Just ordered the TurboTwist 2 spinner:)

[AE35]

Hey all!

My wife is going to kill me, especially since our spinner cab isn't even in the works yet.

I had no idea that this spinner existed until today, but please....it fits a button-hole??
That was the drop for me....amazing.

You all know how it is to wait for stuff like this, so please tell me all about it and what
you feel etc. Does it work with games like Arkanoid and Omega Race right out of
the box? Can you send it spinning like crazy, or does it stop quickly.


I was just about to get an original Tempest spinner, would that have made a big
difference?

I ordered the extra weight to put at the bottom....I take it that's a good thing?

Thanks,

Nicholas

(By the way, is Puzz Loop really a spinner game???)

[Fozzy The Bear]

You all know how it is to wait for stuff like this, so please tell me all about it and what
you feel etc. Does it work with games like Arkanoid and Omega Race right out of
the box? Can you send it spinning like crazy, or does it stop quickly.

The TurboTwist2 is the ultimate in spinner controls.... You should be well pleased with it when you get it.  It stops fairly quickly because of the type of bearings it has. But this is no down side in game playing. With the weight on the bottom you get about 10 seconds spin time, which you will NEVER use in a game and it feels great!!!

The resolution of this spinner is WAY better than any other on the market EVER!! Arkanoid2 "Revenge Of Doh" is now absolutely playable properly for the first time. 

I love this little device!!

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[RayB]

AE35, there's a long-ass thread already that will answer all your questions and more.

[clockwork]

So would this be better than the SlikStik?

[AE35]

10 sek spin-time...cool!

hmm...maybe I should install it on my vertical machine, which are being used for
Galaga and others. I only use two buttons and block the third hole....it should fit
nicely. That way I could play Arkanoid until we get a real spinner machine made!

[Havok]

So would this be better than the SlikStik?

The TT2 spinner makes the slikstik spinner run away and cry like a little schoolgirl...

[FrizzleFried]

The TT2 spinner makes the slikstik spinner run away and cry like a little schoolgirl...

Uh oh...them's fightin' werds!  Duck before a certain someone comes along...

Now...all ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- aside,  TT2 is a great product.  Slicksticks product is ALSO a great product (so I am told...i've not used it personally).  The fact the TT2 fits in a button hole is what sold me.

[clockwork]

Well, the 10-sec spin time and the size make it sound really good. I'll probably buy one of these.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Well, the 10-sec spin time and the size make it sound really good. I'll probably buy one of these.

It's neither the size nor the spin time that is really great about this spinner..... But the resolution of it!! In half a turn, with no mouse acceleration on, at 1024 X 768, you can move the mouse cursor right from one side of the screen to the other.

This means that you have enough counts per revolution to be able to scale the output in Mame to exactly match the requirements of ANY spinner or rotary optical (steering) game.

No other spinner on the market can achieve this level of control. Including the "SickSlick"..... oops sorry did it again, SlickStik, which to be honest IMHO is a very inferior product, with even more inferior support and delivery.

As for the spin time, I didn't use the supplied spinner weight..... I went for bolting a large number of penny washers on the bottom of the shaft. That way I could adjust the feel and the spin time to be exactly the way I like it, by adding or removing washers.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Donkey_Kong]

AE35-

PLEASE read my wife & I's byoac review of the TT2 and maybe your wife will not quite kill you for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62443.0

[clockwork]

It's neither the size nor the spin time that is really great about this spinner..... But the resolution of it!! In half a turn, with no mouse acceleration on, at 1024 X 768, you can move the mouse cursor right from one side of the screen to the other.

Those sound like good points. I guess I was primarily concerned about the comfort. Sounds like these are very smooth.

I can only think of a few times where I have seen Melissa this happy about anything. I AM NOT KIDDING!

Don't you get in trouble for comments like this, DK? 

