help needed with setting up xbox360 in arcade cab

[pudluther]

hey fellas...

i'm setting up an xbox360 in one of my existing arcade cabs...i'm going as simple as possible and will be bypassing the monitor, going with an LCD TV, and am using adapters between standard xbox360 controllers and my arcade control panel.

i purchased the J-PAC, ps2 controller adapter from ultimarc.com and then purchased an adapter for ps2 to xbox360 controller.  i have everything hooked up now and am in the process of testing.

so far, everything works great with no input lag whatsoever.  the only issue i'm having is that the controls were not all mapped correctly by default.  the arcade stick works perfectly and the 1P start button works as it should....but i think the only other buttons that are mapped are LB, RB, X, and Y (and not in the positions i'd like).

is there a way to map the controls the way you want them?  i noticed a mapping program of sorts on the disc that was included with my purchase, but it appears to be geared more towards mapping PC inputs.

surely someone out there has some experience with this and can provide some help....



thanks in advance.

[Green Giant]

I am confused here.  Why are you using a j-pac?

Wouldn't you just purchase the x-arcade xbox 360 adapter?  Wire the arcade controls directly to the adapter and use the ps2 adapter to connect it to your xbox 360?

Doesn't it have pinouts that you have to connect to for matching the xbox 360 controllers?

[pudluther]

I am confused here.  Why are you using a j-pac?

Wouldn't you just purchase the x-arcade xbox 360 adapter?  Wire the arcade controls directly to the adapter and use the ps2 adapter to connect it to your xbox 360?

Doesn't it have pinouts that you have to connect to for matching the xbox 360 controllers?

i'm confused as well.  which product are you talking about? 

this?

http://www.xgaming.com/store/x-arcade-adapters/product/x-arcade-xbox-360-adapter/




i'm not using an x-arcade control panel.  i'm using an arcade cab (dynamo).  i've somehow gotta get the xbox controller to work with the buttons on my arcade control panel...hacking a controller is not an option for me.  i was told that using the adapters to run through my JAMMA would work.

[Donkbaca]

why was hacking the controllers not an option?  Its easy to do, if you didn't want to do it yourself, you should just buy one of haruman's hacks. 

[pudluther]

why was hacking the controllers not an option?  Its easy to do, if you didn't want to do it yourself, you should just buy one of haruman's hacks. 

didn't want to do it myself.  i prefer this option.  plug 'n play is always my first choice.

[Donkbaca]

why not just buy hacked pads from haruman?

[pudluther]

why not just buy hacked pads from haruman?

i didn't want hacked pads.  doing it this way, i can change the button setup any time i like...it takes about 2 minutes. 



so yes, i've figured out the answer to my question in the OP.  lol.

[HaRuMaN]

Just as an FYI, with my hacked pads, you can change button setup at any time, with nothing more than a small flathead screwdriver.

[Donkbaca]

good luck, the only problem with adapters is that they tend to introduce lag.  let us know how it turns out.

[pudluther]

good luck, the only problem with adapters is that they tend to introduce lag.  let us know how it turns out.

there's no lag at all.  i've heard that before though, so i must just be lucky...this is the second time i've done something with these types of controller adapters and there has never been any lag.  tested this one on MORTAL KOMBAT and NBA JAM....the inputs behaved flawlessly.

i will update the thread once i get it working fully......figured out the button mapping, just need to figure out how to make sure it saves. 

[pudluther]

Just as an FYI, with my hacked pads, you can change button setup at any time, with nothing more than a small flathead screwdriver.

cool. 

[emphatic]

You can remap the controls by using the Ultimarc remap tool for your J-Pac. There's no info about PS2 controls on their site though, so it's trial and error.

[pudluther]

You can remap the controls by using the Ultimarc remap tool for your J-Pac. There's no info about PS2 controls on their site though, so it's trial and error.

thanks.


yeah, that's what i've done.  i think i have a decent handle on how i want the controls mapped and i've got everything set up in the program right now....i'm having trouble getting it to save to the JPAC, but once i get that problem solved i'll be done with the controls.

