Arcade controls instead of PowerMate / Space Navigator

willmeyer · 07-20-2009, 11:51 AM

Does anyone here have pics or experiences using an arcade spinner and a keyboard encoder to basically do what a Griffin Powermate does, but with a different physical look and feel? I was about to get a Powermate or Space Navigator, but I feel like, though less functional in terms of positions, it would look way cooler to have a machined black knob than the funky blue lit controllers. Anyone got anything like that?

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/i...roducts_id=311

colin · 07-20-2009, 02:45 PM

Hey, I own like 90% of the parts to make an arcade because that was my original project before I came here. The thing about arcade spinners is that they have a flywheel-type device on them to add momentum and weight, it just doesnt seem right navigating an interface with one.

Thats my 2 cents about good spinners. You will also need an optical encoder.

LordKaT · 07-20-2009, 03:37 PM

You'd probably be better off with an optical trackball than trying to finagle an arcade spinner into a navigation tool. The arcade momentum doesn't work too well for navigation, although I imagine that if you wanted to add a backseat virtual roulette wheel, it would work pretty well.

If you're really set on using a spinner, you could probably repurpose an optical trackball and refit the spinner.

GizmoQ · 07-20-2009, 08:20 PM

$129 !!!! Damn, I did this for under fifty.

willmeyer · 07-20-2009, 10:30 PM

The flightstick is perhaps a bit much ;-)

Am I reading this stuff correctly that the game controller boards are just sending keypress events or mouse move events? Aka I should be able to use something like an I-PAC and just close the circuits to generate keypresses, and any of the arcade spinners just send mouse moves?

Pathos · 07-21-2009, 08:18 AM

Yep....use any momentary switch and a Ipac or similar (there are a couple of others) and you can get away with replicating key presses....don't know about the mouse part though as Colin said they are weighted for for spinning (think the arcade game Tempest) so they would fly through a menu or directory

Romay · 07-21-2009, 11:36 AM

Hello,

I build arcade machines and I have used this websites product, they will probably have what you need or looking for and the prices are really not that bad. http://www.ultimarc.com

Have a good one,
Roger Mayers

colin · 07-21-2009, 12:33 PM

For the record, as I said, I have all those parts. I can sell you a miniPac if you're interested. Never thought I'd be selling arcade controls on these boards!

They're $29 on Ultimarc. Mine's a bit over a year old but only ever used once to test USB connectivity.

willmeyer · 07-21-2009, 04:08 PM

Does anyone know definitively if an arcade spinner can be set to send mouse positions, relative moves, keypress events, or something else that could be pointed to centrafuse? I am trying to figure out if its indeed possible to get it set up to scroll lists with just a standard encoder. A joystick might be kind of cool as well ;-)

http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/i...roducts_id=292

colin · 07-21-2009, 04:36 PM

An arcade spinner can be set to send mouse scrolls OR keypresses. It's up to you and it depends on the software you install. A lot of the arcade companies -- GroovyGameGear by RandyT, Ultimarc by Andy, Happ Controls, etc -- distribute software with their encoders. I know Randy and Andy will allow you to send mouse scrolls or key presses, so you can definitely scroll up and down a list. That's part of the intention.

These controls were MADE from the Mame32 system which plays video games on computers. A lot of people use their trackballs and scrollers to go through lists... joysticks are a pain in the butt for going fast

Trust me, I would know. That was my previous hobby for about 4 years.

willmeyer · 07-21-2009, 04:44 PM

Thanks Colin, appreciate it. I dunno why, I just thnk it would be so much cooler to have a weighted spinner with a cool knob than a Powermate or Space Navigator. Nice devices but not as cool looking physically.

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