Author Topic: RAM Controls - Star Wars Yoke (Read 30924 times)

Patent Doc · « **Reply #40 on:** May 23, 2007, 08:41:25 pm »

Hey Randy

Didn't mean to imply you though any differently. Sorry if it came out that way. I was just trying to fill in the gap for the masses regarding teh earlier legal question. Well that and I wanted to boost your statements because I don't have to say IANAL. Also, there are only a few people on this board, and you are one of them, that can truly say they understand IP coverage and issues.

Again sorry if my statements implied you thought trademarks or copyright issues arose from the design.

Patent Doc

KonkeyKong · « **Reply #41 on:** June 13, 2007, 08:42:29 am »

just another bump, looking for a tasty info tidbit...any small morsel will tide me along... any news from David on the powder coating? I'm like a kid at Christmas, I feel I'm like 8 years old again I'm so excited.

BrentRadio · « **Reply #42 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:47:35 pm »

What are the parts that tend to fail on the original?

Brent

Dexter · « **Reply #43 on:** June 14, 2007, 06:12:26 am »

The plastic gears tend to fail, also the triggers and microswitches. The potentiometers go eventually too, but thats pretty standard for regular pots in heavy use.

HoopstarsGarage · « **Reply #44 on:** June 14, 2007, 08:18:52 am »

..and the rubber bumpers that limit pitch and yaw travel..

Hoops

BrentRadio · « **Reply #45 on:** June 14, 2007, 01:03:38 pm »

Just an FYI...

I just got word from Steven at ArcadeShop that he will be doing another run of the Star Wars marquee overlays with the correct size (the old ones were 1/4 inch too short in the width) in the next few weeks.

Pre order now so these get made quickly!

I just ordered mine.

Brent

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #46 on:** July 30, 2007, 09:48:38 am »

I have joined the few and the proud to Pre-Order a Yet to be seen Star Wars Yoke, does anyone have any updates or nuggets of hope to ease the leap of faith which we all have taken?

Breaker · « **Reply #47 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:53:24 pm »

Hey all,

There is another thread on this subject (not sure how we managed to get two going) in which Havok indicated he had sent off a message to Ram-Controls for an update; I've recently done the same. The last word was that things were very close - the only piece remaining being the handles (currently in for powder coating). If I hear anything I'll report back.

David, if you're on the board, feel free to jump in with an update 'from the source'.

Cheers,
Breaker

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #48 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:44:05 am »

Thanks for the update! I CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #49 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:47:20 am »

How do you guys intrend to interface this to your cabs? Dual Strike Hack?

Havok · « **Reply #50 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:33:46 am »

Quote from: Chunce DeLeone on July 31, 2007, 09:47:20 am

How do you guys intrend to interface this to your cabs? Dual Strike Hack?

Yep - I have a Dual Strike waiting in my cabinet...

Kremmit · « **Reply #51 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:49:17 pm »

Quote from: Chunce DeLeone on July 31, 2007, 09:47:20 am

How do you guys intrend to interface this to your cabs? Dual Strike Hack?

That, an A-Pac, or an AKI.

Breaker · « **Reply #52 on:** August 03, 2007, 08:14:17 pm »

Hello all,

I heard from David this morning and he updated me on the status of the SWY; he's been a little busy as he's just welcomed a new baby girl to his family!

The handles remain the only outstanding part. It seems the powder coating (the samples of which were initially approved) turned out poorly in the production run. David is now having the coating removed and then reapplied by hand - a process which he hopes will ensure a good job. He does have some new pics and updates to the project blog which he'll post when he arranges access via his new ISP.

So, things are moving forward, and despite the delays and frustration with the powder coating, David is sticking to his guns in order to ensure a top quality product.

Breakers.

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #53 on:** August 09, 2007, 09:28:22 am »

How are you guys going to mount this to your cabs?? Are you going to make a housing out of wood or something??

Level42 · « **Reply #54 on:** August 09, 2007, 05:47:16 pm »

Quote from: BrentRadio on June 13, 2007, 11:47:35 pm

What are the parts that tend to fail on the original?

