Instead of reviving an old thread, I’m just starting new one, and the Magenta (at least the pre molded gate one) is here…
Some of the comments from Evo:
This joystick is my dream
This is a game changer
I have been telling everyone about this - Mr Wizard, our first install/customer
This is some amazing shit
I went from hitting 1 out of 4 times to hitting that move almost every time
The feedback was extremely positive, with one single detractor, “People want clicks though”, to which I said, “We can leave the micros” @Toodles
This was a project we announced 5 years ago and has come to fruition through some blood, sweat and tears.
Magenta is an analog joystick that takes an analog field and maps it to digital outputs. In other words, this takes something like this:
And makes it communicate with your stick like 4 microswitches…
So what does this mean, it means you can change how the stick behaves with different positions and tweak to your play:
Each direction can have independent slider control to determine sensitivity
You can change the relationship or the cardinals and diagonals
you can rotate the map to correct for a slight hook or slice
4 different modes are stored so you can easily switch between games
The plan is to launch this fall, but I wanted to open a thread for discussion and to say I’m really glad to be back on TT more!
Quick FAQ that will be elaborated on:
You program by mini usb directly to your computer
Security in place to prevent tampering
Installed just like an optical, and does require a 5v power source
Would there be any way to have this become an analog stick entirely? (ie, output Lx/Ly/Rx/Ry signals)
Any more details on the installation? From the mounted photos, unless I’m mistaken, it looks like it’s the “last” part to be mounted onto the JLF housing; is there any change in terms of standard restrictor-gate installation?
JLF stock snap fit assembly of the switch PCB to the 4 clipping tabs is rather loose/wobbly.
Did you find a way to compensate for the imprecision of the stock JLF assembly? …because inductive sensing can be quite precise, but if the Magenta’s white base + sensor pcb, as a whole (PCB and Magenta base seem firmly screwed together), is moving laterally a few fractions of mm or more ( like the omron pcb does)… due to the fact that the Magenta will be snap fit to those bendy JLF tabs…it would counter the precision of the sensing.
You state: “you can rotate the map to correct for a slight hook or slice” . Ok, but that’s when you calibrate just before playing, during setup. If an assembly is wobbly, it will move -during- the play, and calibration will be of little help since calibration adjusts for initial misplacement of parts only.
3)On the Iplaywinner article, the older prototype presented is different and had still the Omron switch PCB along with your sensor assembly. It seems you implemented this to keep the inital return force from the switches? Or was it for another reason? That proto would not be noiseless then, if the switches are still present. The photos on this thread show almost nothing for the new model besides the bottom of the Magenta PCB and the base connecting to the JLF tabs.
4)Proto seen on Iplaywinner shows no sign of original sanwa restrictor. It seems the Magenta’s base is the restrictor but the pics didn’t indicate if the said base could accept different types of additional restrictor modules to change the type of restriction ( as the original Sanwa restrictor gate did, with the additional brittle octo and circle clip-on modules).
Does the new Magenta offer different types of mechanical restriction?
5)Pure 2way and pure 4way (either cardinal or diagonal) in vintage games.
It seems possible with your new sensor unit, as cardinals and diagonals can be independently enabled/disabled -via software- . Even odd type 4 way input restriction such as diagonals only is possible( if my memory serves me right Q*bert allowed only for 4way diagonal inputs as opposed to other cardinal 4way inputs found in vintage arcade games)
It’s one thing to have the inputs tweakable via software, and another one to restrict mechanically the movement during play (debated to death btw on other arcade forums). Some people did propose to just have a very wide circle restriction(mechanical restriction) , advising to “never ride the gate”, and to have say pure 2way or pure 4way play restricted solely via software for vintage games , but it completely puts aside the feel of old levers whcih mechanically restricted the play to say 2 way or 4 way.
so this question is directly related to question 4) : is user modified software restriction coupled with different mechanical types of restriction or did you rely only on software?
No analog output on the current iteration for a variety of reasons, we are aiming mostly at the fight stick lever replacement for now.
this is mounted to a JLF housing but will be shipped as a complete unit. This requires a new shaft, actuator, restrictor gate etc, all with the goal of adding a minimal amount (about 1/8") to the depth of the JLF. It fits well in in a TE2 case.
this is very firmly held in place. We can detect shaking the joystick case, so we need stability. this uses not just the 4 snap tables but also the 4 location tabs, circumferentially and with the ledge on them
The switches can be kept or taken off, they do not impact the function aside from centering force. Some people will like them because they keep the clicky feel. The testing we did at evo had a heavier spring in place and switches off.
The restrictor is integrated and at least a first only the square gate will be offered. As I’m sure you can understand these are extremely sensitive sensors and are optimized over a very specific area, changing restrictors will do more than just change the pattern of movement
This can be set to 4 way, cardinal or diagonal (Qbert fans rejoice), or two way
Damn. Please find a partner shop to distribute your stuff in Europe, because if this is as good as it sounds its gonna cost me an arm and a leg in shipping and customs to equip all my sticks with this thing.
2: tension is perfect. 4# spring is just right. Does not feel “heavy” at all
3: out of the box, it is better than anything I have ever used, and I have used everything. I have used every optical jlf stick (flash, flash 2.0, Spark, Spark 2.0, Ascii and Gamerfinger) and hated each and every one within a week. They all felt “sloppy” to me. This is the exact opposite. In my initial hour of use this morning I never once dropped a combo, missed an input, or did anything I didn’t mean to do. It is honestly an instant execution enhancement.
4: Amount of customization is ridiculous. Rotation of cardinal directions can be done is 90* increments, as well as 1*, allowing for a perfectly centered stick. Each direction and diagonal can be changed in 1% increments. Want to get rid of downward diags? Turn them off. Want 4 way only? No problem. 2 way? Sure! You can load 4 profiles on the stick, which can be switched via the onboard mode button, or by hooking up a button to the white connector.
I plan on putting in a lot of time on this over the next couple of weeks, but I already plan on replacing everything I own with these. Bryan has completely changed the game.
Schedule permitting I should have two Magenta Analog fight sticks available for play testing at the 8/2 Wednesday Night Fights ( https://www.esportsarena.com/santa-ana ). This time the Magenta Lever will be installed in both the MADCATZ TE2 and HORI HRAP4 fight sticks for use at WNF.
If you did not have the opportunity to experience Magenta at EVO swing by an introduce yourself. I can walk you through the process of analyzing your play style and customizing the stick to YOUR requirements.