| Main > Main Forum |
| Control Panel |
| (1/9) > >> |
| TheMadMechanic:
Hi All, Noob needs help.Trying to figure out my admin buttons on my CP for a barcade. There will be two separate control panels with a joystick and 6 buttons and a possible trackball & spinner. I am going to be using a keywiz eco (2004) which has 32 inputs. The Keywiz will be built into the barcade. Each CP will plug into the bottom of the barcade with printer cables. Here are the admin buttons "pause", "enter", "ESC", "tab", "P1", "P2", "COIN1", "COIN2". The "pause", "enter", "ESC"and "tab" button will be smaller than the regular Happ comp. buttons I will be using. So each CP will have 19 inputs and I only have 32 on the keywiz not including the trackball or spinner. --- perhaps I can hook the trackball and spinner to the other four buttons inputs when in a game using a spinner or trackball. Would it be an issue if someone accidentally hit on of the four buttons when using the trackball? - Do I really need the "tab" admin button? I don't really see myself using it. - Can I wire the "pause" to the P1 & P2 buttons and the"enter" to the coin1 & coin2 button? would this cause havoc with mame? Using mame 0.147 I was trying to incorporate light guns in my CP which would be hidden away but the cost is way to high, maybe in the future. All done with a 32 input encoder. My inspiration was Frostillicus and his rotating panel as well as Doc's modular panel. Now gotta read up on how a trackball works within mame. Thanks. |
| Vigo:
Hello! Well, you don't really need any "admin" buttons. For most everything, you can use key combos in MAME. My standard setup is just controls with a coin button and start button for each player. Instead of escape, I use a combo of Coin1 + start1. For pause, I use start + right on joystick, Menu tab is start + left on joystick. This is all soft mapping in MAME, no need for special wiring. when you set up the controls, just press the two buttons at once, it will detect it and map to both button presses. Of course, if you want an admin button, by all means go for it. I am guessing you are trying to clean up your control panel though. |
| shponglefan:
Be prepared for a lot of, um, diverse opinions on the subject. Nothing seems touchier than the subject of admin buttons. P1, P2, Coin, etc, I don't really consider admin buttons, but by all means you'll need 'em. For admin buttons, I've liked using Esc (Quit), Tab (menu), Enter, and Pause. More recently, I've been thinking of using a "reset" button with my CPs as well. I've also found I like having dual Pause buttons for 2+ player CPs as it's nice for people to have one within easy reach if they need to pause the game for whatever reason. You can also hide certain buttons out of the way so they don't necessarily clutter the main CP. Tab can be useful; although in MAME it's usually just to initially make any custom game settings afterwhich you won't need it so much. But I've found it useful in other contexts including other emulators (since it's used in many programs to cycle through options, onscreen buttons, etc. One thing re: quit & reset buttons is to make sure they are in a spot where they won't be accidentally pressed. Nothing is more frustrating than "oops I hit the wrong button" during a game and losing everything. |
| TheMadMechanic:
Both thanks for the quick response. --- Quote from: Vigo on May 01, 2013, 05:17:20 pm --- Well, you don't really need any "admin" buttons. For most everything, you can use key combos in MAME. My standard setup is just controls with a coin button and start button for each player. Instead of escape, I use a combo of Coin1 + start1. For pause, I use start + right on joystick, Menu tab is start + left on joystick. --- End quote --- Yes, I am trying to keep my CP clean. I will be hiding my "esc" and "tab" button (which will only be on one CP), the "pause" and "enter" will be visible for use on the CP. I'm trying not to use combs as I want to avoid putting instructions on the panel. I want ppl of all age to be able to use the cp without instructions..my young nieces and even my mom ;D Will def. keep your suggestion in mind and find a way to put subtle instruction on the CP, the more I think about it. --- Quote from: Vigo on May 01, 2013, 05:17:20 pm ---This is all soft mapping in MAME, no need for special wiring. when you set up the controls, just press the two buttons at once, it will detect it and map to both button presses. --- End quote --- So I am guessing I can map the "pause" to the P1 & P2 button? --- Quote from: shponglefan on May 01, 2013, 05:49:54 pm ---Be prepared for a lot of, um, diverse opinions on the subject. Nothing seems touchier than the subject of admin buttons. P1, P2, Coin, etc, I don't really consider admin buttons, but by all means you'll need 'em. For admin buttons, I've liked using Esc (Quit), Tab (menu), Enter, and Pause. More recently, I've been thinking of using a "reset" button with my CPs as well. I've also found I like having dual Pause buttons for 2+ player CPs as it's nice for people to have one within easy reach if they need to pause the game for whatever reason. You can also hide certain buttons out of the way so they don't necessarily clutter the main CP. Tab can be useful; although in MAME it's usually just to initially make any custom game settings after which you won't need it so much. But I've found it useful in other contexts including other emulators (since it's used in many programs to cycle through options, onscreen buttons, etc. One thing re: quit & reset buttons is to make sure they are in a spot where they won't be accidentally pressed. Nothing is more frustrating than "oops I hit the wrong button" during a game and losing everything. --- End quote --- I always hated the fact when you are on the x box only the person with controller 1 gets to make all the choices :badmood: this way both players get the option. I also want to include a spinner and trackball on my CP, I have read the forums on the whole trackball vs spinner debate. I will probably go with a trackball and leave the option to add a spinner at a later date. If a trackball works like a mouse where do the two mouse buttons get mapped too? any of the other player buttons on the cp? |
| PL1:
--- Quote from: TheMadMechanic on May 01, 2013, 05:09:31 pm ---There will be two separate control panels with a joystick and 6 buttons and a possible trackball & spinner. I am going to be using a keywiz eco (2004) which has 32 inputs. . . . So each CP will have 19 inputs and I only have 32 on the keywiz not including the trackball or spinner. --- perhaps I can hook the trackball and spinner to the other four buttons inputs when in a game using a spinner or trackball. --- End quote --- The trackball and/or spinner will require an optical encoder. You can't use regular keyboard/gamepad encoders for them. --- Quote from: TheMadMechanic on May 01, 2013, 05:09:31 pm ---- Do I really need the "tab" admin button? I don't really see myself using it. --- End quote --- You'll definitely use it during setup, but unless you fiddle with settings regularly, it may not see much action. If you have kids or drunk friends that will be playing on your cab, you may want to hide it well so you they don't mess up the settings too bad. ::) --- Quote from: TheMadMechanic on May 01, 2013, 05:09:31 pm ---- Can I wire the "pause" to the P1 & P2 buttons and the"enter" to the coin1 & coin2 button? would this cause havoc with mame? Using mame 0.147 --- End quote --- If you have the extra inputs, why not use dedicated buttons? If you run other emulators besides MAME, a dedicated button will be easier to map/configure than a combo. Scott |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |