Not finding what I am looking for (Joysticks/Button Options)

[Aberran]

Two functions I would love to have is a Analog stick that could be used as both Analog and Digital with the option to switch between the two on the fly and have that change the value the stick reads into the computer.

Much like some gamepads can swap the dpad input and place them on the right analog and visa versus.  Is there a way to do this with a Mame Cab setup? Some emulators that have analog and digital inputs do not like them to be mapped to the same values.  I did not think this would be such a problem at first but my Xarcade stick is proving to me otherwise. (Another investment that looks like a bust without the benefits of a common ground it seems my options with it are limited.) 

Also I love the looks and functions on the Ultrastik 360 but I could take or leave a few. The one thing I cannot understand is why Ultimarc does not have an interface card that can interpret this stick and keep all its functions intact.  They make analog interface cards and encoders and an analog stick that does not get along with it.  I might want more buttons on my setup and indeed I do. Final design is still in the works but looking at 12-13 buttons or so that I would want to be able to trigger in any combination so the shift button for those functions does not look appealing. 

I know I could use a virtual controller app like ppjoyjoy, but that is clunky and would not switch the analog axis on the fly.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank you all.

Aberran

[thebyter]

I would love to have is a Analog stick that could be used as both Analog and Digital

It sure sounds like the Ultrastik would be right up your alley.  Depending on the map in use, each "cell" that the stick can be positioned at can represent a digital switch press or an analog position.

my Xarcade stick is proving to me otherwise.

Without going into the gory details, I don't think I'd personally hold Xarcade products up as the measuring bar.

Ultimarc does not have an interface card that can interpret this stick

I'm not sure why you'd need an "interface card"?  As I understand, the Ultrastick just plugs into a USB port natively.

looking at 12-13 buttons or so

13 buttons per player?  Wow, that'll take some talented fingers!    I understand you can have up to eight buttons connected to an Ultrastik, which can register an additional 7 presses when shifted.  Keep in mind that you can wire buttons in parallel so that, for instance, pinball flippers can connect to the same port as fire buttons one and two, assuming you won't be using them at the same time.  You can combine this with shift, too, so a coin-up button and fire button one could be connected together, so they'd generate the same button press, unless you also hit start (shift) which you'd do when pressing coin-up to get that extra press.  You might even be able to wire coin-up to both start and a fire button so it automatically shifts; I'm not sure if that'd work or not.

At any rate, if eight (plus seven) buttons aren't enough, you can certainly use an extra IPAC (or one of the cheap gamepad encoders) for your extra buttons.  There's even an "output" mode which will let you hook up the Ultrastik to an IPAC just as if it were a standard microswitch joystick (in addition to presenting analog or digital data to the USB port at the same time).  It seems like this would be cheifly for people who need drop-in replacements for their existing sticks, but maybe you'd find it useful.

Feels like, if the Ultrastik's are within your budget, they'd do exactly what you're after!  And if you do get them, I hope Andy gives me a kickback for being such a good salesman. 

[Aberran]

If only the Ultrastik could work its analog magic on a A-Pac or U-HID I might have what I am looking for.

[wweumina]

I don't really know what you think you are missing out on with the U360.  I can take or leave them as a joystick but their function is pretty much what you describe.  Are you aware of the ability to load joystick maps (including analogue) based on the game/emulator that is launched?

[Aberran]

I think I might just call it good and go back to standard gaming pads and my X-Arcade whenever I feel I want something a little different.  Now just going have to figure out something else to build with all the wood I bought lol.

I might ask for more help in the future but for now I think I am going leave custom control panels alone.

Thanks anyways.
Aberran

[CheffoJeffo]

You might be interested in something from

http://www.quasimoto.com/home

[Ginsu Victim]

I still want to know if that was 12-13 buttons total or per player?

[Gray_Area]

I still want to know if that was 12-13 buttons total or per player?

I think the OP hasn't grasped the functionality of the market products.

