Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: jerryjanis on June 07, 2003, 12:42:51 am

Title: Games with wacky controls
Post by: jerryjanis on June 07, 2003, 12:42:51 am
I gotta say that my favorite part of Mame and BYOAC is the games with more bizarre control methods.  I would like to compile a list of the games which fall under the "wacky controls" category.  These are the games that go above and beyond the typical...  Ikari Warriors, Karate Champ Vs., Warlords, Atari Football - these DON'T cut it...  They're not quite wacky enough.  I believe that all of these are beyond the scope of MAME -listinfo...

Here are some examples that I have discovered:

JOYSTICK + TRACKBALL
-----------------------------
SDI - (2 players simultaneous ambidextrous!!!)
Wacko
Snake Pit (really really rad game)

JOYSTICK + SPINNER
--------------------------
Tron - one button on joystick
Discs of Tron - up/down spinner + 2 buttons on joystick
Zwackery - same as Discs of Tron
Crater Raider - 2 way joy + spinner
Aztarac - Analog joy (broken in Mame, simple hack)
Kozmic Kroozer

UNIQUE
----------
720 - spinner joystick w/2 encoder wheels

DUAL JOYSTICK 3 PLAYERS SIMULTANEOUS
------------------------------------------------------
Star Guards - (broken in Mame - simple hack)

DRIVING GAMES
--------------------
Night Stocker - steering wheel + lightgun
Lucky & wild - steering wheel & 2 lightguns
Gun Buster - (2 players) * (lightgun/joystick/3 buttons)

Tin Star - 8-position switch with push-down button
Front Line - 8-position switch with push-down button
Wild Western - 8-position switch with push-down button
Dribbling - Rotary w/push down button

Stompin - Dance Dance Revolution style controls


What other games are out there with zany controls?

Thanks!
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 07, 2003, 04:26:19 am
DRIVING GAMES
--------------------
Road Blaster, steering wheel: optical sensor like a spinner, but limited movement like a 270 POTs wheel

And are 12-way sticks unique enough?


First off the top of my head.  I'll see if my head pops any more later.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: jerryjanis on June 07, 2003, 04:30:12 am
What's this 12-way joystick business?  What game(s)?
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 07, 2003, 05:28:42 am
What's this 12-way joystick business?  What game(s)?

Opps, meant to say 8way w/ 12 direction rotary.   You know, time solder, heavy barrel, and ikari type.  But I missed that they "don't cut it". :-[

Forgotten world and caliber 50 used a push down spinner and 8way stick, and might make it.

Another JOYSTICK + SPINNER:
Major havoc
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: Babs on June 07, 2003, 06:03:27 am
Do you mean things like Streetfighter original, with it's big pressure sensitive(if they were, it was a long time ago) rubber thump buttons, sonic blastman with the big pad you had to thump as hard as you can.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: skirge66 on June 07, 2003, 07:19:25 am
what about frontlines ....with an 8 directional rotary pushbutton for shooting and 8 way stick for movement and a button for gernades?
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: spidermonkey on June 07, 2003, 06:28:19 pm
I've never seen a major havok cab with a joystick ???  The conversion kits used the existing control panels from a tempest,space deul ect... cabinet which used a typical spinner and then there was the much rarer dedicated major havok cabinet that used that green roller controller which was basically a spinner mounted on its side. I could be wrong but I don't see where there would be a need for a joystick.   Mmmmm... roller controller  drool :-*
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: spidermonkey on June 07, 2003, 06:42:41 pm
paperboy
two tigers
mad planets
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: b3atmania on June 07, 2003, 06:54:26 pm
Funny you should ask, I was just compiling a list of stuff like this to see what control panels are worth making.

