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720 controls design - wouldn't this be better??

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u_rebelscum:


--- Quote from: RandyT on October 09, 2009, 04:43:22 pm ---I see that the design offers absolute positioning, but that looks about to be all.  Also, about how many rotations can one get out of these things when spun?

--- End quote ---

Ehh, it was adjustable, but ~3/4, maybe 1 & 1/2 turn if spun hard with muscle behind it and you counted the fall (next sentence).  If you let it go and the handle was up, it almost should have stayed there, or slowly, very slowly, moved to the bottom 1/4 of circle; it shouldn't make it to the straight own unless left alone for hours.  Yet it was possible to get two full spins (720 degrees) if you were fast enough.

Very, very different than the tt2 spin forever spin feel. :)


--- Quote from: RandyT on October 09, 2009, 04:43:22 pm ---That being said, I think a new control can be made to approximate the action of this one, with a smaller footprint and maybe a lower cost (don't know what the originals went / go for.)  But the feel would only be approximate, as there is no way I would consider using a chain to dampen the motion.

--- End quote ---

Ram Controls is pre ordering for $150, $200 after preorder.  Rebuilt controllers often go for that range or higher.  Of course, it was cheaper back when it was originally in production: sharing parts and all.

Xiaou2:


 Well, I really cant comment too much about the thing... cause I was horrible at
the game.   To be fair... the game is a little  "clunky".

 I can say however... that the thing does not feel like a spinner at all.   The angled
stick helps to keep you aware of your orientation.  It changes the timing and control
of how you move because of this.  (wide slower circle, rather than quick center pivot)

 It Might be possible to replicate the control slightly by making an attachment that
fits over an existing spinner.  The main problem however... is that most spinner shafts
would not be strong enough to widthstand the leverages that would occur if someone
applied too much pressure accidentally.

 Im also unsure if applying pressure in only one direction,  -vs-  the upper & lower
pivot system would feel and react the same way.    Maybe a 'counter balance' weight
would correct it...

 Its not exactly the most popular game... and the ones who have played it probably
wouldnt settle for a poor replication, even if its a cheaper option.

 The worst part is... I think Mame disabled the 2ndary encoder disc... which is essential
for re-calibrating the unit on a constant basis.   Without this, the controller will get out
of sync, and while your stick may be pointing upwards... the skater might be skating
down-left.   Which destroys all chance to play it the way its meant to be played.


RandyT:


--- Quote from: u_rebelscum on October 09, 2009, 08:12:09 pm ---Ehh, it was adjustable, but ~3/4, maybe 1 & 1/2 turn if spun hard with muscle behind it and you counted the fall (next sentence).  If you let it go and the handle was up, it almost should have stayed there, or slowly, very slowly, moved to the bottom 1/4 of circle; it shouldn't make it to the straight own unless left alone for hours.  Yet it was possible to get two full spins (720 degrees) if you were fast enough.

Very, very different than the tt2 spin forever spin feel. :)

--- End quote ---

Ok, it's coming back to me now.  IIRC, the other noteworthy thing about the controller was the sound it made.  But I do now distinctly recall the interaction I had with the controller while playing the game.

A very convincing home version of the control would not be exceedingly difficult to make, but the audience might be too small for it to be worth doing.  I'm guessing it would be less than $100, plug and play USB, using the latest encoder technology.

Do the newer versions of MAME have an input for the calibration pulse? (I'm guessing it does, otherwise a true controller would be pointless...)  Also, does anyone know what the exact angle of the joystick is?


BTW, X, I wouldn't try to make a spinner attachment for this.  It would be too much of a pain to manually synchronize the shaft direction with the on-screen character, and the leverage would definitely break something.  This would require a special controller design that I already seem to have in my mind's eye.  I think even avid players would be happy with it, if it works like I think it would.

*edit*

I think I need to think about this one a little more.  There was one photo on that site that shows an action that would take it out of the realm of "special spinner-type control".  With a spinner, the knob always turns with the shaft.  This control obviously has a non-rotating grip and shaft, which adds complexity, size, etc.  This is one wheel that may not be worth re-inventing...

RandyT

Xiaou2:


 As said, they removed it.

Mame version 134  does not have it.

 Very sad that the Mame Team ruins a classic with its poor choice of emulation tactics...
as Usual.


 What is so damn hard about supporting 2 ways to control a game?!  (A fricken SWITCH!)

 Hmm... Lets make it Impossible for Anyone who actually LIKES the game to play it
correctly.   Brilliant.



SavannahLion:


--- Quote from: Xiaou2 on October 09, 2009, 11:48:46 pm ---
 As said, they removed it.

Mame version 134  does not have it.

 Very sad that the Mame Team ruins a classic with its poor choice of emulation tactics...
as Usual.


 What is so damn hard about supporting 2 ways to control a game?!  (A fricken SWITCH!)

 Hmm... Lets make it Impossible for Anyone who actually LIKES the game to play it
correctly.   Brilliant.

--- End quote ---

Because MAME doesn't emulate mechanical hardware and MAME supports lowest common denominator setup, namely keyboard, vanilla joystick and mouse. If someone figured out how to incorporate FUFME into an arcade cabinet, the MAMEDev's would go the extra mile to figure out how to cram said controls into the limitations of your keyboard, mouse or joystick.

Isn't MAMEDev supposed to be constructing some kind of framework to better handle control input, eg 720? Or is that just the messaging system for game feedback?

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