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This hobby needs a new joystick
Civilan:
I've been around here for only a short time learning all I could about designing a control panel. There is just too many joystick types used in all the games. What this hobby needs is a real ULTIMATE joysick.
The joystick would have:
- snap on/ plug in interchangeable handles, one bat handle, one ball handle, one flight stick handle with 3 buttons (trigger + 2 thumb)
- switchable from 2-way, 4-way, 4-way diagonal, and 8-way
- switchable to analog and provide a longer throw when required
- When the joystick handle is removed a plug can be inserted into the hole to keep the control panel clean
With a joystick like this one could put 4 joysticks, 2 spinners, 1 trackball, and all the required buttons on a control panel without creating massive clutter on the face of the control panel.
I'm dreaming again... have fun adding to it.
Cheers,
Pierre.
MameFan:
Modular/switchable restrictor plates for 2/4/8 way should be doable at (relatively) low cost, and a rotating joystick base for diagonal 4 way (qbert) should be doable but more issues surrounding "locking" it in place.
As far as the swappable handles... anyone remember the Wico sticks from the mid-80's for Commodore/Atari systems? I had one where you could have a flight handle, a Bat stick or a ball, all interchangable. So that's not hard (with button on end). Adding triggers/etc.. involves more issues.
I would love some type of restrictor plate thing where you could have 2 plates come together to limit to 2 way horizontal, another 2 for 2 way vertical, another for 4 way, and another for 8 way. Each would be a pair of plates, motor run, clamping together under the stick and the ones not in use would retract (spread open). Would need to be interlocking overlaping dual layers though to prevent the 'finding' of the meeting point during play when doing round motions.
Could be done with 8 half-plates and a few gears with locking pins and a cam to select each one into place/alternate to the next one, and a stepper motor to select each mode. However to cost to design and manufacture such a thing would be astronomical and would mean each stick would probably sell for $200. You'd not be able to get the cost down until you sold enough sticks for every existing arcade game cab still in existence.
Still an interesting idea.
Civilan:
I forgot to add that the joystick would need to be a rotary type with a lock to prevent it from rotating in certain games.
Yes I know it would be expensive but this is a dream after all.
Civilan
hevnsnt:
and be less than $10 with free shipping. ;D
rampy:
--- Quote from: MameFan on April 21, 2003, 12:49:04 pm ---
As far as the swappable handles... anyone remember the Wico sticks from the mid-80's for Commodore/Atari systems? I had one where you could have a flight handle, a Bat stick or a ball, all interchangable. So that's not hard (with button on end). Adding triggers/etc.. involves more issues.
--- End quote ---
No, I don't remember... do you know the name/model of that wico stick? Sometimes old home wico sticks shafts/etc are compatible with arcade sticks bases because... well wico made both home and arcade joysticks...
Might be fun to play with (the old wico interchange-a-tron stick)
*shrug* any leads would be.. uh.. appreciated...
rampy