The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Reviews => Topic started by: KevSteele on April 16, 2004, 03:08:02 pm
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Well, after emergency back surgery and a long doctor-enforced "vacation" away from the computer, I'm finally back with a new video review, of the Devastator II Controller:
(http://www.retroblast.com/photos/controllers/devastator2_tiny.jpg)
Check out the RetroBlast video:
http://www.retroblast.com/video.html (http://www.retroblast.com/video.html)
A full written review is in the works, and will be ready shortly.
Other new reviews are coming soon as well, as I try to burn through the backlog (hah! pun intended) of reviews that stacked up while I was incapacitated. I'm back! (hee, hee, another one, must be the pain meds...)
Kevin
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Hey man welcome back
I love me some video reviews but please dont do anything to over exert yourself, im sure youll be tip top in no time.
Im glad to see you back buddy!
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Good to see ya back, Kev.
I've never even heard of this product, but I'm checking out the review now.
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You're Alive! Good to hear. ;D
Can't wait for all the reviews you have coming up. Keep up the good work.
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Stuzza & Sasquatch!,
Thanks - I'm really, really anxious to get some more content up on the site, as it's been depressing to watch the review backlog grow. I've even got some stuff that's still covered by NDA's that I can't talk about until after the E3 show.
Lots of cool stuff coming, I promise!
SaiNRuB,
I'm trying very hard not to overdo things (like sitting for over 10 minutes, or lifting more than 5 lbs.) but the doctors' limitations are really starting to drive me nuts. Can't wait to start physical therapy, either...
Kevin
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Good to see you back in the saddle (sorry, couldn't whink of any back puns).
So how did you mess up your back in the first place? There's been some speculation that it may have been caused by overexhursive testing of Slick-Stik products.
:o
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JoyMonkey,
Nope, I didn't hurt my back trying to jerk-and-lift my SlikStik cab. ;-) I hurt my back trying to chop off 5-6 inch thick ice that had formed on the driveway (we had a snowstorm followed by an ice storm back in Feb while I had the flu, so I didn't get to the driveway in time to prevent the big freeze).
Next time, I'll just use a couple hundred pounds of salt... :-\
Kevin
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So how's the pain? Hopefully you'll recover 100% and be better than new. From any of us that regularly move cabinets (and yes move ice and snow in the driveway), its scary to hear of someone actually having to go 'under the knife'. I've had the shooting pains down the legs from time to time, and it always makes me wonder.
Best hopes for a miraculously fast recovery.
P.S. Loved that LED review: "and in the end I put the old bulb back in". that saved me me money on a bulb order, and gave me a good chuckle.
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Zakk,
Unfortunately, I'll never be 100% - I've got a lifetime limit now, I can only lift a maximum of 35lbs. It's going to put a crimp in my pinball-acquisition plans. :'(
Still, the disc was so badly herniated, it was threatening to sever the nerve bundle to my left leg. So compared to being permanently paralyzed in my left leg, a 35lb. weight limit isn't so bad...
Not that I recommend the surgery if you can possibly avoid it. I had a reaction to the narcotic pain pump they give you afterwards, and went non-responsive, stopped breathing, and had to be revived.
No white lights or visions of the great arcade in the sky, but still a real rollercoaster ride!
I'm happy to be back to writing about light bulbs. (Speaking of which, I did order the 4-led Red bulbs, and they do a great job in the coin door. I'll post pics soon, and then you may have to rethink about placing an order ;) )
Kevin
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Sorry to hear it...
hope you get better (90% / 35lbs) asap...
out of pain / discomfort / limitations as much as possible.
Did the doctor talk about troubles with the extra weight on the stainless steel joysticks? If you can't use them safely... let me know... I might be able to take those joysticks off you :)
And great review. I would have liked to see a little more on the trackball myself... but that might be a highball trackball review itself.
Also, it seemed like the control panel didn't have enought space for a full swing on the trackball. Have you tried it with games like tracknfield trackball edition? Can you get a good swing on it?
Last... Is the fire top joystick an option you asked for? I always heard that make you feel like your playing a game on a crane machine. Are these any good?
cya and good luck...
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Lilwolf,
Thanks for the well wishes! As to the Devastator II questions:
1. I'll go into the highmount trackball a bit more in the written review (in progress) I liked the feel, and I didn't have any problems with hitting other controls while using it.
2. The unit I reviewed was their standard layout. I don't like the top-fire joystick at all for a primary joystick. Luckily, you're not forced to take that configuration. I'll talk more about the joysticks in the full review.
Kevin
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ouch.... back surgery....
hope that you get better very soon....
good luck and welcome back....
take care and rest well....
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Okay, the full written RetroBlast review of the Devastator II is now online:
http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/devastator.html (http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/devastator.html)
(http://www.retroblast.com/photos/controllers/dev_full.jpg)
Feel free to comment/criticize/critique :)
Kevin
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Good review and video. To me, the review was quite fair. You state the design characteristics with your thoughts after that. I even learned a few things about the product, one of which was that only the top was laminated.
Pictures are always appreciated as they show alternative designs. I agree with your opinion of the carriage bolts; my personal CP uses them but I've since eliminated them from my designs. They are effective but that's about it.
Now where is the joystick review? ;)
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I personally like the carriage bolts... closer to the real arcades (most seem to have them).
but what I dont' like... I cant find them in black. The ones I got with my cabinet are like gold... only one control panel has them...
I wish I could have them for each... I just don't like the all black... but these shiney metal dots...
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I personally like the carriage bolts... closer to the real arcades (most seem to have them).
but what I dont' like... I cant find them in black. The ones I got with my cabinet are like gold... only one control panel has them...
Bob Roberts carries them in black.
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Now where is the joystick review? ;)
I'm almost scared to get working on it - every time I have, something bad has happened. I'm afraid I might not survive the next attempt...
(Seriously, I plan on starting back up with testing this weekend, right where I left off before my back surgery)
Kevin
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Just teasing you. It's glad to have you back. Don't overdo it and get better.