RetroBlast! Review - Ultimarc 360 Joysticks - Published

[RetroJames]

Part 1 - http://retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-01.html



Part 2 - http://retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-02.html

[edge]

The suspense is killing me. 

[Level42]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

[RobotronNut]

how about "the ultimate Robotron joystick face-off:"

• U360, in whatever config works best for robotron
• P360, kowal's mod, short (wico) handle, light spring (from happ super)
• suzo inductive with kowal shaft

[Grasshopper]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

Actually that's not quite true as the OmniStik Prodigy is a slightly modified Suzo 500.

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/prodigy.html

[destructor]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

Actually that's not quite true as the OmniStik Prodigy is a slightly modified Suzo 500.

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/joysticks/prodigy.html

What with Suzo inductive?
People learn to Polish language or found person who translate kowal's site.

[RandyT]

how about "the ultimate Robotron joystick face-off:"

• U360, in whatever config works best for robotron
• P360, kowal's mod, short (wico) handle, light spring (from happ super)
• suzo inductive with kowal shaft

Considering the original Robotron sticks used rubber centering grommets, you might want to include in that list the only real arcade stick in production that still does....the 49-ways.

RandyT

[Level42]

I wonder why Retrojames is so very fast to post new hardware tests/reports on his site, but not ever responding to suggestions/remarks on this section of the forum.....

[RetroJames]

I wonder why Retrojames is so very fast to post new hardware tests/reports on his site, but not ever responding to suggestions/remarks on this section of the forum.....

Yep, for better or worse since I have been helping out with RB, my posting at BYOAC has gone way down. Not a slight to BYOAC at all, just reflective of my workload. I lurk a lot, but don't post a lot anymore.

 

[RetroJames]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

I did send one to a prospective reviewer (the inductive) and sadly it did not work out. My table is starting to clear off, let me see if I can't get some in for testing.

[Level42]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

I did send one to a prospective reviewer (the inductive) and sadly it did not work out. My table is starting to clear off, let me see if I can't get some in for testing.

Well I've got 4 of them here. I could review them, but I'm very biased PLUS I can't really compare it to all the Happs and other sticks since I don't have any of them.

That guy you sent it to is probably too busy using the stick to write a review

[Izrun]

It's been a month since your tease.  Any updates on this review?  I'm really looking forward to this review.  I'm so impatient. 

[(+_+)]

Same here. I've been looking out for this every day like a child waiting for Santa Claus to come.

[RetroJames]

Sorry guys, should be out next week. Trying to really give 'em their due.

[horseboy]

Sorry guys, should be out next week. Trying to really give 'em their due.

I'll due you. 

Wait....

[RetroJames]

Just published guys! lemme know what you think! -


Part 1 - http://retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-01.html

Part 2 - http://retroblast.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-02.html

[RandyT]

<Truth removed as it has been found objectionable>

[leapinlew]

Awesome!

I'm thinking of getting a couple to use in a project... First I need to decide to build the project - if so, I'm checking these babies out.

[RandyT]

.

[Aurich]

I think it's a shame that no-one mentioned from where Andy Warne "borrowed" the idea to use mapping in his joystick interface.

You mean MameAnalog+ ? Which Andy has credited. It sure wasn't you if that's what you're implying. Not hating on the work you did with the 49-way, but keep things in perspective. You got your fair time in the press with your work, release your new stick if you're feeling jealous already.

Your snide comment is a real turn off for the record, even if it had been your idea (though with your choice to be so secretive it's hard to know how someone stole your implementation). It reflects poorly on you as a vendor, and certainly doesn't make me want to spend money at GGG. My 2 cents, take it for what it's worth.

--

On topic: Great review, pretty much answered my questions. One question: With the circular restrictor in place the degree of travel is around 10

[RobotronNut]

One question: With the circular restrictor in place the degree of travel is around 10

[RandyT]

.

[Aurich]

If you only choose to look at a single comment of mine to make a statement like that, then you were probably not going to GGG in the first place.