[mrbones]

I'm thinking of buying one, too. When I made my CP I put a place there for which it now has a button. In fact, I set it up for two spinners. Can anyone think of two player spinner games? Pong, obviously. A couple of racing games, I think. Any others?

[Kaytrim]

I'm thinking of buying one, too. When I made my CP I put a place there for which it now has a button. In fact, I set it up for two spinners. Can anyone think of two player spinner games? Pong, obviously. A couple of racing games, I think. Any others?

Blasteroids

[fatfingers]

I'm thinking of buying one, too. When I made my CP I put a place there for which it now has a button. In fact, I set it up for two spinners. Can anyone think of two player spinner games? Pong, obviously. A couple of racing games, I think. Any others?

MAWS --> Deluxe Search --> Sumultaneous Players: 2; Control: Dial --> Search

Enjoy.

[Chris]

I'm thinking of buying one, too. When I made my CP I put a place there for which it now has a button. In fact, I set it up for two spinners. Can anyone think of two player spinner games? Pong, obviously. A couple of racing games, I think. Any others?

Pong actually doesn't use spinners; it uses pots.

Multi spinner games would also include Warlords, any of the Sprint series (except Sprint 1), and Arkanoid Returns

[AE35]

AE35-

PLEASE read my wife & I's byoac review of the TT2 and maybe your wife will not quite kill you for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62443.0

Great review!!

I'm really hyped for this spinner

So, Puzz loop...was it originally a spinner game??

[fatfingers]

So, Puzz loop...was it originally a spinner game??

I wonder the same.  And MAWS doesn't help me.  In one section it lists the controls as an 8-way joystick, and in the other section it lists the controls as a dial.   

Of course, MAWS also has a control panel picture and it definitely has a spinner on it.

[RandyT]

So, Puzz loop...was it originally a spinner game??

I wonder the same.  And MAWS doesn't help me.  In one section it lists the controls as an 8-way joystick, and in the other section it lists the controls as a dial.   

Of course, MAWS also has a control panel picture and it definitely has a spinner on it.

The answer is that it is either.  The operator can set it up based on the controls at his/her disposal.

From the looks of it, it's another one of those titles that needs crazy resolution, so it probably used an Arkanoid-style dial control.  Think DOH!

RandyT

[zelony]

I just got my TT2 last night.  Easy to install.  Smooth spin and I like the quality of the big blue knob.    Although it spins very smooth when installed, I could feel some grinding when I spun it in my hand. However, it did not move vertically, so it may just be the natural vibration of the bearings.  There is no noise from it.

I did have some problems setting it up and using it in Mame32.

The spinner worked fine in Windows, but when I launched Mame32 and tried to map the dial control to Mouse2 X-axis, it would either accept it but not work in the game or freeze up Mame32.

The only way I was able to get it to work was by unplugging my PS2 mouse and rebooting with only the spinner attached.  Then it worked fine.  Weird.

I am not sure if it is a Mame32 issue (latest version 1.11), or an issue with the spinner's interface.  I have been real pleased with the other products I have purchased from Groovy Game Gear, so I will have to tinker around with it some more.

I haven't looked yet, but I am hoping that I can wire in the Groovy Game Gear PS2 trackball to the Opti-Wiz board that came with the spinner.  That way I only have to have one mouse on the system.  That will probably help.  I have two LCD Top Guns, but they don't seem to cause any conflicts.

Jeff

[mrbones]

Thanks for that post. My system has a wireless keyboard w/integrated mouse that are all PS/2. I hope I don't experience similar issues.

[zelony]

Yeah, my keyboard and mouse are a Logitech combo wireless setup.  I had no problems leaving the wireless keyboard in, but it would not work with the mouse plugged in.  Weird.

I am most likely going to replace my Windows XP install with a Windows 98SE install.  That may get rid of some of the mouse problems.  It will be faster for sure.