Brent

What's your experience Brent ? I know you own an original. My cab has run over 77000 games and there seems nothing wrong with the controls at all......either it was maintained very well, or am I just lucky ?

I'll do investigating of the controls more closely next week...

NoOne=NBA= · « **Reply #55 on:** August 09, 2007, 06:40:30 pm »

The main failure was usually the thumb button assemblies.
They aren't quite up to the standard of the rest of the parts.
Fortunately they were redundant on most of the games, so when one quit you could still play.

The second most fragile part is probably the small gear on the back.

The most annoying failure is the rubber they used for the axis stops.
It turns to a nearly impossible to remove sludge that just smears around as you try to clean it off.
My one other annoyance with them is that it is almost impossible to get a balanced set of torsion springs for them.
If you look at almost every one you ever see, it will be sitting off-center because the springs aren't balanced.

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #56 on:** August 21, 2007, 10:31:24 am »

Just Wanted to see if anyone has an update on the Yoke.

David Are You out there???

MameMaster! · « **Reply #57 on:** October 12, 2007, 03:03:04 pm »

any update?

Chunce DeLeone · « **Reply #58 on:** October 26, 2007, 12:14:11 pm »

Short Update: David has recieved the powder coating equip and is doing it inhouse, he will update the website soon.

Level42 · « **Reply #59 on:** October 26, 2007, 03:41:17 pm »

Actions speak louder than words.

ratzz · « **Reply #60 on:** October 26, 2007, 06:55:11 pm »

I'm sorry guys, but anyone who has invested in this product should expect to loose their money.

Don't buy on promises. Too many excuses for me. Too bad if you loose your money, read the signs.

Sorry guys...

Level42 · « **Reply #61 on:** October 27, 2007, 02:06:45 am »

Yeah, and it's not only on this forum that I've seen people having ordered yokes and getting nothing.

It really is a shame since my yoke could use some new spare parts but I don't dare to order them, not as long as he wants my money in advance....

ark_ader · « **Reply #62 on:** October 27, 2007, 08:03:28 am »

Why can you guys just make your own?

The designs and plans are on this site, and we do get a feeling of satisfaction when we accomplish something that is challenging. The Star Wars Yoke is not easy I know, but its not impossible.

Yes I know the original is always better, but 25 years on waiting for something to materialise for something not to difficult to create is challenging too.

My suggestion to those on this thread, is to make your own, and lets see some pics of your progress.

Katana Man · « **Reply #63 on:** April 11, 2008, 04:37:09 pm »

The production of these yokes is still dead I take it?

Jeff AMN · « **Reply #64 on:** April 11, 2008, 05:12:02 pm »

I hear it's still coming along and that people have been getting rebuild kits.

You have to realize that for David RAM Controls is only a hobby venture. Yes, I'm sure he'd like more time to work on these things, but he's time constrained. Once the kinks are worked out, he can ramp up production and everybody will get what they're waiting for.

S0L · « **Reply #65 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:27:37 pm »

As one of the 'Dirty Dozen' pre-orderers (is that even a word?) I'm more than happy to wait for David.

Everything I've read on the controllers that have gone before have suggested nothing other than a complete attention to detail, if not perfection, on all his previous works.

I've waited almost 24 years to get my hands on a controller as good as the original, I'm sure a wait of a little bit longer is not going to hurt me.

I've complete faith that the time I've waited will be absolutely worth it.

Am I excited to get my hands on a brilliant reproduction controller? Absolutely, but would I ask Davd to rush it? Nope, not me

Looking forward to an update - and the controller when it is ready!

---
S0L
---

ark_ader · « **Reply #66 on:** April 12, 2008, 10:02:07 pm »

Quote from: S0L on April 11, 2008, 08:27:37 pm

As one of the 'Dirty Dozen' pre-orderers (is that even a word?) I'm more than happy to wait for David.

Everything I've read on the controllers that have gone before have suggested nothing other than a complete attention to detail, if not perfection, on all his previous works.

I've waited almost 24 years to get my hands on a controller as good as the original, I'm sure a wait of a little bit longer is not going to hurt me.

I've complete faith that the time I've waited will be absolutely worth it.

