How is the best way to play Q-bert in Mame?

[garnerb350]

Ive been craving to play some Q-bert, and i know that ( if memory serves me correctly) the orginal joystick was installed on a 45 degree angle...On my mame cab i have a tankstick (2 8ways & trackball)
Is there a way to remap the inputs to play correctly? ( SICK & TIRED of falling off the edge) If so, can somebody post what they used?
I figured i would go to tab\input (this game)\ what do you suggest?

thanks

[smalltownguy]

My thoughts? Pull that joystick and install a U360. 

[javeryh]

My thoughts? Pull that joystick and install a U360. 

+1.  Q*bert works great with the U360.

[garnerb350]

Hehehe... I knew you guys were always going to say that...

Well see the thing is, Im trying to save up and order parts for my next 2 cab builds ( a dedicated vert and a mame fighter)...I doubt ill be getting any replacement sticks anytime soon...

Is there a way to get away with it by having a Happs competition 8 way?

[javeryh]

Is there a way to get away with it by having a Happs competition 8 way?

Stand at a 45 degree angle to the screen?   

[Thenasty]

I have the Happs P360 and I attach leaf switch at the bottom of the joystick (45 degree angle of course) Work like a charm. But then, that joystick double its input.

[bkenobi]

Have you searched the forum?  I know I asked this question and u_rebelscum answered.  It has to do with joystick mapping, but I don't remember the exact mapping off the top of my head.

[Blanka]

If you map the combination of 2 directions to each input, it works pretty well with an 8-way too.

[garnerb350]

Have you searched the forum?  I know I asked this question and u_rebelscum answered.  It has to do with joystick mapping, but I don't remember the exact mapping off the top of my head.

Im fixing to do that right now...I remember that thread but i wasnt sure untill you brought it up...

[garnerb350]

Found it...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=95716.0

But its a tab over my head...I did the mapping as it said...but it still sucks on my end...let me see what i can do...

[Havok]

What, no-one else was going to say "in the nude?"
 

[Ginsu Victim]

What, no-one else was going to say "in the nude?"
 

I always assume that's implied unless clothing is specifically mentioned.

[DashRendar]

What, no-one else was going to say "in the nude?"
 

I always assume that's implied unless clothing is specifically mentioned.

Heh.   

[XeviouS]

If you map the combination of 2 directions to each input, it works pretty well with an 8-way too.

+1
I did this also with my 8-way and Q-bert controlled perfectly.

[garnerb350]

If you map the combination of 2 directions to each input, it works pretty well with an 8-way too.

+1
I did this also with my 8-way and Q-bert controlled perfectly.

but what with what? 
Do I go up-right or up-left for UP and so on and so on?
Seems like there is 2 choices for one direction... which one do you choose?

[Dartful Dodger]

If you map the combination of 2 directions to each input, it works pretty well with an 8-way too.

Thanks, I didn't realize you could map two(or more) buttons to an input. I really enjoyed playing Crystal Castle in the arcade, but with a joystick and the one button per direction the game is useless.

[Congui]

This is my cfg looks like:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- This file is autogenerated; comments and unknown tags will be stripped -->
<mameconfig version="10">
    <system name="qbert">
        <input>
            <port type="P1_JOYSTICK_RIGHT" mask="1" index="42" defvalue="0">
                <newseq type="standard">
                    KEYCODE_6_PAD KEYCODE_2_PAD
                </newseq>
            </port>
            <port type="P1_JOYSTICK_LEFT" mask="2" index="43" defvalue="0">
                <newseq type="standard">
                    KEYCODE_8_PAD KEYCODE_4_PAD
                </newseq>
            </port>
            <port type="P1_JOYSTICK_UP" mask="4" index="44" defvalue="0">
                <newseq type="standard">
                    KEYCODE_8_PAD KEYCODE_6_PAD
                </newseq>
            </port>
            <port type="P1_JOYSTICK_DOWN" mask="8" index="45" defvalue="0">
                <newseq type="standard">
                    KEYCODE_2_PAD KEYCODE_4_PAD
                </newseq>
            </port>
        </input>
        <mixer>
            <volume_multiplier final="256" final_max="2560" mixer="256" mixer_max="2560" />
        </mixer>
    </system>
</mameconfig>


Hope this helps.

[Matthew Anderson]

Now I am not a huge Q*Bert fan but when the mood strikes this is what I do... and yes I know it is not particularly accurate

I map 4 buttons to the four directions I have a standard street fighter 2 layout

OOO
OOO

so I map 2 buttons on each row like so

XXO
XXO


and VIOLA! I can play

just sucks a little with buttons...

Hope this helps a little...

[Necro]

I'm sorry, everyone's wrong.  

The proper answer is to find the schematics to the original Q-bert cabinet, build the cabinet with all NOS control and artwork, then connect it to a computer running Q-bert on mame.

(just kidding, use a remapped U360 )

[Gatt]

This is something I've been thinking about.

For Congo Bongo and Q-bert,  is it possible to mount a 4 way diagonally to get proper functionality too?  It's something I've been planning on implementing on my 4 way panel if it'll work.

[smalltownguy]

Seriously, folks? For all the time and effort you are going to spend on installing 4 ways diagonally, standing crooked, mapping multiple inputs, tying together buttons, playing in the nude (!) etc etc etc


Just get a U360. Out of the box it works perfectly for Q bert, not to mention all of the rest of the 4/8 way games.

