What Arcade Controls Are Your Least Favorite?

Brentradio

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What arcade controls are your least favorite?
 
Defender. Maybe because i have only played probably 40 games or so so far on my machine. Still getting used to all the buttons!
 
Probably the big joystick used on Tron and Satan's Hollow. It feels like the throw is way too wide to go from one direction to another and I always felt like I was going to break the stick off, it would usually make a slight plastic crackling sound (I guess where the two halves were joined) while I was moving it and there was always a loud sound when it hit the maximum angle, like there was no bump stop but just the raw edge of the control panel holding the stick from moving further.
 
I don't like the spinner being on the left side on Mad Planets.

Also, I wish the button and joystick were reverse on Wizard of Wor.
 
food fight and venture.. those two even when they are working right I always find hard to use.
 
Centipede. I have to play cross-handed.

I don't like the spinner being on the left side on Mad Planets.

Also, I wish the button and joystick were reverse on Wizard of Wor.

I have modified games so that they were easier to play for those who favor one hand over the other.
 
The stock black joysticks on Karate Champ VS. machines were pretty bad. They had a short, stiff, spongy throw, much like a stock Atari 2600 joystick (the common version of it that is; they say the original ones that came with "heavy sixers" were better but I've never used those). Does anyone know who manufactured those? I would like to see one disassembled.

I find the "volcano" buttons on Missile Command painful, due to the angle of your wrist if you rest the heel/palm of your hand on the control panel. I can only get to about 50,000 points, but even doing that is hard on my wrist. I couldn't play it for hours like some people can. One of those "wrist rests" like they sell for use with a computer mouse would probably help.
 
Anything with atari logo joysticks. Those joysticks will grind them selves to death. Once a year they get rebuilt. Flush out the old grease rebuild repeat next year..
 
The stock black joysticks on Karate Champ VS. machines were pretty bad. They had a short, stiff, spongy throw, much like a stock Atari 2600 joystick (the common version of it that is; they say the original ones that came with "heavy sixers" were better but I've never used those). Does anyone know who manufactured those? I would like to see one disassembled.


I'm 99% sure those were made by Coin Controls. I'm a KC fan and owner, and I've researched this a bit. From what I know, it looks like original KC sticks didn't have any brand markings on them, however I have other sticks that are basically identical, except they have textured handles instead of shiny ones, and they are branded Coin Controls, which is molded into the stick body.

It actually looks they made several types of sticks that were very similar, as I have seen different variations, which all have the same type of body. Proper KC sticks are leaf based, and have the rubber grommets, however I have seen similar Coin Controls sticks with centering springs instead of grommets. I have also seen microswitch versions, and also 4- and 8-way variants. I don't think these were used for KC, but may have been sold as replacements for other games. Proper KC sticks are the shiny, grommet-based, 4-way leaf type.

I believe you can rebuild the grommet-based ones with a pinball rubber, similar to what folks do with Qbert sticks (which are a similar design, but different manufacturer). I just ordered one of these kits, and will see if they can be used on KC sticks:

https://www.twistywristarcade.com/qbert/809-qbert-joystick-rebuild-kit.html
 
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