Ultrastik and home consoles

[horseboy]

I know when Andy announced the Ultrastik it was mentioned that in the future there was a possibility of making console adaptors for it. I was just wondering if there has been any work done on this. I have always wanted true analog controls on a cab for console play, and this seems like it would be the only way to get it. I know if those adaptors were made I would be in for at least 4 Ultrastiks.

[bamarquez226]

I know when Andy announced the Ultrastik it was mentioned that in the future there was a possibility of making console adaptors for it. I was just wondering if there has been any work done on this. I have always wanted true analog controls on a cab for console play, and this seems like it would be the only way to get it. I know if those adaptors were made I would be in for at least 4 Ultrastiks.

Well, you probably know that SlikStik uses the IPAC as the encoder for their interface. If you do some digging around the slikstik website, they do sell a console adapter for the XBOX. If you look at the picture of it, and compare with the console adapter from Ultimarc, they are the same photo. So......you can use the Ultimarc adapters for the slikstick, however, 4 player adaptability, not really sure about that one.....

[horseboy]

Well, I know that they have console adaptors for the I-pac, and that would be part of my equation in a console panel. But... the I-pac only does digital controls. An I-pac and console adaptor would take the place of the d-pad and buttons. The reason I wanted to know about the Ultrastik 360 and a console adaptor is because the Ultrastik is analog. Many console games use the analog stick and are unplayable with a d-pad.

You might now say, "but the I-pac console adapter have an analog mode." This is true, but it is an analog mode using a digital stick. This means that a movement in any direction would be like pressing the analog stick all the way in that direction, and that defeats the whole purpose of an analog stick.

[destructor]

Must wait for reply from Andy.
Current is no possible connect U360 to console using all U360' goods.

[horseboy]

Must wait for reply from Andy.
Current is no possible connect U360 to console using all U360' goods.

I know it isn't possible yet, but I was just wondering if Andy or anyone else has begun work or even thought about how to do it. I am sure Andy stumble on this thread soon enough and I shall have some kind of answer then. 

[AndyWarne]

I do still have plans for this. One of the reasons for holding back is the arrival of the X-Box 360 and PS3. I am deciding whether to add these to the range of adaptors or to add the analog functionality to the older ones first. Then there is the question of how to physically do this because the current PS/2 keyboard input protocol of the adaptors will not handle the analog signal. In fact it would need a complete new design concept.
Then there is the perennial problem caused by the fact that few arcade panels have enough controls to emulate a console controller so some kind of page switch would be needed, similar to that of the current adaptors but made more complex by the analog functionality.
So it might be a while...
Actually feedback shows that the current digital solution is good for most games.
Andy

[horseboy]

I do still have plans for this. One of the reasons for holding back is the arrival of the X-Box 360 and PS3. I am deciding whether to add these to the range of adaptors or to add the analog functionality to the older ones first. Then there is the question of how to physically do this because the current PS/2 keyboard input protocol of the adaptors will not handle the analog signal. In fact it would need a complete new design concept.
Then there is the perennial problem caused by the fact that few arcade panels have enough controls to emulate a console controller so some kind of page switch would be needed, similar to that of the current adaptors but made more complex by the analog functionality.
So it might be a while...

Yeah, I figured it would be a pretty tough one to tackle. I wasn't even thinking about the fact that as a vendor you would want the adaptor to be a plug-and-play super user-friendly device. In my mind I kind of thought the (theoretical) adaptor would allow me to interface the 360 as the analog stick, and I would take care of figuring out how to add the digital components. I can see how this type of thing might not be a very marketable device now that I think about it, though.

I am by no means an expert (huge understatement, I am an idiot), but what about something like this.... An adaptor that you just plugged the ultrastik into for the analog stick and it has screw terminals (like the I-Pac) for the end-user to add the button inputs (maybe even the d-pad inputs).

Like I said, I know nothing. Just throwing some ideas out there.

Actually feedback shows that the current digital solution is good for most games.

I agree digital is perfectly fine for the vast majority. There are some, however, that are negatively affected by or unplayable totally with digital controls.

I am glad to see that you are working on it, and thanks for the response.