Jeff

[RandyT]

I just got my TT2 last night.  Easy to install.  Smooth spin and I like the quality of the big blue knob.    Although it spins very smooth when installed, I could feel some grinding when I spun it in my hand. However, it did not move vertically, so it may just be the natural vibration of the bearings.  There is no noise from it.

The grease that comes inside the trackball-standard bearings we use is the consistency of vaseline.  It makes them quiet, but "out-of-the-box" they don't spin very well at all.  When we get the bearings, we remove as much of the heavy grease they are packed with as possible. It's then replaced with a special lubricant (not WD-40!) that keeps them from wearing, but still allows them to move more freely.  This can add a bit of the "vibration" that you might feel when holding the unit in your hand.  The bearings are press fit into the solid body, so any tiny irregularity in the race or the balls inside will transfer.  This is normal for this type of bearing and not a cause for concern.  Just like a trackball, a little break-in time will go a long way.

The spinner worked fine in Windows, but when I launched Mame32 and tried to map the dial control to Mouse2 X-axis, it would either accept it but not work in the game or freeze up Mame32.

A general rule of thumb is: "If it works with the desktop of Windows, any problems afterward are specifically software related".  Most likely a configuration issue is causing your difficulty.

RandyT

[byKnight]

Just ordered my TT2 as well. My son and I finished a Dream Arcades three-sided cocktail last month, but my wife keeps saying: "Yeah, but when can I play Tempest?"

[mrbones]

That's a great question to be asked by from the wife, aint it?

[zelony]

Randy,

I agree that it should work if it works in Windows.  However, I was pointing out that, at least in Mame32 .111, that the spinner either fails to work or it freezes up the computer. 

The only work around I have found, as of yet, was to not use a PS2 mouse while the spinner is plugged in.  Having other usb mice has no effect.  This could be a MAME32 problem or even a motherboard problem, I don't care, since I found a work around.  I was simply sharing this with the forum.  I am very happy I bought the TT2.

I do have one more question for you.  Since I cannot get a PS2 mouse to work with the TT2 is it possible for me to convert the PS2 Trackball I just bought from you to work with the Opti-Wiz board that TT2 came with?

Thanks,

Jeff

[RandyT]

I agree that it should work if it works in Windows.  However, I was pointing out that, at least in Mame32 .111, that the spinner either fails to work or it freezes up the computer. 

The only work around I have found, as of yet, was to not use a PS2 mouse while the spinner is plugged in.  Having other usb mice has no effect.  This could be a MAME32 problem or even a motherboard problem, I don't care, since I found a work around.  I was simply sharing this with the forum.  I am very happy I bought the TT2.

Ok, no problem.  Just a little puzzled at the behavior you are experiencing with MAME32.  Have you tried a different PS/2 mouse?  I use a Betson PS/2 trackball on my test system, and haven't run into any issues with earlier versions of MAME32 and the TT2 (Opti-Wiz).  Could be something version / system / OS  specific.  I'll have to check out that version to see if there's something funny.

I do have one more question for you.  Since I cannot get a PS2 mouse to work with the TT2 is it possible for me to convert the PS2 Trackball I just bought from you to work with the Opti-Wiz board that TT2 came with?

The PS/2 Trackball uses a stock controller from the manufacturer (ie. not ours.)   Because it is integrated into the optical boards, it would require heavy modification to work with the Opti-Wiz.  You should give the trackball a shot to see if you still have problems.  If so, please email me so we can see if there's an option to get you set up the way you want.

RandyT

[zelony]

Randy,

The spinner works fine with the PS2 trackball I bought from you at the same time.  Must have been a weird wireless PS2 mouse thing.  Thanks for the help.

Jeff

[dirt]

i just ordered one last night. i have always used oscars spinners and been very happy with them. i cant wait to plug this one in!!! it should be a big step up. i also got the byoac token top knob for it.

[byKnight]

That's a great question to be asked by from the wife, aint it?

And how! 

And to think I put a trackball on the cab only because I assumed she would want to play Centipede.

Can't wait for my spinner to get here!