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Massive Newbie Questions!
Bob Ceccarelli:
"Gameports are a dying port, they'll be gone soon... USB has pretty much replaced it."
What does this have to do with anything, lol. I'll be putting a computer in the cab dedicated just for the MAME-CADE... meaning that eve if the "gameport dies" that won't effect it in the slightlest... it's not like I'll be continually updating and upgrading the CPU and be stuck without the gameport... ;)
Oh, I just ordered the buttons from Happs. They have a sale on the horizontals (LUCKY ME!!!) until July. The $1.75 buttons are $0.99 a piece. There was also a sale on the Ultimate joysticks... although no one wants those... ;D.
me:
hey BOB here is another IMPORTANT TIP...
dont go with exact same USB pads..everytime windows starts they will change the ID auto..that said if both are 100% same pads then it would change the game pad id everytime windows starts....i was having this problem then i replaced them with PSX...watch out..that is very very anoying...its like this....1 player will become player 2 and the other way around...well good luck
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote ---dont go with exact same USB pads..everytime windows starts they will change the ID auto..that said if both are 100% same pads then it would change the game pad id everytime windows starts....i was having this problem then i replaced them with PSX...watch out..that is very very anoying...its like this....1 player will become player 2 and the other way around...well good luck
--- End quote ---
I don't have this problem, but it is something you have to watch out for. Windows shouldn't switch the IDs if you don't unplug them, but it looks like there's a timing issue at bootup: If the USB devices are the same, whichever one answers first gets the lower ID. (This is based on the fact that while the computer is on, if you unplug two exactly the same USB devices, the first one you plug in always gets the lower ID.)
Again, my USB stuff (2 equal pads & 2 equal mice + other different devices) don't get mixed up on bootup/reboot if I don't unplug them. They are each on different USB ports though, so maybe windows is checking each port one at a time on my computer so I do not get the timing issue? (While the computer's on, though, the devices follow the "first plugged in get lowest ID of equal devices" rule noted above.) I'm using winMe and have two logitech first mice and two generic game pads + another gamepad + a trackball.
Anyway, the problem of two exactly the same USB gamepads may or may not happen on your computer, but be aware that it might.
Bob Ceccarelli:
First off, I shouldn't have the problem with having the exact same pads, being that I've already cracked open my Xterminator and plan to pick up a Sidewinder tomorrow.
Speaking of which, the Xterminator buttons on the circuit board have 2 half circles for each switch like this:
_ _
|_ |
|_ _|
So I'm assumin one bit is the ground and the other is the switch.... right? If so, then could I daisy chain all the of grounds together? Sounds almost *too* simple...
Also, did tons of play testing today. I found out that my current PC setup (the 800 T-Bird + 256 RAM + GeForce 2 MX) plays KI flawlessly and the Mortal Kombats/NBA Jams at *nearly* full speed.... I may not need as fast of a CPU as originally planed... unless of course they decide to dump Gauntlet: Dark Legacy *drools*.
Thanks again to all for the help!
-Bob
lightspeed:
My advice:
ATI SDR 32 meg w/ TV out (if needed) < -- should be around $60 at your local Best Buy, much cheaper online. Great card for MAME, and very cheap
Biostar KT266A mobo with 1700+ Athlon XP + 256 DDR Ram<--- $225 shipped from TCWO.com (DDR will make a difference)
Happ's Supers - best all around sticks - this is what most of the major gamestick vendors use (many ppl like Competitions better, IMHO both will work fine for you)
I have heard good things the sticks on ultimarc.com, too. The Perfect 360s are nice, but as you pionted out, expensive. They also need an extra +5v wire for each stick, which can be a pain.
I-Pac for interface - unbeatable ease of use and compatibility. However, if you want to make life really easy for yourself, pick up a 2 player JAMMA+ harness ($35) and a J-Pac. This will save you a lot of time wiring. A Jamma+ harness with the additional "kick" wiring will give you 2 players, 6 buttons per player. Check out Bob Roberts page for details: http://personal.msy.bellsouth.net/msy/b/o/bob147/
Good luck!