Help with buttons!

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi all

I just completed wiring my cabinet to an Ipac VE.  I have 7 buttons on each side of the control panel.  I just wired the corresponding button to it's correct spot on the Ipac board.  My question is when I play games Player 1 and Player 2 have different buttons to press.  Do you think this is because I wired it wrong or is this normal.  If it's normal than what is the best way to make sure both player one and player 2 have the same buttons to press.  Forgive me if this is a real noob question!

Jason

[maffewl]

It may be that your button number system is different that what MAME is defaulted at.  Don't sweat it though, MAME is highly customizable.  Just press tab in a game - go to general input or something like that, should be the top selection (or if you just want to alter the buttons for a single game, then go to the next selection which is input this game or something to that effect) and re-map the buttons (see link below) to how you would like them to be.

http://mamedev.org/devwiki/index.php/FAQ:Controls#How_do_I_configure_the_keys.3F

[PL1]

If you don't want to go back and mess with tracing wires or rewiring the panel, you can reprogram the MAME defaults on the "Inputs (general)" menu.

1. Highlight the button/function you want to remap
2. Press enter
3. Press escape to clear that input
4. Press enter again
5. Press the button you want to associate with the function

NOTE: If you reprogram all your inputs using the "Input (this Game)" menu, you will have to repeat the whole process for every single game.

The "Input (this Game)" menu is good for individual games that you want to assign different buttons.  i.e. Xybots has a joystick that you twist to turn right/left -- set P1B1 as left turn, P1B2 as fire, P1B3 as right turn, etc to play it using a regular joystick.


Scott

[Evilpenguinj]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

The way I have my buttons is 3 buttons on top 3 buttons below with one button diagonally on the left hand side beside the bottom 3 buttons.  Is there a specific way I should set them up?

or should I just go
 
     135
     246
   7

Thanks again for all your help!

jason

[BadMouth]

     135
     246
   7

Put down the pipe.

My preference is:

  123
  456
7

The other common layout (no more or less correct):

  567
  234
1

Depends on if you instinctively put your fingers on the top or bottom row.
Whatever you do, you will still have to remap some individual games. (mostly fighting games)

[Unstupid]

I have 7 buttons on each side of the control panel.

Well thats your problem right there... you should put them on top of the control panel, not on the sides!   

J/K... I actually have nothing useful to contribute to this thread!

[paigeoliver]

I can't think of any titles that truly use 7 buttons that don't also require a wicked specific layout, so nothing is really ever mapped as button 7 on my rig.

I have a 7 button layout though and it is generally set up like this for most titles.

 123
 234
1

For 6 button titles I have it set up like this.

 123
 456
1

However I specifically set up lots of different titles.

I have lots of 2 button games set up like this.
 121
 212
1

For Galaga it is set up like this.
 111
 111
1

For Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe it is set up like this with 1 being fire, 2 being thrust and 3 being Hyperspace/Shield. I mapped all leftovers to hyperspace/shield because it is a button pressed very rarely and it is easy to hit the wrong thing on a 7 button panel in the split second between when you decide to use it and hit the button.
 213
 333
3

[Evilpenguinj]

OK guys I can't believe this but I got home tonight looked at my control panel and I have 6 buttons...RFOL!

So what is the recommended config?

Jason

[paigeoliver]

Six buttons.

For general use.

123
123

For 6 button fighters

123
456

For Neo Geo and other 4 button titles.

either

123
444

or
111
234

[Evilpenguinj]

Perfect thanks for the replies guys.   I currently have a happ 4-way joystick in my control panel.   I don't like the joystick very much.   The panel is routed for that joystick.   Are there any better 4-way joysticks that would fit in the same spot?

Thanks

Jason

[paigeoliver]

Happ makes several different 4 way joysticks, so you might want to be more specific, although most of them do have the same size base and same bolt pattern. The classic wico leaf switch 4-ways will fit that common pattern.

Perfect thanks for the replies guys.   I currently have a happ 4-way joystick in my control panel.   I don't like the joystick very much.   The panel is routed for that joystick.   Are there any better 4-way joysticks that would fit in the same spot?

Thanks

Jason

[Evilpenguinj]

I am embarrassed to say but I am not sure which one I have. Is there an easy way to tell? I think it may be a competition one but I am really not sure.

Jason

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[paigeoliver]

Ok, yeah those are horrible 4-ways. Try getting a Ms. Pac Reunion stick with the longer handle (for wood panels) from Bob Roberts, or see if you can track down a Wico Leaf 4-way, both will fit that bolt pattern and have the same size bases.

I am embarrassed to say but I am not sure which one I have. Is there an easy way to tell? I think it may be a competition one but I am really not sure.

Jason

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[Evilpenguinj]

Ok will do.   I am just not looking forward to reinstalling the new one.   I might be wrong but I think I would have to take off the plexiglass off the control panel to swap out the other joystick.  I might not be up for the work right now.   But thanks for the help.

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[paigeoliver]

Depends on how you installed it. You should be able to keep the same bolts, so that shouldn't be a factor even if they are under the plexi.

Ok will do.   I am just not looking forward to reinstalling the new one.   I might be wrong but I think I would have to take off the plexiglass off the control panel to swap out the other joystick.  I might not be up for the work right now.   But thanks for the help.

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[Evilpenguinj]

If I wanted to replace the 8-way competition joysticks what would be good replacements using the same hardware so I could just swap them out.

Jason

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[paigeoliver]

Happ super, Happ Perfect 360 and classic wico sticks will all fit the competition bolt pattern. So does the ultimate, but if you don't like the competition then you won't like the ultimate either.

If I wanted to replace the 8-way competition joysticks what would be good replacements using the same hardware so I could just swap them out.

Jason

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[Evilpenguinj]

It turns out after talking to Bob Roberts i have Happ ultimates.   I originally bought from him ages ago.   

Jason

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