Ipac 4 Default Keycode Problems

[xer0s]

I have a 4 player cabinet with 6 buttons on each player.  I noticed this problem when I was playing TMNT on Mame.  When I press buttons 5 & 6 for player 2, it moves player 3 up & down.  I realize 6 buttons aren't needed for TMNT and most other games, but it still shouldn't be doing this.  I went to a game that requires at least 5 buttons (MK3), and tested out button 5 on player 2 and it didn't work.

So I checked the default keycodes at http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html and found that input 2 SW 5 and 2 SW 6 are mapped with the same keys as 3 UP and 3 DOWN.  Does this not interfere with games that require 3 or 4 players and 5 or 6 buttons?

I have emulators for Atari, Nes, Snes, Sega, and of course Mame. 

What's the best way of going about this?

[blacketj]

Interesting.  Maybe this is set up this way because it is defaulted for MAME, and you should not have a reason to be using the 5&6 buttons when playing a game that has more than two players.

In any case, I would just use Ultimarc's software reprogram the controller.  Shouldn't take you too long to figure out, it is fairly straight forward with decent documentation.  You just need to find a couple more keys to use on the keyboard for player 3's up and down.  Then make the appropriate changes in the input settings of your emulators.

[xer0s]

Alright, but why does button 5 & 6 not work when I'm playing a two player only game?

[yotsuya]

By default, MAME doesn't map buttons 5 and 6 for player two.

[PL1]

There are actually two more overlapping keys -- both Player 2 Button 5-8 and Player 3 directional default keys use I, K, J, and L.

Pretty sure the overlap started with Andy choosing default buttons for the IPac2 which became accepted as pseudo-defaults.

Just reprogram the IPac to "deconflict" the overlaps.


Scott

[xer0s]

There are actually two more overlapping keys -- both Player 2 Button 5-8 and Player 3 directional default keys use I, K, J, and L.

Pretty sure the overlap started with Andy choosing default buttons for the IPac2 which became accepted as pseudo-defaults.

Just reprogram the IPac to "deconflict" the overlaps.


Scott

Ok, this is making more sense.  However, in that link you posted, RandyT said "It's all relative anyway, as MAME doesn't care.  It doesn't even look at the definitions for Player 3 unless Player 3 is actually playing."

If this is the case, why does my button 5 for player 2 not work when I'm only playing a two player game?

[yotsuya]

If this is the case, why does my button 5 for player 2 not work when I'm only playing a two player game?

By default, MAME doesn't map buttons 5 and 6 for player two.

[xer0s]

I understand that, but I have gone into Mame and mapped those two buttons to match the ipac default keycodes, and they still don't work...

[severdhed]

the truth of the matter is that the default keymap for the ipac sucks.  personally, i remap pretty much the entire thing using ultimarc's software.  i don't like to use the shift/alt/ctrl keys because they have a tendency if causing other windows related issues....just reprogram it and save yourself the headaches.

[PL1]

I understand that, but I have gone into Mame and mapped those two buttons to match the ipac default keycodes, and they still don't work...

So you used the WinIPac software to reprogram the IPac and changed the settings in MAME and it doesn't work?

When you open Notepad and press the P2 buttons and P3 joystick, does it type the desired keystrokes?

If the right keystrokes show up in Notepad, pull up the "Input (general)" menu -- verify the settings there are correct/change them as needed.

Next pull up the "Input (this Game)" menu in any game that you had previously changed settings -- verify the settings there are correct/change them as needed.


Scott

[xer0s]

I understand that, but I have gone into Mame and mapped those two buttons to match the ipac default keycodes, and they still don't work...

So you used the WinIPac software to reprogram the IPac and changed the settings in MAME and it doesn't work?

When you open Notepad and press the P2 buttons and P3 joystick, does it type the desired keystrokes?

If the right keystrokes show up in Notepad, pull up the "Input (general)" menu -- verify the settings there are correct/change them as needed.

Next pull up the "Input (this Game)" menu in any game that you had previously changed settings -- verify the settings there are correct/change them as needed.


Scott

No, I hadn't changed the key codes on the ipac 4.  I had only changed the Mame settings to match the ipac.  When I tried to change the ipac key codes, I'm having another problem:

When I click "Program" in the bottom right, it says "Driver Installed OK", but then it says "Could not load program, try reinstall and or reboot with the board connected."  I have tried all of this, and still no luck.  I am running the program as Administrator.  I'm also using a PS/2 to USB converter to connect to the PC.  I have "USB" selected under options (and I've tried it with PS/2 selected). 

Any ideas why I'm getting this error?

I have searches the forum, but found no solution.  And I've also emailed Andy with no response...

[yotsuya]

Connect a keyboard as well. I had a similar issue.

[xer0s]

It's a laptop.

But I can try it anyways!

[xer0s]

Alright, the only keyboard I have is PS/2, and the laptop doesn't have an input (which is why I'm using a converter for the ipac).  Is there any way around this without buying another converter?  Who knows if connecting a keyboard will even fix my problem?

[severdhed]

Are you using the ultimarc usb cable? Or a 3rd party ps2 to usb adapter?

I don't think it will work using a 3rd party adapter.

Try connecting the ps2 keyboard into the pass through port on the ipac.

 You may need to reprogram it on a different pc that you can connect it directly to.

[xer0s]

I'm using a 3rd party PS/2 to USB adapter.  I don't remember it coming with an ultimarc USB cable (it's been 8 years since I bought it).

I'll try the pass through port, then on a different computer if it doesn't work...

[yotsuya]

I think serverdhed's advice is sound.

[xer0s]

I went ahead and hooked it up to my old PC and programmed it.  Not really the best solution, but it got the job done. 

Thanks everyone...

[AndyWarne]

the truth of the matter is that the default keymap for the ipac sucks. 

We use the Mame default map. If we were to ship out boards with a different map to the Mame defaults, this would cause massive confusion for many users.

A third party PS/2 to USB converter cant be used with the I-PAC (or other PS/2 encoders) for the reasons explained on
www.ultimarc.com/ipacusb.html

[severdhed]

Didn't mean any disrespect Andy, the ipac is an awesome product. I understand why it is that way, but it is a bit confusing at first until you understand what it happening....not really your fault as much as it is whoever decided on that lame default mame config. I bought an ipac 4 for my new pedestal cab I'm building, I can't wait to install and use it. (I did reprogram it already)

[PL1]

We use the Mame default map.

The parts of the map that MAME defines work fine and make sense.

The curious (and slightly bothersome) part is with P2 buttons 5-8 which are currently undefined in MAME defaults.

When you released the IPac2, you chose to use I, J, K, and L for those buttons -- the MAME defaults for P3 joystick directions.

My guess is that one of these three is the reason:
1. The default keys for MAME changed after you released the IPac2.
2. There was a reason that we don't know for that choice.  (Can you tell us, please? )
3. You pulled those four keys out of thin air when you designed the IPac map.

Not asking you to change the maps -- just wondering if you could clarify how/why those keystrokes were chosen for P2 buttons 5-8.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide on this.   


Scott