Mouse vs Trackball vs Keyboard vs Gamepad (compliant)

[negative1]

ok,

i've been trying out a lot of different controllers
lately...(and i've read of people having control
issues.)...also i haven't been able to find
any informations about what the analog
settings actually do..

i used to be pure keyboard only...
but i've noticed the mouse helps at times,
and so does the gamepad/joystick

heres some notes i found out:

NOTE : i am using windows 98 second edition,
and mame 32 v. 61, and also dos mame v. 61

i know the controls behave differently in dos,
and in windows, and also in other versions of
mame....

i'll list the games separately below,

feel free to add to it..

(this is a rather long post, so i'll split it up below)

later

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ne gati v e 1

[negative1]

[*NOTE : your mileage, and preferences will be different, i'm sure,
however, these are my observations *]

first up, i have these devices (i tried to pick items
that are under US$30, and they work on pc/mac) :

1) keyboard - compaq extended keyboard, standard keyboard,
but has separate number keyboard , and directional keys

2) usb mouse - logitech optical 2 button mouse, with scroll wheel



i recommend optical over mechanical, because there is no wear,
and it's smoother tracking..

3) usb trackball - i just got a logitech marble trackman, with 4 side
buttons.....i like it, because its got the trackball in the middle, as
opposed to the sides (i can't use my thumb on it)...also its
comfortable, and doesn't require your full hand to move it..



-> i have both devices hooked up at the same time..(windows
98 allows that)..because i need the scroll wheel on the mouse..

4) usb gamepad/joystick - logitech wingman, with 6 buttons,
2 shoulder buttons / analog joystick, and rudder control + directional
pad (this is like a psx pad with 1 joystick)..



excellent, because it combines a pad and a joystick in one
controller..

5) serial mini-steering controller - (sorry this doesn't seem
to be working, but i don't know why)...it would be good
for racing games, and games that require spinners..

also, i'm not a logitech spokesman, i've used microsoft
mice and such in the past, but they always broke down..
(i'm sure the newer ones are better)

ok...onto the games..

later

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n e g ativ e 1

[negative1]

ok, mame32-win61 has a ton of games
listed to be used with a trackball...
(even if they didn't originally have
one in the arcade)

but guess what, just because it supports
it, doesn't mean it works right, or the same
in all games..


centipede (and bootlegs):
--------------------------------
first i played with a keyboard only, and got about 100k...not bad..

then i switched to the mouse (which i still use), and can
break 300k-700k....but i use the keyboard to fire...

i thought the trackball would help, i thought wrong..

some of the versions (ver2, ver3) work ok with the
trackball....others, like the bootleg, magic worm, don't
seem to work at all, because the tracking is all wrong..

[*NOTE : i'm using the same exact analog settings
for each game...i'll post them later....*]
----------------------------------------------------------------

thoughts : mouse+keyboard wins...why?

i'm not sure....but i've gotten used to the idea of the
'shooter' tracking, moving along with the physical movement
of my hand/mouse...(which of course gets really tired after
a few hours)..

the trackball is much easier on the hand, but somehow the
tracking isn't quite right..

i forgot to mention the arcade classics has
a super centipede...once again i prefer
the keyboard+mouse..and i broke 700k
on this!


but what about millipede?
read on..

later

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ne g ativ e 1

[negative1]

millipede:
--------------------------------
first i played with a keyboard only, and got about 120k..

then i switched to the mouse (which i still use), and
got 400k....but i use the keyboard to fire...

now i've tried out the trackball, and guess what?

its PERFECT, i'm serious, ok i don't have the
arcade game next to me...but the response
is dead on....i think i'll be able to break
1 million with it...i actually feel like i'm in the
arcade...
----------------------------------------------------------------

thoughts : mouse+keyboard is leading for now,
but the trackball is coming up strong ..

if i get a new high score with it,
i'll post that...

later

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ne g ativ e 1

[Buttermaker]

Looking at the topic listing of the general board hurts my eyes. Can you please stop with your topic formatting. Thanks.

[QRS]

Yeah I fully agree with Buttermaker here... Can you please stop with that underscore format thingie. It is hard to actually see what the topics are alll about...

ps keep the good scores coming Negative1. Also, I like your post about your controllers etc. but pleeeeease stop the ____ and [] thing

Cheers

[BBH]

I really have to agree with Seymour, Buttermaker, and QRS. Stop with those subject lines, PLEASE... just type in a normal subject line and all will be good

Also, while it's pretty cool to see some in-depth Centipede discussion going on and whatnot, I'd also like to mention that you don't have to make a new post/thread about every recording you upload either.

[negative1]

I'd also like to mention that you don't have to make a new post/thread about every recording you upload either.

ACTUALLY I DONT DO THAT
but just the games i'm interested in.

later

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ne ga tiv e 1

[negative1]

marble madness:
--------------------------------
first i played with a keyboard only, ..

then i switched to the analog joystick...

now i've tried out the trackball, but i
have to fiddle with some new settings
and drivers..
----------------------------------------------------------------
thoughts :
there's a lot of discussion about this subject,
so i'll say its inconclusive..

keyboard -> if you max out the speed , you can do
pretty well,

joystick/gamepad -> better control in some turns

trackball -> preferred, but a pain to get the settings
right..

i've heard a lot of talk about analogMame, and running
the dos mame-61, with dos trackball drivers, this seems
to be the optimal way to play...still doing more research..


later

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[negative1]

blasteroids:
--------------------------------
for once, i actually own the arcade upright
for this game....it has a spinner and 3 buttons...

i'm having a hard time with the mame version
though..


first i tried the analog joystick...

then i switched to the gamepad
----------------------------------------------------------------
thoughts :

keyboard -> can't really play it with a keyboard

joystick -> i changed the sensitivity settings, but
am still having a hard time turning

gamepad -> this seems to be the best method
so far.

either that, or i'm really rusty with my gameplay...

later

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ne g at iv e 1

[negative1]

1942:
--------------------------------
this games is a vertical shooter,
with 1 joystick and two buttons

i've put up a high score for set 1,


first i tried the keyboard.

then i switched to the gamepad , and the joystick
----------------------------------------------------------------
thoughts :

keyboard -> can't really play it with a keyboard

joystick -> i changed the sensitivity settings, but
am still having a hard time moving

gamepad -> this seems to be the best method
so far.

later

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n egati ve 1

[negative1]

super breakout:
--------------------------------
this games is a paddle game,

i've put up a high scores for all three versions,


first i tried the mouse

then i switched to a trackball
----------------------------------------------------------------
thoughts :

mouse -> works pretty well

trackball -> slightly better response, but
harder on the wrists

either one works decently, so choose
which one you're more comfortable with..

later

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n egati ve 1