USING 49-WAY JOYSTICK
USING TWO JOYSTICKS PER PLAYER

USING THREE TRACKBALLS

USING FOUR TRACKBALLS
USING FOUR SPINNERS
OTHER
USING TANK CONTROLS
NOT SURE
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: ThePunk on June 07, 2003, 09:24:15 pm
What about the spring loaded analog "pass" stick in leland "quarterback". :)
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: paigeoliver on June 08, 2003, 12:30:10 am

USING TWO JOYSTICKS PER PLAYER
  • Karate Champ
  • Smash TV
  • Total Carnage
  • Robotron 2084
  • Crazy Climber
  • Crazy Climber 2
  • Krull

USING TANK CONTROLS
  • Vindicators
  • Vindicators part II
  • Battlezone
  • Bradley Trainer
  • Assault
  • Assault Plus
  • Cyber Sled

For duel joy games. Add

Mars
Black Widow
Lost Tomb
Minefield
Rescue
Tutankham

For Tank controls add

Tank
Tank 2
Tank 8
Ultra Tank
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: OSCAR on June 08, 2003, 12:44:39 am
I've never seen a major havok cab with a joystick ???  The conversion kits used the existing control panels from a tempest,space deul ect... cabinet which used a typical spinner and then there was the much rarer dedicated major havok cabinet that used that green roller controller which was basically a spinner mounted on its side. I could be wrong but I don't see where there would be a need for a joystick.   Mmmmm... roller controller  drool :-*


The original roller was actually probably closer to a single axis trackball, but a sideways spinner is a good description, too.  :)


http://www.multigame.com/mh_controller.html

http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/4sale/forsale.html

Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 08, 2003, 04:07:38 am
In my books, 49 way is basically the same as a "course analog stick".   And Hall Effect sticks are just analog sticks with a different type of POT.  *shrug*

What about the spring loaded analog "pass" stick in leland "quarterback". :)

That snap stick was used in baseball games, too.  For many of these games, the batter's snap stick was mounted raised and sideways like a right handed batter's bat.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: b3atmania on June 08, 2003, 06:24:55 am
What about the spring loaded analog "pass" stick in leland "quarterback". :)
That reminds me of that Sega golf game where you had a spring loaded golf club on the control panel.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: jerryjanis on June 08, 2003, 09:26:17 am
That snap stick was used in baseball games, too.  For many of these games, the batter's snap stick was mounted raised and sideways like a right handed batter's bat.

I recently told somebody that that would be one control panel that I definetly DIDN'T want to make...

A week later, I put in a bid on Ebay for $0.01 for a baseball panel and won...  Oops!
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: Minwah on June 08, 2003, 12:05:56 pm
  • Samba de Amigo series: uses a set of maracass. There's some optical system that measures the position of the maracass compared to the floor. Players have to make their length known to the game for it to function correctly. One set of maracas for each player.
I wondered if anyone would mention this...I think the maracas use ultrasonic rather than optics.  Anyone got a DC running this in their cab??

How about Sega Bass (+Marine) Fishing, and Brave Fire Fighters?

I think the maracas are the bizarrest so far...
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: jakejake28 on June 08, 2003, 12:10:01 pm
the banana in super monkey ball. do not forget the monkeys in airtight containers. do not forget.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: spectre on June 08, 2003, 02:36:45 pm
BOONGA BOONGA! lmfao
anyone who knows this game will know what I'm talking about, HAHHAA
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: b3atmania on June 08, 2003, 05:11:49 pm
  • Samba de Amigo series: uses a set of maracass. There's some optical system that measures the position of the maracass compared to the floor. Players have to make their length known to the game for it to function correctly. One set of maracas for each player.
I wondered if anyone would mention this...I think the maracas use ultrasonic rather than optics.  Anyone got a DC running this in their cab??
Yeah, might well be ultrasonic. Another curious thing about the game is the selectable height is 190cm max. I wonder if its some limit with the technology or just because the game targeted the asian market and they thought no-one over 190cm would ever play it.
Title: Re:Games with wacky controls
Post by: metaHipster on April 03, 2006, 12:27:53 pm
BOONGA BOONGA! lmfao
anyone who knows this game will know what I'm talking about, HAHHAA

hahahaha.  yeah I think that a plastic finger and giant ass for your input devices qualifies as weirdest controls ever (weirder than Maracas, imho).
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: MajorLag on April 03, 2006, 12:37:50 pm
Quote
USING FOUR SPINNERS

    * Warlords
Not technically accurate. Warlords uses 4 paddles (which is significantly easier to interface than 4 spiners).
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Darkstalker on April 03, 2006, 03:23:52 pm
There's Xenophobe as well for odd joystick controls.

