Foot Pedal Questions

[wonderalex]

So my planned CP currently consists of two U360's, with 6 buttons each, a TurboTwist HighLow, 2 coins, 2 player starts, Pause, Exit and Enter buttons.

Now I want to add the steering wheel option from GGG for the TT high-low - but that brings me to wondering about foot-pedals.  I remember stand-up cabinets having foot-pedals so i know this is doable - question is - how should I do it in order to maximize playability? 

• What are my options?
• Is it really necessary?
• Should I go single pedal or go for break/accelerate?
• Are there USB options?  (IE: PC Controller?)
• If build my own - should I go micro-switch or potentiometer (I've got an old sewing machine pedal)?
• Can they be combined?

I need some advice - I've searched the forum and all I got were more questions and confusion.

WonderAlex

[jasonbar]

Check out Happ Controls for lots of options: http://happcontrols.com/wp/search.p?ACTION=Next&BOTTOM=1&SEARCH_TXT=pedal&CAT_RES=ALL

-Jason

[stuckpixel]

Well, the thing to ask yourself, is how often would you actually be using them.

If you'd like the option but don't really want to clutter your cab up, you could look at wiring up a couple jacks and using pedals like this: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-FC5-Sustain-Footswitch?sku=151551

That being said - if you're going to be using them frequently, it'd probably be better to just build them in - but at that point wouldn't you be better suited looking to build a sit-down cab?

[wonderalex]

Jason - Yeah  found those too, but they seem very expensive for what you get. See below.

Stuckpixel - I won't be using it all that often, for the occasional racing game like SpyHunter, APB, Lucky7, OffRoad, RoadBlaster, PolePosition, etc - that why I like the USB option, or modding an old PS2/PSone or guitar foot pedal unit that I can pull out when I feel like satisfying a craving.  I considered building a sit down, but space is a premium - so I'm sticking with a stand-up. 

Thing is I don't know enough about racing games to decide if the foot pedal should be a simple switch-type or a potentiometer or am I better off with one or 2 pedals. I had hoped the wiki would give me some idea (like it did for decision for the TurboTwist2 HighLow), but I was out of luck.   I'm hoping a racing aficionado on the forum can give me some insight - even if it's just a list of racing games with their control types.

BEFORE I forget - there will be no dedicated shifter - I plan to remap the Player 2 Joystick as a shifter if needed. 

Be seeing you,

WonderAlex

[severdhed]

what i would do is this:  figure out which games you want to be able to play with this setup, and then try a few.  are they playable by using a standard pushbutton as the accelerator?  if so, then a microswitch pedal should be sufficient. 

If you choose to go with a microswitch based pedal, then it is pretty simple.  i'd pick up a keyboard sustain pedal from a music supply website, which is just a on/off footswitch with a 1/4" mono audio plug on the end of the cable.  at this point, you install some 1/4" mono jacks down low on your cabinet, which are wired up to your existing encoder (ipac/keywiz/etc).  then you just plug the pedal in when you want to use it.  you don't even need a separate input for the pedal.  for instance, if you are playing a game like super sprint or something, p1b1 should be mapped as Gas in mame, so have your 1/4" jack wired up to p1b1 input on your ipac so when the pedal is connected, it is the same as pressing that button on your panel. 

this would also work good for a reload pedal if you choose to add lightguns at some point in time. 

i did a similar thing on my showcase cabinet.  i have a playstation 2 in my cabinet that i use for gun games.  i hacked a playstation controller to add a 1/4" jack, which i mounted inside the coin return area of my coin door.  i keep my pedal along with my guns inside the coin box, and just plug them in when i want to use them.

[jasonbar]

I set up many racing games to play on my control panel, using a button for throttle.  Think back to when you play racing games at the arcade--do you really feather & modulate the throttle, or do you find that your foot is always in one of 2 states: either all the way planted in the floor or off the pedal entirely?

I know how I use my foot when I play racing games!  (Except for fancier newer games that my machine can't tackle anyway...)


-Jason

[wonderalex]

This is the type of advice I needed. Thank you.

Jason - Good point. Very good point actually considering the PC I'm using isn't a powerhouse - but an old Athalon 2.5 with 2gb of ram. Switch-type it is. 

SeverdHed - I actually never considered using the audiojack like that - thanks for the tip, I'll likely end up doing that for this.  And yes - I'll be installing lightguns. {Insert Evil Grin here}

Be seeing you,

WonderAlex

[DeLuSioNal29]

I tried doing this a long time ago and never finished the project.  But I recently came across the parts and I may resume the build, but I think I may use an old leaf switch instead of the microswitch idea.

Check it out:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=73961.msg764452#msg764452

DeLuSioNaL29

[wonderalex]

Awesome Delusional - thanks.

I was thinking of hacking this: http://cgi.ebay.ca/PSX-PS2-PS1-Steering-Wheel-Racing-Fighting-Foot-Pedal_W0QQitemZ170413460114QQcategoryZ139969QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63#ht_1621wt_1141

But I'm not sure how I'd do it. 

SeveredHed suggestion of using an audio pedal with jacks still seems the easiest solution.

I must ponder.

WonderAlex