IPac and Raspberry Pi question

[mvolke1]

I'm planning on using an iAc with my Pi. I'm thinking it'll be plug and play since it's set to MaME default controls. Has anyone ever done this? If so did you have to do any programming? Thanks

[nitrogen_widget]

I would try the piplay and retro pi forums along with the raspberrypi forum itself.

[spoot]

Haven't tried it myself, but since the ipac is more or less a usb keyboard in this case I'd be surprised if it didn't work.

[mvolke1]

According to this post, it works fine: http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/

I have an iPac 4, which I am reusing from a previous project I scrapped.

[Locke141]

According to this post, it works fine: http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/

I have an iPac 4, which I am reusing from a previous project I scrapped.

You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.   

[nitrogen_widget]

there was an issue with emulationstation 2 and the GPIO app.
Something to do with sdl2.
there is also a fix I believe.

I haven't gotten to this point yet (just got my gpio breakout adapter & breadboard) but i'm also using advanced menu so I shouldn't have these problems.

[mvolke1]

Testing the ipac and it wwill dis great with MAME. However it doesn't sent work for consoles since the iPac uses the default buttons for MAME. Shouldn't be too bad to change them.

[Grasshopper]

You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.

[yotsuya]

You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.

Based on my experience, at that pricepoint I'd rather buy a MinimusAVR from xconsoles.com and load the KADE firmware on it. I used one of those from eBay a few years ago to build a bartop for my nephews, but I just got it back from them because the controls are unreliable. Gonna switch it out with a Minimus I got last week - haven't had ANY issues with those.

[mvolke1]

For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.

[yotsuya]

For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.

Completely agree - but if you want to spend $10-$15, a Minimus is the way to go.

[sharpfork]

I'm setting up my first raspi emulation brain and no way do I want to use any processor cycles checking gpio pins.  I hear the zero delay's are fine in most cases.  Minimus + KADE software is a super cheap way to go too.  You can program it as keyboard or HID joystick.

[AndyWarne]

We have many customers using I-PACs with the Pi and no reported issues.

[Locke141]

For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.

Completely agree - but if you want to spend $10-$15, a Minimus is the way to go.

 I-pac 4 run for $65 before shipping. Your bar top build is nice enough to justify the price of the I-pac. If I went that rout I would have gotten one of the cheeper models. 

[Locke141]

You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.

I have one but from a different vender. It seems to work fine on a little test rig I built. Plans are in the works to use it in a stick build.

If I didn't already have one I'd be taking yotsuya advice as he definitely knows better then I.

I'm setting up my first raspi emulation brain and no way do I want to use any processor cycles checking gpio pins.  I hear the zero delay's are fine in most cases.  Minimus + KADE software is a super cheap way to go too.  You can program it as keyboard or HID joystick.

True,
 That never crossed my mind.