[MTPPC]

Using the WinIPAC, you have to choose your ultimarc device under the options button, IIRC.

[pudluther]

Using the WinIPAC, you have to choose your ultimarc device under the options button, IIRC.

that's right. 


i've got the right device selected and everything, but i still keep getting a dang error message when i try to program the button configuration. 

it's getting annoying.  :/

[HaRuMaN]

You know what's not annoying?  Hacked 360 controllers...   

Sorry you're having issues.  Hopefully you find a solution.  Lots of people here with good ideas, maybe someone can help you out.

[Donkbaca]

Alternatively, you could have just got cheap xbox 360 joysticks, took apart the case, and crimped on spade connectors too.

[emphatic]

If you're running Windows7 or Vista you might have to run the program as admin with winxp compability checked.

[pudluther]

If you're running Windows7 or Vista you might have to run the program as admin with winxp compability checked.

yes, i'm running windows7.  i am running it as admin. 


.....but what do you mean by "with winxp compatibility checked"??

[P-chan]

If you're running Windows7 or Vista you might have to run the program as admin with winxp compability checked.

yes, i'm running windows7.  i am running it as admin. 


.....but what do you mean by "with winxp compatibility checked"??

If you right click on the .exe and go to properties, somewhere in there you can check a box to run it in XP compatibility mode.  Sometimes this helps if it's not running right.

[pudluther]

If you're running Windows7 or Vista you might have to run the program as admin with winxp compability checked.

yes, i'm running windows7.  i am running it as admin. 


.....but what do you mean by "with winxp compatibility checked"??

If you right click on the .exe and go to properties, somewhere in there you can check a box to run it in XP compatibility mode.  Sometimes this helps if it's not running right.

ok.  thanks. 


still not working...i'm thinking maybe i've got the JPAC hooked up to my PC incorrectly when i'm trying to program it...

[pudluther]

If you're running Windows7 or Vista you might have to run the program as admin with winxp compability checked.

yes, i'm running windows7.  i am running it as admin. 


.....but what do you mean by "with winxp compatibility checked"??

If you right click on the .exe and go to properties, somewhere in there you can check a box to run it in XP compatibility mode.  Sometimes this helps if it's not running right.

ok.  thanks. 


still not working...i'm thinking maybe i've got the JPAC hooked up to my PC incorrectly when i'm trying to program it...

ok...figured out that i WAS hooking it up to the PC incorrectly...i've now remedied that (it is hooked directly into my PC via a ps/2 keyboard cable to USB adapter), but i STILL can't get the dang thing to program. 

[pudluther]

picking up a ps/2 to USB adapter tomorrow...




this should remedy the problem and allow me to save the button configuration to the JPAC......finally. 

[Donkbaca]

Good luck, those things tend to work well for mice, but I could never get one to work with a keyboard input.

BTW - If you had hacked pads or a hori joystick, you would be gaming by now 

[pudluther]

.

BTW - If you had hacked pads or a hori joystick, you would be gaming by now 

yeah...i like being different.  it seems to really get under people's skin that i chose not to hack....that sort of unrest appeals to me.  lol.   

[Donkbaca]

So what is your problem exactly?  You configure the buttons, and it interfaces fine with the Xbox 360, then you turn it off and turn it on and you have to remap the buttons?

[opt2not]

yeah...i like being different.  it seems to really get under people's skin that i chose not to hack....that sort of unrest appeals to me.  lol.   

Nice attitude. And you were asking for help? 

[Donkbaca]

Why do you have remap buttons?  Why not just wire it so the right buttons match up to the right inputs?

[pudluther]

yeah...i like being different.  it seems to really get under people's skin that i chose not to hack....that sort of unrest appeals to me.  lol.   

Nice attitude. And you were asking for help? 

k.  smilies rule. 

