Old Product Announcement! Ultimarc Rotary Interface

[AndyWarne]

Following a certain New Product Announcement here, a couple of customers emailed to point out that I had never announced this on here and they only found it by chance on our site.
So here is the belated announcement:
Our Rotary Interface requires no host software, no wiring, no configuration. The Happ Controls connector just plugs into the board and the USB connector into the PC.
The output parameters are set at the correct values (with the help of a discussion on this board a while back) and do not require adjustment.
Full details here (not that there are many details, it falls into the "just works" category!) http://www.ultimarc.com/rotary.html

[XtraSmiley]

Thanks a lot Andy, I've been hording Druin boards for years waiting to sell them at a crazy profit and now this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will these work with the SNK LS-30s or just the HAPPS optical and mechanical rotaries?

[JimmyU]

Andy, would I still need an I-Pac for button presses as well?

[Kaytrim]

Andy, would I still need an I-Pac for button presses as well?

IIRC that would be true.

[fjl]

Wait, so this is a joystick with rotary controls?

[XtraSmiley]

Wait, so this is a joystick with rotary controls?

No dude, just follow the link and all will be explained.

[AndyWarne]

OK some background on rotary joysticks.
The Happ rotary joystick is a standard stick (actually made by Industrias Lorenzo) which has an additional bracket fitted by Happ and a bushing which makes a 12-position switch turn when you rotate the handle. Its made specifically as a spare part for Ikari Warriors. A couple of other games used them.
The directional part of the stick is standard and is connected to the same type of interface as you would connect any other switch-type joystick. It would replace a standard stick. The rotary add-on needs to have an interface which sends a clockwise and anti-clockwise signal every time the switch is clicked around one notch. In this case it sends a specific keypress for clockwise and a different one for anti-clockwise. Once set up in MAME the game recognises these keypresses.
The Happ stick is supplied with a wiring harness terminating in a 12-way plug, which plugs directly onto the board. The switches as part of the standard stick are wired separately.
Note there is another type of rotary stick which has an optical wheel and does not click round like the Ikari stick.
Andy

[XtraSmiley]

Thanks Andy, but does this mean your interface will work directly with the yellow SNK LS-30 sticks which were the actual Ikari Warriors sticks themseleves?

[AndyWarne]

Thanks Andy, but does this mean your interface will work directly with the yellow SNK LS-30 sticks which were the actual Ikari Warriors sticks themseleves?

I have never actually seen one but would assume so yes. If you can send pictures via email (or post here even) I can confirm.
Andy

[XtraSmiley]

Ha!  Just what the doctor ordered.

Here are actual photo's:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=52674.0

Here is the diagram:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53028.0

Andy I would be super happy to test these for you if you sent me an "evaluation set" of your interface.  I would do a review and post the results anywhere you like!

[TOK]

Andy, do you just carry the interface and not the actual stick, or am I missing it on the page?
I really like this setup, since it looks like a standard Happ Comp stick.

[XtraSmiley]

Andy, do you just carry the interface and not the actual stick, or am I missing it on the page?
I really like this setup, since it looks like a standard Happ Comp stick.

I know Andy carries the interface, not sure about the stick, but the reason I am jumping in here to answer this is that it is actually a Happs Super not a comp and as such, not as good.  Check out Retroblast.com and so a search for rotary review and you can see it in action and I think Kevin did a video an write up as well.

[AndyWarne]

We never got around to stocking the stick but I have started the process of getting some in stock.
Andy

[TOK]

We never got around to stocking the stick but I have started the process of getting some in stock.
Andy

Thank you, I'm very interested in these!

[XtraSmiley]

Ha!  Just what the doctor ordered.

Here are actual photo's:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=52674.0

Here is the diagram:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=53028.0

Andy I would be super happy to test these for you if you sent me an "evaluation set" of your interface.  I would do a review and post the results anywhere you like!

In case you missed this Andy...