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Sorry for the necropost, but I find it very interesting that this has springs on the bottom. Don't recall seeing that on other joysticks. I wonder if this is what inspired the Williams hardware engineers to create the rubber spider for their own 8-way/49-way sticks.
I never really considered this, were the Defender joysticks Taito's design? those are what Joust used, I can't remember if the optical joysticks were early or later production on those. actually had one of those at my old-old job, Torin traded me the regular control panel. 10 years, what have I done with my life?Right. Williams didn't make their own joysticks yet until late in Joust's production run so it make sense they were using Sankyo sticks for Make Trax. The cross shape of the springs reminded me of the rubber spider design.
I also remember seeing a pic of a Sinistar 49-way installed in a cockpit, and some operator replaced the rubber spider with springs welded onto the bottom of the joystick assembly in a very similar fashion to the Sankyo stick.
I'm not sure if the design originated from Taito. It seems like Williams and Taito of America both found the same part supplier. And from what I can remember, the Joust optical joysticks were late in production.I never really considered this, were the Defender joysticks Taito's design? those are what Joust used, I can't remember if the optical joysticks were early or later production on those. actually had one of those at my old-old job, Torin traded me the regular control panel. 10 years, what have I done with my life?