Am I excited to get my hands on a brilliant reproduction controller? Absolutely, but would I ask Davd to rush it? Nope, not me

Looking forward to an update - and the controller when it is ready!

---
S0L
---

ratzz · « **Reply #67 on:** April 14, 2008, 07:21:11 pm »

Quote from: S0L on April 11, 2008, 08:27:37 pm

As one of the 'Dirty Dozen' pre-orderers

'Dozey Dozen'

Katana Man · « **Reply #68 on:** June 24, 2008, 01:27:00 pm »

This project started in 2004 and it's been over a year since his last entry in the "Project Blog". It's not looking good in my opinion.

Namco · « **Reply #69 on:** June 24, 2008, 02:01:47 pm »

Quote from: ark_ader on April 12, 2008, 10:02:07 pm

Quote from: S0L on April 11, 2008, 08:27:37 pm
As one of the 'Dirty Dozen' pre-orderers (is that even a word?) I'm more than happy to wait for David.

Everything I've read on the controllers that have gone before have suggested nothing other than a complete attention to detail, if not perfection, on all his previous works.

I've waited almost 24 years to get my hands on a controller as good as the original, I'm sure a wait of a little bit longer is not going to hurt me.

I've complete faith that the time I've waited will be absolutely worth it.

Am I excited to get my hands on a brilliant reproduction controller? Absolutely, but would I ask Davd to rush it? Nope, not me

Looking forward to an update - and the controller when it is ready!

---
S0L
---

SOL indeed.

Havok · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2008, 12:03:57 am »

Yep - David stopped responding to my emails. Oh well, it would have been nice to be able to buy a new SW yoke...

Timstuff · « **Reply #71 on:** June 25, 2008, 12:58:40 am »

It's a shame that this project is dead. I would actually like to build a cabinet for Star Wars at some point in the future, but it doesn't look like the options will be very good for the yoke when that day comes. This is why the smaller the venture, the less trusting I am of preorders. I'm not going to try to make any kind of judgment about David's character here, but I don't think that it's very professional to leave people hanging for a year when the amount of money at stake is in the $200 neighborhood. Unanswered e-mails are always a bad sign, so if you're one of the poor fellows who preordered, now's probably the time to start looking for alternatives.

It's a shame that there's so little market for a good Star Wars style yoke, but really, what can you expect for a peripheral who's claim to fame is a game that is slowly becoming extinct? To my knowledge, there hasn't been a single new vector monitor built in over 20 years, so it's kind of inevitable that once that finite supply is diminished, the existing Star Wars PCBs will be rendered useless. I don't even think there's a market for the Zektor ZVG anymore because of this fact. If you by some miracle own a Star Wars machine, cherish it while you can, because eventually that monitor is gonna burn out, and there will be nothing to replace it.

Of course, there is the slowly growing BYOAC / Mame market who will always be glad to gobble up any peripheral that makes playing classic games more authentic, which is why the Star Wars yoke is such a sought-after peripheral. However, that market is STILL too small for most vendors (like Happ) to want a full production of the yoke, so for now it looks like we're going to be stuck relying on guys like Dave to come through with their one-man operations. The quality might be just as good as a production model, but the fact remains that mom-and-pop peripherals are often in short supply, with short lived productions.

The only way I can really see a new Star Wars yoke being produced by a full-fledged distributor, is if either A) by some miracle, SOMEONE starts making vector monitors again for Star Wars restores (fat chance), or B) new arcade games are released that use a Star Wars style yoke.

ark_ader · « **Reply #72 on:** June 25, 2008, 03:47:17 am »

Ask David if he had a nice holiday.

Seriously I still like the guy, and its a shame you, who pre ordered them, had so long to wait.

Powder coating handles eh? Hmmm.

Well there is still hope David will come up trumps with a product.

Time will only tell. How much time is a good question.

So please tell: How many of you ~~suckers~~ interested parties parted with cash for this?

Will there be a refund?

Maybe I should take up the challenge and make some.

Anyone want to front me some cash?

