All Confused...Please Help

[nealosis]

Hi guys, Great site!

I've got some questions regarding a custom built control panel I purchased second hand from a swap meet and I'm really struggling to figure this out. I intend on playing SNK Neo Geo games (Metal Slug and Samurai Shodown II) via MAME with them.

Joystick

I was told that this was a switchable 4/8 way joystick


However, I only see 4 sensors (little red buttons) so how can this be 8-way is there are only 4 sensors?

Originally I thought well maybe when the joystick is positioned diagonally (for example; left up) then maybe the left and up sensors are depressed at the same time and that would signify the left up movement?

However, when I move the joystick in the diagonal postion, the joystick doesn't touch either the left or the up sensor (its like a dead zone!)


So is this a 4-way or 8-way joystick? If it's a 4-way joystick then can I do anything to make it 8-way? If not, I'm afraid I wasted my money.

[Dekar]

Heya and welcome to AF!

An 8-way stick works like you're saying, that the rubber on the shaft hits two switches at the same time.

E.g. a 4-way stick works only up, down, left, right. An 8-way works up, down, left, right, up/left, down/left, up/right, down/right. When you move the stick diagonally, you are actually pressing two microswitches at the same time.

Hmm, there's definitely a couple of things missing on that joystick. First and most important of all, the rubber ring that is supposed to cover that white round plastic at the very end of your joystick shaft is missing. This is why it won't even touch any microswitches when you hold the stick diagonally.

The other thing is, it would be 4-way/8-way switchable, but not without a restrictor plate. There's no restrictor plate at all on your stick and it looks to me like this stick has been tampered with and that someone has been using it for "spare parts", since both the rubber ring and the restrictor plate is missing.

I'm sorry to say it but I hope you didn't pay too much for this stick, as it's useless unless you can get a restrictor plate and that rubber ring. A restrictor plate can be ordered from ultimarc, lizard lick etc., but that rubber ring might be very hard to get as they aren't supposed to be switched out.

If you're unable to get it fixed or get your money back, best bet is to get a new Sanwa JLW 4/8 way stick instead. They cost $21 + shipping from Ultimarc.com

Here's a Sanwa JLW with restrictor plate attached:



4/8 way restrictor plate: