Main > Main Forum

do i need a spinner???

<< < (6/6)

Minwah:

--- Quote from: Stingray on March 10, 2004, 01:59:14 pm ---Indeed. I don't even remember ever playing any rotary stick game in the arcade, so I don't have any real interest in a rotary setup. On the other hand I was totally addicted to Centepede and Tempest. Those two games alone justify a spinner/ TB panel in my humble opinion.

--- End quote ---

Me either...kindof...I do remember playing Ikari Warriors, but either the machine didn't even have rotary sticks (generic cabs were predominent at this particular arcade) or I just didn't realise you could twist the joystick.  Either way it probably explains why I was terrible at the game!  :D

DougHillman:
Stingray and some of the others are on the right track here.  EVERY question that gets asked like this is not really something anyone but you can answer.

Personally, I could never conceive of building a CP without a spinner.   I've got a list of about 30 games that are the incentive for building a MAME cabinet.  Games that I loved to play in the arcades during my teen years.   A large percentage of those games require a spinner for good gameplay.  Yeah, you can play Tempest and Tron and Arkanoid without a spinner.  But certainly not well, and not the way they were intended to be played.  

So for me the answer is an unqualified, "Yes, I need a spinner."  The answer may be different for you.  Completely depends on what games you'll play.  If you don't care enough about any spinner games to need one, you can get by with other options for the few times you may play them.


FWIW, it's possible to play the Ikari - Heavy Barrel type games acceptably with a spinner instead of a rotary joystick (which you really wouldn't want as one of your main sticks) depending on your layout.  if you're dexterous and can reach the 1 or 2 buttons required with your fingers that aren't necessary for control (pinky on your joystick hand, for instance) you can get by that way.  A more common option is using a Tron type setup with a stick that has a fire button on it in conjunction with a spinner.  For the games that require a second button, the off-finger maneuver is usually used.  This is the solution I'm using on the cabinet I'm building for a friend.  My own modular panel will have an actual rotary stick as space used by controls for a limited amount of games isn't an issue and the Ikari type games are also among my favorites so I want to replicate the arcade experience as closely as possible.

D

GGKoul:
Yes you need a rotary joystick to play Ikari type games.  
Yes the rotary joyticks can be used as 4/8 way, but it really sucks as a normal joystick.

You have to ask yourself.  Do you like spinner games?  If X = Yes, then buy a spinner.  If X = No, then don't.

Hulkster, like my control panel, yours has lots of room to add anything you desire.  I added spinner but hated the placement more then I hated spinner games.  So if I decide to move the spinner away from the trackball.  On my panel, the spinner would be too far in front for me to play any spinner games confortably.  So I decided to remove the spinner when I redesigned my panel.

BUT... BUT.. BUT

When I make my 2nd panel, as my panels will be removeable. My second panel will contain 2 trackballs a few buttons and a SPINNER in middle of them.  As I want to able to play any game thats available in Mame.  

So even thou I dont play many spinner games now, At least by adding it to my second panel. I have the option in the future.

So my 1st panel will be my primary panel.  Which will be used to play most of the games in mame.  It has:
- 4 (8/4) T-Slik Plus joysticks for each player.  (So I can play either the classic 4 way games and the newer 8 way games
- 2 Rotary joysticks
- 1 Trackball in the middle

Panel 2:
- 2 Trackballs (For Rampart & Blades of Steel mostly)
- 1 Spinner
Maybe a Wico 4 way.

Panel 3:  - Dream panel
- 2 Steering wheels and/or
- Star wars Yoke (If I can find one)

I make all 3 of the panels.. I will be able to play 99% of the games available.  

So my 2 cents to you is:  Make your 1st panel contain the joysticks you need to play 90% of the games you want to be able to play in mame.

Make the 2nd panel contain the joysticks for the games you want to play sometimes.

Then make any other panel based for whatever games you can't play on the other 2.

Hope this helps

-GGKoul


Minwah:

--- Quote from: DougHillman on March 10, 2004, 02:39:42 pm ---FWIW, it's possible to play the Ikari - Heavy Barrel type games acceptably with a spinner instead of a rotary joystick (which you really wouldn't want as one of your main sticks) depending on your layout.

--- End quote ---

I was really referring to the Happ style rotaries - these are basically Supers with the rotary part added so should be (very nearly) the same as the Super for most games.

hulkster:
hmmm....well thanks for all the advice.  usually, i play side scrollers, fighters, and sports games.  so my supers will cover most of my needs.  but making seperate panels wont be that difficult.  just requires more money.  what i may do in the future, is create a panel with a spinner and some rotary joysticks.  as well as another panel with a couple of steering wheels.  but as of right now, i can just play ikari warriors and stuff like that on my nes emu!!  thanks guys for all the tips.  ill just hold off for a while, and youll see my new panel project down the road ;D

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page

Go to full version