2.25" Led Trackball - Led Buttons - No. of Buttons?

[maffewl]

Hey everyone, just started the build on my MAME cabinet this past weekend.  Got the sides cut out and some of the interior bracing and can't wait to get back to work on it. 

Anyhow, months ago I bought all the buttons, trackball, ipac, etc... but I am not the brightest when it comes to wiring and software, wondering if I could get some help.

1.  How many buttons do I need to have on my control panel?  Mostly want to play the 90s fighter games but what admin. buttons are needed?  Right now I have a joystick with six buttons per player, 2 player start buttons, 2 player credit buttons, a start game button, an end game button.  What else is common?  I will allow access to  a keyboard for anything that may require it.

2.  I purchased this trackball.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/2-1-4-ps2-led-illuminating-pc-mame-arcade-trackball-led-trackball.html
It says it changed colors when connected to buttons?  Do I need to connect it to buttons, or should I, and if so which ones?

3.  I purchased these LED buttons.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/led-illuminating-pushbutton-with-microswitch-blue-led-button-blue.html and this 15A power supply.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/15a-arcade-switching-power-supply-with-digital-display-110w-pwr-p032.html  Do I need to connect the buttons to this supply or is there a way to connect the LED lights to the computer and the power supply is useless for MAME?

Sorry if these are complete noob questions, I have googled this stuff for hours trying to figure more out and figured this forum would be the best help.

Thanks in advance!

[BobA]

Hey everyone, just started the build on my MAME cabinet this past weekend.  Got the sides cut out and some of the interior bracing and can't wait to get back to work on it. 

Anyhow, months ago I bought all the buttons, trackball, ipac, etc... but I am not the brightest when it comes to wiring and software, wondering if I could get some help.

1.  How many buttons do I need to have on my control panel?  Mostly want to play the 90s fighter games but what admin. buttons are needed?  Right now I have a joystick with six buttons per player, 2 player start buttons, 2 player credit buttons, a start game button, an end game button.  What else is common?  I will allow access to  a keyboard for anything that may require it.

2.  I purchased this trackball.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/2-1-4-ps2-led-illuminating-pc-mame-arcade-trackball-led-trackball.html
It says it changed colors when connected to buttons?  Do I need to connect it to buttons, or should I, and if so which ones?

3.  I purchased these LED buttons.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/led-illuminating-pushbutton-with-microswitch-blue-led-button-blue.html and this 15A power supply.  http://www.jammaboards.com/store/15a-arcade-switching-power-supply-with-digital-display-110w-pwr-p032.html  Do I need to connect the buttons to this supply or is there a way to connect the LED lights to the computer and the power supply is useless for MAME?

Sorry if these are complete noob questions, I have googled this stuff for hours trying to figure more out and figured this forum would be the best help.

Thanks in advance!

1 - I cannot tell you what buttons you need.  This is entirely the users choice and dependent on whether single function only or shifted buttons will be used.   The number of player buttons is dependent on the games you want to play.

2 - The trackball has leads to connect 3 buttons.   These function as Left Right and Center mouse buttons and when pushed cause the track ball to glow red.

3 - The LED buttons do not need the separate PS.  They can be connected to the yellow +12V and Black GND wires on a PC power supply.  Usually done at the molex 4 pin connector that powers drives.

[maffewl]

Thanks for the reply BobA. 

I guess my main question for No.1 is what buttons are typically used by the MAME software?  Also, what do you mean by single function or shift function?  I understand that in reference to a keyboard but can you give me an in game reference for better understanding?

Also, with regards to the trackball, do games usually use the 3 mouse buttons?  Or is this for admin. purposes?  I want to play golf/bowling games, but didn't know if these buttons would be needed, or if I need all 3.

1 more thing, I tested out the joystick and 6 buttons last night on Mortal Kombat II just to practice wiring.  I noticed that one of the block buttons would perform the action then release  even if I held the button down (the player released the blocking position even if the button was held down).  The other worked just fine, when I held it, the player stayed in a blocking position.  Is this a setting thing or a faulty switch or...?

Thanks again!

[BobA]

I typically use Player 1 and Player 2 and Coin 1 and 2 as well as enter and esc to control MAME.  I do not let users have access to tab or many of the other comand buttons.  Your player 1 and 2 can have 6 or 7 player buttons for game play.   Shifted buttons allow your normal CP buttons to be used for other functions.  This is a function of the controller that you are using.   I do not think that you specified what controller you are using to interface your buttons.

The left and right mouse buttons are the most often used. You can setup mame to use mouse buttons or regular player buttons depending on your need. In many cases the mouse buttons on a trackball are used to navigate the menus to setup MAME or operate windows.  Your button action for MK sounds a bit off but I cannot guess what is happening until you specify what controller you are using.   For example the Ipac uses the 1 key as a shift key so it does not send the action until it is released because the controller is waiting to see if another key is going to be pressed in conjunction with the 1 key.

 

[maffewl]

I have the Ipac for my controller interface.  Currently I have the "High Punch" button set as SW1, would that be the shift switch you are referring to?

Also, I re-mapped button 5 "Block" to be the same as button 2 "Block" and now it is working, so I guess it was more of a MK didn't recognize 2 block buttons at first.

I think having 2 mouse buttons as you mentioned would be a good idea too, thanks again!

[PL1]

When BobA says "1" he is referring to the default keystroke for Player 1 Start input which doubles as a shift function on the I-Pac.

Player 1 SW1 is L-Ctrl.

The full list of default keycodes and shift functions are at http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html.


Scott

[maffewl]

Thanks BobA and PL1... that helps a ton!