2 coin mechs for 4 player setup

[Hooch]

Here is my small dillema and a few possible solutions.  Let me know what you think.  I'm building a 4 player cabinet, but I'm only going to put in a 2 player coin mechanism.  Obviously this could cause problems with players 3 and 4 (unless ofcourse I just add a button for credits, but I'm going for as much of an authentic feel as possible)  I don't plan on charging people, but I do plan on having a jar of quarters that people will have to use to play.  Here are the possible solutions

First solution is to throw both player 1&4 to coin mech 1 and 2&3 to coin mech 2.  Ofcourse then you have problems with games that will automatically throw players in the game who have credits even if they don't press start (like X-MEN).  Now that I think this through as I write it down I find more problems here than solutions.

Second solution.  Add a shift button to the control panel and hold it in while inserting quarters for player 3 or player 4.  This is the only solution that seems like it will work to me.

Am I such a newbie that I'm really missing something here, or is this a legit problem?

[DaveMMR]

I dunno - I'd just pick up a four entry coin door.

[rsoandrew]

I think the shift key or 4 coin door is your best bet.

If you really wanted to you could use a toggle switch to change the coin slot from player 1 to player 3 but that isn't any more authentic than the shift key.

I would just hide some buttons discretely to add credits. On my cab I used full size arcade buttons mounted to the underside CP. You still feel like you

[NoOne=NBA=]

The problem you would run into with the "shift key" solution is that your encoder will read ALL keypresses as shifted during the time that the shift key is down.

Unless you map ALL the other buttons to the same function shifted, as unshifted, you are going to have people that can't move while you're coining up, or people inputting function codes, etc... while you are coining up.

I think your best bet to remain at least reasonably authentic would be to wire the reject buttons on the 2-P coin door to function as Coin3 and Coin4.

[Hooch]

The problem you would run into with the "shift key" solution is that your encoder will read ALL keypresses as shifted during the time that the shift key is down.

I hadn't thought about that.  I'm glad you mentioned this before I wired up.  This would definitely be a problem.

I think your best bet to remain at least reasonably authentic would be to wire the reject buttons on the 2-P coin door to function as Coin3 and Coin4.

I've thought about this also.  This will probably be the way I go.  I doubt players 3 and 4 will get much use anyway, except for times when I have a group of people over at once.

My problem was that I purchased a 2 coin over/under before I realized the dilemma it would cause.

[DaveMMR]

The problem you would run into with the "shift key" solution is that your encoder will read ALL keypresses as shifted during the time that the shift key is down.

I hadn't thought about that.  I'm glad you mentioned this before I wired up.  This would definitely be a problem.

I think your best bet to remain at least reasonably authentic would be to wire the reject buttons on the 2-P coin door to function as Coin3 and Coin4.

I've thought about this also.  This will probably be the way I go.  I doubt players 3 and 4 will get much use anyway, except for times when I have a group of people over at once.

My problem was that I purchased a 2 coin over/under before I realized the dilemma it would cause.

Oh sorry, didn't know you already purchased the coin door.  I reread the posts and it seemed like I was being sarcastic (though I wasn't).

Of course you could pick up a second 2 coin over/under door (though I'm not sure of your measurements so I don't know if it'll fit).  But as a secondary measure, wiring up the rejects is a pretty good solution as well.

[Hooch]

I didn't take offense.  You didn't sound rude.  At this point in the process I'm starting to become more budget conscious or else I would just purchase another coin mech.  There are a few unnecessary things I will probably put off until after the cab is finished and I have saved up some more cash, this being one of them.

[Tilzs]

You have 3 options.

1). 4 player coin mech. Although it adds to the arcade feel, I think you and your guests might find the novelty wares off quick
2). Shift button coin instert. Advantage - No need for a credit button, disadvanatage, screws up players when shift is pressed.
3). Dedicated coin Button. Advantage - no need for 4 person coin door or any door, Disadvanatage - Need a button for it.

[Thenasty]

This is my take on this.

If you have separate 4 players start buttons, then this should work.

Setup MAME in THOSE GAME (4-players) coin1 coin2 coin3 coin4 to be

Coin1=5 and 7    (P1 and P3)
Coin2=6 and 8    (p2 and P4)

So now when a coin is drop in player1 slot, it gives Player 1 and 3 credits and so for droping coin in slot 2, P2 and P4 gets credits.

Now If P1 is not using his credits and p3 keeps inserting coins, p1 credits just keep adding up until he uses it.

Hope you see the picture.

[SoundDoc]

So your building a 4 player Control panel with only a two player coin door, Correct?

Heres an idea I've been bashing around, just to get around the need to always insert a coin in the cab I'm building:

Mount a small microswitch, or leaf switch in the coin mech, that is closed when the Coin Release is pressed.

I'm going to do that, but have it tied to the coin switch, so either a coin, or pressing the Coin Return button in cause a credit to count.

No reason you couldn't have coin return 1 count for player 3, and coin return 2 count for player 4.

Just an idea....

SoundDoc

[NoOne=NBA=]

Coin1=5 and 7    (P1 and P3)
Coin2=6 and 8    (p2 and P4)

So now when a coin is drop in player1 slot, it gives Player 1 and 3 credits and so for droping coin in slot 2, P2 and P4 gets credits.

The problem with this solution, as mentioned in the initial post, is that there are certain games that will insert the player into the game automatically on coinup.
Using this method, when P-1 coins up, P-3 will also enter the game--with nobody there to control it.

[Thenasty]

Coin1=5 and 7    (P1 and P3)
Coin2=6 and 8    (p2 and P4)

So now when a coin is drop in player1 slot, it gives Player 1 and 3 credits and so for droping coin in slot 2, P2 and P4 gets credits.

The problem with this solution, as mentioned in the initial post, is that there are certain games that will insert the player into the game automatically on coinup.
Using this method, when P-1 coins up, P-3 will also enter the game--with nobody there to control it.

Since he will have 4 player starts, try this way
I see, so maybe just set MAME this way

START1 = 5 and 1
START2 = 6 and 2
START3 = 7 and 3
START4 = 8 and 4

So it automatically inserts coins and start the designated player.

[unclet]

I got a 4-slotted coin door for my 4-player cab.    I dont charge people to play either so this is just for looks (although it would work if you drop quarters in).   I added 4 coin insert buttons (one for each player) since I did not want to make my friends have to constantly bend down to add quarters all the time.   Yeah it would be fun to add quarters during the first hour but after that I would imagine it would become an annoyance ..... my 2cents.