Map 8-way stick for 4-way games

[Blanka]

Is there a way to remove diagonals from a 8-way stick in software using MAME? For Q-bert you can use a sort of AND option to require both up and left for a diagonal, but can you also exclude diagonals? So LEFT, not LEFT+UP, not LEFT+DOWN?

[jimmy2x2x]

AFAIK with a standard digital joystick its not possible, how would the computer decide which direction for up+left? would it use up, or left, none or both

The only way I know of is a physical restriction gate to stop the stick engaging diagonals

[Blanka]

I would like to ignoge up+left.

[jimmy2x2x]

I see, do you think that would feel right?  As you could be pushing the stick as hard as you like and nothing would be happening on screen.  There are some options in mame (tab menu) to assign the diagonals values, but im not sure if nulling those would have the desired effect.

I really dont think it would feel right at all.

[JustMichael]

Is there a way to remove diagonals from a 8-way stick in software using MAME?

Yes.

For Q-bert you can use a sort of AND option to require both up and left for a diagonal, but can you also exclude diagonals? So LEFT, not LEFT+UP, not LEFT+DOWN?

Actually it would be LEFT, not UP, not DOWN.  You can do this when you try to set the keys in MAME. Press the direction you want and then immediately hit the direction(s) you don't want twice.  What do I mean?  Well once you have MAME ready to accept a new key for LEFT, you hit the following key sequence: LEFT UP UP DOWN DOWN.  If you did it quickly enough it should now show "LEFT not UP not DOWN". This will make MAME respond to LEFT when ONLY LEFT is pressed (so if you hit diagonals a lot nothing will happen).  I hope this is what you wanted.

[jimmy2x2x]

Interesting! I didnt realise you could do that

Would this make 4 way games feel more authentic?

[bkenobi]

Feel authentic?  No.

You need a physically restricted 4-way stick to "feel" authentic.

[Blanka]

Excellent hint the double-entry for NOT! Thanks!