Arcade, a universe full of different cabinets, has evolved alongside technology and games: from the classic two-player panel with two joysticks and twelve buttons, to the steering wheels of timeless classics like Sega Rally or Daytona.

Less known but just as effective in terms of gameplay experience, some cabinets were equipped with a spinner and/or a trackball to provide the most authentic experience depending on the game. These controllers, however, were not unfamiliar to players at the time: Atari and ColecoVision already offered them in the 70s and 80s, and they were later “copied” by other manufacturers on a few rare NES, Mega Drive, or Neo Geo games.

The Atari Trackball

Today, it has become difficult to find this type of peripheral to enjoy certain arcade titles designed for spinners or trackballs. Taito has offered the Egret II Mini panel for a few years now, a device combining a trackball and a spinner, all with high-quality finish… but at a price around €120, depending on the retailer.

Until now, this peripheral was not compatible with Recalbox. But things are changing with V10, currently available in Alpha for our Patrons. Our friend GyuGyu conducted the first serious tests on the subject, accompanied by Recalbox developer Beudbeud. Thanks to their trials and feedback, it is now possible to enjoy an official plug-and-play spinner and trackball on Recalbox.

While some games may require a setting adjustment in RetroArch (accessible to everyone), it is now possible to play in the original conditions games such as Arkanoid, Puchi Carat, Cameltry, Sonic Arcade, Sylvalion… Note that the Egret II Mini is compatible with CRT or arcade cabinets using RGB Dual 1 and 2 and RGB JAMMA 1 and 2, as well as via HDMI.

To discover the product presentation and the various tests on Recalbox, check out GyuGyu’s video below. And if you enjoy Japanese culture — whether video games, anime, or hardware — we highly recommend subscribing to his channel.