Cheap spinner: Griffin Powermate vs. EZMount Arcade Spinner

[JC]

Hi,

I've been researching volume control options for my cabinet. I'm using standard 2.1 PC speakers for sound, but it seems like it would be a pain to integrate the volume knob with my admin or control panel, so I'm looking for an alternative.

Meanwhile, my current control panel design does not have a spinner. This is primarily due to cost, as it would cost me at least $100 to add optical encoder + spinner + knob. I'm not interested in *that* many spinner based games, but I am a big fan of Super Off Road and Arkanoid.

I like the look of the Griffin Powermate, I've seen it used in a few different builds here and it looks pretty slick. I really like the fact that I could push on it to mute. Can it also function as as a cheap spinner? I'm sure it wouldn't compare with a Slikstik Tornado, but wouldn't spinner games play better with it than with a trackball? It seems like a great combo for me: no optical interface to buy, easy hook-up via USB, and it would solve both my volume control + no spinner problems.

The other option I have is the EZMount Arcade Spinner from ezarcadesolutions.com, which seems to have received good reviews for a $40 spinner, and may be better suited than the Powermate as an actual arcade control. I would still need to come up with a solution for the volume control problem.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
JC

[NoOne=NBA=]

Can it also function as as a cheap spinner?

It depends on how picky you are.
The PowerMate sends key commands to the app.
This makes it "possible" to play spinner games, but not "optimal".

The best analogy I have is playing Centipede, or Missle Command, on an Atari 2600 with a trackball.
The trackball was seen by the 2600 as a joystick, so when you spun the trackball, the cursor would move toward the direction you spun, but at joystick speed.

wouldn't spinner games play better with it than with a trackball?

I would prefer a trackball to a PowerMate.
You get true optical response from a trackball, meaning that the character moves faster/slower as you move faster/slower.

The other option I have is the EZMount Arcade Spinner from ezarcadesolutions.com

I don't think they are in business anymore.
Anybody else have a link for them?

I would still need to come up with a solution for the volume control problem.

Depending on where you put the speakers, you can probably remote the controls that are already on them.
I decased my speakers, to mount them just below the marquee, and put the controls that came with them (power button and volume control) in the center, sticking out through the wood.