel".  So you will need to take off the current steering wheel and disconnect the buttons, come up with something that fits the shaft, etc...

Assuming you want a dedicated yoke.  A dedicated yoke could work as a steering wheel easier than having a kit that attached to the wheel.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Apologies if my refusal to personally hand craft each cog of the x-control is upsetting the BYOAC hardcore.

It's not that at all.
It's that there are too many subtle things about the controls that make them work as well as they do that you can't easily duplicate in a home-brew.

There is NO easy way to get a GOOD yoke, except to buy one.
If you are looking for a good start point, at least start with real arcade parts.
Bolting controls onto a good 270 wheel shaft will be much easier, and more durable, than using a PC wheel.

You are trying to approach this from too many angles (cheap, easy, good).
You only get to pick two.
Which two are most important to you?

[lcddream]

...if i were you i'd pick good 'n cheap ';]

[NoOne=NBA=]

Ahhhh......but GOOD and CHEAP ain't EASY.

The GOOD/CHEAP version is the TwistyGrip.

The GOOD/EASY version is a real yoke, and an AKI.

The CHEAP/EASY version is either an analog stick, or will likely be GARBAGE when it gets done.

[BazookaJo]

There is NO easy way to get a GOOD yoke, except to buy one.
If you are looking for a good start point, at least start with real arcade parts.
Bolting controls onto a good 270 wheel shaft will be much easier, and more durable, than using a PC wheel.

You are trying to approach this from too many angles (cheap, easy, good).
You only get to pick two.
Which two are most important to you?

Well, I think you'll find that the '(cheap, easy, good) Exclusivity Law' is not a universal truth, though I agree it may prove correct more often than not.

I also agree that even the best mod of a PC wheel will fall short of 'arcade quality', having no greater durability than that of the PC steering wheel from which it was constructed.

That said, I have seen numerous scratch built yokes, and believe that the PC wheel would be as good if not better than most.

Guess there's only one way to find out.

Joe.

[paigeoliver]

I really wish you guys would stop talking about these things, I have owned like 6 of them now, and people keep giving me big money offers on them, so I take them, and then I get the itch again!

I have Roadblasters one? I wonder if I could rig it?

[NoOne=NBA=]

Well, I think you'll find that the '(cheap, easy, good) Exclusivity Law' is not a universal truth, though I agree it may prove correct more often than not.

I never said it was universal, just that it DEFINITELY applies to this controller--unless you get REALLY lucky, and find one cheap somewhere.

Somebody here picked up a real yoke, for about $15, on a mismarked auction awhile back.

[Kremmit]

I have Roadblasters one? I wonder if I could rig it?

Some dude tried that a (long) while back, but he just added optics to the dead axis and interfaced both axis' optics through a Mouse/OptiPac (forget which).  Had trouble staying calibrated.

I picked up a RB a while back, with the specific intention of retrofitting pots to it.  Like all my other projects, it's sitting & waiting.  Anybody want to babysit my kid for about 2 years so I can get some work done around here? 

[BazookaJo]

The GOOD/CHEAP version is the TwistyGrip.

The GOOD/EASY version is a real yoke, and an AKI.

The CHEAP/EASY version is either an analog stick, or will likely be GARBAGE when it gets done.

3 problems with the Twistygrip.

1. It looks pants.
2. Most of the PVC parts are USA fittings unavailable in the UK.
3. Did I mention how incredibly pants it looks?

Sorry dude, but I reckon I can do better.

Well, I think you'll find that the '(cheap, easy, good) Exclusivity Law' is not a universal truth, though I agree it may prove correct more often than not.

I never said it was universal, just that it DEFINITELY applies to this controller--unless you get REALLY lucky, and find one cheap somewhere.

You're saying it's impossible for anyone to create a decent Yoke from existing controller parts with less time and effort than it takes to build a TwistyGrip?

I disagree.

And by the way, 'definitely' does not become more definite if you type it in capitals .

[Xiaou2]

http://www.xiaou2.homestead.com/arcade.html

 I had built one from wood.   Not as good as the real deal... but not too bad.

  If having to do it again... I might be able to do it a little better.

  Though... sometimes the costs involved in experimenting (ohh, and buying the needed tools)  can match what you might  buy a real controller for.

 The internal pics are a bit old.   I replaced the phoney gear with a real plastic gearset I found at a hobby shop.  Like seen on the superhangon controller pics...which also btw, shows how the rear of the thing works.

