Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: marcopolo on September 30, 2002, 11:56:49 pm
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Two questions regarding trackballs:
1. what was the size used in the original Centipede games: 2 1/4", 3" or 4"
2. any recommendations on which size is best for MAME control panels - centipede, Cabal, marble madness, etc.
Any advice / recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Mark
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You're in luck: TigerHeli just posted a link to an awesome FAQ that answers this and a few more questions. Give it a read.
http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/faq.htm#Should%20I%20use%20a%203-inch%20or%20a%202-1/4%20inch%20trackball? (http://www.fraggersxtreme.com/arcadepanels/faq.htm#Should%20I%20use%20a%203-inch%20or%20a%202-1/4%20inch%20trackball?)
(link fixed by moderator)
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I still need some advice on this please... the FAQ did not fully answer my questions.
Anyone you currently has a trackball on their MAME control panel please let me know what size works best for a majority of the games..2.25", 3" or 4". YOur feedback is greatly appreciated.
mark
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I am currently using a 3 inch trackball (the crayola ball or kidsball)....
feels good... reason I use it is because its simple and cheap... result is acceptable for my $30.....
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2. any recommendations on which size is best for MAME control panels - centipede, Cabal, marble madness, etc.
Any advice / recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Mark
centipede: (answer in the FAQ ref'ed) 2 1/4"
Cabal: some machines had 2 1/4", some 3"
marble madness: I think were 2 1/4"
golf games: I think all are 3"
In addition to the happs trackballs, Imperial 3" trackball can be bought with a ps/2 connection (~$80), and wico sells 2 1/4" for ~$25, 3" ~$50 last time I looked.
my 2 cents:
Testing a 2 1/4" kensington expert mouse against a 3" happs and a 3" wico: I like the 3"s better. Longer spin, bigger "grip" area, plus the arcade quality. My happs spins longer and the ball/casing fitting is better than my wico, but my wico spins smoother. I think others have found the wico smoother also. Still debating which 3" I like more. However, the 2 1/4 vs 3 test isn't really fair since my 2 1/4" isn't a real arcade trackball.
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sort of OT, but I was wondering what mouse is best to use for a hack... as far as sensitivity and strobbing. does the encoder on the original mouse have to be similar "pitch" as the trackball? I mean I'm sure it would work either way but as far as performance which is best??
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I have a 2-1/4" trackball that was part of a keyboard/trackball combo... I see some people have replaced their 2-1/4" ball with a billiard ball.... would the extra weight of a billiard ball bring my trackball to a more arcade fee, or would it just wear out the plastic rollers in the trackball faster?
--Chris
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Answering a bunch of replies here:
Marcopolo: Beyond what I said in the FAQ, I think more arcade games used the 3-inch tball than anything else. If these are the games that you usually play, (or even if not), I doubt you'd be disappointed with the 3-inch tball.
Chris: I have heard that the 2-1/4 inch billiard balls improve performance of the ARCADE trackballs b/c of the added density. I'd be nervous about trying it with plastic rollers, though.
Brandon: I haven't done any of these first hand. I've played around a little. Nathan Strum of www.cheeptech.com recommended the Kensington 3-button Valumouse USB for his projects. If you are going to use the mouse optics with a trackball encoder wheel it definitely helps if the encoder wheels are similar pitch.
BTW, http://www.oscarcontrols.com/order.htm sells prehacked Logitech mice for $16.00 and compatible encoder wheels for $3.50, dunno if these wheels would fit your trackball though.
Personally, I prefer the concepts in http://mamewah.mameworld.net/MouseHack.html and http://www.members.shaw.ca/bakaye/tballhack.htm, both of which use the original trackball optics and then hook into the mouse at a higher level. If you try this route, OSCAR has posted that Logitech mice DO NOT like to work with optics other than their own, so I would hack a non-logitech mouse for this.
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yeah tigerheli, I was wanting to use the trackballs existing optics and encoder, I didnt know which mice would be compatible and also how they would interpret the pulses from the optics.... I like the idea of trying some cheap USB mice and see what happens... that way with win98 and analog+ I can always add more!! ;D thanks for your input... :)