Author Topic: SlikStik Tornado Spinner versus Oscar Spinners (Read 2659 times)

RetroBorg · « **on:** March 19, 2003, 07:52:18 am »

I am about to purchase my first spinner and had always thought I would purchase an Oscar spinner, especially after reading so many good reviews of his spinners on this site, but after seeing the new SlikStik Tornado I am wondering if that might be the way to go, has anyone ever tried both?
If so which one is better?
If not, has any body tried the SlikStik Tornado?
If so what did you think?
Is any one currently planning to make a spinner with the up/down switch for Discs of Tron?
What are your impressions of the SlikStik Tornado, Oscar?

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2003, 11:51:47 am »

Here's a link to a review of one:

http://users.adelphia.net/~kevsteele/mame/tornado.html

Unfortunately, while the author seems familiar with OSCAR's spinners, he dosn't directly compare them.

I would like to hear OSCAR's views as well.

OSCAR · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2003, 12:16:34 pm »

I do have a few opinions on their spinner and how they choose to market it, however I do not feel it would be ethical for me to publicly state such opinions given that it would be a statement from "competition" and also because of my good working relationship with SlikStik.

Sorry, guys.

CitznFish · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2003, 01:36:17 pm »

I agree, their marketing tactics were tacky, but I think they changed that since I can't find what i remember reading on their site.

rampy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2003, 01:37:50 pm »

well.. maybe someday.. someone with a handle of "notoscarsorry" will register for the board and issue forth their opinions... as long as they don't accidently "sign" the end of their message "kelsey" =P

er.... nvr mind

Rampy

Mike · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:14:16 pm »

What I can tell you is that the Oscar spinner works and it works well. I don't know how the SlikStik spinner works but my oscar spinner works good enough that if I needed another spinner the only way I'd look at something else if the SlikStik was dramatically cheaper(which of course it's not). Also spinners are fairly simple devices, yes they need to be made of quality parts but both spinners appear to be manufactured that way. So basically what i'm saying is that i wouldn't put too much thought into it, I'd just order which ever one your more comfortable with.

Brax · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2003, 03:42:52 pm »

*coughOscarcough*

RacerX · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2003, 03:53:22 pm »

I have never tried a SlikStik spinner, but I have tried the Happ Spinner.

My Oscar spinner is in my control panel, happily playing games. My Happ spinner is in a box upstairs under the bed.

I highly recommend going with an Oscar. Kelsey is great, and so are his products.

KevSteele · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2003, 05:05:52 pm »

Since my review of the Tornado spinner was mentioned, I thought I'd chip in my 2 cents.

I didn't directly compare the Spinner to the Oscar because I didn't have one of the latest Oscars (I had an Oscar model 1), and I am planning on doing a complete comparison between the Tornado Spinner and the Oscar spinners soon.

I think it may boil down to this: if you want an "arcade authentic" feel to the spinner, the Oscar is your best bet. If you want an ultra-smooth spinner, the Tornado is a great choice.

Between the Oscar model 1 and the Tornado the Tornado wins hands down (IMHO). Of course the model 1 is discontinued, so it's not a fair comparison (and the reason I didn't compare them directly in my review).

I'll have a more comprehensive comparison once Kelsey ships me the review units (hint, hint)

Kevin

SlikStik-Christian · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2003, 06:04:28 pm »

Saint has a full SlikStik Classic with Tornado spinner in hand as we speak, maybe he can give you the pros and cons of each spinner.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2003, 07:57:30 pm »

I can tell you the obvious differences which might help someone into choosing one over the other.

SlikStik: small footprint, deep installation. Good for a CP with limited room. If your cocktail CP is deep enough this would be a good choice.

Oscar: slightly larger footprint witha shallower installation. This is great if you don't want a deep cp.

Deep: for clarification I am refering to the depth under the cp the spinner takes.

Siris · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2003, 08:10:24 pm »

I don't think that's quite accurate, The Tornado spinner is almost the exact depth as a standard Happ joystick base.
About 2 1/2"

SirPoonga · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2003, 08:52:37 pm »

I didn't compare to joysticks, just to each other, how can it not be accurate?

Siris · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2003, 09:00:20 pm »

Well unless your CP is going to just have a spinner and buttons then depth isn't a factor!

