My first Frankenpanel. How to configure joystick inputs.

[jimmer]

Only kidding.

But I do want to put a 4way stick in the middle of a streetfighter type layout, for a friends MAME machine.

It seemed like a simple plan, nothing to configure, just use MAME defaults and parallel the extra joystick. But then I realised that the midddle 4way joystick would be sending the same inputs as the player 1 joystick.  So player 2 could accidentaly or on purpose interfere with player1 inputs which is not ideal.


I could send different key presses from the 4way. But either I would have to pre-configure every 4way game to use the different inputs, or my friend would have to use the MAME menu to configure each game first time he plays it.   I could probably program something up to produce a configuration file for every 4way game. Would that be a robust way of doing this? I don't want a phone call in future saying all the 4way games have stopped working.

Any other ideas?

[JDFan]

Most (if not all) the games that use 4 way are going to be played either single player or those that are 2 player are alternating turn using the same joystick and usually you don't have someone reaching for the 4 way in the middle of a 2 player game - so wouldn't really worry about the inputs being hit by mistake. So mirroring the inputs on both the 4 way and player 1 8 way shouldn't really be a problem and will be much simpler than changing every game setting.

[DarthMarino]

I think if you mount the 4-way high enough on the panel, it should never be an issue. Otherwise, you could install additional switches to activate/deactivate the 4-way but that just seems like overkill.

[BorgDog]

Once your buddies find out they can mess with you by flicking that joystick they will, I'm sure it will grow old quick, but personally I would wire it up separate and change the control mapping for the 4-way games, you only have to do it once, and how many do you plan on having on there anyway?

[Malenko]

run the ground wire that leads to the 4 way to a toggle (STDP) switch  only accessible from the player 1 side (like under the panel or something). Wanna play a 4way game? flip the switch. sounds easier than mapping the 4 way to its own inputs then remapping all the 4way games in MAME to those inputs.

[jimmer]

run the ground wire that leads to the 4 way to a toggle (STDP) switch  only accessible from the player 1 side (like under the panel or something). Wanna play a 4way game? flip the switch. sounds easier than mapping the 4 way to its own inputs then remapping all the 4way games in MAME to those inputs.

Nice one. I was thinking I'd need a 4pole switch!

And this can be deployed later, only if it's needed.

[eds1275]

Break their hands if they mess with the joystick.

[bfauska]

run the ground wire that leads to the 4 way to a toggle (STDP) switch  only accessible from the player 1 side (like under the panel or something). Wanna play a 4way game? flip the switch. sounds easier than mapping the 4 way to its own inputs then remapping all the 4way games in MAME to those inputs.

Now that's clever. I was picturing a 4 pole double throw switch and a mess of wires . Just switch the ground... genius.

Woops, no warning that this had already been replied to. Oh well, great minds think alike I guess.

[Malenko]

I have a knack for coming up with weird solutions that work, like the Malenko mount for Haruman 

[mgb]

run the ground wire that leads to the 4 way to a toggle (STDP) switch  only accessible from the player 1 side (like under the panel or something). Wanna play a 4way game? flip the switch. sounds easier than mapping the 4 way to its own inputs then remapping all the 4way games in MAME to those inputs.

Definitely this.
And if by chance you're using any kind of lighting controller, you can even automate it