Anyone have experience using the Wolfware Tech Howler?

[Jakobud]

It says it supports up to 4 joysticks and 26 buttons. According to their website that's enough for a 4 player cabinet with up to 4 buttons per player (plus some coin and start buttons and a few maintenance buttons). But what about the fact that for Player 1 and 2 you might want 6 or 7 buttons for each of those players?

So it is just me or does it not support enough buttons? Or am I missing something?

[SavannahLion]

Something to consider. One such thread.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,144691.0.html

[aldub516]

It states it's capability and I would say a purchase would be based on your needs. If it states it's good enough for 4 players with 4 buttons each, then it would be unfair to say "it doesn't support enough buttons". That's probably the case but it seems geared towards a 4 player setup and most games didn't use more than 4 buttons.  It's lackluster, but it is what it says it is. If you'd want more buttons I'd go with something suited for it.

With that being said.. 4x4=16
 That leaves you ten open buttons for start/maintenance. U have enough for p1 and p2 start, coin, enter exit, and can still add 2 buttons to player 1 and 2. Am I missing something?

[pbj]

You'd have to hate your own money to buy a Howler.  Don't do it, bro.

[SavannahLion]

Aldub

Your math might be a little off. Still need a p3 and p4 start and some games require individual coinups for each player.

[WakiMiko]

4 * start  + 2 * 6 buttons (1/2p) + 2 * 4 buttons (3/4p) = 24 buttons with 2 to spare.

As far as I know the Howler has a shift function so coin buttons aren't strictly required.

[Jakobud]

4 * start  + 2 * 6 buttons (1/2p) + 2 * 4 buttons (3/4p) = 24 buttons with 2 to spare.

As far as I know the Howler has a shift function so coin buttons aren't strictly required.

Yeah thats the math I was seeing to. I don't want to mess with Shift buttons. Explaining to friends and visitors how the shift buttons work is a royal pain. Easier to just say "push this coin button"

[Malenko]

4 * start  + 2 * 6 buttons (1/2p) + 2 * 4 buttons (3/4p) = 24 buttons with 2 to spare.

As far as I know the Howler has a shift function so coin buttons aren't strictly required.

Yeah thats the math I was seeing to. I don't want to mess with Shift buttons. Explaining to friends and visitors how the shift buttons work is a royal pain. Easier to just say "push this coin button"

and for some of the games like TMNT, each player has to have their own coin button which puts you 2 short if you dont shift.  All that being said, you are better off with an IPAC4.  I used a KeyWiz40 on my 4 player cab, but the outer 2 players only had 3 buttons each and I shifted the coin inputs.  If you want, I'll send it to you free Jako, Im replacing it with an IPAC4 because Im adding a button to each outter player for some DnD action

you can see the wiring and button layout/count here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,140777.msg1458296.html#msg1458296

You can double wire buttons so that any unused button (like the top row of the middle 2 players on my cab) is also wired to a coin up button for the outter players, or you can buy "shazzam!" button wiring that let you have shifted keys wired to their own button.

[WakiMiko]

All that being said, you are better off with an IPAC4.

That or an IPAC Ultimate I/O if you want LED support.

[matsadona]

Or why not set the games on Free play, rendering the Coin buttons useless 
And I have some machines back home where the Player (1,2,...) start buttons doubles as coin input - even more user friendly for your "not used to MAME machine buttons" friends.
Push the start button twice and then you are in the game. Pretty convenient actually (most of the time).

Anyway, was the OP about the Howler being a solid hardware or just if it has enough number of inputs?

[HaRuMaN]

Or why not set the games on Free play, rendering the Coin buttons useless 
And I have some machines back home where the Player (1,2,...) start buttons doubles as coin input - even more user friendly for your "not used to MAME machine buttons" friends.
Push the start button twice and then you are in the game. Pretty convenient actually (most of the time).

Anyway, was the OP about the Howler being a solid hardware or just if it has enough number of inputs?

It could have a million inputs.  Doesn't matter if it doesn't work. 

[ChanceKJ]

[yotsuya]

It's a damn shame to see so much Alberta-on-Alberta crime going on.

[ChanceKJ]

It's a damn shame to see so much Alberta-on-Alberta crime going on.

Yeah, Probably the fault of the NDP, somehow...

[Jakobud]

Or why not set the games on Free play, rendering the Coin buttons useless 

Is there an easy way to set ALL mame games to Free Play? I've never seen a way to do that without individually going into the settings for each game and turning on free play. Also, do all old games even have free play?

Anyway, was the OP about the Howler being a solid hardware or just if it has enough number of inputs?

Just asking about the # of inputs.

[SavannahLion]

Would make for an interesting script.

[WakiMiko]

Is there an easy way to set ALL mame games to Free Play? I've never seen a way to do that without individually going into the settings for each game and turning on free play. Also, do all old games even have free play?

