Mounting Spinner vertically?

[GAtekwriter]

A strange question here:

Has anyone ever mounted the spinner on the side of the control panel (vertically)?  To me, it's more comfortable to rotate the spinner in that orientation than horizontally (flat on the control panel).

Jim

[ChadTower]

I've never seen it, but I've always toyed with the idea of two opposing vertically mounted spinners... possibly one X and one Y... of course, there would have to be a game written to take advantage of that, but that has also been poking around my head for years.

[javeryh]

I've never seen it, but I've always toyed with the idea of two opposing vertically mounted spinners... possibly one X and one Y... of course, there would have to be a game written to take advantage of that, but that has also been poking around my head for years.

Etch-A-Sketch?

[ChadTower]

Well, technically you could do any trackball game that way, as you'd have analog control of both X and Y... but it wouldn't be comfortable, it would be Etch a Sketch as you'd say... but there are certain concepts, particularly vector based, that would work really well with that type of control.

Picture a Tempest were you could move your character as normal but also have control over depth, for example.

[GAtekwriter]

Ergonomically speaking, a vertically mounted spinner will be a little less taxing on the wrist - as a freelance writer, I'm always looking for ways to reduce the threat of carpal tunnel and it occurred to me that the spinner will work mounted vertically but might not be comfortable to access under the CP.

Jim

[ChadTower]

Eh... a spinner is a rock solid controller.  Once it's on and working well you'll rarely have to go in and tweak it.

[Xiaou2]

 Ive posted the Idea in the past,  for people who are trying to cram the
spinners too far up on the control panel to be comfortable.

 A spinner can easily be mounted vertically,  and will not have any
troubles,  unless it is a very poorly built spinner.

 As for vertical comfort,  Its hard to say.

 Maybe driving games are near vertical mounted..  yet,  your grip is
a bit different.

 Mock it up on some heavy duty cardboard layers..  or a small scrap wood test.

[ChadTower]

Wouldn't the signal-movement ratio of a spinner makes driving games really really sensitive?

[Xiaou2]

 Not sure what you mean.

 You can dial down sensitivity on many mice.   Also settings in windows too.

 And in game, you can also dial it down.

 One usually does not take their hands off the wheel when
driving either.  (unless you are playing something like
supersprint where you whail it and let her rip    )

[ChadTower]

Look at the difference in how "far" you would need to spin a large wheel vs how far you'd have to spin a small wheel to get the same rotation.  Half of that is in the person's perception, sure, but it is what it is... a person is going to have trouble adjusting, at least a first, to moving a spinner only a fraction of an inch where they would move a large wheel 3".

[Xiaou2]

 One thing to remember... is that arcade wheels are Geared.    So for example,
even a small movement on my Sega Turbo's wheel translates to an immediate precise
movement of the car.

 When you take that into consideration,   and again,  with sensitivity adjustments,
one can dial in very good control.

 I really dont think it would take much for someone to get used to
vertical spinners.   We have vertical dials on all kinds of equipment
already. 

 I understand where you are coming from.   However, I tend to think that
the immediate feedback of control -vs- on-screen resulting action
will be more than enough for a person to be able to react properly to.

 Much more so than say...  those crappy mini analog thumb sticks
on console pads.   Ugg.  Poor mechanical control  (bad leverages),and
reduced sensitivity,  equals sloppy inaccurate control.