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I need some advice before buying parts
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jaharr01:
The racing games I was talking about we're not in mame actually it's daytonausa. And a few others. I have a spinner but it won't work in Daytona USA and a few console racing games. I'm not that concerned with that really. I believe that some interfaces emulate game controllers and some emulate keys is there a difference? Also the buttons I was talking about was to have one specific that exits the emulator and one that exits the front end ( hidden) or I could do a key combination. Is there not a pause in mame? My current arcade doesn't have a coin slot or a lighted marquee. But I see what u mean. My biggest concern was getting the right interface to attach LEDs coin slot and etc.
PL1:

--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 14, 2014, 11:15:17 pm ---I believe that some interfaces emulate game controllers and some emulate keys is there a difference?

--- End quote ---
One outputs gamepad button presses, the other sends keystrokes. :duckhunt

Some emulators require specific keystrokes, but most can handle either type of encoder.

IMHO this is part of why you should figure out which emulators you plan on running and install/configure them before you order parts/drill holes in the control panel.


--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 14, 2014, 11:15:17 pm ---Also the buttons I was talking about was to have one specific that exits the emulator and one that exits the front end ( hidden) or I could do a key combination.

--- End quote ---
If the computer is going to be in a dedicated gaming cab, you probably won't need to exit the front end. (you may want a system shutdown button, though)

If you're using the computer for something else such as surfing the web, kids doing homework on it, etc. then a button to exit the front end might make sense.

As with the previous point, install and configure your emulators/front end so you know what controls you want/need to make the software behave the way you want it to.

On the subject of using key combos, I thought you wanted to keep it simple for the kids.   ;D


--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 14, 2014, 11:15:17 pm ---Is there not a pause in mame?

--- End quote ---
Yes, there is a pause function in MAME.

I was asking if you wanted a button marked "pause" on the control panel. (since you didn't mention it in your OP, but it is a popular choice)


Scott
jaharr01:
The info from the link to a wiki was very helpful.I guess I should have been clearer though on what i'm building. It is a dedicated game cabinet.I think i'll use the  six buttons for each player joystick x2 and 1P and 2P. Probably a pause button, an exit emulator button, a shut down, or sleep button. The frontend I have configured is maximus arcade, the emulators are: Mame,model 2, NES,SNES, N64, Atari 2600, and sega genesis. One question I do have is what is difference between a regular 4 or 8 way joystick and a Leaf-Pro™ True Leaf-Switch Joystick? My other ones were plain 4 way joysticks. are the true leaf ones better, or do they have better control? Is there one that you all recommend? Would either of these interfaces be ok? Is one better than the other?
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=303

http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html
PL1:

--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 16, 2014, 09:13:52 am ---One question I do have is what is difference between a regular 4 or 8 way joystick and a Leaf-Pro™ True Leaf-Switch Joystick?

--- End quote ---
There are a some good reviews on those sticks that you should look up.   ;D

In general, leaf switches can be "tuned" for engage distance, require a shorter reset distance (how far you have to back off to open the connection after closing it) than microswitches, and are more likely to need adjustment than microswitches.


--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 16, 2014, 09:13:52 am ---My other ones were plain 4 way joysticks

--- End quote ---
Are you sure about that?

4-way and 8-way sticks both have 4 switches. (leaf or micro)

4-way can only hit Up, Down, Left, or Right at one time, but 8-way can hit diagonals. (U+R, etc.)


--- Quote from: jaharr01 on February 16, 2014, 09:13:52 am ---Would either of these interfaces be ok? Is one better than the other?
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=303

http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html

--- End quote ---
KeyWiz and IPac are both fine products.

Here are three considerations that may influence your decision.

1. KeyWiz is a PS/2 device. As long as your computer has a PS/2 keyboard jack, not a problem.

2. KeyWiz doesn't retain custom keymaps when the system powers down.

IIRC some people have had issues with the provided software autoloading their custom keymap on bootup.

If your setup with the emulators you mentioned above can be configured to work with KeyWiz default keys, no problem.

3. KeyWiz uses the Shazaaam! input to access shifted functions.   IPac uses the P1 Start input to access shifted functions.

People are less likely to accidently trigger shifted functions with the KeyWiz than with the IPac.

I know it's a rare possibility, but people have posted about party guests ending up in the menu system (IIRC the changed settings took weeks to find/fix) or accidently triggering a game exit when P1 and P2 both hit their start buttons at the same time during a boss fight near the end of the game.   :angry:

If you don't want shifted functions with the KeyWiz, leave Shazaaam! disconnected.

If you don't want shifted functions with the IPac, program the board with the shifted settings left blank.


Scott
jaharr01:
Thanks that helped i'll go with the IPAC2.Still not sure about which type joysticks to get everything else is good
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