Considering Trackball & Spinner for my cab... TOP 10 games for each?

[ARTIFACT]

I am not 100% sure I want a trackball and/or spinner on my scratch-built arcade cab

It will add a considerable amount of $$$ to the cost, but on the other hand I'd rather make it all work together right away instead of fitting it/them later.

Growing up, I believe that I only played joystick-based arcade games... Except driver games (Hang On, later on Ridge Racer and Daytona USA), which I have a logitech wheel for anyway. Thus, I don't have a big "emotional connection" with spinners and trackballs... I WOULD like to play arkanoid comfortable though, but that alone is not worth the extra ~ $100 


SO

WHAT ARE THE TOP 10 TRACKBALL GAMES?

and

WHAT ARE THE TOP 10 SPINNER GAMES?


Educate me ... Share your favorite titles!


The models I am looking at (maybe) ordering are HAPP 2 1/2" Trackball and the Slikstik Tornado Spinner. The sticks I am getting are U360, so I'll have some optical stick input available.

[genesim]

Not sure??!!

First of all, I hate, hate, hate using a MOUSE when I can use a track ball and joystick and do all I want without having to open up the keyboard on my dedicated arcade.

But anyway here it goes..and it is impossible for me to rank 10 because I don't need that many reasons.   Its kind of like having dual joysticks.   Robotron and Smash TV and Battle Zone are all I need them for and that is good enough for me!

Spinner

TEMPEST(I would actually rank this twice if I could)
Arkanoid
Tac/Scan
Super Breakout
Tron(paired with the topfire)
Avalanche-one of my favorites..much like Kaboom! on the old Atari
Pole Position(and most any driving game)

Rollerball.

CENTIPEDE
Marble Madness
Beezer(very addictive)
Missle Command
Liberator
Crystal Castles
Golden Tee
Any shooting or flying game also benefits from this.   Terminator 2 or After Burner are alot more playable.

Also Doom 3 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein are great to use in conjuction with a Top Fire with similar gameplay like Tron(cept ball instead of spinner).   

Here is a pic of half of my arcade.   To me, I use the controller for the game.   Like Qbert config on the bottom right.   Sure it is only for that and Congo, but very worth it because I love the games!   A rotary on player one is another example.    Not only is it a poor mans dial, but it serves it best purpose of all.   IKARI WARRIORS!



Once you have it built in, you won't regret it.  Incidently, I would urge you to go for a 3 inch track.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Spinner

Major Havoc
Kick
Star Trek
Omega Race
Blasteroids
Cameltry


Trackball

Quantum


FYI, I would highly recommend getting a Turbo Twist from Groovy Game Gear over the SlikStik.

[falkensmaze]

Once you have it built in, you won't regret it.  Incidently, I would urge you to go for a 3 inch track.

I so agree also a trackball is mega for taking your frustration out on rather than whakin your joysticks!!! 

note.. love the ultimarc spintrak  http://www.ultimarc.com/SpinTrak.htm

[genesim]

What is better over Tornado??

Their design is unmatched.   The damn thing spins and spins and spins.   Which of course mean 0 friction.

Great spinner, great quality.    I am very happy with mine.

[ARTIFACT]

yeah I am getting confused here ... too many spinner models, too many to choose from

Divemaster (who has *everything* and supplies much of BYOAC members' stuff) recommended the UltraStick Tornado Spinner and uses it in his cabinet.

[Havok]

What is better over Tornado??

Their design is unmatched.   The damn thing spins and spins and spins.   Which of course mean 0 friction.

Great spinner, great quality.    I am very happy with mine.

Crappy resolution. Get the GroovyGameGear TT2 spinner. It's better, and has a smaller mount footprint.

Why do people care about spin times? Is that how you play a game, flick the spinner and walk away???

 

[vidmouse]

It will add a considerable amount of $$$ to the cost, but on the other hand I'd rather make it all work together right away instead of fitting it/them later.
...

alone is not worth the extra ~ $100 

If it cost me $100 for my trackball I'd be rethinking it too...

I bet you can get it done for under $50 including the
interface.  I did mine for $30... (no spinner though)

My favorite Trackball/spinner games (and I use my
trackball as a spinner, no ill effects here)

Not in favorite order... just in the order I can remember
w/ my feeble memory as of this post...