SirPoonga · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2003, 09:02:57 pm »

Depth is a factor, even with a joystick.
It shallow spinner will provide a little more room to get hands in an around when wiring or maintaining.

dhansen · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2003, 01:06:41 am »

What we all are trying to do here is to recreate the arcade experience. Oscar spinners do this and do it well...they are more like a tempest/tron spinner than any other one on the market. The Happs trackwheel is made more for games like Arkanoid.

It's not about precision...it's about reality. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd rip out my hard drive spinner and buy an Oscar Pro right now...but alas... I AM lazy...

Doug

RetroBorg · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2003, 04:33:30 am »

Thanks everyone for their input, it's nice to see people like Oscar still have ethics, at this stage I am still leaning towards an Oscar spinner, everyone seems so happy with his spinners, his spinners are a reasonable price and he seems to be a man of high integrity. I am not too bothered by the footprint of the spinner or how deep the spinner is, as I should have plenty of room in my planned control panel.
No one has commented of the up/down Discs of Tron style spinner, it would seem no one intends making one of these at this stage, which spinner would be easier in converting to such a spinner?

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2003, 07:26:49 am »

Quote from: RetroBorg on March 20, 2003, 04:33:30 am

No one has commented of the up/down Discs of Tron style spinner, it would seem no one intends making one of these at this stage, which spinner would be easier in converting to such a spinner?

1Up did a conversion with an OSCAR Model 1 - http://www.1uparcade.com/projects-oscarupdown.html

squizz · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2003, 07:38:56 am »

Oscar.

are you looking into doing a strength design to add another bearing at the bottom of your model 3 spinner ?

as i think yours are great, but lack the strength like the tornado spinner has.

otherwise can you explain as to how your spinner will not have movement up and down while spinning left and right ?
( as i can only see the 1 connector to the spinner rod ) ?

Thanks

KevSteele · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2003, 07:52:38 am »

Quote from: dhansen on March 20, 2003, 01:06:41 am

What we all are trying to do here is to recreate the arcade experience. Oscar spinners do this and do it well...they are more like a tempest/tron spinner than any other one on the market. The Happs trackwheel is made more for games like Arkanoid.

It's not about precision...it's about reality.

I'll agree that the Oscar spinners recreate the arcade experience, but I've got to put in some good words for the Tornado -- I've played with both types of spinners in my cab, and I found I like the Tornado better (Like I mentioned, this is compared to the Oscar model 1 -- the model 3 is fairly similar, so the feel is probably the same).

The Tornado is smooth and precise -- and yes, to some degree it is about precision. I had "backspin" with my Oscar model 1 that could not be "tweaked" away with settings. (I don't think the later models have this problem) The Tornado is amazingly accurate in tracking.

Personally I think you can't go wrong with either, but I've got to give the edge to the Tornado. It's a great design and "smooth as buttah" when spinning.

Whichever spinner you choose, make sure to get the solid aluminum knob - it makes a world of difference. Trust me on this one. ;-)

Kevin

OSCAR · « **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2003, 08:58:28 am »

Quote from: squizz on March 20, 2003, 07:38:56 am

are you looking into doing a strength design to add another bearing at the bottom of your model 3 spinner ?

as i think yours are great, but lack the strength like the tornado spinner has.

I am not aware of any strength issues with the spinners. The plateless version spinners use a full length bearing that support the entire shaft length between the knob and flywheel. By inserting this bearing into your control panel, the control panel becomes the spinner housing. This is similar to how a Tron spinner is constructed, except it is mounted to a plate (like my other option). http://www.oscarcontrols.com/tronspinner/Tron-later_model2.jpg

To answer your question about a different design... There will be some significant changes/additions to the product line in the not too distant future. These changes/additions are not to address any outstanding issues with the current designs, but due solely to production reasons. Order volumes over the past six months are requiring a higher production rate for my spinners.

Quote

otherwise can you explain as to how your spinner will not have movement up and down while spinning left and right ?
( as i can only see the 1 connector to the spinner rod ) ?

The spinner is prevented from moving up and down through the use of spacers on the shaft.

KevSteele · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2003, 02:39:44 pm »

Just a follow-up: I obtained an updated production model of the Tornado spinner yesterday, and it's got some minor but significant improvements over the preproduction model I reviewed.

I've just updated my review of the Tornado Spinner accordingly:

http://users.adelphia.net/~kevsteele/mame/tornado.html

I'll be sure to post here as well once my Oscar spinner reviews are complete.

Kevin


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