What would be/is your preferred Star Wars controller

[teef two]

Now obviously it's damn difficult to get hold of the real thing (I'm talking about the oringal yoke here) and also, unless you are a bit of an engineering genius, fairly tough to build one.

Given that, what is everyone's personal favourite controller for playing this game (has to be a commercially available product)?

[emerica]

unfortunately I use my trackball.

[Havok]

I am waiting, watching, and hoping...

http://www.ram-controls.com/controller-sw.html

[leapinlew]

unfortunately I use my trackball.

Same here and I agree. It's unfortunate. It fixes the star wars itch, but it's lacking a bit in control.

[Chris]

I use the trackball too.  Not even remotely ideal but playable.

[ahofle]

I find with the trackball I can reach levels I never could before.  Maybe it's just because I'm older now, but I think the trackball works VERY well for Star Wars.  Makes it like playing Missile Command.

[Outrun]

Hi there,

So...would  guys  rate a trackball over a analogue stick for Starwars ? Been musing over the idea of which one to install in my Mame cab for games like Starwars. I was leaning towards a stick because of games such as Space Harrier, Afterburner etc.

[Chris]

I find with the trackball I can reach levels I never could before.  Maybe it's just because I'm older now, but I think the trackball works VERY well for Star Wars.  Makes it like playing Missile Command.

Hmm... so I take it you have the trackball set where Up is Up rather than like the original where Up is Down?

I have mine set as the original and I try to picture it as a yoke as I play, but occasionally I get reversed.  Hmm.

[ahofle]

Yeah, I definitely reverse the Y axis.  Give it a try and pretend you're playing Missile Command.    And yes, I prefer the trackball over my analog flight joystick.  Not very authentic I know, but fun!

[The Man]

I built a TwistyGrip and it works great!

[horseboy]

I built a TwistyGrip and it works great!

Don't listen to this guy. He has been keeping you down.

[Havok]

I built a TwistyGrip and it works great!

Don't listen to this guy. He has been keeping you down.

Stick it to him! Don't build a TwistyGrip!

 

[ArtMAME]

I tried analogue sticks for StarWars, I tried several... some are better than others.  They were playable, but it has been a long time and I don't remeber how well they performed.  I may pull some out and test them tonight and see which ones perform better. 

I will try it with a trackball, seems like a good idea if you get used to it.  I play Tempest with at trackball because I don't have a decent spinner, and it works great.  Also, Major Havoc with a TB works great.

[Dreamwriter]

I prefer my UltraStik 360 to the trackball, it's a lot more like playing with the original yoke.  I'd still rather have a yoke, though...

[Outrun]

Hmm, sounds like a mixed bag then.  I supposed, when i get up to the mock CP stage , i could try them both !!

[RandyT]

If anything could take the place of the original yoke, they wouldn't be so coveted by so many.

I've played with the trackball and with an analog stick.  Both will let you blow up a DeathStar or two, but neither leave you feeling very satisfied. 

By today's standards, nothing about the title is all that awe-inspiring.  Shoot-tie fighters, shoot towers, shoot stuff lining the walls of the DeathStar, rinse and repeat.  But what still makes that title worth coughing up 50 cents for is the experience the original control brings with it.  No other control has ever allowed one to have almost instantaneous pinpoint accuracy or allow you to fire faster than you could if you had only 1 button per hand.  It's a fast moving game that requires an equally accurate and fast-moving controller.

In short, the game just ain't the same on anything but the original (or something that functions much like it)

RandyT

[ahofle]

I always had problems lining up the crosshairs with the ties using the yoke for some reason, especially when they are going in a diagonal direction.  Since you have to pull back the yoke and turn right almost perfectly smoothly, kinda like drawing a diagonal line with an etch-a-sketch.  Good thiing I'm not a pilot I guess.  With the trackball it's easier (for me) to chase down those fleeing ties and even get a good amount of hits on vader's tie.   
Still, you're right...the SW yoke is incomparable, and if I were made of money I'd have a dedicated SW/ESB cab with the real yoke.

[RandyT]

I always had problems lining up the crosshairs with the ties using the yoke for some reason, especially when they are going in a diagonal direction.  Since you have to pull back the yoke and turn right almost perfectly smoothly, kinda like drawing a diagonal line with an etch-a-sketch.

Heh.  I think I know why you had problems.  You don't pull on the yoke, you twist it toward, and away from your person.  I don't think I would do very well at this game with a normal flight yoke where you have to push and pull the yoke either

RandyT

[ahofle]

LOL, OK bad choice of words there, but you get my drift.