MAME & 4-way / 8 way controls

[welshjpc]

Right, this may be me thinking a bit out of the ordinary here but....

thanks to ROMLister you can now choose specific games depending on their control type (4/8 way)

Is there any way some MAME coding type god could therefore configure the inputs for a game determined by its original control type?

If possible, everyone could just set their joysticks to 8 way, in the instance of a 4 way game, MAME would only take the input from the first microswitch to make contact, ignoring the second until both were released.

I'm sure that some purists would not like this idea but if you p155 off 15% of the population you still have the backing of 85% don't you?

Maybe I'm just living in the land of dreams..... but it would save so much hassle woudn't it? Don't suppose it would help Ultimarc's funky servostik either....

Please MAME coding gurus...... can you do this?

Whoever reads this and thinks it's a good idea please say so, I'd like to see this become reality. Thanks!

[DaveMMR]

Don't suppose it would help Ultimarc's funky servostik either....

The servostick is for on-the-fly hardware restriction, which some people prefer. You're describing software restriction, which currently exists in various forms within MAME and plug-ins when using an analog or 49-way.

With what you're describing, I assume you have to center joystick before changing direction (which I imagine would mimic a "cross" restrictor as opposed to a "diamond") lest you trigger UP-LEFT on your way to LEFT from UP, correct? In that case, you would continue to move UP until you release left because there was never a "release" of the switches. It's good thinking but it seems like it would lead to some frustrating non-responsiveness in the heat of a game.

[brad808]

I remember last time this question was asked (its been a couple times) randyt chimed in and gave a pretty good explanation as to why it wouldn't work. I don't remember all the details but it made sense when I was reading it  . I think the short of it is that no it doesn't work in practice.

[PL1]

I remember last time this question was asked (its been a couple times) randyt chimed in and gave a pretty good explanation as to why it wouldn't work. I don't remember all the details but it made sense when I was reading it  . I think the short of it is that no it doesn't work in practice.

You recall correctly, Brad.

One recent thread is here.

The problem is that it is impossible for software to determine the intention of the player during diagonals.

If you were pushing up on the stick and then hit a down/right diagonal, which direction did you actually mean to go?


Scott

[Cynicaster]

Not this again.