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How necessary is a 49 way joystick?
ahofle:
--- Quote from: genesim on August 23, 2007, 01:02:06 am ---I noticed that NFL Blitz and NBA Showtime also use the joystick. I know very little about this, but I wonder if the gameplay is that different as opposed to these games being hardcoded in the arcade to 8 way mode.
--- End quote ---
Think of it as a 7x7 grid, with 49 distinct positions that can be hit. Of course, many games don't use all that precision, such as Road Runner (in which you can move Road Runner 'slow' by slightly moving the stick left, or 'fast' by moving it full left). It's basically like an analog stick, but with only 49 positions. The best part about them (49 way and analog) in the context of emulation is that you can make 'maps' for different games such as 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, Tron, etc. As you said though, it doesn't quite feel right in some games without physical restriction, but it's a great compromise. I'm definitely looking forward to RandyT's fabled 49-way with rotary function.
EDIT: forgot how to multiply ;D
Kaytrim:
Actually a 49 way stick is a 7x7 grid, the U360 by Ultimarc is a 9x9.
TTFN
ahofle:
Oops, corrected. :banghead:
lettuce:
Im selling a pair of 49 ways what have had the rotatry mod done to them in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum if your intrested!?
u_rebelscum:
My 2 cents:
* Not only does Blitz not run well yet, but mame doesn't emulate its 49-way input yet, either. (Nor does with any recent midway/atari 49-way games.)
* There are three or four games that mame supports its 49-way: Sinistar, pigskin, arch rivals (OTTOMH), and that other sinistar like game (clone?).
* Blitz treats the middle 3 levels of each axis as "center", so I think the game is sort of 21 way (41 way if blitz is smart and it's only the 3x3 center grid). ;)
* IMO there is a huge difference between an 8-way and a 49-way even if you only "go all the way"; the 49-way still has 24 different directions, just counting the positions on the edge (& I think 16 way for blitz).
* Mame treats 49-way games (that it emulates) as an analog joystick with 7 positions per axis.
* Mame now can basically do what u360 does, but in software; both can convert analog signals to 8, 4, 4 diagonal, & etc digital with 9x9 grids. The biggest differences are with mame the 9x9 map works with any analog stick but is the same for every stick, while u360 the 9x9 map can be different per each u360 stick and can work in any app that reads joystick inputs.
* If you like the qbert restricted feel and are getting the u360, also get the square restrictor.
* If you like sinistar and have a u360, set the u360 to analog mode.
* If you like the qbert restricted feel and are getting a 49-way, you'll miss the restricted feel.
* If you like sinistar and have a 49-way + gpwiz49, people swear by the progressive mode. (Mathamatically and mame-wise doesn't make sense, but I still have to test it. :-[)
I guess that's enough for now. ;)
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