Two spinners -- worth it?

[mrjah]

Hey all,

   So true to form, I'm constantly second-guessing my control panel as I build it.   

   What's the value of having two spinners, anyway?  I seem to recall -- and visual inspection seems to confirm -- that this trusty Opti-Pac I have sitting here in bubble wrap can handle two spinners plus two trackballs.  So it's really a matter of the cost of a second spinner vs. the added versatility.

   Thoughts?

[Minwah]

If you love 2 player spinner games get 2 spinners...if not then don't.

[NickC]

how many two player spinner games are there?

[psychopanda]

I've been thinking about trying to add a spinner or two to my cp, but I didn't leave enough room yet for the second one. I mainly want two spinners so that we can play two-player Ikari Warriors using a combo of topfire joysticks and spinners.

[Farmboy90]

I've been thinking about trying to add a spinner or two to my cp, but I didn't leave enough room yet for the second one. I mainly want two spinners so that we can play two-player Ikari Warriors using a combo of topfire joysticks and spinners.

Maybe you can adjust the sensitivity or something, but playing Ikari Warriors with a spinner is brutal.  I don't like it at all.

[psychopanda]

I've been thinking about trying to add a spinner or two to my cp, but I didn't leave enough room yet for the second one. I mainly want two spinners so that we can play two-player Ikari Warriors using a combo of topfire joysticks and spinners.

Maybe you can adjust the sensitivity or something, but playing Ikari Warriors with a spinner is brutal.  I don't like it at all.

Ah, I was afraid of that. I'm adding at least one spinner to my cp anyways, so  I'll definitely test before adding a second one.

Sorry, I don't know how many games use two spinners. All I remember playing was Tempest, Tron, Breakout (w/ Atari paddles), and Arkanoid. None of those had two spinners.

Edit: forgot, many driving games could be played with a Spinner, so Sprint, etc. ...

[Farmboy90]

Yeah two spinners for some of the driving games would work.  Then you could play two player on those games.  I actually do use mine for some of those and it works well enough for me.  That or the analog stick works.

[RayB]

Is this question in the FAQ? It should be. I think this one gets asked at least every 2 months.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Blasteroids alone is worth it to me.

[Minwah]

Blasteroids alone is worth it to me.

I agree...except I don't want to have to redesign my analog control panel...

[ssc arcade]

I just added a spinner to my cab, a mouse hack.

From other threads I have learned the whole arkanoid spinner difference, gearing etc.

I there a setting in mame to help it play better, or just push the mouse acceleration way up?

I have to agree as it is now it is almost not playable.

thanks

[krick]

I seem to recall -- and visual inspection seems to confirm -- that this trusty Opti-Pac I have sitting here in bubble wrap can handle two spinners plus two trackballs.

Actually, I think it can handle 2 trackballs plus 4 spinners.

mmmmmm.... Warlords.....

[Major Rock Hardy]

I seem to recall -- and visual inspection seems to confirm -- that this trusty Opti-Pac I have sitting here in bubble wrap can handle two spinners plus two trackballs.

the Opti-Pac can handle 4 optical axes at a time.  That would be 2 trackballs (each with its own x and y axes) or 4 spinners (since they only have one axis each).  It auto-detects which ones are active (there's some time out where it re-evaluates this but I can't remember what).

Believe it or not, there IS a 4 spinner game.  Warlords.  Funky, old graphics, but I would say it's a very fun game.  Great party game.  I am specifically making 4 spinners just to play this game.  Check it out.

Cheers,
Rock

[PhoneGuy]

I recently added a second Oscar pro spinner. I have an Opti-Pac

This post in December was about Dual Spinners. It has links to four topics about dual spinners.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47496.0

Based on these discussions I have configured the following games for dual spinners. They are more entertaining with two players.

Paddle games
Arkanoid Returns
Off the Wall(Atari)
Off the Wall (Bally Sente)
Warlords
Pop'n Bounce
Plump Pop
VS Blok Breaker   

Flying
Blasteroids
Two Tigers
 
Driving
Championship Super Sprint
Demolition Derby
Super Sprint
Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road
Ironman Stewart's Super Off-Road Track Pack
Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat
Bad Lands

and

Puzzloop

[mahuti]

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Spinners#Two_Spinners_on_a_control_panel.3B_is_it_worth_it.3F

Edit and modify away peeps.

[KenToad]

and

Puzzloop

I second that motion.  Puzzloop is so much better with dual spinners.

Cheers,
KenToad

[edge]

PhoneGuy,
Do you have a picture of your control panel?  Curious to see where you put both spinners.
Thanks.

I recently added a second Oscar pro spinner. I have an Opti-Pac

This post in December was about Dual Spinners. It has links to four topics about dual spinners.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47496.0

Based on these discussions I have configured the following games for dual spinners. They are more entertaining with two players.

Paddle games
Arkanoid Returns
Off the Wall(Atari)
Off the Wall (Bally Sente)
Warlords
Pop'n Bounce
Plump Pop
VS Blok Breaker   

Flying
Blasteroids
Two Tigers
 
Driving
Championship Super Sprint
Demolition Derby
Super Sprint
Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road
Ironman Stewart's Super Off-Road Track Pack
Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat
Bad Lands

and

Puzzloop

[PhoneGuy]

My panel is about 3 years old. I added the spinner on the left about a week ago.  It replaced an Ultimarc E-Stick that was in that spot.  When I was originally finishing up the panel those red ball top  J-Sticks from Ultimarc, which are 4/8 switchable, came out.  The J-Sticks replaced a pair of Happ 8 ways. The E-Stick that I intended to use for 4 way games has gone virtually unused for three years. The first spinner on the right worked well for single player.  I don't think the layout is optimal for two spinners mainly because of button placement but it's usable and it fits what I had in place. I have a pair of pinball buttons on the sides which gives me additional options for button assignment.