What's the lowdown on 720?

[daikiki]

Can anybody tell me what the deal is with the mame emulation of 720'? I seem to remember the arcade version using a spinner, but I can only seem to control it with a digital stick, and then only crudely. My spinner just rotates the skate dude in increments of 180'. In other words, he just turns around. This is using mame 102. This is an old fave of mine and I'd really like to play it. Any suggestions?

I'm sorry if this has been discussed before. I tried to search, but the search function goes boink when you search for a numeric value.

[Brad]

M.A.W.S states that it's a 1 joystick 2 button controlled game.

http://www.mameworld.net/maws/

I seem to recall the same thing when I played the cab.

Brad

[LJHalfbreed]

Have you tried adjusting your settings for your spinner, both for mame itself, and for 720? By decreasing (or increasing) the sensitivity, it helps get things running a bit better for you...


I *think* that the original 720 had an analog-ish (more than 8 directions) joystick that was non-centering, due to the weird angle, and the 'spin' setup. Although it's possible it was a spinner, I'm pretty sure it was a joystick, just implemented differently.

If it's a joystick, then turning left/right on your spinner would basically point your guy left or right, which would be the problem.

[XtraSmiley]

No, it was a special spinner with a joystick coming out the top at an angle.  I'd like to write more and give you all the details, but I think it's been discussed a bunch on here.  Do a search.  Last I read, there was a new joystick out that could emulate the feel of the arcades pretty good on MAME.

[SirPoonga]

720 had a special joystick.  It actually was a spinner with a joystick handle.  But it wasn't a normal joystick.  It had two encoder discs.  One like a normal spinner, and one for calibrating.  Also it had a chain to give it some tension.

Now, in mame it's changed.  I don't know where it currently is at.  The joystick has been defined as dial and analog stick in mame.  The analog stick is just to make is usable on a computer.

Analog+ Mame can be used with an original controller.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=20767.msg167694#msg167694

[daikiki]

Thanks everybody for the info. It looks like a regular spinner just isn't an option, since it lacks the calibration mechanism that designates absolute directions. A digital stick sorta works, but it only allows for movement in eight directions while the game supported 16. Since my cab lacks an analog stick, it looks like I'm sol. Too bad. At least now I know.

[u_rebelscum]

Now, in mame it's changed.  I don't know where it currently is at.  ...  The analog stick is just to make is usable on a computer.

Yes, mame now simulates the original dual encoder wheel joystick spinner with PC analog joystick inputs.  This makes it more playable for 99.9% of PC users.  But it makes spinners and the original controller not work at all.  (Not that spinners ever worked very well before the change in mame.) Trackballs almost work.

FWIW, dual encoder wheels on one axis is not unique to the 720 controller.  Industrial incremental encoders amost always have an option for an index like used in the 720 controller.

[SirPoonga]

FWIW, dual encoder wheels on one axis is not unique to the 720 controller.  Industrial incremental encoders amost always have an option for an index like used in the 720 controller.

Right, but it is unique in the scope of arcades.