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Special controls: Do you use them? (Trackball, spinner, etc)

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DaveMMR:
If you have to ask, you probably don't need it.

Having a trackball was a no-brainer when I built my panel because there was specific games I had in mind: Centipede, Marble Madness, Missile Command. (And it was a Centipede cabinet so it should be able to play that game properly if nothing else.) And the spinner was an afterthought because I do enjoy Tempest and Arkanoid (and Cameltry as well).  That said, they only got 10% of the action - it was mostly joystick games being played.

As I said in another thread, don't add controls simply because you think you may, possibly, need it one day. Have a very specific reason (i.e. must play games) for adding them. You can always 'upgrade' your panel down the road if you change your mind.

That being said, some people do use their trackball as a mouse. But so long as you're setting things up ahead of time and only using MAME and/or other emulators, you really don't need a "mouse" on your panel*. Most, if not all, frontends allow joystick navigation (or keyboard if using an encoder that emulates key presses).

(*I personally think anything that requires a mouse for navigation is a poor candidate for inclusion in a cabinet - but some people don't mind that.)

shponglefan:

--- Quote from: DaveMMR on April 18, 2013, 08:14:18 am ---If you have to ask, you probably don't need it.
--- End quote ---

^ Yep, this.

Personally, I don't have/use a trackball because the only game I would want it for would be Marble Madness.  I thought about getting one in case others wanted to play trackball games, but haven't bothered yet.

A spinner on the hand has been great to have both for spinner games and 360-degree driving games (i.e. Super Sprint and 4x4 Off-Road).   I opted for a TurboTwist w/ the driving wheel attachment.  Lots of fun.

Buick455:
I installed a trackball just to play Centipede, MM and my wife liked the golf games (Golden Tee 97 was in the bar), I still don't have a spinner though.

If I replaced my one and only cabinet with another I would install a TB again. If you install one, and you do play centipede, marble madness etc.. I don't think your going to look at it and say "I wish I never installed a TB".

thatpurplestuff:

--- Quote from: keilmillerjr on April 18, 2013, 02:07:13 am ---
--- Quote from: thatpurplestuff on April 18, 2013, 01:26:01 am ---Never had a spinner, but I used my trackball all the time.  In the process of a new build and probably still won't have a spinner, but I wouldn't even think about not having a trackball on my next arcade.

--- End quote ---

What do you use the trackball for? Games? Navigating the frontend?

I'm not really concerned with using it as a mouse to configure things. I can use my bluetooth mouse and keyboard to configure the machine, or I can remotely access it over the network, or I can yank the disk and use another computer.

--- End quote ---

Sometimes the frontend, but mainly for "party games" when people are over.  Shuffleshot, Shuuz, World Class Bowling, and sometimes Golden Tee are ALWAYS a hit and really fun when you've got 4+ people that don't traditionally play video games hanging out and wanting to casually play some games.  A trackball is something that everyone can understand so it's really easy for non-gamers to participate and actually get into it.  It's also awesome to play the classics like Marble Madness, Centipede, Millipede, Missile Command, SNACKSON JACKSON!, etc.

Plus if you're feeling frisky you can use the trackball sorta like a spinner or light gun to play any games that you don't have the correct controls for... obviously not ideal but you can make it work and personally I still think it can be pretty fun playing T2 on a trackball.  Again like others have said, it really comes down to what you are wanting to play once your cabinet is built.

Fursphere:
I don't have one on my cabinet because I screwed up and forgot about it.  (seriously)

I have plans this summer to take my cabinet apart and correct that (after I finish the sit down driving cabinet)

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