[NoOne=NBA=]

3 problems with the Twistygrip.

1. It looks pants.
2. Most of the PVC parts are USA fittings unavailable in the UK.
3. Did I mention how incredibly pants it looks?

You might want to think twice about insulting other people's work before starting a similar project on your own.
That same guy may be the one holding the crucial piece of info you need to complete your project.

Sorry dude, but I reckon I can do better.

And REALLY, REALLY think twice before making any claims like this.
People may hold you to it, just to see if you can back it up.

You're saying it's impossible for anyone to create a decent Yoke from existing controller parts with less time and effort than it takes to build a TwistyGrip?

No, I said there is no EASY way to build a yoke--regardless of where you start.

I also suggested that you start with arcade quality stuff, if you want to END UP with arcade quality stuff.

The TwistyGrip is a PROVEN design.
If you start with an UNPROVEN design, you will encounter problems that require more time/money/effort.

I would be more inclined to START with a working Y-axis, such as a HyperDrive controller, and BUILD the X-axis, rather than the other way around.
The X-axis is the EASY one.

And by the way, 'definitely' does not become more definite if you type it in capitals .

No, but it DOES emphasize it when reading.

[GGKoul]

I would be more inclined to START with a working Y-axis, such as a HyperDrive controller, and BUILD the X-axis, rather than the other way around.
The X-axis is the EASY one.

I have a HyperDrive Yoke, but its missing its missing the internals...   

Looked any different opinions to rebuild it, but none have really worked...

[MameMaster!]

....I just traded this yoke to another BYOACer....it works well....and is a good off the shelf sub....

Or you can just use the one I built... I take if off of my shelf an put it into my arcade machine all of the time!

MameMaster!

[BazookaJo]

You might want to think twice about insulting other people's work before starting a similar project on your own.
That same guy may be the one holding the crucial piece of info you need to complete your project.

I also suggested that you start with arcade quality stuff, if you want to END UP with arcade quality stuff.

The TwistyGrip is a PROVEN design.
If you start with an UNPROVEN design, you will encounter problems that require more time/money/effort.

Before I bought my Twisty Grip plans I sent the dude an email asking about availability of parts in the UK - nothing.

After 2 weeks I thought 'what the hell' and bought them anyway only to find that the pipe fittings weren't available in the UK.  Sent the dude an email saying so - nothing.

So excuse me if I don't worry about burning my bridges with this particular dude and I'm sorry but the TG looks pretty naff - and it's PVC so you can't even paint it!!

I hear what you're saying, but desktop grade durability should be sufficient for my needs - it's not going to get an arcade level battering after all and price and availability are considerations too.

As for proven concepts there are a number of home brew designs on the web which provide solutions to many aspects of the design which could be adapted - the link http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/ for instance looks like an excellent reference point.

Finally, easy is a relative term, let's just say easy as possible without it being crap,  something DEFINITELY easier than TwistyGrip.

....I just traded this yoke to another BYOACer....it works well....and is a good off the shelf sub....

Hey, now that doesn't look too bad, might keep my eye out for one of those...

[Lilwolf]

I would be interested to see if anyone could come up with a good solution myself.

I think with some lazy susans and some metal pipes you could probably get close....

I LOVE the twisty grip plans.  I like the ideas brought together to make them.  I like the pipe in pipe idea..  But are they strong enough?

I have a Hydra controller I picked up super cheap... Its close but not the same.  It scales the Y axis so there is more detail in the middle of the screen... and the springs had a very different feel to them (stronger).  I ended up removing the springs and this helped a LOT... Now I want to put a weaker spring without the very very noticable 'center'.  I also am looking at how I could change the Y axis so that it would not scale (its not two gears together... but a pipe connected to another).

Anyway, sometimes I think I should just build my own... I should have bought a starwars controller years ago when you could find them for 50 bucks on ebay ever few weeks...

[menace]

Being a guy who actually built his own--its not that hard--the write up that goes along with it (http://www.arcadecontrols.com/hosted/yoke/) is intentionally long winded and verbose--it wouldn't be a very good guide if it wasn't.  I'm at a loss on how you could build anything that doesn't look like --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules--, is very cheap and easy to build and still have the full range of motion and functionality--if it was that easy everyone would do it rather than spending 200$ on a used yoke.

And i agree on the twisty grip--sure it works but I would be laughed out of my basment for attaching PVC piping to my machine.