Top Skater, that you actually stand on a skateboard:

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=10160

I remember a snowboarding counterpart to this game as well...


There's Mocap Boxing where you hold the two boxing gloves and swing towards the screen...

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8724

Looks much more manly to play that over DDR  ;D

The Silent Scope series, which I would guess is a 4-way joystick since it is anchored to the machine.

Not sure how weird it is, but Brace Figherfigters has two "fire hose" lightguns:

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=7212

Then there was one where you are in a canoe or something, and your controls are a short set of paddles.

Xenophobe I imagine is the only game from this list emulated...Not sure if you were after MAME only, or a general list...
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Lilwolf on April 03, 2006, 03:54:56 pm
As for dual joysticks... Karate fighters are dual 4 ways... if you want to seperate them.

And for weird control tops on standard controls... You have like crossbow that had a crossbow on an analog t2 type controller... 

You also have the finger up the butt game that everyones seen pictures of... but never seen one in person.  That seems like a PERFECT game to travel around the country putting it in companies for a few weeks at a time.  I know it would be packed for a few days here...
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: telengard on April 03, 2006, 09:26:00 pm
I gotta say that my favorite part of Mame and BYOAC is the games with more bizarre control methods.  I would like to compile a list of the games which fall under the "wacky controls" category.  These are the games that go above and beyond the typical...  Ikari Warriors, Karate Champ Vs., Warlords, Atari Football - these DON'T cut it...  They're not quite wacky enough.  I believe that all of these are beyond the scope of MAME -listinfo...

Here are some examples that I have discovered:

What other games are out there with zany controls?

Thanks!

Some of the ones I thought of (that don't seem to have been mentioned yet) are:

Mouse Trap (3 big lit square buttons, not really zany I guess)
Xybots (cool twisting joystick)    :notworthy:

~telengard
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: KenToad on April 03, 2006, 11:28:40 pm
Don't forget the "full size" motorcycle from Super Hang-On that was so cool to lean on but really was so hard to control that you lost quickly every time.

Cheers,
KenToad
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: DarkBubble on April 03, 2006, 11:51:16 pm
There's Mocap Boxing where you hold the two boxing gloves and swing towards the screen...

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8724

Dodging and swinging with those gloves'll put you on your butt if you're not in the best of shape or have bad joints.  The "gloves" themselves are pretty heavy.

Konami's also got a police-themed lightgun game that uses the same hardware and motion sensing setup.  It's great to dodge behind scenery to avoid the slow enemy fire.  It's like Time Crisis without the pedal with real-time dodge and hide thrown in.  Been waiting for games like that for too long.

Don't forget The Grid, a Quake III Arena-style arcade FPS.  It used a trigger stick and a trackball. 

http://klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8010 (http://klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8010)

I seem to recall another game that was either also by Midway or just used the same hardware, but in place of one of the controls (I can't remember which), it had PC-style keys.  Sound familiar to anyone?
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Kremmit on April 04, 2006, 02:38:55 am
Beachead 2002 (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=12746) uses a nifty headset with trigger grips.  There's a screen inside the headset that the player looks at; the big monitor on the cab is just for onlookers.  Look up, look down, turn around, and the view moves with you.  Your view is down the barrel of a great big fricking gun emplacement, and when you pull those triggers, whatever you're looking at wishes you hadn't.

The old version just used a trackball. 
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Gunstar Hero on April 04, 2006, 05:11:58 am
Forgotten Worlds with it's funky combo spinner/button... and was the up/down/spinner from Discs of Tron mentioned yet?

