Randy says "don't ask"

[TPB]

GGG gets plenty of mentions for their spinners, but not much gets mentioned about their other products.

What gives with Randy's GP-Wiz49 ?  Will there be a new version any time soon ?

Randy says "don't ask", but at the same time, the interface is out of stock.
 
Is the reason it's out of stock, because he's about to release the new version ? :

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_81&products_id=233


This product is important, if only to keep a healthy range of competitive offerings available.

A revamped GP-Wiz49 would be a powerful competitor to the U360.  That's unless Randy's put up the white flag, and surrendered the mappable joystick market to the U360.

I hope not.

While the U360 is (by all accounts) an awesome stick, I'm concerned the forum has a handful of U360 "disciples" who wouldn't dare say a bad word about it, and who tend to flame anyone who reports a genuine problem.

I recall someone posting a video, to demonstrate a problem with their U360, and they got flamed for doing so, with insinuations they were nit-picking over nothing.

I don't think this is healthy.  If someone has a problem with a product, they should be free to air it without criticism.

Otherwise, the glowing reports of happiness from U360 owners become unbalanced, just like the over-hyped satisfaction ratings in E-Bay feedback.

I know Andy has a reputation for support that's second to none, which is a credit to him.  But his support tends to happen via email.  No problems with that, except it does result in a less visible picture to the general public, of the problems that can occur.

To summarise :

>>  Question to Randy, is the revamped GP-Wiz49 still in the pipeline ?

>>  Comment to all U360 owners, please feel free to post all your feedback about your sticks ... not just the good, but also the bad and the ugly. 


I'm not favouring one vendor over another, although that's how it may appear if you read this thread in isolation.  Andy has a TON of fab products.  I just think it's best to have balanced discussions, and healthy competition.

[Visitor Q]

On a side note, where hell has Randy been of late?

[Ginsu Victim]

Since I'm obviously being called out here....

I never flamed Ummon. I called him nitpicky because what he called a problem I only saw as a very minor issue. It wasn't until Visitor Q began discussing the same issue that I started seeing how it could be annoying (VQ uses analog for almost everything, while I use pretty much maps most of the time and have had no problems). Any of the other threads where I brought up Ummon's issues were only meant as light-hearted jabs at the guy, just to see how he'd respond (by the way, in case you didn't notice, he could see I was just messing with him and took it as a joke...as he should).

I've pointed out any gripes I've had with the U360, but mine have been minor (the default light spring, the long throw). I push the U360 all the time because it IS a great stick. All joysticks have their issues, so not everyone will agree on what the best one is, or which problems are great enough to eliminate a stick as a choice. However, the U360 has a much better reputation than most and is worth the pricetag for most owners.

[Visitor Q]

The one thing I noticed about the U360s is this, something I have not mentioned yet. Mine are suppose to have the hard springs installed via Mameroom and the longer shafts, I am taking it they did so because that is what I paid for however they did not send me the original parts which is something I need to discuss with Scott. At any rate, how can I even tell that the harder springs are install as I have never dealt with these in there stock ones that I know of? The reason I ask is because moving my dedicated 4 way is like a work out for your hands, the joystick feels great! No center play and you really have resistance when moving the stick. With the U360s there is some restraint but it is nothing like that 4 way. Maybe this has to do more with the leaf switches which I know the 360s don’t have or for that matter have a need for.

So again, how can I tell if the new springs have been added with out having the originals to compare? Is there even a way?

***Please Note*** I am not saying by any means I got ripped off here or anything so please don't make this into something it's not.

[Ginsu Victim]

how can I tell if the new springs have been added with out having the originals to compare? Is there even a way?

The original feels like you're pushing air. If the stick has ANY resistance, you have the hard springs

[TPB]

I probably put too much emphasis on the whole U360 thing.

I should have emphasised more that it'd be nice to have a two horse race in the mappable joystick area.

The U360 has the race all sewn up ... but I guess that's a measure of its success, for which Andy should be rightly proud.

[Visitor Q]

how can I tell if the new springs have been added with out having the originals to compare? Is there even a way?

The original feels like you're pushing air. If the stick has ANY resistance, you have the hard springs

LOL! Then I would say they are in there.

Overall I think the U360 feel great with the circular restrictor plates and hard springs then. I have never dealt with them in their stock form (so to speak). I can only compare them to the ones on my X-Arcade and the dedicated 4 way I have installed but I'll say it again, that 4 way is a beast! You can tell you are pushing that guy fer sure!!

[Visitor Q]

I will say this about Andy so far. He has been helpful via email and friendly. I am curious to see how he plans to address my current issue with his product. He said that it would be best to replace my current U360 that is not fully working correctly but has not detailed that course of action.

