Joystick identification

[horseboy]

I had this in the arcade misc forum, but I thought I would put it out here so more people would see it.

Anyone have any idea what the hell this is? It is some crazy topfire stick with funky optics on the side. I have never seen anything like this, but then again I am not the expert that some of you are. Thanks.

[Crowquill]

That's definitely an odd one. Ovbiously it's some type of rotary stick. I guess the bigger question is what game it came from. Are there any other markings to be seen or is this some random picture you found on the web?

[Kremmit]

I'm not so sure about it being a rotary joy.  It appears to be an optical-analog; ie, it's using optical encoder wheels instead of potentiometers to measure how far the handle has traveled.  But there is that odd 2nd circuit board above the one with the encoder wheel, can't see what that thing's doing, I suppose it could be for a rotary function.

The only game I can think of offhand to use an optical-analog joy is Aztarac.  But that one should have a triggerstick handle of the Gorf/Tron variety, not that funky firetop thing.  And the base doesn't really match the diagram on page 22 of the Aztarac Manual, so I don't think it's just a case of a wrong handle on an Aztarac stick.

 

[horseboy]

Ponyboy just let me know that he thinks it is from Air Inferno. I can't really tell from the pic and arcadedocs is down.