[pudluther]

So what is your problem exactly?  You configure the buttons, and it interfaces fine with the Xbox 360, then you turn it off and turn it on and you have to remap the buttons?

no...right now the only problem is i cannot get the JPAC to actually program.  it keeps giving me an error message.  i've been in contact with andy over at ultimarc and he has helped me identify the problem.  apparently the JPAC is rather finicky when it comes to getting it to communicate with the PC....only a specific type of adapter will do the trick.  i suspect that once i get that adapter tomorrow, i will be able to program it with no problems.

Why do you have remap buttons?  Why not just wire it so the right buttons match up to the right inputs?

not all of the buttons are being used right now....the MAME pre-loaded button configuration just won't work.  so i've gotta remap the buttons the way i want them....i'm basing it off of a MORTAL KOMBAT layout and then going from there (high punch, block, high kick on top...low punch, throw, low kick on bottom.....or something to that effect).

[pudluther]

btw donk...i appreciate your help/suggestions/input.  also appreciate you not being a dick. 

[Donkbaca]

Ok, let me back up a second here.  So are you trying to use the same joystick and buttons to control the PC AND the 360 at the same time? Or are you just putting a 360 in a cab and are just going to use the 360?

[pudluther]

Ok, let me back up a second here.  So are you trying to use the same joystick and buttons to control the PC AND the 360 at the same time? Or are you just putting a 360 in a cab and are just going to use the 360?

yeah.....just putting a 360 in a cab and i'll be using the 360 as a multicade of sorts.  mainly playing the old arcade MK's, the new MK, MK vs. DC, NBA JAM, and any of the old arcade classics i can still find on LIVE....i know missile command, pac-man, mrs pac, dig dug, and quite a few others are on there now.  i don't really want anything that i can't download. 


the only reason the PC comes into play is because i need to program the buttons on my arcade panel (via the JPAC hooked to my laptop). 

[Donkbaca]

OKay, so why not just wire it differently?  For example if your late out is like this:

  A X Y RB
  B RT LB RB

and you want it to be:

  X Y RB RT
  A B LB LT

Why not just switch the wires around so you don't have to reprogram it?

[pudluther]

OKay, so why not just wire it differently?  For example if your late out is like this:

  A X Y RB
  B RT LB RB

and you want it to be:

  X Y RB RT
  A B LB LT

Why not just switch the wires around so you don't have to reprogram it?

i thought about that too.....but there are only, i think, 4 of the 6 (main) buttons that are programmed by default.  i think LB, RB, X, and Y are currently working....oh, and the start button is working too.  lol.  

but yeah, if they were all working and just out of order, i'd re-wire in 5 minutes and be done with it.  

[Donkbaca]

so how is this thing hooking up to the xbox 360?  by PS2 adapter, do you mean playstation 2? Or do you mean Ps/2 as in a Ps/2 keyboard or mouse input?

[pudluther]

so how is this thing hooking up to the xbox 360?  by PS2 adapter, do you mean playstation 2? Or do you mean Ps/2 as in a Ps/2 keyboard or mouse input?

there's a playstation to 360 adapter hooked into my actual 360 and a wired 360 controller is hooked into that adapter as well.  from there a playstation2 adapter is running in between that first adapter and the JPAC....the JPAC is hooked up via a ps/2 keyboard/mouse cable and then plugged into the JAMMA harness:









and no...even with all that, there's no lag. 

[MTPPC]

I don't think he has the PC and output of the j-pac all hooked up right. But it's really hard to help someone who knows it all already and can't even explain in pictures how the devices (j-pac in particular) are connected.

[opt2not]

He has a nice carpet though.

[pudluther]

I don't think he has the PC and output of the j-pac all hooked up right. But it's really hard to help someone who knows it all already and can't even explain in pictures how the devices (j-pac in particular) are connected.

what in god's holy name are you talking about? 


oh, wait.....you must be another one that's butthurt over me not hacking a GD controller.  color me bored to tears with that.  :/