U360 Springs

[Wombat]

I bought a stack of stuff from Ultimarc (U360s, Optipac, Spinner, IPAC4 etc.) a while back to build my cabinet and I love it all now that I've got the damn thing mostly built (is it ever really finished?) and the maps, frontend, plugins etc. predominantly working.

The only thing I think I'm sad about is that back then you had to order the U360 springs separately and I don't know at that point what I'd need them for.

Now that the cabinet is up and running and I'm using Headkaze's U360 plugin under GameEx to change the U360 maps to 4-way etc. there are still some games that can prove problematical.

The biggest one I have grief with is "Frogger". Using a 4-way map, which I've further altered to increase a dead-spot when the joystick is centred, I still experience a lot of bounce-back which in Frogger can be deadly i.e. you're navigating between the cars/logs pressing up, left or right as required and Froggy jumps in stacatto movements. But then the joystick, upon snap back to centre, probably goes a little far thus registering the opoosite direction and throws you into the car / water that you were trying to avoid.

Because I've tried altering the map and some mame deadzone etc. settings (which I think only apply to analog settings but it couldn't hurt to try) and I still can die horribly in these situations (through I think no fault of my own ;o) ), I think further research has shown that the (hard) springs may arrest this "bounce".

But the springs cost is far less than the postage cost to get them here (and I don't need any other Ultimarc stuff at this stage) so I was wondering, before I finally do order them, whether anyone in Australia stocks these things? The obvious place I thought to check was www.ozstick.com.au but Chris doesn't mention these on the website (he carries some Ultimarc products but not the Ultrastik it appears.)

Anyone know of a local (South Australia or Australian) supplier?

[Tempest]

I had the same issue, replaced my spring, and although it helped, it didn't entirely fix the problem. I have a spring that I can send you, I'm not sure if it's medium, or hard, (probably medium) it has two coils between the two ends. It's way stiffer than the soft, which has 4 coils between the two ends. If you want it, PM me with your address, I'm from the U.S., so country, and whatever else is needed.

[IMBerzerk]

Have you tired emailing Andy? Tell him about your plight, he might work out something on the shipping. He's a great guy and no doubt very helpful. I have bought a TON of stuff from him (enough for 3 cabinets). At one point I forget to order a 2nd USB to Optipac cable, so he send it to me for cost, no shipping.

Try it.