Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Joystick Jerk on May 05, 2007, 10:19:40 pm
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Now that a lot of optical products such as trackballs and spinners can include their own internal encoders and PS2/USB connections, I'm wondering what would be the best way to go for my new CP. Should I go for the self-encoded products with a USB hookup, or should I hook things up through an Opti or Mini-Pac? Does one have advantages/disadvantages over the the other? Any features missing in one solution over the other?
Specifically I'm looking at the SlikStik Tornado Spinner and the Happ Trackballs. If anyone has experience with both products and both of each products interface types, your opinion would be killer.
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If you're going new, I'd check out groovy game gear, for both.
(Definitely need wiki entries for gear and vendors. I may...)
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The Tornado comes with it's own USB interface already.
For the Happ TB, I'd a) buy through Ponyboy or Divemaster, NOT direct from Happ) and b) check the price on the Happ interface vs. Ultimarc or GroovyGameGear.
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About the Tornado, you can buy it direct from Slikstik and you can get it configured minus the USB/PS2 jacks so it can be connected through the Opti or Mini.
Still, any more opinions out there? I'm almost set to start buying my new CP components, but I'm still unsure which way to go for the optical devices connections.
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Get this instead of the Tornado:
Better Spinner (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=268&zenid=5772f6c719e42e84241ea20e27fbf5cd)
It's a higher resolution spinner. As far as connecting to the computer, I would go with the built in interface...
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I was mainly going with the Tornado, as I really liked the aluminum tops. After you mentioned the TT2, I stumbled across the extra token tops available from GGG, so I just may now go with the TT2.
Still, GGG should change the default spinner tops the TT2 comes with. Hands down the ugliest spinner tops out there.
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Still, GGG should change the default spinner tops the TT2 comes with. Hands down the ugliest spinner tops out there.
These are provided as very functional, "lower cost options". The alternative would be to do what other vendors do and not provide one at all, forcing you to buy a "premium" one in order to even use the unit.
I thought offering these was a better option for those who might not have their own spinner knob already and for whom cost was an issue. As for the "ugly" part. these look far better than 99% of the "off the shelf" knobs out there. :)
RandyT
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I have been told (and I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it seems logical) that having a separate interface for each control set is a slight advantage over using, say a mini-pac, which has one for everything.
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I've been doing some reading in the meantime and noticed a few people mentioning this as well. I'm definitely leaning more towards the the USB/PS2 self-encoded options.
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The Slikstik tops fit the TT2 - get the better spinner, and get the top you want...
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Really...
I wasn't sure about that, because the photos make the top look likes it's flush fit or integrated with the TT2. So I guess there's a small spindle on the TT2 that most tops could fit on?
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It's a standard 1/4" shaft. Bling away!
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Or to answer your original question the mini-pac + normal (non-usb) trackball and the usb slik stick are a great combo. The mini-pac saves quite a bit if you just need the one track ball interface.
Personally I love my slik stik tornado spinner. You can search for experiences with Slik Stik to get a better feel for the company's ethics.
Don
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Oh, I've heard all about their... "dealings" before.
It's just hard to be picky in such a niche market.