Warlords
Arkanoid/Breakout clones
Tron
Crater Raider
Centipede
Missile Command
Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat (I use the trackball instead of a wheel)
Star Trek
Golden Tee and sequels
Capcom Bowling
Liberator

[unclet]

I plan on keeping my cabinet for many many years so $100 extra was no big deal for me.  If you have the money available then I would recommend you get a trackball and spinner.  You probably do not want people come over to your house to see your cabinet and then saying "Lets play Arkanoid or Centipede"  and then telling them you cant play those.

I too do not understand why people think a spinner is neat when it can spin for very long times.  The spinner games I play require you to simply twist it right/left only ... they do not require spinning it for many revolutions by itself.

[pboreham]

There were 2 really good sports games that I am looking forward to recreating again when my cab is finished.

Dunk Shot (obviously basketball!)
Tekhan World Cup (Football/Soccer)

Both use an overhead view point and rolling the trackball controls the players/shooting. Great stuff!

[f4phantomii]

Here's my control panel.

I operate two rotary joysticks and two trackballs.

I find the trackballs work very well for spinners and steering wheels.

I have an analog flight stick that I plan to add to the upper deck and I was going to add a spinner as well, but after using the trackballs, I'm not sure a spinner adds anything other than a coolness factor.

I'm using two Xarcade 3" trackballs that also function as regular 3-button mice in windows.  I've been nothing but pleased with them and they were far less expensive than authentic Happ trackballs.

The rotary joysticks are nice since they function as regular 8-way joysticks for most games, but let you have a spinner-like function if needed in some games where both hands are already occupied with joystick and buttons and you can't use a spinner or trackball.

[erictrumpet]

I'm always surprised at how few people list Discs of Tron among the lists of must-have spinner games. It is one of the best games ever! The unique control setup differentiates it not only from modern Xbox/Playstation stuff, but it even stands apart from other MAME titles. With so many people incorporating a top-fire joystick into their control panels (or, more appropriately for DOT, a flight stick), all you need is a push-pull spinner. Get the Apache Blackhawk! I absolutely love this spinner. Build quality is top notch and resolution, spin times, etc are on par with the best out there. Definitely check it out, you won't be disappointed...
http://www.apachecontrols.com/
http://retroblast.com/reviews/apache-070106-01.html

Eric.

[ARTIFACT]

unclet:

what spinner do you recommend that wouldn't break the bank but be good for playing arkanoid and centipede?
I see the TT2 is ~ $70 ... that's getting close to "gotta have it then" ... smaller footprint indeed! looks small

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=268&zenid=5f4093be3791fb9622076140dd44883b

thanks.

[Havok]

The TT2 is the ONLY aftermarket spinner that matches Arkanoid's native resolution...

[pboreham]

The TT2 is the ONLY aftermarket spinner that matches Arkanoid's native resolution...

Plus, with the TT2, you can get the steering wheel attachment which will be (i hope) excellent for games like APB, Indy Heat, Iron Man etc...

[u_rebelscum]

The TT2 is the ONLY aftermarket spinner that matches Arkanoid's native resolution...

Nope.

The Ultimarc SpinTrk also has a higher res than arkanoid.  It's true the TT2 is even higher (1200 cpr vs 1000 cpr), but both are higher than arknoid's (in the nine hundreds).

Change your statement to "... is one of two ..." and you're correct.

[RandyT]

The TT2 is the ONLY aftermarket spinner that matches Arkanoid's native resolution...

Nope.

The Ultimarc SpinTrk also has a higher res than arkanoid.  It's true the TT2 is even higher (1200 cpr vs 1000 cpr), but both are higher than arknoid's (in the nine hundreds).

Change your statement to "... is one of two ..." and you're correct.

That's correct.  However, an accurate statement would be that only the TT2 gives you enough extra resolution to compensate for a change in feel of control that results from using a larger than original equipment knob on a game like DOH, and perhaps other games which use a potentiometer based control.


RandyT

[scotthh]

If you get the TT2, you can use the TT2 interface for your trackball (a used 3" Happ perhaps?)

[Havok]

The TT2 is the ONLY aftermarket spinner that matches Arkanoid's native resolution...

Nope.

The Ultimarc SpinTrk also has a higher res than arkanoid.  It's true the TT2 is even higher (1200 cpr vs 1000 cpr), but both are higher than arknoid's (in the nine hundreds).

Change your statement to "... is one of two ..." and you're correct.

Ooops - forgot about Andy's.. My bad - you are correct.

Still, the steering wheel option makes the TT2 a more versatile choice, in my mind...

[ARTIFACT]

If you get the TT2, you can use the TT2 interface for your trackball (a used 3" Happ perhaps?)

Ohh that's an excellent suggestion... I didn't know I could do that.