[Hoopz]

Andy has always been willing to replace items as needed.  I had a I-Pac 4 issue that he had me trouble shoot then just shipped out a new unit.  Can't ask for more responsiveness than that.

Regarding two horse race:  Ultimarc and GGG have consistently offered new products that have been in direct competition with each other.  I have no prior knowledge, but I'd wager quite a bit that RandyT has an offering in the works. 

[Ginsu Victim]

I have no prior knowledge, but I'd wager quite a bit that RandyT has an offering in the works. 

I hope so, and I hope it's awesome. Competition makes for better products.

[Visitor Q]

Andy has always been willing to replace items as needed.  I had a I-Pac 4 issue that he had me trouble shoot then just shipped out a new unit.  Can't ask for more responsiveness than that.

Well that’s good to know, I hope he extends the same great customer service to me. I will keep you guys posted.

[Virge]

The one thing I noticed about the U360s is this, something I have not mentioned yet. Mine are suppose to have the hard springs installed via Mameroom and the longer shafts, I am taking it they did so because that is what I paid for however they did not send me the original parts which is something I need to discuss with Scott. At any rate, how can I even tell that the harder springs are install as I have never dealt with these in there stock ones that I know of? The reason I ask is because moving my dedicated 4 way is like a work out for your hands, the joystick feels great! No center play and you really have resistance when moving the stick. With the U360s there is some restraint but it is nothing like that 4 way. Maybe this has to do more with the leaf switches which I know the 360s don’t have or for that matter have a need for.

So again, how can I tell if the new springs have been added with out having the originals to compare? Is there even a way?

***Please Note*** I am not saying by any means I got ripped off here or anything so please don't make this into something it's not.

Are the springs silver or black?  I ordered some the other day.  Stock springs were black, harder springs were silver.

[wooowman93]

We need to see a key-wiz with higher amount of inputs then he will dominate

[Ginsu Victim]

We need to see a key-wiz with higher amount of inputs then he will dominate

Not at all. Why do you say that?

[wooowman93]

Becasue ipac 4 has 56 inputs enough for a 4 player cp but keywiz only has 40

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't see why you say he will "dominate", though. Most of us make two player CPs. (Plus, 56 is plenty. Anything more is a frankenpanel of pornographic levels)

[Visitor Q]

The one thing I noticed about the U360s is this, something I have not mentioned yet. Mine are suppose to have the hard springs installed via Mameroom and the longer shafts, I am taking it they did so because that is what I paid for however they did not send me the original parts which is something I need to discuss with Scott. At any rate, how can I even tell that the harder springs are install as I have never dealt with these in there stock ones that I know of? The reason I ask is because moving my dedicated 4 way is like a work out for your hands, the joystick feels great! No center play and you really have resistance when moving the stick. With the U360s there is some restraint but it is nothing like that 4 way. Maybe this has to do more with the leaf switches which I know the 360s don’t have or for that matter have a need for.

So again, how can I tell if the new springs have been added with out having the originals to compare? Is there even a way?

***Please Note*** I am not saying by any means I got ripped off here or anything so please don't make this into something it's not.

Are the springs silver or black?  I ordered some the other day.  Stock springs were black, harder springs were silver.

Not sure but I will keep that in mind when looking next time, thanks for the tid bit.

[daywane]

I don't see why you say he will "dominate", though. Most of us make two player CPs. (Plus, 56 is plenty. Anything more is a frankenpanel of pornographic levels)

(Plus, 56 is plenty. Anything more is a frankenpanel of pornographic levels)
is what I want to build
probably wont but I still want to build it for the fun of it

[shmokes]

Well that’s good to know, I hope he extends the same great customer service to me. I will keep you guys posted.

I recently wired up an IPAC 4 that was over 4 years old.  I bought it when I was getting started on a cab and then school/work/new-baby put the project on the backburner.  I'm finally nearing completion and when I wired everything up players 3 & 4 didn't work.  I wrote Andy an email asking if he had any suggestions on what the problem might be and he said, "It sounds like the board is dead.  I'll send you a replacement."

MY IPAC IS ALMOST 5 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Granted, it had never been used, but let's see if that makes a difference with just about any other product in the world)

Simply amazing.  He didn't even charge shipping for the replacement.  I just got a new IPAC 4 in the mail a few days later.  I have had very few occasions (exactly one, IIRC) to order products from Andy, but I would not hesitate to purchase from him in the future, and I recommend him every chance I get.  Up until now I could only vouch first-hand for amazingly fast overseas shipping and I just went by word-of-mouth on his customer service credentials.  I now can comment personally on them as well.  Second to none.  For real.

[Ummon]

Becasue ipac 4 has 56 inputs enough for a 4 player cp but keywiz only has 40

It used to have 32 - 4 more than it's market competitor, the IPAC2. If you want more than 40, there's the Wizmax, I think.