Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Tarkade on February 26, 2004, 10:05:07 am
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My first post!
I have been a lurker on this site for nearly a year, and have found a ton of excellent advice. After attempting to find this in previous posts, I decided I needed to offer an important (to me) question.
The planning for my control panel wasn't thought out as much as possible. I only left enough room to mount a 2 1/4" trackball. I am hoping to get an idea of the size of this trackball.
a) Is this the size in a missle command machine?
b) Centipede?
c) Most improtantly - opinion of Ultimarc trackball for those that use it
Thaks All - awesome boards!
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Missile Command -not sure, but I guess it has a 3" as in Milipede.
Centipede has a 2 1/4". When I was a kid, I liked the trackball very much, but now I had one of these Ultimarc/Suzo ones, and I just think its to small for my needs.
Guess I've grown in size since those days!
Also it doesn't spin as nice as a Happ 3" does - I decided to go "unauthentic" this time and use the 3" for my Centipede cab!
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Missile Command had a 4.5" tracball
Centipede had a 3" (I thought. It seems to be 2.25" Maybe I was thinking of Millipede.)
The 2.25" is the pool ball size, and is on a lot of conversions and home machines, not to mention the popular Kensington brand series of PC track balls. It has the nice balance between real arcade feel and a minimum of CP real-estate.
I've played with Ultimarc's (Suzo?) 2.25" interfaced through an Opti-PAC, and it's a very nice smooth machine.
My 4.5" Missile Command unit, also interfaced through an Opti-PAC is a lovely experience :)
I can recommend both first hand, but I haven't ever heard of unresolvable difficulties with Happs' track balls either.
Good luck, and welcome!
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I have an Ultimarc trackball. I love it.
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Actually, Missile Command is 4.5" and Centipede is 2.25".
Wade
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Sounds like you don't get a choice. If that's all you have room for that's all you have room for. I think I'd rather have a 3 inch TB, but due to similar space problems I may end up with a 2.25 inch as well.
-S
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The smaller trackballs actually spin and controll much better than the larger ones.
The larger tballs have thier bearings placed more twords the edges of the ball - which creates more friction. Ive also heard that they are prone to come up off the bearing if you spin too hard - thus you lose some control.
Store bought tballs have poor quality bearings - i do not recomend them for gameplay.
I recomend the 2 1/2" happs trackball. IMOP - you get what you pay for with these. Excellent quality, great bearings, fast & long spin times.
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The smaller trackballs actually spin and controll much better than the larger ones.
Definitely not when comparing the Suzo 2 1/4" against the Happ 3" (Golden tea). But maybe this was only as the Suzo/Ultimarc was still brandnew, don't know.
Anyway, I think I'll be happy with the 3" Happs.
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the Happ 3" (Golden tea).
Is that anything like a golden shower? :P I'm sorry I just had to...
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Hehe ;D No, only a "boring" golf simulation game where my trackball was formerly build in.
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Ooops, just noticed the games name is "Golden Tee". I really thought that it was Golden Tea, well, I just don't play sport simulations. :o