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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: gedman on May 11, 2017, 04:16:30 pm

Title: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: gedman on May 11, 2017, 04:16:30 pm
The MAME cabinet I'm building will be used for games needing a 4-way joystick (ie Pac-Man) and games needing and 8-way joystick (ie Defender).

If I install an 8-way joystick, how annying is it when playing games that need a 4-way joystick? What happens in the game if the user pushes the joystick into the corner (hitting two microswitches)?

Ultimarc makes a dual 4-way/8-way joystick that can be toggled without needing to reach inside the cabinet. (Apparently, the user toggles by pulling up on the joystick, turning 45-degrees, and releasing the joystick.)  Is it worth the money to get this type of joystick?  I don't want my kids reaching inside the cabinet to flip a switch or a lever when they need to toggle.

Thanks!
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: ZoOl007 on May 11, 2017, 04:24:47 pm
I have 2 ultimarc servostiks and I am very happy with them. Several automation mechanisms exist to switch between 4 and 8 way.
Title: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: ger on May 11, 2017, 04:26:41 pm
Me2 works very good the ultimarc servosticks. Q-Bert is diff to play;-))
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: Titchgamer on May 11, 2017, 05:43:53 pm
I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: syntax_x on May 11, 2017, 09:00:47 pm
I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.

You can actually put up with using those horrid things???
I've got a set here that I purchased years ago and put them in storage the second I felt them.
Went to put them on ebay but didn't think anyone would actually buy them.

Short clunky throw, and that awful feeling from the pivot being this big flat magnet which pulls off the base magnet to give you a variable shaft length during gameplay.

I would never recommend a Magstick to my worst enemy.

**EDIT** Just took these out of storage, they are worse than I remembered lol. Ebay time.
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: paigeoliver on May 11, 2017, 09:41:19 pm
I have also in the past just installed a 4-way stick next to an 8-way stick.
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: Titchgamer on May 12, 2017, 04:11:46 am
I have the mag sticks (which you refer to as the pull and twist sticks) and they work fine.
They did take some tinkering but I did a full run down on here if you have a search.

You can actually put up with using those horrid things???
I've got a set here that I purchased years ago and put them in storage the second I felt them.
Went to put them on ebay but didn't think anyone would actually buy them.

Short clunky throw, and that awful feeling from the pivot being this big flat magnet which pulls off the base magnet to give you a variable shaft length during gameplay.

I would never recommend a Magstick to my worst enemy.

**EDIT** Just took these out of storage, they are worse than I remembered lol. Ebay time.

I like the short throw, but wouldn't call them clunky.

I have the mag stick plusses I think they are called where they can be adjusted from the top of the CP so dont know if they are different in feel to the original?

I did have to swap the switches out because the standard ones were stiff.

But after that and some tweaking yeah they work great.
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: danny_galaga on May 13, 2017, 08:59:21 am

Another thumbs up for Servostiks. They have a few little niggles that need to be sorted out when you install them, but it really is a trivial matter.

Oh, and isn't Defender a two way?
Title: Re: 4-way / 8-way joystick for a multi-purpose MAME cabinet
Post by: paigeoliver on May 14, 2017, 06:04:00 pm

Another thumbs up for Servostiks. They have a few little niggles that need to be sorted out when you install them, but it really is a trivial matter.

Oh, and isn't Defender a two way?

I believe there is an 8-way hack for it.