Mame Arkanoid Settings

[joeH]

So I fired up the machine recently, and decided to play Arkanoid.  I have a SlikStik CO2 panel, but the spinner ( I believe a tornado) seemed sluggish.  I bumped up the sensitivity to 150%, which seemed to help, but it still just doesn't feel "right". 

What do you guys have your Arkanoid Mame settings at?

[RandyT]

So I fired up the machine recently, and decided to play Arkanoid.  I have a SlikStik CO2 panel, but the spinner ( I believe a tornado) seemed sluggish.  I bumped up the sensitivity to 150%, which seemed to help, but it still just doesn't feel "right". 

I'm doing this from memory (and it's not what it used to be) so be kind.

The Tornado has an encoder wheel that has about 50 teeth on it, which provides for about 200 transitions per revolution.   Arkanoid requires about 486 transitions per revolution to perform like it would in the arcade.  That means that you would probably need to set your sensitivity to about 243% to get a similar turn to move ratio with your current hardware.  Unfortunately, this will also have the effect of increasing the granularity of movement, so your paddle will look like it's hopping positions instead of just gliding smoothly across the screen.

There's also the mechanical dynamic of the control.  The original was geared, so a spinner with a large flywheel and slick bearings is going to feel very different.

Outside of interfacing an original control, your next best option is a high resolution spinner, like a TT2.

RandyT

[joeH]

So I fired up the machine recently, and decided to play Arkanoid.  I have a SlikStik CO2 panel, but the spinner ( I believe a tornado) seemed sluggish.  I bumped up the sensitivity to 150%, which seemed to help, but it still just doesn't feel "right". 

I'm doing this from memory (and it's not what it used to be) so be kind.

The Tornado has an encoder wheel that has about 50 teeth on it, which provides for about 200 transitions per revolution.   Arkanoid requires about 486 transitions per revolution to perform like it would in the arcade.  That means that you would probably need to set your sensitivity to about 243% to get a similar turn to move ratio with your current hardware.  Unfortunately, this will also have the effect of increasing the granularity of movement, so your paddle will look like it's hopping positions instead of just gliding smoothly across the screen.

There's also the mechanical dynamic of the control.  The original was geared, so a spinner with a large flywheel and slick bearings is going to feel very different.

Outside of interfacing an original control, your next best option is a high resolution spinner, like a TT2.

RandyT

Thanks for the reply.     I can try bumping it up some more.  Will the analog speed (currently at 17 I believe) have any effect?  I bought my CP custom made as I'm not very experienced with installing any of the components and/or wiring them...so I don't know if I want to undergo the task of replacing it with another.

Any others, who use this spinner, care to post their settings?

[Diewrecked]

[
Outside of interfacing an original control, your next best option is a high resolution spinner, like a TT2.

RandyT
[/quote

What should the sensitivity be set to using a TT2 with a MAME pre-weighted spinnertop please?

Thanks
Jon

[DolansCadillac]

What should the sensitivity be set to using a TT2 with a MAME pre-weighted spinnertop please?

I've got one of the Tokentop knobs, which has some weight to it, and I run Arkanoid 1 at 45% sensitivity. It does feel a little fast even there though (which I prefer), it's likely supposed to be less.

[ahofle]

You can find out the appropriate sensitivity value yourself by using this extremely useful post:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=23967.msg201068#msg201068

For Arkanoid, 120-130 degrees = one vaus traversal across the screen
So keep adjusting until you can move the vaus across the screen with 120-130 degrees turn of your spinner.

[RandyT]

I've got one of the Tokentop knobs, which has some weight to it, and I run Arkanoid 1 at 45% sensitivity. It does feel a little fast even there though (which I prefer), it's likely supposed to be less.

You've got a pretty accurate feeler there

With a TT2 it should be set right around 40% (486/1200=40.5)  DOH wants to be set at twice this.

The "feel" will be a little different based on knob diameter as well, compared to the original knob size.  A smaller knob than the original may feel more accurate if you lower the sensitivity, while a larger one will feel more accurate if it's a little higher. But the numbers above are good starting points.

RandyT

[erictrumpet]

Am I the only person who thinks Arkanoid is one of the lamest games there is?
Block Gal has levels that are 10 times more interesting, and not just because of the peepshow.
Just about every other Breakout-type game (including Breakout) is more fun than Arkanoid.
And I've said it before and I will say it again: a non-"high resolution" spinner works JUST FINE for this mediocre game. Just fart around with your windows mouse speed and/or MAME analog settings until you can control the paddle and get through the first 2 levels without dying, and you're good to go.

Eric.

[joeH]

Am I the only person who thinks Arkanoid is one of the lamest games there is?
Block Gal has levels that are 10 times more interesting, and not just because of the peepshow.
Just about every other Breakout-type game (including Breakout) is more fun than Arkanoid.
And I've said it before and I will say it again: a non-"high resolution" spinner works JUST FINE for this mediocre game. Just fart around with your windows mouse speed and/or MAME analog settings until you can control the paddle and get through the first 2 levels without dying, and you're good to go.

Eric.

*snip*

[DolansCadillac]

You've got a pretty accurate feeler there

Hah, there used to be a coffee shop up the road that had an old beat-up Arkanoid cocktail, horrific Ms. Pac-Man burn-in and everything. Me and a few friends more or less made it a ritual. I was awful at it (still am) but I still played it enough to remember the feel.

I had no idea about ROD's sensitivity though, did any other game use a similar part? It uses the highest sensitivity I've configured yet (at 85%).

[DolansCadillac]

Am I the only person who thinks Arkanoid is one of the lamest games there is?

I hated Arkanoid and didn't really get the appeal of it at all for probably the first hundred games or so. After that though it started giving me that Zen-like trance I get from only a few games, only a lot more intense. I can get so lost in it that when I miss the ball it's like being startled awake.

[u_rebelscum]

Am I the only person who thinks Arkanoid is one of the lamest games there is?...
And I've said it before and I will say it again: a non-"high resolution" spinner works JUST FINE...

Two opinions you're welcome to have.  But people who disagree with the first probably disagree with the second.

Some people don't mind a 400x300 picture zoomed in to fill the screen; others demand a 1600x1200 (or whatever their screen is) or nothing.  Some don't mind the non-high res spinners on high res games; others... do mind.

If you liked the original game and it's controls, you'll need a high res spinner; otherwise you'll be playing with the 400x300 pixelated spinner on the 1600x1200 game.


IMO, while you might be able to play arkanoid okay with low-res spinners, it's not the same, and not as well, as with a high res spinner.  If you can't tell the difference, then, sure, you don't need the HRS.  If you can tell, and it matters to you, then get the HRS.

[erictrumpet]

Makes sense of course, if you love the game than absolute authenticity is paramount.
For me, Defender/Stargate control placement MUST BE EXACT (not a big deal to a lot of people), so I see what you mean.
I am just surprised so many people who aren't selling high-res spinners love Arkanoid.
I wonder if it's Andy's favorite game?

Eric.

[Spyridon]

Am I the only person who thinks Arkanoid is one of the lamest games there is?

I think Arkanoid is an awesome game.  That's why I'm building a cab with 3 arkanoid boards in it.