Trackball on a budget

[evilfred]

Used material:

• "Logitech Cordless Trackman" from Fleemarket = 5$
• "Logitech Trackball" from Fleemarket = 3$
• Paint, chipboard, Acrylplastick and scrapwood: used from cabinet leftovers = not counted for.
• Printed controlpanel art from local Photocopy store= 4$
• Ebay push buttons parts = 1$

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Cordless-Trackman-Optical-Trackball/dp/B00005NIMG

Used the usb trackball Mice for the electronics and the bigger ball from the cordless. could have been made from only the cordless but i had some connection problems with the wireless on windows and Mala auto starting.

Ugly as hell but works like a charm!  Missile command and Arkanoid is suddenly playable and feels quite like the real thing, thanx to the heavy plastic mouse ball.






Used the three mouse buttons to connect the push buttons for Missile Command. Easy converting and config in Mame.





















My little Gameboy testing some real Arkanoid 






 

[Token]

It was cheap.
It works.
It looks like it belongs in a run-down pizza parlor in 1988.


I like it. Thanks for sharing! 

[05SRT4]

Ballin on a budget.

 

Nice Work

[pbj]

Whats holding the ball in place? Gravity?

[evilfred]

It looks like it belongs in a run-down pizza parlor in 1988.

You nailed it!  <3

[evilfred]

Ballin on a budget.

 

Nice Work

Thanx 

[evilfred]

Whats holding the ball in place? Gravity?

The acrylic is drilled to be less than the balls actual diameter so it stays in place by it self.
but the weight of the billiard ball sized trackball is actually enough to make it stay firmly in place even in a battle!

[evilfred]

[mgb]

Pretty cool

I like your ingenuity also, with having this controller sit on top of the regular cp.

[evilfred]

Pretty cool

I like your ingenuity also, with having this controller sit on top of the regular cp.

thanx! its mostly because i did not want to spoil the original classic look of the 2 joystick gamer mode, on my cabinet,
and also because i dont regulary play trackball games. Missile command is the only reason i did this mod

[flylear45]

That's a good enough reason for me. I dumped a heck of a lot of lunch money in that game....... we would play for HOURS when I was in college!

[evilfred]

Hehe. well spent money then!

Missile command is the greatest trackball game ever! 

[mgb]

If there is one game that's worth the extra effort, it's Missile Command.

[yotsuya]

Hehe. well spent money then!

Missile command is the greatest trackball game ever! 

Centipede called and wants it challenge it to a fight.

But I DO love Missile Command. I own one.

[evilfred]

Centipede called and wants it challenge it to a fight.

Challenge accepted! and i can only say that im totally embarest forgetting Centipede in this battle!  its totally an equal fighter in this trackball Hall of fame! 

[mgb]

Missile command kicks centipedes ass and sends it running home crying like a little girl

[yotsuya]

Missile command kicks centipedes ass and sends it running home crying like a little girl

While I tend to agree, if you're single and want chicks, get a Centipede.

[mgb]

True,
Chicks do like Centipede more than Missile Command

[yotsuya]

I actually own both Missile Command AND Centipede. Restored both from scratch. The MC gets a lot of play from my male guests at parties, and women gravitate towards Centipede. I love 'em both.

[flylear45]

Hilarious. That's me and my wife exactly. She never went for MC, but loves Centipede. Chicks dig Centipede. And bowling games. Not being sexist, just saying.

[pbj]

Good bait if you're fishing for a 45 year old.

[evilfred]

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/meet-dona-bailey-the-unsung-programmer-behind-centipede

 

[yotsuya]

Good bait if you're fishing for a 45 year old.

MILFs and Cougars are pretty much ready to try new things around 45 if single.

[flylear45]

Sure, I like younger women, and 45 certainly qualifies. LOL

Great link on the programmer. Makes sense now.