Author Topic: Why do you have a trackball? (Read 2114 times)

hnugz · « **on:** February 07, 2006, 01:20:33 pm »

Is it mostly for looks? Do you play games regularly that use them? I assume in mame it has support for the mouse although I haven't tried it yet.

I bought one of the 2 1/4 trackballs and I'm wondering if I should even put it in. Right now my layout is 2 player, 7 buttons each. Based upon the way the cab is shaped I really can only put the trackball towards the back of the cp near the screen. This isn't ideal obviously, but if I put it toward the front, the buttons and joysticks would be way in the back.

The only real use I see is just having a mouse to move around in windows if need be, so I suppose I will leave it in.

You can see my first layout attempt here:

GGKoul · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:23:08 pm »

I used the trackball as a mouse and use it to play GT.

ErikRuud · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:33:20 pm »

I use my trackball often for the following games.
Missile Command
Centipede
Shuffle Shot
World Class Bowling
ThinkTanks (PC Game)
Chicken Hunter (PC Game)

I occasionally use it for Golden Tee.

I also use my cabinet for digital video editing and DVD authoring so a mouse is a must. In addition, I actually find that my spinner works well when jogging a few frames forward or back.

Hurray Banana · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:33:51 pm »

I put mine in to play games like crystal castles, ramparts and marble madness.

Quote from: Stewie on February 07, 2006, 01:23:08 pm

I used the trackball as a mouse.

I also find it handy as a mouse, for tinkering with setups etc...

Hoopz · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:35:58 pm »

Golden Tee and Shuuz are great games for a group to play together. They justify the expense of the trackball to me.

ssc arcade · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:36:22 pm »

everyone has their list of games they want to play, if centipede or missle command is on your list then you have to have a trackball.

I went with the 3" with a USB plug, works great. Here is a look at my layout, if you can get a little room I really like the 2 mouse buttons above. Yes you can map buttons to anything, but it is so natural to have them there.

I know it isn't arcade but my son and I played a lot of tiger woods 2004 when we got the arcade running. It can be set to work just like golden tee.

My 2 cents but I would really miss my trackball if it wasn't there.

I also left room for a spinner above my player 2 joystick, Tempest was one of my favorites.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:37:53 pm »

Centipede

drunkatuw · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:41:18 pm »

I question the cost of the trackball at first, but now I think 90% of the time on my mame cabinet is with trackball games.

Shuuz, World Class Bowling, Simpson's bowling, shuffleshot, irritating maze and golden tee get more play time than all the other games combined.

AtomSmasher · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:44:44 pm »

For me, I wouldn't want a Mame machine that I couldn't play these classics on:
Centipede
Millipede
Missile Command
Golden Tee
Marble Madness

so a trackball was a must have for me.

Necro · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2006, 01:59:58 pm »

Why ask why? Try...uh...<insert trackball game that rhymes with why here>.

unclet · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:05:10 pm »

1) I use it as a mouse
2) Centipede
3) Birdie King 1, 2 and 3
4) Shuffleshot (of course)
5) Marble Madness
6) Missile Command
7) many Bowling games

etc. . etc.. etc..

farmecologist · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:34:30 pm »

I think a trackball is essential for a cabinet.

I play most of what was mentioned above as well as other more obscure classics like Quantum, etc..

Fat_Trucker · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2006, 03:01:10 pm »

Its a must have for trackball type games and when you are asleep all the mice in your house can use it for a workout.

Everybody wins.

jjd · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2006, 03:17:54 pm »

The trackball gets more play on my cab than the joysticks.

Golden Tee
Bowling games
Cameltry etc.

Plus, if you don't want to spend big bucks you could go with something like this.

Shortened link by saint

markrvp · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2006, 03:48:43 pm »

Quote from: hnugz on February 07, 2006, 01:20:33 pm

Is it mostly for looks?

No, it's functional.

Quote

Do you play games regularly that use them?

Yes

Quote

I assume in mame it has support for the mouse although I haven't tried it yet.

Yes MAME supports a mouse. In fact, in many games a MOUSE device is the primary way to play. You can try it with the mouse you have now. Try Centipede, that's a good one, but be sure to enable mouse input in MAME.

seanp · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2006, 04:29:02 pm »

I echo the above sentiments. These are my "must have" games:

Centipede
Millipede
Marble Madness
Crystal Castles

plus my new favorites:
Shuuz
Shuffleshot

Beyond that, it's just a "wow" factor. I actually have swappable panels, and keep the same dimensions as the old classic cabinet I have them in. People see my arcade cabinet, and they say "too bad you can't play games like millipede". I pull out my trackball, and they say "wow - it's just like a real arcade". Of course, the joystick and buttons are just like an arcade, but people have SEEN those before at least in replica form with those "arcade style" sticks for the consoles. An honest-to-goodness arcade trackball is unique in a home environment.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2006, 05:44:35 pm »

Golf games, plus the wife said she'd like to play Centipede.

Oh, and I like things that roll.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:49:14 pm »

you can use a track ball? that's where I've been keeping my cue ball when I'm not playing pool...

quarterback · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:13:35 pm »

I'm with most people here. I have mine so I can play Missile Command, Centipede and Crystal Castles (although I've never gotten the settings right for satisfying Crystal Castles play). I also use it as a mouse (since that's effectively what it is) in Windows.

I'd like to find some more good bowling-style games. I've played Bowl-a-rama and I think I've tried shuffle-shot (I know it's not 'bowling' per se). Are there other suggestions of similar type games?

Necro · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2006, 07:48:33 pm »

Quote from: jjd on February 07, 2006, 03:17:54 pm

The trackball gets more play on my cab than the joysticks.

Golden Tee
Bowling games
Cameltry etc.

Plus, if you don't want to spend big bucks you could go with something like this.

Link shortened by saint

Is that thing actually usuable for gaming though? (like bowling/golf games) I could see myself hitting that and it popping right off (the ball) and breaking something.

Witchboard · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2006, 09:09:47 pm »

I use mine to beat my head against when I lose at a game. It keeps me from cracking my plexi.

ArtMAME · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2006, 10:01:30 pm »

I have two control panels that I swap... One has two 8-way joysticks, one 4-way joystick, Asteroids buttons layout, mouse and keyboard on it. I use that mostly for Robotron, Asteroids, 8 and 4 way games and FirstPersonShooters. The other panel has a Happ 3 inch trackball, a spinner, and a trigger stick. I use that for Centipede/Millipede/Crystal Castles/Tempest/ Tron/etc. The 3 inch trackball works really well as a mouse for navigating Windows also. I have tried several trackball mice but to me they perform horribly for navigating and gaming. A trackball mouse feels like a tri-cycle compared to a Happ commercial quality trackball, which feels like a Harley when you take it for a spin...

...

Flinkly · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2006, 10:07:59 pm »

i don't know about everyone else, but i got it to play arcade games. and as for their toughness, happs are the trackballs that are found in most golden tee games, so they must be tough.

seriously though, if you don't want one, don't get one. I got it cause i could and cause the game my bro wants to play most is centipede.


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