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Super Ultra-Mega Massive 49-way Review online at Retroblast!
Lilwolf:
as someone who has a 4way with a restrictor plate... and multiple 8ways. It is really obvious when you play some games.
but not the way it used to. the diagonals are now dead spots. MAME ignores all diagonals on any 4way game (you used to do the "left not up not down" trick, but they added this automatically a long time ago).
So now the trouble is dead zones.
btw, I would like try try and create a 8way driver for 4way games which switches direction on change of state, not on direction. IE, if you are up and move to up/left it will change to left. If you then go to real left its left. Then if you change to up/left it will then move up. IE the diagonals will change state based in the direction you came from. Motion from bottom left to upper left would have to have a special rule.
Anyway, it seems like this would work well, but a lot of work to add it to mame for me since I have two dedicated 4way joysticks.
last btw. This has nothing to do with the 49way controller or joystick. Just kinda on the side topic. I still want a setup (for a cocktail cab... I think its amazing ESPECIALLY for a cabinet without hotswap control panels.
KenToad:
As far as playability of certain games, I still would rather reach some sort of consensus here on the forum. I can say over and over again that I like the performance of all of the modes except 16-way, which I haven't really found a use for yet, but I don't think that will satisfy anyone.
i.e. I hardly mentioned the 8-way mode functioning because it has always worked well. I do have a dual 49-way setup and tried Robotron and Crazy Climber, but not Karate Champ. Truthfully, I have no problems with those games with regular spring-loaded joysticks.
The 49-ways in 8-way mode do a wonderful job on all the 8-way games I've tested. I just don't like the feel of the sticks for fighters like SFII.
I think Minwah stated it best in this thread about the playability of hi-res analog games and the relevance of needing to point to something specific on screen or not. For example, Spy Hunter and Paperboy worked really well, IMO, but that was probably just due to the fact that there was nothing small that needed to be targeted, as in Star Wars and Red Baron, although Red Baron was better than Star Wars (bigger targets?).
Star Wars, btw, is the game I use most often as a benchmark for the analog functioning because it seems to be the most controversial. I believe PaigeOliver said that Star Wars with a 49-way really sucked. I didn't think it was too bad. Then again I haven't played the original in many many years and wasn't that good at the game to begin with.
These things are very subjective, as I stated before. I welcome anyone with the joysticks to chime in on how they like them with different games in different modes. I wouldn't be surprised if there are widely varying opinions on this topic. I've tried to give my rationale along with my opinions, since I think that's really the only way anyone can make the decision to take the plunge or not.
Anyway ... balltops, eh? I see another review looming. :)
Cheers,
KenToad
Minwah:
--- Quote from: KenToad on July 01, 2005, 02:21:25 pm ---The 49-ways in 8-way mode do a wonderful job on all the 8-way games I've tested. I just don't like the feel of the sticks for fighters like SFII.
--- End quote ---
Agreed...I was surprised how well mine worked with 8-way games (bear in mind mine are via SJC so using MAME's analog>digital conversion). I didn't like fighters with it either, but it isn't my primary stick so it doesn't matter much to me.
If anyone has this 49-way setup and a trackball, I'd like to know how it works for Snake Pit. Previously I found the 49-way stick a bit wierd with my left hand (Snake Pit should have a 4-way), and it seemed more difficult. I wonder how well it works using Randy's 4-way DRS mode??...
Edit: can't wait for the balltops too ;D
Xiaou2:
These reviews are really ridiculus imop.
If you are a gamer that dosnt care if they die often.. and do not want to reach record breaking scores and level increases.. then sure, this may be the joy and encoder for you.
However, if you are a true classic lover and know exactly how the game is supposed to be controlled and feels... this will only dissapoint. Or, if you want to experience a game as its supposed to control..ect. IE: you may actually get pissed at a game thinking its your lack of skills.. when its actaully the poor control that is the major factor. This can lead to a poor opinion of a really great game.
