4-way stick "rotatable" for Q-bert

[clhug]

Am I correct that a Q-bert stick is just a 4-way stick mounted at a 45 degree angle so the stick movement matches what's on screen?

If that's the case, has anyone ever tried having a 4-way stick on their control panel that can just be rotated by 45 deg when wanting to play Q-bert?  Seems to me it would be easy enough to do, just have slots for the mounting screws, losen the nuts, rotate 45 degrees and tighten back down.  Not sure the best way to have the mounting nuts and bolts that are easy to loosen and retighten (wing nuts I suppose but those could get in the way), but the basic principal seems easy enough to me.  Just seems this would save some real-estate on the CP over having a standard 4-way and a diagonal 4-way as I've seen on some CP's.

If anybody's done this, can you provide any info on how you mounted it so the mounting could be loosened and retightened?

Or if I'm missing something and it's not as easy as it first seems, I'd like to know why.

I've tried some searches on this but couldn't find anything specifically regarding this question.

Thank you!

[PoDunkMoFo]

Yes you are correct it is a stick minted on a 45.

If you do a search you will see other people have done what you are talking about.

Also I believe Randy's GP-49 interface and a 49 way joystick will allow you to switch to this co figuration strictly via software.

Good luck

[ChicagoDave]

Ultimarc sells a joystick called the "E-Stick", which is basically designed to to this.

http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

[clhug]

Thanks for the replies folks.

One quick clarification, I don't really care about switching 8 to 4-way.  I plan to have a dedicated 4-way, probably the Happs Ms. Pacman/Galaga from what I've read.  I'd just like to be able to rotate it 45 degrees easily, from the TOP of the control panel.

Thanks for the suggestion of the e-stick, but it looks like this is only switchable from under the control panel.  I've also read that this isn't the greatest stick.  I see the Mag-Stik Plus is switchable from 8 to 4 way from the top, but it doesn't say anything about being able to make it a 4-way at 45 degrees from the top.

I've tried searching the forums using various terms but I can't find anything specifically about what I'm wanting to do.  If somebody can give me some specific search terms that would be great.

Thank you again!

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you searchfor Q*Bert you should find alot of info.
I've posted several times about how to set up a square-restricted 8-way to play it.

Unless Q*Bert is the main reason you built a cab, the 8-way setup works great for it.

[clhug]

I did search for Q*Bert and that returns TONS of stuff.  All kinds of talk about different options for the stick, but I couldn't find anything specifically relating to what I want to do.  I was going by what PoDunkMoFo said that others had been doing what I was looking at but so far I've been unable to find anything so I was asking if there were more specific search terms I could use. 

Yes I saw the posts about using a normal 8-way and just configuring MAME.  I will probably try that.  But I still plan on having the dedicated 4-way for Pac Man and such so I thought it would just be nice if I have that stick anyway to make it able to rotate for Q*Bert.  I'll probably still try to come up with a way to do that too.  I've got an idea but I haven't sat down yet to work out if it'll really work or not.

[Xam]

From what I understand...the e-stick rotates easily from the top, and you are correct...from what I have read, the stick sucks...comprable to a Happ ultimate. I was going to get one til I heard that. Now I am trying to think of an easy way to switch it to 45 like you are...I had a similar idea...but it will be a while before I can even start to build

Xam

[destructor]

I have E-Stik from ultimarc. This joystick works excellent in 4-way mode and you can rotate him 45 degrees.

[Thenasty]

if you have a P360 in your panel, check my mod for adding a Qbert leaf switches on the bottom of the 360 joystick.

[ahofle]

I also have an E-Stick as a dedicated 4 way/Qbert stick.  I don't think it 'sucks' either, although it wouldn't be my first choice as a primary stick.  But it's way better than using an 8-way stick for Qbert (or other 4 way games).