Quixote Quest

I got these for Christmas and I've generally liked them too. But I haven't loved them yet like I hoped. Maybe they'll grow on me. I have to admit that I love I can emulate pretty nicely a Q-Bert setup. They only thing really going for them in my book is that I was able to simplify my panel if I can get them to run with stability. I've had problems if the computer freezes--which has been common when awakening from a stand-by cycle-- forcing a restart that they don't recognize, and I have to unplug and replug them back in--VERY annoying since the connection is inside the cabinet. But if I go through normal shutdown and restarts they seem to operate fine. Would love it if maps could be configured to autoload on a game by game or game type basis. But running Ultramap isn't too inconvenient, assuming that I can get it to run within GameEx. Right now I have to quit GameEx to run it. When guests are over playing it's a bit much to interrupt in order to reconfigure. I'm not happy with the throw, it feels like it's broken or something. I think with a slightly stiffer spring and the circle restrictor plate that I'll like the feel much better. I still don't get why Andy doesn't sell these things with these options available out of the box. The parts are expensive when you have to order separately and pay for add'tl shipping. But then I just don't like the stock feel. Others may. The manufacturer of my panel recommended them stock. If you figure out how to keep the ball tops from unscrewing during play let us know.

"show desktop" is selected. Presently I do need to configure and load maps on a game by game basis--or at least when i play a game that has a different setup than what is currently downloaded.

I've been testing out GameEx on my new cab to see whether I'd like to buy it. Barring a few--what appears to be--stability glitches I'm pretty impressed. Since I'm using UltraStiks, one thing I want is for UltraMap to run within GameEx to change the stick maps since it appears there is no solution yet for having presaved maps launch automatically on a game by game basis. I pointed the GameEx setup so that Ultramap appears within the menu under the other apps. But when I select it it appears to leave GameEx for a moment for it to launch, then it aborts and comes back to the GameEx screen. From reading through the features of the licensed version it doesn't appear it is needed to test this feature. Is the licensed version of the software needed for this intra-frontend app support, or is there a bug or problem I need to troubleshoot? Thanks

I don't wish to hijack, but I'm having what appears to be the same problem. I hope I may add to a productive discussion or perhaps merely validate the problem exists with other users. I have a new dual Athlon 64 3800+ (2.0Ghz) running MAME v.111 using the latest GameEx version. (1 gig RAM). We've also had problems with MAME games quitting mid games--usually during games with a lot of keypresses. I am using an IPAC; Using the WiniPac app I have checked to confirm none of the 7-button player clusters are mapped as shift-escape functions. Only my P1/P2 keys are shift-mapped that way. Also, I'm using UltraStiks running direct thru USB, not via the IPAC. This problem does not happen running direct in MAME32 on the same games. (One of them where this has been happening is MK II.) Though the computer is new I did run the .net framework 1.1 update. I have downloaded the 2.0 upgrade but have hesitated to install it because XP(MCE) is not listed under the supported operating systems.

Okay-- figured out my answer in the Analog Controls section for each game. Disregard my dumb question.

Thanks Adultery. Holding the syick left or right for a few seconds made no difference. Nevertheless I disabled as you requested and all is acceptable now. Is there a spinner sensitivity adjustment in MAME or GameEx that allows for games, like Arkanoid, to not take so many revolutions of the spinner to move just a little distance. IOW, speed up the response? In spinner games, like Tempest, the default seems to be fine. But in break-out type paddle games they "feel" slow to move in comparison to the number of revolutions the spinner makes. Cheers

My cab maker built a dedicated Escape button. I guess I need to figure out how to reprogram ithe IPAC, especially how to do shift functions. That is a great suggestion. As for trackball I have a Happs 3" with the USB connection. It works fine during the MAME games, and in windows as a mouse. Just in the GameEx interface it ceases to function. Probably something I have set up wrong in the GameEx config files, yes? As for joysticks I have the UltraStiks. Regardless of whatever map is assigned to them the up/down motion works fine for scrolling up and down the main column to highlight selections. Unfortunately I can't figure out why right/left movement doesn't function. I'd like to be able to select that stuff outside the main column.

Got our panel for Christmas. Up till now how mostly just been getting it to work reliably in Mame32 (v.111). Today introduced the computer to GameEx. Mostly, it appears to be working well. But a couple problems I can't figure out from the FAQ. Since its in a cabinet, and the panel is going via IPAC, I figured the buttons/action table listed in the faq would work. While my joysticks (Ultrastiks) work fine once a game runs, in the GameEx interface itself I can only go up and down within the main column. I can't select the left most column, nor the shut down, etc, icons in the upper right by moving the stick to the left or right. P1-start works fine for selecting a main column list item. To go back to previous screens I have to hit my Asteroids shield button (keyboard equiv 9). Is that to be expected? Can I map different buttons to work for these frontend functions? Also while I have an panel Escape button for exiting games, I'd prefer if there is a way I could make it a little more difficult to exit GameEx. We sometimes accidentally press the Escape button. I wish I could program it so that it would take a two button keypress to exit the frontend. Is this possible? And I'm having trouble getting the Ultramap application that the main GameEx is linked to show in the menu to run. It launches but then quits and comes right back to the frontend screen from whence it was launched. Is there a tutorial or FAQ I should read for troubleshooting this? Since this is the app to load the different maps for the Ultrastiks I'd like to be able to load these from within GameEx. Is there a way I can enable my trackball (and its "mouse" keys) to be the GameEx interface preference for the cab rather than using the joysticks and various buttons like P1 start? Will be happy to detail the hardware config I have if that is needed to answer any of these questions. Cheers!

