More analog questions

[MattMaan]

I'm looking into upgrading my CP with a modular slot for those "special" sort of controls (spinner, trackball, 4way, analog, etc), and am currently trying to figure out the best way to interface all of these loooovely devices.  

So far, the idea is to...
a) wire a mouse hack to the port, so that the spinner and trackball can share pins when plugged in... shouldn't be too tough.

b) run an analog input to another port for to the analog joystick AND four extra digital inputs for the 4-way stick.

However, I was wondering if it's at all possible to wire the leaf switches of my 4way stick to the analog pins... in theory, it seems to make sense, since activating the switch should lead to maximum analog input in the given direction.  If it's impossible, its no big deal, I'll just have to run some extra digital inputs to the plug, but I'd like to avoid that if possible.

Lemme know if you have any ideas...
-Matt    

[paigeoliver]

Spinner and trackballs interface completely different than a 4-way digital joystick.

You could in theory use the same interface for a 4-way and an analog joystick using resistors.

I would really recommend a dedicated 4-way stick though. About 25 percent of the games in Mame are 4 way.

[MattMaan]

Any clues on where I could get a diagram for the 4 way to analog joystick interface?  

I know that the mouse guts would be a completely different setup from the analog stick system.

I agree with the dedicated 4 way in principle (I've got one on the prototype panel), but I really wanted an analog stick for Sinistar without the clutter of 4 joysticks on a two player panel... and so the only choice would be to go modular.  And if you're going modular, well then might as well add a spinner... and if you're adding a spinner, well, jeez, you've got the mouse guts you might as well drop the $70 and add a trackball...

Besides, the 4 way will probably be plugged in most often, since (as you stated) more games use it than anything else.

-Matt