Anyone playing Frontline? What controls?

[Skadar]

I remember loving Frontline when I was a kid and I'd love to be able to play it on a MAME cabinet.  But if I remember correctly, it used a unique 8-way spinner that also acted as a button because you could push it down (I think).

Is Frontline playable with a normal spinner in your left hand and an 8-way joystick in your right?

Thanks for any info.

[spidermonkey]

I actually picked up a Frontline controller on Ebay because its one of my favorite games. Another way to play it would be to use an 8-way joystick in your left hand and an 8-way Happ heavy duty triggerstick with two fire buttons in your right hand to aim the soldiers arm and using your finger and thumb for firing and throwing grenades. The triggerstick has to have a 2nd fire button on top so that you can fire with the trigger and throw grenades with the 2nd button. A Discs of Tron stick would do the job too as it has two buttons. It won't feel very original but it will work.This is the way I played it before I got an original Frontline controller. Forget about using LS-30 (Ikari Warriors) rotary style sticks as they won't work with this game due to the way that MAME has it set up. MAME has the 8 position arm rotation set up as a regular 8-way joystick instead of analog so the "Druins interface/LS-30" setup won't work.Rather then trying to hunt down the actual controller it self, your best bet is to keep an eye out on Ebay for a complete control panel from a Frontline,Tin Star or Wild Western game as these games all use the Frontline controller. There was a Tin Star cp on Ebay just recently so they are out there if you're patient. If you do find one keep in mind that you'll have to wire up a toggle switch to cut the ground off and on when setting up the controller in the MAME in game menu because this controller has at least one microswitch pressed at all times so you have to be able to cut the signal from each switch in order to set the directions. You'll also want to flick the switch and cut the ground when you're not playing Frontline otherwise their will be key that is constantly pressed and held down and will cause problems whan playing other games. If you have any other questions about Frontline just ask.
 

[Kremmit]

The Frontline "spinner" is only a spinner above the panel.  It's really a joystick underneath.  You turn the knob up top, and it rotates an actuator on the bottom that depresses microswitches, just like a joystick actuator would.  That's why MAME has the aiming controls mapped to joystick 2 for Frontline.  (and Wild Western, The Tin Star, Sherrif, and Bandido)

I'm not aware of any way to make it work with a regular spinner.  Your best bet is either a) find an original controller; or b) use a 2 joysticks with a top-fire button on each.

edit: Darn you Spidermonkey, you posted while I was typing!