Q-Bert 4 way vs. Pac Man 4 way... suggestions

[mikevangels]

On my current cab I have 4 8-way joysticks.  Trying to play games like Q-Bert and Pac Man of course sucks as eventually I won't hit a direction properly and my guy will just freeze and get stomped by ghosts.

I'd like to get a dedicated 4 way joystick with a mechanical restrictor plate but if I'm gonna go this route what do I do for Q Bert?  Do they make a joystick that can be rotated 45 degrees for this or is a creative mounting project needed?

[shardian]

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

The E-Stik

[mikevangels]

Thanks,  I'll do a bit of investigating on it. 

There are two things that stick may be missing though.  One is a ball top (but I may be able to change that); and two: it doesn't really say if you can change from 90 to 45 from the top of the panel.  Ideally I'd like to be able to rotate the stick, or have some sort of slider, that users could move as needed to suit different games.

[fatfingers]

If you're interested, I have an unused one I can sell you.

[ahofle]

You have to go under the panel, loosen a nut and then rotate it, then tighten the nut.  The E-stick isn't very liked around here, but it works very well for me as a restricted 4 way that also allows me to play Qbert.  It also takes up very little space and is dirt simple to mount (just goes in a 1 1/8" button hole).

[screaming]

Oh man, I came here expecting to read about 4-way head-2-head QBert! Dang...

[erictrumpet]

I think an 8-way on diagonal games (Qbert, CongoBongo) is more acceptable than an 8-way on games like PacMan, DonkeyKong, etc.

I seem to be able to play the diagonals okay on an 8 way whereas the 8 way means certain death in the aforementioned 4-way classics.

But if you really want to do it right, get two dedicated 4 ways and mount one diagonally.

Eric.

[daywane]

IMHOP you will have to have eather two 4way's or swap CP's
Games like Qbert i plan on desk top CP's
I have the parts. just not the MDF or time yet

[Tiger-Heli]

E-Stick can be rotated 45 degrees from above the panel.  1Up had a thread about it years ago.

However, for Q-bert, generally you can do fine with an 8-way - particularly one with a square or octagon restrictor/actuator (Happ Comp, Omni-Stick, Suzo 500, Prodigy, Euro-Stick, etc.). 

Make sure you go into the MAME inputs and map each direction to "Up-Right NOT Up NOT Right" etc.

[Zeppo]

What about the Mag-Stik Plus on that page?
Any good?

[Thenasty]

if you have a 360 in your panel, just add 4-leaf diagonally to play Q-bert/Congo Bongo style games and have a dedicated 4-way for the PAC FAMILY.

[patm95]

I can't find that thread by 1up.  Does anyone know how to rotate that joystick from the top?  I have been thinking about getting an e stick.

[J.Max]

You could use an Ultimarc Ultrastik 360.  All you have to do with that is switch the software.  The only problem is that using a restrictor with it, IMO, defeats the purpose.

[Tiger-Heli]

 

I can't find that thread by 1up.  Does anyone know how to rotate that joystick from the top?  I have been thinking about getting an e stick.

Actually, it's not as simple to do as I remembered.

Here's the thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=5544.0

(Which isn't very helpful without the pretty pictures mirrored here):  http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/arcadepanels/estick/E-stik.htm

[ahofle]

As Andy and 1UP say though, although you can do it that way, it's not really designed to work like that.  It requires you to not fully lock the switch plate.  I'd imagine after a while it might come loose if you switch it frequently.

[Tiger-Heli]

One way was not fully locking the switchplate, the other was cutting a track in your lexan so the locating nubs on the joystick shaft can rotate.