I'm Ditching My Tornado

[D_Harris]

Yeah, it's all modern looking with it's shinny knob, but it spins too smoothly.

I prefer the friction you get from a soda soaked bubble gum abused spinner like we had to use back in the 80s.

I can spin this one and go for breakfast and then come back to see it still going. 

But seriously, does anyone beside me think these are made to spin too well?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[PsychoAU]

A pack of gum is less than a dollar...  problem solved   

[D_Harris]

A pack of gum is less than a dollar...  problem solved   

Yeah, but the soda will bust my budget. 

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[bkenobi]

It's easier to add friction than it is to remove it.  There are a number of things you could try (if pop and bubblegum are too spendy).  Maybe take a bit of string and tie it around the base of the shaft (under the knob) so that it rubs the CP a bit.  Maybe put a bit of felt between the two.  There's probably even some options for the back side, I'm not familiar with the product so I can't suggest anything though.

As a mechanical engineer, it seems wrong to intentionally add friction to a design (other than brakes anyway).   

[syph007]

I remember when that spinner was first announced it seemed like a really odd selling point to me as well when it said they would spin forever!?!  I think the majority of us here are looking for arcade authentic, and that sure isnt.   Im all for a modern spinner, but the fact that they spin forever isnt a selling point for me.

[bkenobi]

You could play some of the tracks on Danny Sullivan without moving a hand (once you got it spinning the right speed.   

I guess that's not a feature though.

[Ummon]

I hated the original Tempest spinner cos it didn't spin easy, even for the length of the playfield. While the Tornado is a little bit of overkill, it's easily addressed by lowering the sensitivity in-game. Friction in general is just bogus, so there's no helping you there.

[RandyT]

Friction in general is just bogus, so there's no helping you there.

That's not entirely accurate.  Good control of a spinner hinges on a proper balance of flywheel weight and friction.  Too much friction, and it's hard to use.  Too little and it feels "greasy" and makes it easy to overshoot.  Too little friction in combination with heavy flywheels (often associated with those "long spin time" spinners) will exacerbate the problem.  High levels of force required to overcome the large moment of inertia associated with heavy flywheels are less of an issue with lower friction spinners (they move easier), but overshooting the desired position becomes common, as there is little friction to help slow it down.

Spinners have to feel "right", and a little friction will be part of that magic equation, just as it is with the intentional friction caused by the chain on the 720 controller being discussed in another recent thread.

RandyT

[taylormadelv]

6 months ago I would have jumped on the chance to buy your Tornado (especially since it's not sold anymore) but now I'm not sure. I agree that the newer spinners can be too smooth. My SlikStik is just so buttery smooth and spins forever, at first seemed like an improvement over the original Tempest spinner. But I built another CP using an original Tempest spinner and the game plays better IMO. Not nearly as smooth, nothing close to the free spin time but feels more accurate when actually playing Tempest. I even appreciate the "burrrr" of the original, worn plastic bushings!

[TPB]

Randy offers a TokenTop spinner knob that provides user adjustable resistance / friction.

It's designed for the TT2, and also works on certain other spinners (check with Randy to confirm which ones).


Regular TokenTop :

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=280

Designer TokenTop :

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=316

[D_Harris]

Of course this is always subjective. I just happen to be more of a purists when it comes to feel.

The problem of course is that you can't have one single spinner cover the feel of all original spinners on multiple games. Which means you'd have to have multiple spinner CPs anyway.

In that respect, I can understand that some may feel that if they can't have a one spinner fits all solution, then they might as well just get the spinner with the best feel.(Not that MAME can emulate analog controls 100% anyway).

The rest of us will have to stick to original arcade spinners with mouse hacks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[Minwah]

It's a shame Oscar Controls is no longer operational...you'd have loved a spinner from him.

I still have one with a large encoder wheel, but I think it is a bit big for my panel...although this thread has reminded me I must check that...

[Ummon]

Randy offers a TokenTop spinner knob that provides user adjustable resistance / friction.

Yeah, I'd forgotten about this. May have ta try that....