Track & Field - buttons vs. trackball

pseeds

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I have only played the button version - never saw a TB T&F in person. Which is "better"?

Is there any way to retrofit a TB version to buttons?
 
Better = Buttons

Don't know on the other question, but I'm sure you can make it work.
 
I had fun playing it at CAX last year even though I suck at it. It's funny seeing guys get in a stance before the start of a race. Then, mash the buttons like there's no tomorrow. Haha.

I would think buttons would be better and more challenging than a trackball.
 
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There has been no formal proof that I know if, but some believe the TB version was an addon created by another company. I don't think there are any EPROM changes and it plugs right into the normal CP harness.
 
I have only played the button version - never saw a TB T&F in person. Which is "better"?

Is there any way to retrofit a TB version to buttons?

Although you can get a pretty fast 100m dash with the trackball anyone can get a fast dash with the trackball so that kind of sucks imo. Takes the skill out of getting speed. It is difficult to get the angle good at the right time on the trackball version so it is easy to screw up the actual jumping part since you are frantically spinning the trackball to get max speed. It is distracting. Of course I prefer the buttons. Ultimately you can get faster times with the buttons than the trackball and the jump buttons is more accessible.

Trackball control panels were put on the machines to prevent the ridiculous pounding on the buttons that some kids would do. I think they were factory retrofits since operators probably complained about the situation with the buttons. They also had buttons with guards on them that forced you to tap the buttons.
 
The buttons were original. I think the trackball panel was an aftermarket add-on since those panels don't seem to have Konami or Centuri logos on them anywhere. Probably an "Operators: breath new life into your T&F game" type of kit.

Wade
 
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