Author Topic: Replica Tron Sticks. (Read 3701 times)

klutzo · « **on:** January 29, 2003, 08:40:07 pm »

I seem to remember some company was making these...

anyone remember who?

I seem to remember them making red ball sticks too or something like that.

2slk · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2003, 12:57:44 am »

I've actually been doing a lot of research on TRON sticks lately. There were plans for a TRON repo stick (can't remember the company either) but it was dropped. Speculation was that there were fears of legal repercussions.

I understand that HAPP controls bought certain rights from Midway, hence the resemblance of the HAPP heavy-duty 8-way to the original stick. The heavy-duty is generally recognized as a TRON repo stick. The stick does not function exactly like the original in the game due to the shape of the restrictor. It's pretty well explained in some other recent threads.

RandyT · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2003, 10:11:46 pm »

Quote from: 2slk on January 30, 2003, 12:57:44 am

I've actually been doing a lot of research on TRON sticks lately. There were plans for a TRON repo stick (can't remember the company either) but it was dropped. Speculation was that there were fears of legal repercussions.

I'm not a lawyer or anything like that, but I don't think they would have to worry about legal problems. The shape of the TRON stick would at most be covered by a design patent. Last I heard, patents are only good for 17 years. After that, it's public domain.

(Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV. Nothing in this post should be construed as legal advice, nor even considered factual in any way, shape or form. Always seek legal advice from individuals properly registered to practice law in your state/province and not from someone, like me, on an Internet forum)

Heh.

RandyT

2slk · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2003, 12:31:38 am »

RandyT, The legal stuff I was talking about had little to do with any patents on the joystick itself. The concern seemed to have been with the TRON franchise, which is still owned by Disney. No company could market a product using any reference to the TRON franchise without obtaining specific rights to do so from Disney. This would hardly be economically feasible for any company in the arcade/amusement business. Disney are pretty heavy hitters. Having clarified this, there still remain the rights purchased from Midway by HAPP controls that I mentioned in my earlier post.

I contacted HAPP about this and requested to know if there were any plans to re-produce the original TRON restrictor (which is a VERY simple swap with the stock restrictor on the HAPP heavy duty 8-WAY). The response I received was that yes, they could produce it (actually them - there are two) but there were no plans to do so. Re-tooling costs and the subsequent addition to the price of the stick was unjustifiable relative to the size of the market. Hope this clarifies my earlier post.

RandyT · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2003, 01:19:43 am »

Ahhh, I knew there had to be another reason.

Thanks for the clarification.

RandyT

PoDunkMoFo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2003, 12:24:13 pm »

What about the handle itself. It would be cool if someone with the capability could produce the translucent blue handles as a replacement option on the Happ control. Or the handle could be used in other ways on other sticks. I would by a couple of them.

2slk · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2003, 01:04:52 pm »

You can actually pick up the handles on Ebay once in a while. They are a little pricey though.

If you do some searching, you'll see that some people have done some interesting stuff using regular PC triggerstick handles and hacking them onto a HAPP ultimate. Some folks have even built multiple swappable handles, put LED's in them to light them up... the works. Some pics that I have seen are quite impressive and look every bit as nice as the original stick.

I think there is a tutorial over at the OSCAR controls site if I am not mistaken. It might be a good place to start if you are interested.

Karman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2003, 03:43:56 pm »

The tutorial on using the Raider Pro/Happ combo is here:

http://mamecheats.fateback.com/tutorial.htm

2slk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2003, 04:16:05 pm »

Yup, that's one of them. Just be aware that with a hacked triggerstick like that one, though suited to many games, it will not work like the original stick in TRON. There are control issues because the diagonals are too sensitive.

Karman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2003, 05:56:25 pm »

Yes - that's one reason why I haven't gone that route (yet). Are there any other options that recreate the feel and operation of the original 8 way leaf with the funky restrictor? Microswitches just don't do it.

Another question re: the Happ heavy duty. Does anyone know if the internal handle parts (trigger, microswitch, marquee) are interchangeable with original Tron/Gorf/Satan's Hollow sticks? I'm guessing that they are but without having a Happ to compare with, I don't know for sure. I've come across the handle halves a few times, but held off for fear of not being able to find the other parts.

2slk · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2003, 08:32:28 pm »

I've heard that the HAPP heavy duty doesn't have that bad of a feel if you put an original TRON restrictor (or a copy of one) in place of the stock one.

I couldn't respond regarding interchangeability of the parts buy I would guess that there wouldn't be a problem. Contacting HAPP controls directly might be one way to get an answer to that.

If you are really concerned about the authenticity of the feel, it may be worth it for you to pick up an original panel on Ebay. They come around quite often and usually sell for around 120$ but I have seen them go for as low as 70$. Not such a bad deal when you consider that the HAPP heavy duty alone is 105$ at retail.

spidermonkey · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2003, 08:40:09 pm »

There are a few different base types but all parts inside the handles themselves are interchangable including the plastic plate where the thumb button/buttons go.

PoDunkMoFo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2003, 10:45:21 pm »

Is this restrictor plate plastic or rubber? I own a computer controlled router table (Yes I cut my cabinet out on it.) and if the restrictor is plastic I might be able to fab them up. Also I wonder how expensive it might be and if there would be enough demand to actually make handle molds and do some runs of different colors ie: Tron Blue, Satan's Hollow Rec...Etc. Has anyone looked into this?

2slk · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:05:52 pm »

PoDunkMoFo, I started another thread about this a while back - 'TRON control panel'. There's some info there on the restrictor(s), links to pics etc. Check it out.

spidermonkey · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:13:53 pm »

I'm pretty sure the upper one is nylon and the lower looks to be just basic hard plastic Probaably pretty damn expensive to have a mold fabricated unless you know somebody in the buisness. $:-\$

Brax · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:24:29 pm »

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3204709175&category=13718

2slk · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:28:49 pm »

Any idea what that update is for???

PoDunkMoFo · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:46:03 pm »

Hey 2slk do you have a link to that previous thread I did a search but I can't seem to find it. Maybe you have a link?

PoDunkMoFo · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2003, 09:33:09 pm »

Nevermind I found it. I wasn't searching far enough back. I noticed someone in that thread mentioned they had downloaded schematics of the tron stick. Hmm.... I sure would like to get my hands on those. Anyone know where I could find them? Also if that red plastic restrictor in the picture is hard plastic it would be relativly easy to produce on my cnc machine.


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