Spinners? Trackballs?

LandyVlad

I can't recall playing any arcade games using these, but as they are featured on quite a few arcade cabinet builds there are obviously featured on numerous games? Perhaps someone can enlighten me with examples?

The only thing I can imagine is the 'paddle' of the Atari 2600 we used to have back in the day, resembles a spinner.

sirhenrythe5th

@landyvlad these input devices had their best time during the "golden age" of arcades, the 80s.

3 Examples:

720° (ATARI)
Arkanoid (TAITO, even released a Paddle-Controller for the DS-Version of Arkanoid decades later)
Marble Madness (ATARI)

Thorr69

@landyvlad
Spinners:
Tempest
Tron
Breakout (and all updates and clones, like Arkanoid)
PONG

Track Ball:
Missile Command
Centipede/Millipede
Rampart
Marble Madness
Crystal Castles

sirhenrythe5th

Another one: "Segasonic the Hedgehog" (SEGA)

May be one of the rare cabinets with trackball which were released after the "Golden Age".

IanDaemon

@landyvlad I love trackball Arcade games. MAME available games not mentioned in this thread:

Cameltry
Super Centipede & Missile Command II (combination ROM)
World Class Bowling
Golden Tee '97
Golden Tee '98
Golden Tee '99
Golden Tee 2K
Golden Tee Classic

Clyde

Here is a comprehensive list of spinner & dial games (including wheels, paddles etc.)

Another list show the turn count of a couple of games for tweaking your spinner's sensitivity.

edit: Wikipedia also has a list of trackball arcade games.

Clyde

I wonder why nobody mentioned Quantum, a very special trackball arcade game that doesn't use any buttons except for the player 1+2 start button.s It should also be very suitable for people with disabilities who can only use one hand.

Thorr69

@clyde Quantum appears to be freehand Qix, with a dash of Robotron and Asteroids.

Clyde

@thorr69 Interesting comparison. 🙂 Actually, Asteroids also came to my mind while watching Quantum's gameplay for some time.

IanDaemon

@clyde Except for the "Super Centipede & Missile Command II" ROM all of the games I listed can be played with one hand. (And normally are when holding an adult beverage.)

Clyde

@iandaemon said in Spinners? Trackballs?:

(And normally are when holding an adult beverage.)

That's a reason for one-handed games that I didn't realise before! 😆

LandyVlad

Thanks all, good to know :)

IanDaemon

@clyde said in Spinners? Trackballs?:

@iandaemon said in Spinners? Trackballs?:

(And normally are when holding an adult beverage.)

That's a reason for one-handed games that I didn't realise before! 😆

I'm sure you would've discovered that scenario during a gathering...whenever it's safe to have them again. I guess now is a good time to keep prepping for an eventual return to "normal".

(That bowling game I mentioned is a "pretty easy to pick up" game with decent graphics.)