Oh yeah, kudos to the Crater Rader mention. I remember that game, not so much for the controls, but the screen had a freaky lens to make it feel "3D".

I used to rock that game too.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: StuckInJapan on April 17, 2006, 12:45:58 pm
Some of the weirdest control schemes I've seen have been on Japanese sports games...
The volleyball game "Ace Attacker" had a hand-shaped lever to simulate arm movement for serves/spikes, a rotary dial to set strategy, a "block" button, and a trackball for player movement.
Jumbo Ozaki Super Masters Golf had a dial to determine shot direction, two buttons for choosing your club and stance, and a spring-loaded thingy for actually hitting the ball, sort of like some baseball games.
Both are MAME'd, but I have no idea how they play.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: cw on April 17, 2006, 02:51:20 pm
this is a strange one...


http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=P&game_id=12775
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: jimjim on April 17, 2006, 08:02:04 pm
I remember a game that I had to look up called submarine.  You would launch torpedoes at battleships.

A cool game that Sega made for the Dreamcast and was in the arcades is Virtual On.  It used two joysticks.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: clhug on April 17, 2006, 09:13:54 pm
I remember a game that I had to look up called submarine.  You would launch torpedoes at battleships.

That sounds like Sea Wolf.  One of my favorites as a kid and definitely an odd control.  It basically mimicked looking through a periscope in a submarine and could move it back and fourth and pressed a fire button the handles of the periscope to launch your torpedoes at the right time.  Very simple game but looking through the periscope somehow added another dimension to it.  I suppose today you could mimic the play with a rotary stick or even a trackball, but it just wouldn't be the same without actually looking through the periscope.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: PetitMorte on April 18, 2006, 11:08:36 am
Mad Planets uses a Tron setup.  trigger stick + a spinner to aim.

Also, my local Gamewerks has a nifty fighter game where you stand against a blue-screen and have to *actually* jump, throw punches and kicks, and move forward and back to control your character.  ...My wife regularly kicks ---my bottom--- at that game.  She's figured out how to do the "little girl" character's killer move.  It's emberassing.   :'(
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: StuckInJapan on April 25, 2006, 04:08:36 am
Tracked down pictures of "Inu No Osanpo" by Sega,
a dog-walking game where you had to actually walk on a treadmill
while using a leash-shaped controller to guide your dog through
various obstacles.

Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: danny_galaga on April 25, 2006, 05:23:24 am


youd have to say dance dance revolution has pretty funny controls (",) and whats that game where you wave your hands to music? theres also the game where you hold a boxing glove and punch into the air to hit your opponent...
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: trcroyle on April 25, 2006, 05:49:48 pm
Arm Champs I and II. Arm wrestling games with a fake arm controler.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Gunstar Hero on April 26, 2006, 01:16:19 am
Hey, what about Quarterback/Team Quarterback/World Series's bizarre little springy "throwing" sticks?
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: missioncontrol on April 26, 2006, 04:52:08 am
wasn't there an arm wressling game popular in the early-mid 80's that had a plastic arm you had to pin?
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Minwah on April 26, 2006, 08:09:15 am
Sorry haven't read the whole thread but don't think Sente's 'Off the Wall' is mentioned - that uses a joystick & spinner.
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Forces21 on April 26, 2006, 08:22:01 am
I know that this is different, not odd but I haven't seen it done on any other cab since, but what about Luna Lander with it's large Thrust lever?
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: danny_galaga on April 30, 2006, 05:24:56 am
well, i went to a work conference at surfers paradise this weekend. today, before i went home i had a look at an arcade called time zone. i havent seen an arcade that big in ages  :o . and it was full of wierd and wonderful machines with wacky controls. for instance, a sega game where you have to put out fires with a hose! another one youve probably seen is the fishing game where you reel in fish.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9468

another one was virtua v3 (i think) where you control (a tank?) wearing a kind of helmet which has controls attaached. they had some great games in general. TWO sets of sega daytona 8 player hook-ups. one of which also had cameras. ive never seen this before. this seems to be it. doesnt say anything but you can jsut see the cameras to the left of each driver and pointing towards them:

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10571

 no one was playing at that point, but im guessing the camera gives a little image of your opponents on the screen or something? another sega game (lots of sega there actually). also a soccer goal scoring game where you kick an actual (tethered) soccer ball into a virtual goal.

this arcade is pretty cool. although there are a lot of games there im not really interested in there were a lot of old school 'carnival' type games there. also a dodge em car track, a mini bowling alley and an indoor firing range! i checked out the range, but it was too pricey for me. but it would have been interesting to try out their 458 magnum elephant gun  ;D

edit: oh, and i couldnt see it on klov, but there was another car racing game i think from sega. four car hook up. each driver sits in a full size formula 4 styled car which tilts and and turns etc hydraulically while racing! thatll be a bugger to emulate!

edit edit: wouldnt ya know it, i may have stumbled on it (or very close):

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10337
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Level42 on April 30, 2006, 06:28:39 am
Don't forget the "full size" motorcycle from Super Hang-On that was so cool to lean on but really was so hard to control that you lost quickly every time.

Cheers,
KenToad

Yep, my trick was not to actualy sit on the bike, but stand over it and use the bike as one big  "joystick". Beated most of my friends that way, but of course they claimed I was cheating. I said everything is allowed in love and videogaming ;)

I remember playing a weirdo 3D game (when that technology was revolutionary) where you stand in some kind of boxing ring and you had to wear goggles with monitors in them that gave the 3D feeling and you had some kind of control in your hand to actualy move through the playing field. I remember there were 3D structures like buildings and stuff but I had no clue what the actual goal of the game was.

This is also a good thread to ask this: I seem to remember (but maybe my memory is tricking me) that I played a version of Afterburner in which you would be completely strapped to the chair and that made every movement the plane made, so making a roll would actualy make you go roll over too etc. Think the whole thing was on a sort rail system. Since the monitor was built into the "cockpit" the picture was always right. I can't find any pics of this huge version though. But I'm pretty sure I played something like this looioooooooong ago :)
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: StuckInJapan on April 30, 2006, 12:38:28 pm
Level42, I think you're talking about this:

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9217

I've only ever played G-LOC on it, but people tell me there was a
version of After Burner for it.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9844
might be what they're referring to.

Oh yeah, and the firefighting game danny_galaga mentioned has to be

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7212
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: rdagger on April 30, 2006, 01:00:44 pm
One of my favorites:
Lunar Lander
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Level42 on April 30, 2006, 02:36:16 pm
Level42, I think you're talking about this:

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9217

I've only ever played G-LOC on it, but people tell me there was a
version of After Burner for it.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9844
might be what they're referring to.


That's it ! Wow ! I really liked it. Want one in my living room ;)
Well I played an "Afterburner"style game on it, it was with jets and stuff, so that's why I thought it was Afterburner.

Thanks for finding that StuckInJapan !
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Lilwolf on April 30, 2006, 05:51:36 pm
Anyone mention prop cycle? 

I'm not sure if anyone wants to use this thread to keep a list for building special controllers... But if so, we might want to stick with emulated games... or games that have the potential of being emulated in the next 5 years.   
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: Fozzy The Bear on April 30, 2006, 07:07:15 pm
Ollie King (SEGA 2004)...... Now that has an really unusual controller!  A Skateboard!!   Very Cool Game!

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear) 
Title: Re: Games with wacky controls
Post by: danny_galaga on May 02, 2006, 04:33:38 am
Anyone mention prop cycle? 

I'm not sure if anyone wants to use this thread to keep a list for building special controllers... But if so, we might want to stick with emulated games... or games that have the potential of being emulated in the next 5 years.   

i hadnt even thought of prop cycle, even though ive played it and loved it (",) and ive even mentioned the idea of making one on my web site...

im quite amazed that there are actually two people who own that r-360 game!

oh, yeah and that is the firefighting game, stuckinjapan.