A couple commercial arcade cab manufacturers I know use Act-Labs guns for customers who order light guns with their arcade. (They both use WG monitors as standard.) They think the A-L guns are very reliable and well made. (The little experience I've had with them they appear to be a good product.) Nonetheless I have read some reviews where there is the occasional game where calibration for a precise targetting match is a touch off. Also some complain about having to recalibrate before playing every game. Though in reality it's a pretty quick calibration process, it truly MAY be a pain if you are playing lots of different light gun games. One has to remember, though, that in commercial set ups you have cabs dedicated for a certain game and the gun hardware is calibrated just for that game. Therefore, just my opinion, but I consider it a non-issue to complain about calibration--as long as the calibration process itself isn't poorly designed. I'm sorry I have no experience with GunCon 2. In my cab (arriving for Christmas) I went with an LCD HDTV so that I can use the beautiful hi-res bezel art MAME now supports. Therefore I'm planning on using the LCD TopGun. Hopefully that turns out to be good hardware.

I can speak only for familiarity with MAME, but light guns made for CRTs (like the Act-Labs light gun) work fine going out to CRT monitor or TV, as both work off the same principle of interacting with the electron gun retrace signal. However, once you get into LCDs or Plasmas you have to get a different kind of gun that uses an LED matrix to register the hit. (LCD TopGun)

It was a couple minutes, which only seems long because it was so few games. Maybe I should try a few more batches and see what happens. Just got gun shy to tackle my full archive when that little bit took so long. Thanks

Got the PC for my new cabinet set up last night. Everything installed well. I copied over a handful of roms just to test the GameEx and MAME functionality. This was like 20-30 games. Updated the GameEx list and it is LONG. Per the FAQ and other recommendations I selected in the Set-up Wizard for it not to verify ROMS. The update still seems REALLY slow. But once updated everything ran smooth and fast. Is this just to be expected? Anything I'm overlooking? I'm leery of adding a whole library of ROMs for however long that is gonna take. It's a fast PC, so I know it's not that--though I haven't optimized it by removing ay of the pre-installed stuff that came with it. I'm not running with anything other than GameEx running at the time of doing this. Thanks!

[Old Mac user here (now switching to a PC run cabinet)] Does that Daemon Script allow you to permanently mount games? My son has several games I'd like to load on the cabinet so he doesn't have to put in his CDs when playing.

My cab maker recommended the default set-up as his favorite. Get my new CP later this week, so hopefully in a few weeks I'll have had enough experience with them to decide whether to place an order for stiffer springs, longer handles and/or restrictor plates.

Thanks for the answers and not telling me it's a stupid question. I figured it just HAD to be there in the FAQ and I must have been missing something. Blame it on a years-long MacMAME user who's just now getting into using a PC to run a cabinet. Cheers, all. Cheers, Tom.

Didn't find this answered in the FAQ: Is it recommended to use MAME32 or command-line MAME with GameEx? I have a new HP running XP MCE and AMD 64 dual core chips. No worries using an optimized build with GameEx either, yes?

That's amazing feedback Time Pilot. Thanks for making the time. While I really want to use GameEx for my frontend your input leaves me concerned about stability. Supposedly the Config files, based on the map files, make loading configs for the stick on the fly on a game-by-game basis a snap. (Though I'm not sure whether you can create configs on a genre-basis or rom parent family basis.) I'd like to make my sticks default to an 8-way except where I indicate special on an individual game-level. But if I have to jump out of GameEx in order to run the Config files--or even just to get the USB to recognize the sticks properly-- that's a major stability roadblock to me. But I do need to give a spin just using MAME32 for starters--probably best to do that before jumping into a frontend. My cab builder says the 360s work like a breeze. But once I get into using GameEx he has no input for me.

I'm having a cabinet built right now and I spec'd two UltiMarc UltraStik 360s for my primary joystick control. I chose not to have a dedicated 4-way nor two Happ 8-ways as everything I've read and heard says the custom mapping software (UltraMap) works great, as do the sticks. "Plug n play" they behave like an analog flight stick, though. So if you want other functionality one has to create the maps for interpretation and limitation of the analog signal to the behavior/zones specified. My question is whether anyone is running GameEx and using these sticks--especially with the UltraMap maps. Does the GameEx software allow you to launch the UltraMap maps on the fly or do you have to open and switch the maps by accessing UltraMap from within the front end?