[Gatt]

Seriously, folks? For all the time and effort you are going to spend on installing 4 ways diagonally, standing crooked, mapping multiple inputs, tying together buttons, playing in the nude (!) etc etc etc


Just get a U360. Out of the box it works perfectly for Q bert, not to mention all of the rest of the 4/8 way games.

Well,  I went that route a few years ago when 49-ways with software were supposed to do the same thing,  and wasn't pleased with the end results.  Launching software to reconfigure every game to get hiccups just wasn't optimal.

Alternatively,  I've spent another $20 and drill one more hole and the problem is solved is it not?

[meany]

Here is a picture of my config.  This works great with my Happ 8-way.

[Red]

My thoughts? Pull that joystick and install a U360. 

How easy is it to pull the X-Arcade joystick and install a U360? 

Do you have to do anything in MAME then to let MAME know you have a U360 and not the X-Arcade joystick?

[garnerb350]

How easy is it to pull the X-Arcade joystick and install a U360? 
Do you have to do anything in MAME then to let MAME know you have a U360 and not the X-Arcade joystick?

Now Im not the pro on this...but i think that there might be a problem, because of the encoder that X-Gaming uses...
I know player one has to has num lock on in order to use...and i know I had to get a special ctrlr config file for mame(other than the standard), etc...
I'm not PC savy like i should be...

[Red]

How easy is it to pull the X-Arcade joystick and install a U360? 
Do you have to do anything in MAME then to let MAME know you have a U360 and not the X-Arcade joystick?

Now Im not the pro on this...but i think that there might be a problem, because of the encoder that X-Gaming uses...
I know player one has to has num lock on in order to use...and i know I had to get a special ctrlr config file for mame(other than the standard), etc...
I'm not PC savy like i should be...

What is this special ctrlr config file?  Could you share it with me?  I have a X-Arcade Tankstick, but haven't set up my MAME yet.  Thanks.

[Dartful Dodger]

This is something I've been thinking about.

For Congo Bongo and Q-bert,  is it possible to mount a 4 way diagonally to get proper functionality too?  It's something I've been planning on implementing on my 4 way panel if it'll work.

Congo Bongo, EXCELLENT!!!

This is another game I enjoyed in the arcade but playing it with a joystick programmed for just up/down and left/right I stopped playing.

I want to change the inputs of all the games that require diagonal movement.  Is there a list of these games?

[Thenasty]

here is a pic...

[Thenasty]

above pic is a piece of another wico joystick base/leaf attach to the bottom of Happs P360. Need to change the Joystick shaft to a longer one.

[XeviouS]

If you map the combination of 2 directions to each input, it works pretty well with an 8-way too.

+1
I did this also with my 8-way and Q-bert controlled perfectly.

but what with what? 
Do I go up-right or up-left for UP and so on and so on?
Seems like there is 2 choices for one direction... which one do you choose?

My joystick is set up as:

UP  =  Joystick configured to Right/Up
DOWN = Joystick configured to Down/Left
LEFT = Joystick configured to Left/Up
Right = Joystick configured to Down/Right

Assuming your joystick microswitches are in the same position as mine this should work.

[garnerb350]

Thanks Xevious...I'll double check my mapping and go from there...if I still dont see any improvement on my side, i'll just keep on walking...

[darcyp]

Now I am not a huge Q*Bert fan but when the mood strikes this is what I do... and yes I know it is not particularly accurate

I map 4 buttons to the four directions I have a standard street fighter 2 layout

OOO
OOO

so I map 2 buttons on each row like so

XXO
XXO


and VIOLA! I can play

just sucks a little with buttons...

Hope this helps a little...

that's what i do too. granted im not a huge Qbert fan, but this works great for me.

[ahofle]

There is no need for a u360 to play Qbert.  Just map your 8way like Xevious suggested.  The only thing that would work better is a restricted 4 way rotated 45 degrees.

My joystick is set up as:

UP  =  Joystick configured to Right/Up
DOWN = Joystick configured to Down/Left
LEFT = Joystick configured to Left/Up
Right = Joystick configured to Down/Right

Assuming your joystick microswitches are in the same position as mine this should work.

[bkenobi]

I found that my LS-30's don't hit diagonals well enough to play Q*Bert that well/cleanly.  I may give the 4 button setup a try just to see if it works better.  Thanks for the suggestion!

[HanoiBoi]

I essentially did the same thing as what Meany and Xevious suggested.  It worked like a charm and I was able to score over 800,000 using a Mag Stik Plus.

The only difference is that I used my P2 joystick (joystick on the right) so that when I play right-handed, I was more centered with the screen.  I do the same for games like Ms Pacman and Frogger.

[Lilwolf]

How about mounting a joystick at 45 degrees?  There is a reason for being able to swap a control panel.  One is some games are worth a $10 joystick and an some mfb.

There is another game that uses diagonals... the one with the monkeys and alligator and rolling things... whats the name... congo is coming to mind but I don't think its it.

[HanoiBoi]

How about mounting a joystick at 45 degrees?  There is a reason for being able to swap a control panel.  One is some games are worth a $10 joystick and an some mfb.

There is another game that uses diagonals... the one with the monkeys and alligator and rolling things... whats the name... congo is coming to mind but I don't think its it.

That's it...Congo Bongo.

Sure there are some people that might want to add another joystick that's good for, say, less than 5 games.  But if you can do it with existing hardware, it might appease the masses.