How can someone review this and compare to a 4way joystick when they barely remember a real 4 way? When they are not even good at the game they are trying to review? Come on! If you want a REAL review... get a seasoned pro that is an addict and high score achiever to that specific game and control type.
Then you will have a reliable and truthfull review. Otherwise, you get this crap
from people that have no real clue. Its like asking a blind person to review a movie. Youll only really get a partial review... not a sum total review.
I honestly was a person that once thought that Leaf joysticks were crap.. cause they bent out of position at times, and needed cleaning often. I also liked the accurate click of the micros. However, it was because I didnt remember what the real classics felt like. I didnt realize the many benefits that a true wico leaf would provide.
I luckily fond a Robotron machine with its wico leafs still in it, about 2yrs ago. Played many games, and got incredibly addicted. The games reaction times need to be faster than any other game Ive ever played. A slip of a quarter of a second and wrong direction or non movment.. and your gone.
I decided to try to fire it up at home with mame. Tried dual comp 8ways. Horrible. Couldnt move accurately or fast enough. Tried supers cause they have the round restrictor. Better for changing directions smoother.. but still, horrible reaction times.
Leafs have an almost instant reaction. Just a tiny touch, and its going. Barly a dead spot at all.
Another thing I didnt realize was about leaf buttons. I used to hate them cause they have such a long travel. I didnt realize you do not have to press them all the way down. (same for leaf joys. not needed to press them all the way to end of travel) They will register with a very light touch, and very little depth needed. In this way, you can actaully fire much faster than a micro.
And then theres the restrictor realization. A true classic like MsPacman I also recently played had a restrictor joy. I was amazed at how much better it felt to slide the stick shaft along the diagnol restrictor edge. It made the cornering much easier and faster. While I thought I controlled the game fine with my 8way comp.. I learned that this was much better. I found this esp with the speed hack version... where an 8way was nearly impossible to get perfect results from. Again.. Id been converted.
One thing you notice here.. is that If you make any comment that is opposite to Randy... he will become an instant enemy. Turning very ugly with nasty attitude, heavy and commentary... and even personal attacks. I expect that the thread will get even uglier very soon.
I can not comment exactly on how this thing works, cause I do not have one to test. However, I can based on my experiences predict that this is just a substandard replacment for the arcade accurate controls. Its a decent idea.. that just dosnt work out to control perfection.
Hoopz:
--- Quote ---I can not comment exactly on how this thing works, cause I do not have one to test. However, I can based on my experiences predict that this is just a substandard replacment for the arcade accurate controls. Its a decent idea.. that just dosnt work out to control perfection.
--- End quote ---
Then why comment? IMO the review was based on one person's experience with the product(s) and was written to share that experience. Anyone can easily say yea or nay to a product or idea. But until that person actually uses that product, any idea or statement of fact about how it works is frankly idiotic.
As someone who spent an average bit of time in the arcades and playing these games during the late 70's and 80's, I have a comfort level with certain games. Does that I mean I can pick up XYZ product and compare it to the Joys in Scramble that I played for a week at church camp? No. Does that mean that I want to read a review and multiple reviews if possible about varoius products so that I may make an intelligent decision as I possibly can? Yes.
Do I have these products? No. Did the review help me get a better idea of the products. Yes. Did the ensuing discussion add value? Ok, so thats a loaded question LOL.
But to pipe in when you obviously have a personal conflict with someone does not add value to the situation. I have learned quite a bit from reading the answers from Randy, Andy, Kev and others. I have products from one of them, but that's irrelevant to this discussion. You yourself said:
--- Quote ---If you want a REAL review... get a seasoned pro that is an addict and high score achiever to that specific game and control type.
Then you will have a reliable and truthfull review. Otherwise, you get this crap
from people that have no real clue. Its like asking a blind person to review a movie. Youll only really get a partial review... not a sum total review.
--- End quote ---
I would say follow your own advice Xaiou2. If you havent experienced these products first hand, how can you judge them?
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