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Opinions needed before i begin

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CheffoJeffo:
FWIW, trackballs are one item that people find expensive, but can be found very cheap.

The last time I bought trackballs, I got 8 used trackballs for C$60 (ops seem to regularly swap them out on GT cabs, even though there is little wrong with them).

Of those 8, I was able to clean up 7 of them into good shape. The 8th needs new rollers and bearings, but since I haven't needed it, I haven't ordered them.

Beretta:
well im far from finished with my project so take it for what it's worth.


it's gonna boil down to a personal choice here.

ask your self 1. how many track ball games do you like?, can you live without them?
2. how much is a track ball gonna cost to install, and is it worth your money to play the games you want.. also track balls come in different sizes smaller ones are more responsive for games like centipede while larger ones are good for golf, bowling etc, which is more important?
3. can you comfortably afford the room on the CP? sounds like yes in this case
4. do you want a clean control panel.. or is having some inactive controls ok?
if you want a clean panel start looking at ways to make them swapable quickly and consider doing more then one panel, this is the route i intend to take.


me personally am not planing on having a track ball even though i do like bowling games. so im planing on making the panel as easy to swap as i can, so that later i can add a track ball panel for those games.

i can see a track ball being a lot more useful then a spinner.

DaveMMR:

--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on August 18, 2009, 07:44:11 am ---For those who expect to fall into the "first CP is going to suck" category (which completely baffles me if you only have sticks and joys) -- start with a proven design like the standard Knievel.

--- End quote ---

I always say that you can not fail with your control panel if you review and stick to basic arcade standards, get some (and listen to) advice from the boards, and test, test, test.  At any rate...

You don't NEED a trackball, but yeah there at a lot of games where you'll be glad you had one.  If you really could care less about Centipede, Marble Madness or Crystal Castles, then you must not have soul.  Just kidding.  ...then you can safely leave it out.   Using it as a mouse is bonus, but don't go through the trouble just to click on one icon every other month.   For me, a TB was a no-brainer.  Needed it; wanted it! 

Spinner I was holding off on too until literally the 11th hour.  I don't use it as much (and a TB can double as a poor-man's spinner, kind of) but I'd definitely be bummed playing Arkanoid and Tempest with anything else.  So in that respect, it was worth it.

Nacimroc:
Thanks for replies all! After looking up prices again, I think I will get an old broken one (If i can find one) or just the ball itself and install it along with mounting holes so when I do get a little more cash I can throw one in easily. I kind of want a backlit trackball in my CP.

Going to do without the spinner I think.

Thanks again for replies! Hopefully my next thread will be the build!

DaveMMR:

--- Quote from: Nacimroc on August 19, 2009, 04:49:11 pm ---Thanks for replies all! After looking up prices again, I think I will get an old broken one (If i can find one) or just the ball itself and install it along with mounting holes so when I do get a little more cash I can throw one in easily. I kind of want a backlit trackball in my CP.

--- End quote ---

If you're installing the ball on a wood panel, you need a mounting plate.... in theory.  However, do a search for members who have successfully installed it without one.   ;)

The spinner is actually not too bad to install down the road if you really want one (esp. the Turbo Twist 2 - just needs a button hole).

Good luck!

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