Re: arcade joystick

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Posted by Tiger-Heli on 11, 2000 at 8:44 AM:

In Reply to: Re: arcade joystick posted by Stan Frady on 11, 2000 at 5:52 AM:

: : Hello,
: : As i am desiging my arcade modular board, i am trying to determine a few things and i was wondering if anyone had any opions.

: : 1. How many players? 1,2,3,or 4? The more there is, the more space i would need. But is there many arcade games that offer 4 player?

Sort of depends on how many friends you have ;) I'm designing for two player, but I'm pretty much the only arcade lover in my household. If it's modular, space is less of a problem. For example, my primary panel is 1 joystick, 6 buttons, 1P, 2P, Coin and Pause. A secondary panel plugs into this with a split DB25 cable and adds a second joystick five buttons, coin 2, and a repeated 2P button. There will later be panels for steering wheel, spinner, trackball, etc.

Gauntlet, Quartet, and The Simpsons were all four player. I think Demolition Derby was also. Several driving games were 3-player.

One idea, gauntlet was 1 joy, 2 buttons per player. The game would be playable using a two joystick panel and running two 2-button PC joysticks through a splitter cable into the gameport.

: : 2. Trackball/Spinner? Useful?

Absolutely, if you want to play:

Trackball - centipede/millipede/missile command/marble madness/bowling games (Others, someone please help me out)

Spinner - Tron, Discs of Tron, Arkanoid, Tempest, any of the driving games, (Others)

: : 3. 4 way or 8 way joysticks? Best to have one of each or just 8 way?

Personal preference. I plan to build with 8-way rotary joys on the main panels and map out the diagonals for 4-way games, but I'm not that fussy about control. With a modular approach, you could always build the left side stick as 8-way and the right side as 4-way. If you use the Happ Supers, you can change from one to the other without buying additional sticks. I would try two 8-way sticks first and see if that is usable for you.

: : 4. How many buttons would be a good number to use? More than 6?

I would recommend 6 per player for Street Fighter style games. I don't play these, but I'm having six on the primary panel because I like the layout options. The secondary panel has 5 so I can support Space Duel and because the 5 button layout ended up convenient for BattleZone if I try to play it without joysticks.

One big suggestion: Plan this out thoroughly before you ever start cutting material for the panels.

Good luck and game-on!

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: : : Hello, : : : As i am desiging my arcade modular board, i am trying to determine a few things and i was wondering if anyone had any opions. : : : 1. How many players? 1,2,3,or 4? The more there is, the more space i would need. But is there many arcade games that offer 4 player? : Sort of depends on how many friends you have ;) I'm designing for two player, but I'm pretty much the only arcade lover in my household. If it's modular, space is less of a problem. For example, my primary panel is 1 joystick, 6 buttons, 1P, 2P, Coin and Pause. A secondary panel plugs into this with a split DB25 cable and adds a second joystick five buttons, coin 2, and a repeated 2P button. There will later be panels for steering wheel, spinner, trackball, etc. : Gauntlet, Quartet, and The Simpsons were all four player. I think Demolition Derby was also. Several driving games were 3-player. : One idea, gauntlet was 1 joy, 2 buttons per player. The game would be playable using a two joystick panel and running two 2-button PC joysticks through a splitter cable into the gameport. : : : 2. Trackball/Spinner? Useful? : Absolutely, if you want to play: : Trackball - centipede/millipede/missile command/marble madness/bowling games (Others, someone please help me out) : Spinner - Tron, Discs of Tron, Arkanoid, Tempest, any of the driving games, (Others) : : : 3. 4 way or 8 way joysticks? Best to have one of each or just 8 way? : Personal preference. I plan to build with 8-way rotary joys on the main panels and map out the diagonals for 4-way games, but I'm not that fussy about control. With a modular approach, you could always build the left side stick as 8-way and the right side as 4-way. If you use the Happ Supers, you can change from one to the other without buying additional sticks. I would try two 8-way sticks first and see if that is usable for you. : : : 4. How many buttons would be a good number to use? More than 6? : I would recommend 6 per player for Street Fighter style games. I don't play these, but I'm having six on the primary panel because I like the layout options. The secondary panel has 5 so I can support Space Duel and because the 5 button layout ended up convenient for BattleZone if I try to play it without joysticks. : One big suggestion: Plan this out thoroughly before you ever start cutting material for the panels. : Good luck and game-on!

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