Joysticks

[Tempest]

Alright, I admit it, this is probably a stupid question.

Do you guys use 4-way's, or 8-way's. As you know I'm trying to get my ducks together for a new cab. I think I'm pretty set on most everything except this. What is the difference? I'm thinking that mame only uses 4-ways, because it only asks for up, down, left, right. I know I can make diagonal moves in games like Loderunner, I'm assuming it just goes up and left. Do 8-ways actually have 8 switches? (They must, mustn't they?) Do some games (emulators) actually require a 8-way to work properly? I was thinking of using two u360'S, but my wife doesn't like the feel...Maybe I should put in the stiffer spring. Anybody come up with a question I didn't think to ask?

Come on, I need rediculous amounts of feedback...Anyone?

[jombee]

You can have one stick that "goes both ways". I use Ultimarcâ??s Mag-Stik 4/8 way Plus joysticks on my cab, and they work very good. You switch right from the top of the control panel, all you do is pull up on the stick and twist it to switch from 4 way to 8 way and vice versa. You need no tools, and never have to lift up the cover or reach underneath to switch.

I would say that most games in mame use 8 way sticks, and yes they move in 8 directions. The 4 way stick makes a huge difference in the older games that originally used 4 way sticks (pac-man, dig-dug, burger time, Qix, etc.).

Here's the link if you are interested:

http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html

[Brian Hoffman]

I have a 8 way happs competition joy stick.... There is 4 microswitches... The whole thing about 4 and 8 way is on a 4 way you cannot go UP+LEFT there is either something blocking it from mechanically going in that direction or like mine (on the bottom part that hits the leaf switches) wont physicaly press the two switches at the same time.

So all have only 4 switches up,down,left,right the 8 way is for the diagnols

EG you cannot got up+left on pacman.. so on an 8 way stick you accidentaly go diagnol you have a 50/50 chance of going in the direction youreally wanted to go.

[Stu1983]

I use the Mag-Stik 4/8 Plus too they're a great job, it's so handy being able to flick back to 4 way for the old games like donkey kong and pac man as some of them get confused if you use an 8 way joystick and accidentally press a diagonal, you character just freezes on the spot.

Stu

[Tempest]

Thanks for the replies! I will use the Mag-Stik 4/8 Plus joysticks then.

My list looks something like this then:

1 - U360 (I already have it)

2 - Mag-Stik 4/8 Plus

1 - Oscar controls tempest spinner (already have it)

Electric Ice buttons with RGB drive

Electric Ice-T Deluxe RGB arcade trackball

1- Ipac-2 (I might need a 4...)

2- led-wiz (HK's LCD/LED plugin)

I am planning on using the player start buttons with the people icons on them. I'm pretty sure I read that I can drill a hole in them, and get some illumination from them as well. I also might try use the "coin eject" button on the coin doors for credits (I bought a coin door for $15.) I can't decide if it's a good idea or not. It' along ways down to have to bend over to add credits! Maybe I should do both.

I haven't decide on a monitor yet...I think I'm going to keep using my CRT computer monitor for now, and let the prices drop and upgrade next winter. I do need a monitor for the marquee though...probably get a tv or a computer monitor whichever is cheaper. I thing 22" LCD monitors are less than $250 now.

Any comments?

[Stu1983]

I am planning on using the player start buttons with the people icons on them. I'm pretty sure I read that I can drill a hole in them, and get some illumination from them as well.

For ages I was running Electric Ice buttons on my control panel but just using to standard non opaque Player1 and Player2 buttons because you can't buy Electric Ice buttons with the wee men on them.

Just over a month ago I bought set of "Ultralux Logo Inserts" from Ultimarc and used epoxy to stick them on top of 2 spare Electric Ice buttons and they are looking great, so now all my buttons light up properly.

I wasn't sure at the time how well they'd fit and if sticking them on the outside of the button would look crap but they look perfect and anyone looking at it would just assume they came like that.

Stu

[Tempest]

I had commented in another thread, that I liked Barcio's control panel. He has been kind enough to offer to modify his control panel layout to suit me.

I like his layout, but if possible would like to eliminate a few buttons. His panel has player 1 and 2 layouts like this:

Since the layout is curved to match a right hand (which I like) he has four separate buttons which are curved in a similar fashion for the left hand so that you can use your right hand for the use of the track ball and spinner. I am wondering if there would be an easy way to re-map the buttons marked 4,5,6,3 to 1,2,3,4 for trackball and spinner games. As you can see, those buttons would be close to the "curve" needed for a left hand. I know I could do it one by one, but if I were to use a program like Romlister to find the trackball and spinner games, Is there anyway to automate the process? Either by remapping on the fly for the games, or generating the individual .ini files automatically? Or is this a silly idea?

[bkenobi]

Well, I've wanted to do that kind of remapping in the past and was unable to come up with an easy way. BUT, I have couple options.

1) Create a MAME32 compatible list that contains all the games you want to remap. Update your list and go to that list so that you can edit them one at a time and know you're done when you get to the bottom.

2) Use the MAME_Loader script I wrote to use different versions of MAME. All that's required is creating a second copy of MAME with a different default control setup, creating a list of games that you want to play with that version, and editing the script to include that setup. This is exactly why I created that loader!

This is the thread.

[Tempest]

Well, I've wanted to do that kind of remapping in the past and was unable to come up with an easy way. BUT, I have couple options.

1) Create a MAME32 compatible list that contains all the games you want to remap. Update your list and go to that list so that you can edit them one at a time and know you're done when you get to the bottom.

2) Use the MAME_Loader script I wrote to use different versions of MAME. All that's required is creating a second copy of MAME with a different default control setup, creating a list of games that you want to play with that version, and editing the script to include that setup. This is exactly why I created that loader!

This is the thread.

That's a great idea! Thanks!