Please don't make the mistake of looking at my post count and thinking that's how long I've been around. I'm not an old timer by any means, but I built my first cab in 2003, and frequented these forums for some time before that. I just haven't felt the need to post until I needed to PM someone recently, and once I registered I stopped lurking. I don't mean to derail this topic further, I'll shut my mouth now, just take my opinion as you wish.

I will say one last thing since it's somewhat related though: I've been buying Ultimarc products for years, and Andy's attitude and helpfulness are no small part of me being a return customer. It's a small community, that kind of thing goes a long way for me.

[RandyT]

.

[Aurich]

That also means you don't know what it's like to be a GGG customer.

You've got a funny way of pitching people to become one.

I just waded through the thread you linked. It did nothing but cement my opinion that

a) vendors should stay out of each other's threads (or "official" reviews) - that goes just as well for Andy as anyone else

b) you in particular should heed (a), because your personality/ego doesn't come off as particularly nice when you feel threatened or competitive

I respect that time and effort that vendors put into this hobby. It's a little hard to be overly high and mighty about intellectual property when your business model relies on thousands of people blatantly pirating mass amounts of IP though. I <3 MAME, but let's not pretend that how most people use it (myself included) is at the very least an awfully grey area if not flat out illegal and stealing. Make your $$$, but don't be an ass about it.

[Zakk]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

Here...sheesh...
http://olofson.net/arcade/suzoreview1.html

Sort of says what most of us know.  The suzo is a so-so joystick for all around use.   

[RetroJames]

Question for RetroJames: Why is Retroblast.com completely IGNORING Suzo joysticks ??
We want a fair test of the Inductive !!! And the 500 !!!!

Here...sheesh...
http://olofson.net/arcade/suzoreview1.html

Sort of says what most of us know.  The suzo is a so-so joystick for all around use.   

I'm totally on this, just taking some time. Good writeup though.

[JackTucky]

Nintendo sticks break alot.

Jacktucky

[horseboy]

Nintendo sticks break alot.

Jacktucky

That's not what I heard.

[RandyT]

.

Nintendo sticks break alot.

Jacktucky

No They don't.

They just break "a little"

[Aurich]

Don't assume everyone does what you do.

It's obvious that you're a smart guy, if you're going to pretend to be naive there's no point in continuing this derail.

[(+_+)]

Great review!

I

[Aurich]

My wife has nothing to do with it, but property taxes on my California mortgage coming up do have me thinking twice about an immediate purchase. They're pricey enough without the 'extras' that I would consider necessary (primarily the round restrictor and stiffer spring, but the wiring harness might also be a PITA to not have). I still think I'll get them, but I might wait a bit longer to see how things settle first. If I don't get impatient. 

[Chris]

They're pricey enough without the 'extras' that I would consider necessary (primarily the round restrictor and stiffer spring, but the wiring harness might also be a PITA to not have).

Yeah, that's the thing with me... If I get what I really want from a looks perspective (blue ball top), I'll end up paying a fortune and have two extra springs, one extra restrictor, one extra shaft, and one extra shaft ball.  And it sounds like from a functional perspective, the stiffer spring and round restrictor are a must for those mostly playing 8-way games. Thus, I've been reluctant to jump in.  And I'm not sure what to do about player 2!  On most 2-joystick games, the second joystick is almost always a plain 8-way (yes, I hear you all chanting "Battlezone" and "Assault"), so that stick would probably never need analog or digital restriction capability... but who wants mismatched sticks?  Do I want to pay all that with all the extras just to make them match?

[AlanS17]

Do I want to pay all that with all the extras just to make them match?

If you don't intend to use the built-in encoder for more buttons, then I think it would be really hard to justify such an expensive joystick.

[Santoro]

Anyone recall the gist of the RB review?  Is the mirror up yet

[2600]

Wayback machine

Link1

Link2

[KevSteele]

The RetroBlast Archive here at BYOAC is live!

http://retroblast.arcadecontrols.com/reviews/Ultimarc_Ultrastick_0925006-01.html