Anyone had luck with a mouse based trackball?

[jagnogg]

I've been exchanging emails with Kevin over at retroblast.com regarding his upcoming trackball roundup review. I wondered if he planned on including a general review of mouse based trackballs for use with MAME.

I made the mistake of using a mouse trackball when I built my cabinet and I've had horrible horrible luck with it. No matter how much I tinker with the settings, the games are unplayable. Movement in centipede and Millipede is jerky and non-responsive. I'm so pissed.

So, I just wanted to ask if there is anyone out there who has actually had *good*luck using a trackball mouse with MAME? I'd love it if I could fix the problem without having to redo my entire control panel...

-Jagnogg

[RTSDaddy2]

I am not sure that this qualifies as a "mouse-based" trackball, as I'm not quite sure what you meant by it...BUT...

I decided to go with the trackball from DreamArcades, as it was a 3 inch, but a little cheaper that the ones at other stores (by 50% at one).  It's a Betson Imperial ball and plugs directly into the mouse port (which is why I posted here).  I've been really impressed with it so far!  Centipede seems to play very well with it, along with Golden Tee Golf, etc.  Functions great as a mouse too!

Just a suggestion - but again it may not be quite what you were talking about....

[KevSteele]

Actually, I think we're talking about the trackball controllers you can buy "off the shelf", such as the Logitech or Kensington trackballs (you know, the small ones with the ergonomic shells and the buttons). Not arcade trackballs, but desktop trackballs.

I hadn't bought one of these for the roundup because, frankly, I hadn't heard of anyone using one in MAME, but it's a good question for the forums and I'd certainly love to hear if anyone has successfully used a desktop trackball for a MAME cab.

Kevin

[Minwah]

I hadn't bought one of these for the roundup because, frankly, I hadn't heard of anyone using one in MAME, but it's a good question for the forums and I'd certainly love to hear if anyone has successfully used a desktop trackball for a MAME cab.

I'm sure there was one in the examples section (or maybe elsewhere) that use a (Logitech IIRC) desktop trackball, with the case partly removed or modified and mounted on a control panel.  I have no idea who's cabinet it was tho...

[Lilwolf]

Kevin, I have one of those clear crystal ones that someone (here) said was good for an arcade machine.

I bought it... and luckly realized it sucked before adding it to a cabinet. 

Bought a real one and have been happy ever since.

If you would like to look at it for a review let me know.  I've been pretty bad about remembering to send out packages (when no moneys involved...) but if you want it I'll send it out.

I believe its the best of the PC trackballs.  I could be wrong, they might have some newer ones out... But might make a good baseline / sucky case.

[KevSteele]

Lilwolf,

You've got mail.

Kevin

[ErikRuud]

I had one of the Crayola trackballs for a while and it seemed to work very well.

My only two complaints would be that the spin time was shorter than a real arcade ball, and that the metal shafts were much thinner, and probably won't take as much abuse.

On the other hand I seem to have to clean the rollers in my Betson/Imperial a lot more often.

[Minwah]

My only two complaints would be that the spin time was shorter than a real arcade ball, and that the metal shafts were much thinner, and probably won't take as much abuse.

I have one of these which I was using a bit some years ago, just in the standard case (for normal windows operation as well as mame).  To be honest I can't really complain, worked great.  The buttons are crap but for an arcade controller you don't need them anyway...

[jagnogg]

Kevin, I have one of those clear crystal ones that someone (here) said was good for an arcade machine.

I bought it... and luckily realized it sucked before adding it to a cabinet. 

Bought a real one and have been happy ever since.

If you would like to look at it for a review let me know.  I've been pretty bad about remembering to send out packages (when no moneys involved...) but if you want it I'll send it out.

I believe its the best of the PC trackballs.  I could be wrong, they might have some newer ones out... But might make a good baseline / sucky case.

I think this would be a useful addition to the trackball roundup. It may help a few other cheap ---daisies--- like me avoid the same mistake.

I'm going to attempt to get my crappy trackball working one more time this weekend and I'll send my feedback to Kevin.

The good news for me is that I should be able to replace it with a real trackball without having to scrap my entire control panel.

[Thenasty]

PC Trackball for MAME STINKS......I used one on the early days then got the real deal and no turning back.
Get the real thing, or else ....

[astrothug]

i use a marble track ball that i put in my arcade cab it works ok, not the best im sure but i have limited space and i wanted one it was nothing to fit in here is a link to a pic.

[Tiger-Heli]

Toolaa used the marble trackball also: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,38926.0.html

The blue MacAlly trackball was also popular on the forum long ago.

I have used a different blue trackball and was not happy with it.  As posted here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,22753.0.html

and here

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,8488.0.html (with link)

The trackball worked better than the second post implied, but only slightly better than just using a mouse.  If you only occasionally play trackball games, you could get by, but if you really enjoy them (even just occasionally) you probably won't be happy.

NOTE: I bought the single one used from a forum member just to test out.  I later bought two new ones from the link site in the second thread and they at least rolled evenly.

I recently looked at the Logitech Marble T-ball in a store and don't think I'd be happy with it either.

As someone said, I would mention it in the review, because it is a viable option, just not a very good one.

[toolaa]

astrothug,

Like you I had a space issue.

[Matt Berry]

Why would you waste your time getting a pc trackball, when you can buy real one's pretty cheaply? The arcade trackballs are way better then using any type of pc trackball.

[toolaa]

In my case the only reason was space.  A real ball from Ultimarc or Happ would not fit in my stock CP.  If they just made a 2-1/2" ball that took up 3" dia space and use the same optical input like the Marble Mouse it would be a great product. 

I found that I did need some type of mouse like interface for getting arround on the windows desktop to play PC Games. 

[JamIt]

Why would you waste your time getting a pc trackball, when you can buy real one's pretty cheaply? The arcade trackballs are way better then using any type of pc trackball.

I really didn't find it a "waste of time".  I bought a clear PC trackball from compusa about 5 years ago and it worked like a charm (sorry can't remember the actual name or model).  Mounting from underneath was easy enough and the interface to the PC was obviously plug-n-play.
I play marble madness, golden tee (older versions), centipede, and missle comand well enough with it.  I even play arkanoid and tempest with it - took a little training, but they play fine.  And I have scored a couple 300s on Capcom Bowling.  For all games mentioned, I think I only had to tweak the settings for golden tee and arkanoid.
I am by no means a junky with those games; and I'm only running version .60 or so (I could get the actual version number if its important to anyone), but I thought it worth to point out that someone has had some success with a $15 PC trackball.
With that said, I am probably the only one to really play the trackball games; kids are too young and friends only interested in joystick classics.  I do believe that a real trackball is in order for rugged play.  And given that they are much more available with USB I believe the extra $$$ is worth it.
--JamIt