P360: 4 way games in 8-way mode and an electronic mod idea

[specfire]

Can anyone comment how well P360's in 8-way mode play 4-way games?  Is it easy to stay off of the diagonals?  Given that it is fully "round", I am guessing that it might be difficult to stay off the diagonals.

Kevin Steel's review indicates that diagonals are 15 degrees wide.  That leaves 75 degrees for the cardinal points (left, right, up, down.)  I had an idea inspired by Randy's GPWiz49.  Any thoughts on electronically assigning (restricting?) diagonals to only send a left or right?  This would result in left/right being 105 degrees wide and up/down 75 degrees wide.  Alternatively, I could build the circuit to determine whether to send an up/down or right/left when a diagonal is hit based on the previous joystick position but I think that would lead to an awkward/inconsistent feel (and more complicated circuit.)  If it was fixed as described above, I think that it would be barely noticeable and would then be "true 4-way"

Thoughts/comments?

specfire

[jdjuggler]

I'm not much of a circuit builder, so I can't help you there.
It's not easy to stay off the diagonals with the P360's.  It is frustrating.  I was planning on adding a dedicated 4-way for this reason.  A circuit could restrict the diagonals to send only left or right would be a good idea.  I'd be willing to try that.
JD

[Samstag]

Why build a circuit when you can do the same thing in the mame input driver?

[mahuti]

This gets us back to the simple software restriction idea, which has been roughly proven to have some major drawbacks. One of the key components of the GPWiz49 is the higher resolution of the GPWiz... it can't be so readily duplicated on a 9way grid.

[KonkeyKong]

I haven't had a lot of problems with p360s in 4 way games, where you can focus on one joystick (Pac man, Donkey Kong)  where I get headaches are games like Karate Champ which requires dual 4 way sticks, concentration is divided and diagonals are hit way more often.  If someone could perfect 360 restrictors I'd be digging out my checkbook.  I love my 360's and won't give them up, and don't have room on my control panel for dedicated 4 ways.

[namedos]

I tried my 360 in 4-way mode but didn't like it at all.  Went back to my 4-way microswitch that I got from Tornado Terry on ebay. 

I do have a dedicated 4-way but I've been considering making a plate that would be recessed in the control panel that would only allow the joy to move in those four directions.  Similar to what Oscar did but no longer makes.

Wouldn't seem too difficult to make out of a single piece of sheet metal and screw it into the CP.  If that works then I would probably get another 360 for my 4-way as I prefer the throw and feel of the joystick.

[Thenasty]

I haven't had a lot of problems with p360s in 4 way games, where you can focus on one joystick (Pac man, Donkey Kong)

[specfire]

Thanks for the feedback.

Thenasty:  I had not seen your hack.  Very impressive; actually, you seem to have a real nack for hacks (pun and compliment intended.)  I think that if I was willing to go to the lengths you did with your hack that I would build a physical 4-way restrictor plate that was split down the middle and came together around the base of the shaft by sliding on rails.  My main reason for suggesting the electronic restriction is that it would be very quick and would only cost a few cents.

Mahuti: Up until Randy came out with the GPWiz49, I had always intended to use P360's.  Then when he brought it out, I completely changed by mind and was going to use his very cool device.  My problem is, most games are 8-way games, and the P360's have a much better feel than the 49-way stick.  (I didn't actually know this until I went to a supplier and fiddled with both.)  Obviously an electronic stick with only 9 positions (not a grid, more like a star pattern actually) it's resolution can not compare to the flexibility of the 49-way.  I am only trying to get 8-way and 4-way action out of it though vice the GPWiz49's multiple control options.

The main thrust of my question was:  Will having the left/right positions 30 degrees wider than the up/down positions make the stick awkward in terms of feel or would it quickly become transparent to the user after some use.  I really need the input of people that have used LOTS of joysticks.  (Unfortunately, I have very little experience with many joysticks beyond my time in arcades 25 years ago.)

specfire

I can't help but write overlong posts; my thanks to those that have the patience to read them 

[RandyT]

Mahuti: Up until Randy came out with the GPWiz49, I had always intended to use P360's.  Then when he brought it out, I completely changed by mind and was going to use his very cool device.  My problem is, most games are 8-way games, and the P360's have a much better feel than the 49-way stick.  (I didn't actually know this until I went to a supplier and fiddled with both.)  Obviously an electronic stick with only 9 positions (not a grid, more like a star pattern actually) it's resolution can not compare to the flexibility of the 49-way.  I am only trying to get 8-way and 4-way action out of it though vice the GPWiz49's multiple control options.

The main thrust of my question was:  Will having the left/right positions 30 degrees wider than the up/down positions make the stick awkward in terms of feel or would it quickly become transparent to the user after some use.  I really need the input of people that have used LOTS of joysticks.  (Unfortunately, I have very little experience with many joysticks beyond my time in arcades 25 years ago.)

Simply put, it just ain't gonna work.  There's no difference in doing this knd of thing with a P360 or any other 8-way stick.

The result of what you are thinking of will be a stick that is overly sensitive in the left and right directions, which probably isn't what you are looking for.

You can do this in the control setup with logic to the effect of Left = Left OR (Left AND Up) OR (Left AND Down).  I'm sure someone here can tell you how to go about this in MAME to try it out.

But I do have a question, not only for you but for others who may have a P360 and a 49-way.  What exactly feels different about the sticks?  Don't both use a rubber grommet centering device and have round restriction?  One of these days I'll have to get a P360 just to compare the two.

RandyT

[mahuti]

I did the software restriction thing in the past. blech.

Maybe one of these days I'll have to get a p360 as well... right now, though, I LOVE the 49 way stick. Some of the folks that played the cabinet in the past (with short-throw t-sticks), and have since played on th 49 way have mentioned noticing a huge difference in feel, and enjoy the 49way a lot more. And these folks aren't involved in cabinet building at all, so pretty unbiased opinions from the "average joe"

From the reviews I've read, there's  a pretty consistent love of the feel of the 360 over the 49way. I think KevSteele had some good comments about value of the 49way and the GP-wiz, though. I can't imagine that the 360 feels so much better that I would want to sacrifice the streamlined mode switching available with the 49way & GPwiz 49. Anyway, sorry to quasi-hijack the thread. I'm all for having the perfect stick for your average play, unfortunately, The perfect 360 isn't perfect enough for me for the wide variety of games I play.