Building simple Control Panel

[Searcher7]

I'm building a simple 8-button, 1-spinner control panel for a friend who only plays the classic games.

I have MiniPac and Hydrogen controllers, as well as original Midway and Tornado spinners.

But it would seem a waste to use the MiniPAC or Tornado on such a simple control panel.

So I was hoping to get recommendations on the best way to do this.

Should I do an "old fashioned" keyboard or Sidewinder hack and use the Tornado spinner?

Perhaps get a cheaper keyboard encoder and do a mouse hack for one of the Midway arcade spinners I have?

Decisions. decisions. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Darren

[TOK]

You could get him a U360 from Ultimarc and that would cover the stick and encoder in one unit. I'd probably just get a separate USB spinner.

Not the cheapest way, but every time I try to economize I'm not satisfied. 

[CheffoJeffo]

Hey Searcher7 --- long time since we've seen you.

I would agree with TOK about the U360, depending on the game list, and a mouse hack for the spinner.

If you don't have an issue with 4-way vs 8-way, then perhaps a keyboard hack ... or one of the lesser encoders on eBay.

So ... which games ?

[Searcher7]

Only one spinner and eight buttons.(Three on each side of the spinner).

No joystick.

Thanks.

Darren

[CheffoJeffo]

So, a spinner, P1B1 (x2), P1B2(x2), P1B3(x2) and two other buttons (Coin1 and Start1 ?).

Given what you have on hand and a desire to do it on the cheap, I would say mouse hack and a keyboard hack or cheap encoder.

[Searcher7]

Any recommendations on a "cheap" encoder?

Thanks.

Darren

[BobA]

The mini pac without cables is about the cheapest controller.  It also has a trackball/spinner interface.

[CheffoJeffo]

I would leave that to those with more varied encoder experience -- I've been using JPacs exclusively for quite a while.

What I had in mind would have been something like the KeyWiz Eco or maybe one of the lesser-known encoders, if you can pick it up for cheap on eBay (the TOKN16 comes to mind since ghosting isn't likely to be a problem if you use the mouse buttons for the player buttons). It seems that the TOKNmedia site is down, however and if you are going to pick up a keyboard encoder, it might be worthwhile to use an integrated encoder like the Mini-pac.

If you are already looking at a mouse hack, then for two additonal buttons, even I (lazy as I am) would hack a keyboard.

Depends

[TOK]

Only one spinner and eight buttons.(Three on each side of the spinner).

No joystick.

Thanks.

Darren

Sorry I missed that. Its an unusual layout and when I read "classic games" my mind filled in the blanks.
Unless he has some disability that precludes using a stick, thats gonna be one short classic game list.

[EwJ]

Gamepad hack or inexpensive encoder 1 or 2  for buttons.

Mousehack or optiwiz with your existing spinner.

If you have all the stuff on-hand for hacking, like a spare gamepad and a mouse, you're all set.  If not, were it me, I'd get lazy and order an encoder (probably with the screw terminals)  and an optiwiz. (especially if the friend was paying).<edit

[Searcher7]

Gamepad hack or inexpensive encoder 1 or 2  for buttons.

Mousehack or optiwiz with your existing spinner.

If you have all the stuff on-hand for hacking, like a spare gamepad and a mouse, you're all set.  If not, were it me, I'd get lazy and order an encoder (probably with the screw terminals)  and an optiwiz. (especially if the friend was paying).<edit

I have several MS Sidewinders laying around that I can hack. Would they be ok instead of looking for GamPads? (All I have to do is find that page for hacking sidewinders).

But I think I'll pick up the Oti-Wiz for spinner.

Thanks.

Darren

[Evil Ivan]

I'm fond of the xbox controller + XBCD. Way more available functions and easy to swap buttons and axis around. My local 2nd hand stores usually have 'em for less then five bucks.

[Searcher7]

Ok. It looks like I'm never going to get this done.

If I use a an OptiWiz with the Sidewinder hack it would seem that I'd need to use another USB port.

I really wanted a simple solution that would allow me to create a control panel that will plug into a single port.

I wanted it to have a spinner with three buttons on the left and three on the right.

But I guess I'll have to make it two buttons on the left and one on the right, for the games Astro Blaster, Astro Invader, and Carnival. Asteroids is out because it needs one too many buttons. (He'll just have to use the key board for coin up and start).

And I'm assuming that all spinner games will be covered and will only require the use of a single USB port.

But will I need to get a cable for it also?: http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_85&products_id=261

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.