S0L · « **Reply #73 on:** June 25, 2008, 07:41:06 am »

Well regardless of the ridicule I've had- I've still got faith in this

There was a blog update on the Yoke site too mid-May that details the trouble is still with the powder coating - http://www.ram-controls.com/blog-sw.html

As I've said, I'm staying patient as I'd rather have it right, then rushed.

The nice thing with the wait, is I've picked up pretty much everything else I need for the box I plan and spread the cost over a fair old time period

So when it shows up I can put aside a week for putting it all together and playing it!

---
S0L
---

shardian · « **Reply #74 on:** June 25, 2008, 08:47:37 am »

I don't understand why he is being so picky on the powder coating. These things were mass produced and half-assed in the first place. Last I remember him saying was that he was going to buy the tools to do it himself.

If it is true that he has disappeared, that is sad. I doubt it is entirely true though.

Level42 · « **Reply #75 on:** June 25, 2008, 08:50:42 am »

Quote from: Timstuff on June 25, 2008, 12:58:40 am

....
It's a shame that there's so little market for a good Star Wars style yoke, but really, what can you expect for a peripheral who's claim to fame is a game that is slowly becoming extinct? To my knowledge, there hasn't been a single new vector monitor built in over 20 years, so it's kind of inevitable that once that finite supply is diminished, the existing Star Wars PCBs will be rendered useless. I don't even think there's a market for the Zektor ZVG anymore because of this fact. If you by some miracle own a Star Wars machine, cherish it while you can, because eventually that monitor is gonna burn out, and there will be nothing to replace it.

As a SW owner I find this all overly negative.

The only part that is unique for a vector monitor is the yoke. I've rebuilt my Amplifone 25" in my SW cockpit, and I'm telling you that it will live longer than me. The amplifone deflection and HV boards are very reliable once rebuilt. The CRT is going to last VERY long because of course now it's not running 24/7. True, the Amplifone uses a mid-res CRT that is not available anymore at all (25") or that is readily available NOS (!) from Canada (while supply lasts). Even so, the CRT itself can be replaced by a standard resolution CRT if nothing else will be available anymore.

Because of the popularity there is a vast number of SW (and other vector) machines in the hands of collectors, and they will be around for a long time. More and more people rebuild them or keep them in good running condition. The reason why the SW yoke is (close to) impossible to make profittable is that the whole construction is expensive to produce and the market is relatively small. I think Dave's market was much less replacing yokes on original machines (why would you, some new small parts (from David !), a fresh paint and off you go) then selling them to MAME users.

FrizzleFried · « **Reply #76 on:** June 25, 2008, 09:13:17 am »

I think everyone is waiting on a product that isn't going to ever happen...

This yoke has been promised for longer than I have been in the community.

ahofle · « **Reply #77 on:** June 25, 2008, 10:43:59 am »

Well other than the paint, all the parts are supposedly finished. Who here has ordered a kit to rebuild their existing yoke? Looks like you can order pretty much every part on his site.

shardian · « **Reply #78 on:** June 25, 2008, 11:20:33 am »

The guy has manufactured very high quality parts in the past (MH roller), so its not a scam. Hell, he has sent me a pair of Atari cone lights for free! I hope he chimes in here soon and updates everyone on the process. It really is a shame, because he gave away a ton of stuff shipped for free to the community as a sign of goodwill a few months ago.

FrizzleFried · « **Reply #79 on:** June 25, 2008, 11:24:43 am »

Quote from: shardian on June 25, 2008, 11:20:33 am

The guy has manufactured very high quality parts in the past (MH roller), so its not a scam. Hell, he has sent me a pair of Atari cone lights for free! I hope he chimes in here soon and updates everyone on the process. It really is a shame, because he gave away a ton of stuff shipped for free to the community as a sign of goodwill a few months ago.

With all due respect...but SLIKSUCK also produced very high quality products in the past...so that's not really any kind of gauge as to what the guy will be doing (or not doing) in the future. If it was a year, or two years, but man, we're now going on what? A decade?

This is the Duke Nukem of the arcade scene...


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Author Topic: RAM Controls - Star Wars Yoke (Read 30924 times)

ratzz

ratzz