First Venture Into Driving Controls

[wcndave]

Hi, I'd like to add a new control panel to my upright cab.  It has interchangeable panel tops, with the main controls (mouse, exist, coin, p1/p2 etc) on the main cab as opposed to the CP.

My kids typically play things like outrun (there seem to be a raft of games with hi/lo gears that look like they would use similar controls), and bad lands and other games that require 360 wheels.

My initial thoughts are to get three Spintrak controls and the 6" wheels that fit on top, and use that for a panel for badlands and those type of games - anyone got any thoughts on that.

Then for outrun type games. I could get a £140 270 deg steering wheel, however I have a virtual pilot pro Yoke.  I thought perhaps I could use this, however it's a serial port, and when I connect to windows 7, using a gameport serial to USB adapter, it doesn't seem to be recognised.  Given I'd need gear shift and 3 pedals too, saving on this wheel would be great, anyone have any experience modding a serial port analog yoke into a steering wheel?

I'm looking forward to the next step on my cab adventures, hope you guys and girls can help me!

Thanks

Dave

[wcndave]

Well, I managed to get my yoke to be recognised as a joystick, which means it works as a steering wheel now.

Two things I noticed, one was it's a bit sensitive, and turning down paddle sensitivity didn't seem to have any effect.  I don't really want to turn down the mouse sensitivity, as this would affect games like golf.

I also noticed that many of the buttons and hats are mapped to multiple buttons, so button 5 comes up as joy button 1+3, is there some way to map this to a unique character before it's sent to Mame?

Thanks

Dave

[wcndave]

Curious Problem, seems that one can't press more than one button at once.  ie have have to release accelerate for gear change and also for any kind of fire button.

Any thoughts as to why simultaneous button presses are not allowed?

[Malenko]

might be an issue with the serial to USB, Im all about repurposing old equipment, but sometimes you need to bite the bullet and get something new(er)

snatch up a logitech wheel , their software is great.

[BadMouth]

Well, I managed to get my yoke to be recognised as a joystick, which means it works as a steering wheel now.

Two things I noticed, one was it's a bit sensitive, and turning down paddle sensitivity didn't seem to have any effect.  I don't really want to turn down the mouse sensitivity, as this would affect games like golf.

See the MAME section of the stickied driving cab info thread.

[wcndave]

so I bit that bullet, and got a G27, I did some searches for how to set this up for mame, however didn't turn anything up, just people asking how to set it up... anyone know of a good thread on this?

[BadMouth]

so I bit that bullet, and got a G27, I did some searches for how to set this up for mame, however didn't turn anything up, just people asking how to set it up... anyone know of a good thread on this?

See the MAME section of the stickied driving cab info thread.  Pay close attention to the part about the ini settings and mapping the controls.
Create a Logitech profiler profile for MAME with the rotation limited to 270 degrees and centering spring enabled.

Launch each game, map controls in MAME's in game menu, and then tweak the sensitivity setting until it feels right to you.
Nobody has compiled a list of their sensitivity settings, but there is some general guidance in the stickied thread.

The shifter in Hard Drivin and Ridge Racer (if your puter is fast enough to run it) require some tricks to map them.
Search and ye shall find.  It's on the MAME website somewhere.

[wcndave]

Thanks.  I will admit I've not read the stickied yet... quite long, however I did just play around.  In Chase HQ I found that I got no response until the wheel was turned almost 90 deg.  any clue what the difference is between digital speed and digital sensitivity under the analogue controls?

I got it sort of ok in Cruisin, I often find pressing the pedal to select that control doesn't work, and a few games needed them reversing.

I'll try to read the thread first though, thanks for your help!