In my opinion, no. The rules have always been no tool assistance is allowed. I'm not playing the game anywhere near your skill level but it seems to me with a small amount of practice you should be able to get the same results playing with buttons as you do with a joystick. I'd tell you to find a machine with a joystick but I've never even seen a Space Invaders with a joystick. I know they exist, just never seen one.

Originally Posted by D.B. Cooper

In my opinion, no. The rules have always been no tool assistance is allowed. I'm not playing the game anywhere near your skill level but it seems to me with a small amount of practice you should be able to get the same results playing with buttons as you do with a joystick. I'd tell you to find a machine with a joystick but I've never even seen a Space Invaders with a joystick. I know they exist, just never seen one.

I have a similar question. I have an Intellivision and the controllers which are built into the console, they eventually wear out from use. Would it be okay per Twin Galaxies rules if I modded the Intellivision so Flashback controllers could be added in place of the regular controllers? This way once the Flashback controllers are no good anymore I can just add new Flashback controllers by just plugging them in. If the regular Intellivision controllers wear out you have to send the entire console out for repair. If someone can please answer this question for me? That would be very helpful.... Thanks.....

Originally Posted by D.B. Cooper

In my opinion, no. The rules have always been no tool assistance is allowed. I'm not playing the game anywhere near your skill level but it seems to me with a small amount of practice you should be able to get the same results playing with buttons as you do with a joystick. I'd tell you to find a machine with a joystick but I've never even seen a Space Invaders with a joystick. I know they exist, just never seen one.

They came out in 1981 here in the US seem to be hard to find. Seen video of Jon tannahill playing on one with joystick but dont think hes from US.
its a lot more comfortable with joystick
When your playing for 4 or 5 hours.

If you can find one with a joystick go for it, you don't have to play with buttons.

Hypothetical question for the sake of discussion and I think you'll see where I'm going:

If someone had only played Space Invaders on MAME and ordered just a PCB to hook up in an existing joystick cab - never knowing of the button configuration on original arcade cabs - would that be an unacceptable format for Arcade platform submissions?



We do allow third party controllers for consoles. Some of which replace a D pad with a joystick like your typical fighting stick. As long as it's an original console deck it's good to go.

Should the control panel matter as much as the PCB?

The arcade games used both (joysticks or buttons) for left/right movement. Midway versions used buttons for the uprights and a toggle switch for the table models.

https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=1031&image=1
https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=1032&image=1

Taito versions used either buttons or a joystick.

https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=6052&image=1
https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=1030&image=1
https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=1029&image=1
https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?pa...d=2998&image=1

Something about the external control aide feels wrong. If you were using an actual joystick wired into the board it would feel way better.

Originally Posted by Rickster8

I have a similar question. I have an Intellivision and the controllers which are built into the console, they eventually wear out from use. Would it be okay per Twin Galaxies rules if I modded the Intellivision so Flashback controllers could be added in place of the regular controllers? This way once the Flashback controllers are no good anymore I can just add new Flashback controllers by just plugging them in. If the regular Intellivision controllers wear out you have to send the entire console out for repair. If someone can please answer this question for me? That would be very helpful.... Thanks.....

I don't think this would be a problem, it is basically the same controller.

Only one question, would you need to modify the console? do they have different conectors?

Originally Posted by Pixe Sukola

I don't think this would be a problem, it is basically the same controller.

Only one question, would you need to modify the console? do they have different conectors?

With the Intellivision the controllers are built in. If I installed Flashback controllers I would have to install the necessary controller ports so the controllers could plug in. The processor would not be modified, but the port pieces for the controllers coming from the inside would have to be modified to support the newly 'plugged' in Flashback controllers.