Monkey Ball questions

[Obiwanshinobi]

One of problems Sega used to have with their games was that they didn't have SMB... except they had - on the GameCube. I doubt the abbreviation is a pure coincidence.

The original Monkey Ball, however, is pretty much the only game that makes me phantasise about arcade tourism. Chances are buying a cab would be cheaper, but wouldn't make much sense. The ultimate home version already exists and stocking up on 'Cube joypads instead seems more reasonable.
So, do you folks know about any well maintained cabs out in the wild?

Furthermore, does SMB (1 or 2) have split screen for exactly two people? I didn't find it in either.

Thanks in advance.

[Fudoh]

Speaking of Monkey Ball, I would be interested to learn, if there's any version on any platform, which I can play using a Hori Flightstick or a Hori Twin Stick controller using some adapters or converters.

[SuperPang]

I have the arcade version. It's basically the SMB main game with worse graphics, a different soundtrack and no Gon Gon. Still totally awesome though

[PC Engine Fan X!]

At the California Extreme show for two years in a row, one of the CAX staff members had a Sega Naomi setup of SMB (with the usual GD-Rom drive) up & running on a nice 32" Mitsubishi Diamondscan monitor. It was super-razor sharp and ran at a silky-smooth 60fps framerate. A custom-made analog Sega stick mounted inside a small wooden box was used to play it though. Of course, the dedicated Sega MB cab has a banana endowed analog joystick as the choice controller to properly play it.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Obiwanshinobi]

Speaking of Monkey Ball, I would be interested to learn, if there's any version on any platform, which I can play using a Hori Flightstick or a Hori Twin Stick controller using some adapters or converters.

Isn't there a flight stick for PS2?
What I'd like to know is how Monkey Ball plays with a controller this different, in its "native" environment if possible. How good it was as a coin-op game and whether my practice with 'Cube pad would be of any help.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, Hori released a dedicated PS2 Flight Stick 2 controller for use with both Namco's Ace Combat 5 and Ace Combat Zero games but it's USB powered via the PS2's USB port setup (and not that of a dedicated PS2 controller plug interface setup). If you try to use it on a PS3's USB port, it'll give the message "Unknown USB device plugged in" and it won't work whatsover (unless SCEI complies a firmware patch to allow the Hori PS2 Flight Stick 2 to be properly recognized on the PS3 console). It shouldn't be that hard to implement though.

The actual Sega analog stick on the SM arcade setup was quite responsive in terms of you pushing it away from the dead zone and your character would roll slowly (or creep forward in the direction that the arcade analog stick is pushed in). Push the arcade stick a bit more, and the speed would pick up considerably. Push the analog arcade stick to it's utmost direction (in any of the four basic directional inputs of U, D, L or R or diagonal inputs) would result in travelling at maximum speed likewise. I'm sure Sega had to make some concessions in using the Gamecube controller's analog stick setup with the SMB port though (considering that it isn't arcade-grade spec controls anyways but close enough to get the job done likewise).

To be honest, it's recommended to play MB with such a dedicated Sega analog arcade stick as there's really no comparision between it and the lower-grade Gamecube's analog stick. MB's analog arcade stick is quite smooth with regards to the input controls indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Obiwanshinobi]

Whoever designed the ball rolling minigame in Super Mario Galaxy, badly needs to play at least one game with analogue joystick.