trackballs?

[wonkalow]

Are there really many  games that these work well with? The only one I can think of is Golden tee, but I dont think theres a rom version of that is there? or even a version you can buy and install in a cabinet? Im trying to decide if I want to get one for my 2p CP 

[northerngames]

google trackball arcade game there is alot more then you would think.

[ahofle]

Also try a search on these forums.  This question comes up often.

[one2three]

I highly recommend a trackball. Of course I'm a centipede fan, so it was mandatory to have one in my cab.

I use it quite often in various games and windows environment. Wife uses it for majong tiles type games.

[FrizzleFried]

Trackball games I love to play...(and ARE supported by mame)

Centipede
Millipede
Missile Command
Golden Tee (many versions)
Shuuz!
World Class Bowling
Shuffleshot

[MinerAl]

Trackballs also allow you to use your operating system's GUI (as a mouse). 

[wonkalow]

Hmm, looking at the price I think Ill leave a spot open on the CP and possibly add one once I get everything setup and working. After all this is my first cabinet and honestly im an idiot, im going to screw up alot  Once its all setup though if I like how it runs, you guys have definantly talked me into one   

[unclet]

I love Birdie King ..... and like Marble Madness

[RayB]

Cabal
Crystal Castles
Boot Camp
a variation of Track n Field
Kick Man
Major Havoc

[Disturbed013]

Major Havoc with a trackball?  I always played that with a spinner, never saw one with a ball, interesting!  Did up/down actually do anything?

Wonkalow, seriously consider it in your plans, for all the reasons already mentioned.  Also, have you picked up a copy of the book ?  I was well into the planning/acquisition stage before I stumbled upon it and it really helped me get things lined up better and it will improve your confidence tremendously.  I'm not trying to plug, just the best advice for first time builder that I know of.

D13

[vidmouse]

I started building my first cab this year around March (well, started gathering
parts around Jan-Feb but didn 't build until March).  Originally I wanted to do
a 4-player cabinet with no trackball, but after reading The Book and interacting
w a lot of helpful friendly people on the forums, and finding a decent trackball
on Ebay, I decided to buy one.

And then promptly didn't do anything with it for 3 months.  In the meantime,
I got my cab built, prototyped a 2-player, 2-joystick cab with no trackball,
and had fun.

Then I finally got a free day to finish woodworking on my final control panel
with 2 players and the trackball-install I designed, but didn't have the
computer interface yet.  Again, looked cool but not functional.

Then this month I finally got the time to mouse-hack the trackball and
make it function as my computer mouse -- and omg I will never go back.
It's only been a few weeks but  there's been a 4x improvement in the
"fun" of the cab... been having a blast just playing Missile Command,
Centipede, and even "spinner" games using the trackball.  Plus, I
switch between using MAME and playing pinball games on Visual Pinball,
so the trackball is handy b/c it acts as the computer's mouse. -- Much
better than trying to do it w/ the real mouse I was using in the pull-out
keyboard drawer I made for my cab.

Incidentally, I haven't given up on my 4 player design... just modified it
so that I will add players 3-4 as attachment "wings" to the control panel
when I have 3-4 players come over.

Wonkalow -- see my website for how I did my trackball install, it might
give you some ideas.  I was able to mount mine w/o a trackball
mounting plate (which probably isn't recommended by some but
I planned it out and wanted to see if I could do it) and I describe the
mouse-hack needed, albeit in less detail than the link I give on the
page.  It's not the first webpage in my site, you have to follow a link
to "Trackball" from the menu bar.

Good luck!  And feel free to PM w/ questions, you're not alone in
"first-time cabbing"!

[f4phantomii]

I have my 2 player control panel and use two trackballs.

Either one functions as a 3-button mouse in winXP and they allow you to play a lot of the first person shooter games (without a lightgun), as well as spinner games and a lot of driving games (Super Sprint!).

You can also play the usual trackball games centipede, millipede, cabal, tempest, marble madness, etc.

I'd say they are a must for a mutli-game cab.  Here's my CP layout using two Happ rotary 8-way joysticks and two trackballs.  I've got to get around to adding the analog flight stick.  Both of my trackballs are X-arcade trackballs that function as regular USB or PS2 3-button mice.  I've been nothing but pleased with them.

[RayB]

Major Havoc with a trackball?  I always played that with a spinner, never saw one with a ball, interesting!  Did up/down actually do anything?

It is left/right only, but perfectly playable with a trackball. The version you saw with a spinner was the Tempest conversion. The original Major Havoc uses a left/right roller, so in practice, it's very similar to spinning a trackball left and right. For Kick Man, they used a left/right roller too, but it was round like a trackball.

[Disturbed013]

Thanks RayB I have been wondering what was up with those reproduction rollers.  Now I really want one of those...

[Zeno]

Don't forget...

ATAXX
RAMPART
ARKANOID
Etc.

Also... as noted before, you will be using the trackball as your mouse.  It just finishes the whole thing.  Do it right and get the damn trackball.

[LPZ]

mini golf is the bomb, as is quantum

LPZ