Doubt it. Some games dont even support free play.

[Malenko]

here is how this conversation goes in terms of free play.

someone asks if you can set all games to freeplay in mame
debate ensues about if you can
eventually its realized they cant and alternatives are discussed
someone (usually me) suggests mapping the coin button input to the start button input so you can just hit start a couple times to coin up and play
PL1 says that you cant play 5 ship Omega Race that way so its a stupid useless solution
people tend to find a way to use coin buttons or shifted keys so they can play omega race
no one ever actually plays omega race

or something like that.


Jake, I PM'ed ya back. Offer stands, I'll send you the GGG encoder and pay shipping, just send me your address.

[matsadona]

And then you have games that can't be set in Free play in real life either (not just MAME) like After Burner II so you need an extra button mapped to Service 

[yotsuya]

To be honest, I'm very surprised that Josh hasn't come on here to talk about his product. The only interaction I ever remember was him flipping out about Ultimarc.

[Jakobud]

I was honestly surprised not to find a bunch of other threads about the Howler on the forums. This thread has by far the most information on any thread about it that I could find (unless I'm maybe terrible at searching?).

I was just searching randomly for IPAC and KeyWiz alternatives and happened randomly across it. I would have never happened upon it otherwise. More competition in the market is always a good thing and it looks like a really solid product. I just wasn't sure about the # of keys for a 4 player CP that also needs to serve as a full 2 player CP.

[Jakobud]

And then you have games that can't be set in Free play in real life either (not just MAME) like After Burner II so you need an extra button mapped to Service 

Yeah I figure there are several games even in Mame that don't even have free play available at all.

[SavannahLion]

I was honestly surprised not to find a bunch of other threads about the Howler on the forums. This thread has by far the most information on any thread about it that I could find (unless I'm maybe terrible at searching?).

I was just searching randomly for IPAC and KeyWiz alternatives and happened randomly across it. I would have never happened upon it otherwise. More competition in the market is always a good thing and it looks like a really solid product. I just wasn't sure about the # of keys for a 4 player CP that also needs to serve as a full 2 player CP.

That's a rather puzzling statement, there are at least two others, one I already linked to (and the other is linked within that thread). At least one of those threads has a talk about capabilities.

I can't vouch for anyone else but I choose not to get into too many discussions about Howler because of Josh's failures to abide by his promises, namely the OSHW mark. It doesn't help that Josh rarely frequents the forums and when he does, gets into a fit. It is virtually impossible to offer assistance on the product because he is behind on his source code and his schematics are awful. I'd rather read the hand drawn papers from the 70's than figure his crap out. His unfounded accusations against Ultimarc "stealing" his ideas is ridiculous. I've had my Starfish project idea in one form or another for at least four years and I most certainly did not take it from Josh.

I have no problems offering what I know about or helping when I can on OS things but Josh is effectively forcing the community out. I see absolutely no reason to offer help with his software or recommend his product to anyone. Thus I try to avoid talking about what Howler is capable of.

[Saneless]

Am I the only one who dislikes free play because I want to see how much money I would have spent in NBA jam and Smash TV?

[matsadona]

And then you have games that can't be set in Free play in real life either (not just MAME) like After Burner II so you need an extra button mapped to Service 

Yeah I figure there are several games even in Mame that don't even have free play available at all.

The odd thing with After Burner is that you have DIP switch options for free play, the on screen message says free play, but you can't start the game. It annoys me a lot, having it next to an Outrun cabinet with a nice flashing start button calling for players attention...

[PL1]

here is how this conversation goes in terms of free play.

someone asks if you can set all games to freeplay in mame
debate ensues about if you can
eventually its realized they cant and alternatives are discussed
someone (usually me) suggests mapping the coin button input to the start button input so you can just hit start a couple times to coin up and play
PL1 says that you cant play 5 ship Omega Race that way so its a stupid useless solution
people tend to find a way to use coin buttons or shifted keys so they can play omega race
no one ever actually plays omega race

or something like that.

That's an . . . interesting . . . recollection of this thread.   

Bottom line: Always check the desired gamelist to see if there are any games that will not work with whatever approach you decide to use on a build.   

Scott

[Malenko]

That's an . . . interesting . . . recollection of this thread.   

Scott

Just beating you to the punch of bringing up Omega Race in a freeplay thread. World doesn't revolve around you, and what I posted wasn't just about the thread you linked but 15 years of reading "free play in MAME?" threads. You wouldn't know that because you havent even been around here that long. Go make yourself somewhat useful and go delete some spam or something. 

#NoMorePL1Mod2015

[flippn]

I bought to howler boards and ran 40 buttons just to do it. It was a breeze. 4 player 7 button start, coin. Mouse buttons, save and load..... i like the howler boards. The built in tilt ia nice as well. But i can also say I have not tries the ipac with a wiz or anything to see how in like it.  Only ran the ipac 4 by itself