[Aberran]

I think I got something I am going settle on its going just be digital sticks for my first attempt and its going be 11 buttons per player one being a dedicated shift button. Should not be that hard with the newer IPAC that has 32 inputs for 2 players.  4 directions would leave me with 12 per player and I don't think I need that many with the shift function on a dedicated button. Hell could go ten with a shift on a regular button but if i got the inputs to play with I like the idea of a smaller pushbutton nearer to the top of the panel for shifting into administration commands.

[wweumina]

Just a friendly word of caution..

http://wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/10.html

[Hoopz]

I think I got something I am going settle on its going just be digital sticks for my first attempt and its going be 11 buttons per player one being a dedicated shift button. Should not be that hard with the newer IPAC that has 32 inputs for 2 players.  4 directions would leave me with 12 per player and I don't think I need that many with the shift function on a dedicated button. Hell could go ten with a shift on a regular button but if i got the inputs to play with I like the idea of a smaller pushbutton nearer to the top of the panel for shifting into administration commands.

It would be helpful if you give us more details and explain exactly what you want to do with your buttons, what they are per person (ie six playing buttons, coin, start, etc), what emulators you will be using, why you want so many buttons per person.  I'm pretty sure that you can get better help if you let us know what you're trying to do.

For Mame, six buttons is the about the max you'll need for game play.  Throw in a coin button or start button and you're looking at a couple more.  You can double up admin buttons using the SHIFT function or have dedicated buttons (power, pause, mouse, etc).

For other emulators, the number of buttons can vary but you may need to use caution as some of those games aren't as comfortable playing on a cab v. dedicated unit.  It's about what you want to do though.

[Ginsu Victim]

11 buttons per player? That's WAAAAAAAAAAAY (with eleven As) too many!

[honkey]

I think I got something I am going settle on its going just be digital sticks for my first attempt and its going be 11 buttons per player one being a dedicated shift button. Should not be that hard with the newer IPAC that has 32 inputs for 2 players.  4 directions would leave me with 12 per player and I don't think I need that many with the shift function on a dedicated button. Hell could go ten with a shift on a regular button but if i got the inputs to play with I like the idea of a smaller pushbutton nearer to the top of the panel for shifting into administration commands.

It would be helpful if you give us more details and explain exactly what you want to do with your buttons, what they are per person (ie six playing buttons, coin, start, etc), what emulators you will be using, why you want so many buttons per person.  I'm pretty sure that you can get better help if you let us know what you're trying to do.

For Mame, six buttons is the about the max you'll need for game play.  Throw in a coin button or start button and you're looking at a couple more.  You can double up admin buttons using the SHIFT function or have dedicated buttons (power, pause, mouse, etc).

For other emulators, the number of buttons can vary but you may need to use caution as some of those games aren't as comfortable playing on a cab v. dedicated unit.  It's about what you want to do though.

I have found the seven button layout (Neo Geo layout plus three buttons on top) to be just about perfect for my cabinet. I use a combination of start and another button for coining and then another combo to actually start... This is a temporary fix as I will eventually hook up the coin door to a cheap encoder.

[AndyWarne]

I dont reaqlly understand much of where the OP is coming from but its worth mentioning that the U360 CAN be used with an analog encoder. It has two pins which output raw X and Y signals which are analog, and can be connected to an analog interface such as the A-PAC or U-HID.
But as someone pointed out, you would lose the mapping feature and the interface would need to deal with calibration.
Andy

[Aberran]

Yes Andy told me about that in email. You did make it seem that it takes a bit of work though to force the U360 into encoder mode when not using it as a digital device.  I plan to make the control panel with everything being swappable. Even the Interface cards I could do one that is a U-Hid and one that Is an I-pac and use the ipac for console gaming. Also for emulators in which they have a Right stick and an Dpad and run them through a ps3 adaptor for the  option of swapping back and forth on the fly.  Its not everything I ever wanted but its about 86 percent so how much can I really complain. Also what would anyone suggest I do to power the U360 when its running into an digital encoder that is plugged into a console ... maybe just a usb wall charger would that work well? Maybe some USB output device? no idea really. I might have up to two of these sticks so I need a solution that would work with such a setup.