Main > Main Forum
why no tron stick solution after all this time?
TheShanMan:
I've spent a good part of today searching the boards for info on how people have solved the tron stick problem (specialized restrictor and trigger button), and I'm actually feeling very amazed right now. I see discussions on the topic going back for YEARS. There are a number of amazing manufacturers producing high quality, innovative products (GGG, Ultimarc, Ram - if some of those projects would actually get completed).
How is it that after all this time no one has come up with a great solution, even if it doesn't have the original translucent blue look? Seems to me that the ultrastik 360 comes closest with it's ability to do per-game mappings (because who wants a joystick that is dedicated to a single game?), but for whatever reason its design doesn't lend itself to a trigger button apparently?
Am I missing something here? How is it that a joystick manufactured 25 years ago can't be approximately recreated? It seems like everyone on this board would shell out the cash in a heartbeat for one!
If nothing else, why not an ultrastik 360 with a tron style handle (at this stage who cares if it looks the same as long as it works similarly) with a wireless transmitter inside for the button? I saw a little discussion of this idea, but it was in the context of putting a button on a ball top, where room is obviously a concern. A tron style handle would obviously have room inside for a transmitter. Yeah, I know that twisting is somewhat of an issue (although with a wireless transmitter it would be less of a concern), but I have to think that isn't a huge issue to overcome.
So to some degree I'm venting because I feel like I've wasted so much time searching, and feel no closer to being able to play tron reasonably well. But to some degree I'm also hoping to generate renewed interest by some of the more ingenious types here, as well as our beloved home arcade product manufacturers. There has to be a solution - it seems like we're already SO close!
Fozzy The Bear:
--- Quote from: TheShanMan on February 23, 2008, 09:03:22 pm ---Am I missing something here?
--- End quote ---
What a long post and pointless rant for a simple question. You could have tried asking instead of ranting!
Yes you are missing something.......
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/50997000.htm
That's a TRON Stick.... all be it with a black coloured handle. If you want it to behave like a tron stick, then you'd need to add a rubber restrictor. Otherwise it's already right for "Discs Of Tron" and "Satans Hollow".
The only thing it doesn't have is the translucent blue or red handle, and I was working on those. It's a temporarily shelved project, due to some time and materials restrictions.
Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
leapinlew:
Genesim did this mod recently:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76052.0
Other people switch between a happs top fire and a 4 way.
Some people buy a Tron joystick.
Others don't really worry about it since Tron isn't that high on peoples favorite list. Sure, it's a cool cabinet, but as far as the game goes...
TheShanMan:
Guys, I may have come across wrong and for that I apologize (I feel embarrassed for apparently coming across like a self-important jerk). I wasn't complaining that someone hasn't done something to make me happy. I was just surprised that no better solution has come about. And after spending a lot of time searching and finding cases of 1 person doing this (like hacking a u360), and 1 person doing that (like making a restrictor out of a wooden flagpole), but no real "holy grail" solution I felt like I had wasted a lot of time for no benefit. It was my seemingly wasted time that I was venting about, while at the same time trying to turn that into perhaps a discussion of how we might be able to reach that goal.
Fozzy, I was aware of the happ joystick, but my understanding is that it doesn't have proper restriction and therefore ISN'T ideal for tron. In the threads that I ran across today, that's what I was seeing. Are you saying it does come with a restrictor that makes it more ideal for tron? Or where are these purchased? Somehow I missed discussion of that, even though I did search on restrictors.
Leapinlew, I did see that thread, but I've also seen some discussion about NOT being able to mod the U360 to have a trigger button. I know I got that response from Andy when I asked him about the idea, and I think I saw it in a thread here too. It would also be nice if it didn't require buying 2 expensive joysticks and ending up with 1 (but if that was widely considered to be a great way to get tron functionality, then so be it). Yeah, I'd love to buy a tron stick. I'm trying to find one but they don't seem easy to come by. I was checking a local arcade repair shop with no luck and there may be another one close enough to me to check as well. I don't get the impression that they appear on ebay very often either.
leapinlew:
I edited the smartassness out of my post.
I would probably just wait for one to come up on ebay. There were 3 or so last month. Be prepared to shell out some cash. Genesim seems completely content playing Tron as a 4 way only.