how to get PC wheel to work in MAME??

[Demon-Seed]

HI.
I found I had a Madcatz pc Anaglog steering wheel and pedels. I installed it in windows and its reconized no problem. In mame I can not get it working.. I tired hitting tab in the game in pressing the pedel to set the key but that did not work. Also tired to do the same thing but in the analog section..did not work.. i tried super sprint. the unit hooks up by game port like a serial...how do u get it to work? any info is much appreciated.

JIM

[Demon-Seed]

just thought.. I read that MAME 32 has the option to turn it on.sooo I was thinking that since I am using windows command line mode..do i need some config on?? some jouystick swtich or something? let me know..i am not sure...

thx
Jim

[Demon-Seed]

Hi,
I got it working just added -joystick and it read it. THe only thing i noticed is that is very very sensitve and i just turn it a bit and it goes nuts. I went into analogue options and tried the sensitivty of the dial way loww...but its not working..any ideas?? on what settings?

[jerryjanis]

Your steering wheel is analog (it acts like a joystick)...  Arcade games have two completely different types of steering wheels.  Some games use analog steering wheels just like yours (outrun, chasehq,  etc.).  The others use something that is exactly like an arkanoid spinner (super sprint, pole position, apb, etc.).  If you can remember playing super sprint, you spin the steering like a madman - it spins indefinetly.

The bottom line is that the steering wheel is inappropriate for many games, but basically perfect for others.  A spinner or a spinner-style is right for the others.

I recently read somewhere that someone was able to adjust settings so that he could play pole position with no problems because in the game you don't typically spin the wheel all the way around, but for a game like super sprint where you do spin it all the way around it's no good.

[SirPoonga]

yeah, there are different type of steering wheels.  for the analog steering wheel games get analog mame (www.urebelscum.speedhost.com).

[u_rebelscum]

yeah, there are different type of steering wheels.  for the analog steering wheel games get analog mame (www.urebelscum.speedhost.com).

Mame:Analog+ also has a hack that makes playing spinner steering games easier to play with PC joystick steering wheels.  Easier, meaning better control, but not perfect.

Best solution is to get a spinner steering wheel for the arcade games that used one, and use the one you have for the arcade games that used that type.

[Demon-Seed]

Hi
I downloaded and ran mameanalog.. but I do not see any differnece? I left all the defaults..I do not see any readme or help files on how to use it? and the web site is not very good..anyone help?

[Demon-Seed]

I guess no one sells a wheel that can do both? like has a switch or somehting?

[The Man]

Hi
I downloaded and ran mameanalog.. but I do not see any differnece? I left all the defaults..I do not see any readme or help files on how to use it? and the web site is not very good..anyone help?

Did you try removing the config for these games and let it rebuild them when running mameanalog?

Good Luck
TM

[brandon]

I had a steering wheel that works better if a set it up as a generic 2 -axis joystick instead.  It allows me to calibrate it better that way for some reason.  

[u_rebelscum]

Hi
I downloaded and ran mameanalog.. but I do not see any differnece? I left all the defaults..I do not see any readme or help files on how to use it? and the web site is not very good..anyone help?

The difference between mame's and analog+'s joystick -> spinner data handling is:

Mame: the longer you hold the joystick (digital or analog) in a direction, the faster the spinner spins in that direction (up to a max value); if the stick is centered, the spinner speed slows down.  The "joy/key speed" setting determinds how fast the spinner's speed changes.  Many defaults are such that it seems like the steering jumps from no turn to max turn in an instant.  Also, with a steering wheel or analog joystick, mame first translates into a digital on/off signal, so there is an angle where it changes from "off" to "on".

Analog+: the distance the analog joystick/steering wheel is turned determinds the speed the spinner spins.  So turning the wheel a little should send a low number to the game, while turning it all the way should send a much higher number to the game.  However, the joystick/steering wheel driver's settings, such as its center dead zone, accelation, and end dead zone, can make the analog joystick jump from 0 to max in just a small fraction of the stick's total possible movement, which will look exactly the same as mame's quick jump.  These should be changed from the driver end, and only the better drivers let you change them.  Digital joysticks, of course, act just like in mame.

Possible recommendations:
Recalibrate the steering wheel, and if possible test how turning the wheel translates to the computer in the driver's test screen.
Make sure joystick is enabled.
Disable the mouse if you are not using it.
Decrease the "joy/key speed" and/or the sensitivity in the analog menu.

BTW, of course the web site sucks; I wrote it.

I guess no one sells a wheel that can do both? like has a switch or somehting?

I wish.

[Demon-Seed]

Hey,
ehehh sorry about the comment about the website..eheh I guess I was looking for some more explanation. (since I am a little slow) but you gave it to me here,..thanks. I played with those settings and got it working "somewhat" but it still does not run very good and its hard to control. not sure if its the madcatz wheel or something else..so I will go to plan b for now. Lightgun first? but then I read there are many problems with it too.

[u_rebelscum]

Hey,
ehehh sorry about the comment about the website..eheh I guess I was looking for some more explanation. (since I am a little slow)

No apologies needed.  The web site is not the best, for sure, and if it was better, I wouldn't need to post answers here, right?

but you gave it to me here,..thanks. I played with those settings and got it working "somewhat" but it still does not run very good and its hard to control. not sure if its the madcatz wheel or something else

Try this: start ssprint and press [f2] key to go into test mode (it won't go into test mode until the first track, though).  press player 2 start twice to go to the steering wheel test screen.  And test turning the wheel (right is easier to read, BTW).

If the number jumps from 0 to a number with absolutely no inbetween (maybe some unsteadiness at the top end, though), mame is seeing the wheel as digital input.  The problem two down can look like this one, if you turn the wheel too fast.

If the number doesn't move for a while, but changes after a while, but not in one big jump, as above, you have a large dead zone.

If the number starts with 0, 1, 2 but then jumps to near the top numbers, then again does a slow count (10, 12, 13, for example) at that end, the wheel has a high acceleration in the middle, or mame's sensitivitity is too high.  This can sometimes look like a digital problem if the wheel is turned to quickly.

If the number changes constantly, but too much (0, 8, 10, 18, 20, 28, 30 in hex for example), mame's joy/key speed is too high, or maybe mame's sensitivity is too high (or both).

Problems due to (or partially due to) dead zone, acceleration, or digital reading you can't fix without a good driver, or maybe editing the source code.

BTW, pole position will aways has problems (unless another hack is done), but super sprint, offroad and the like should be okay since the hack was designed for those in mine (not arcade perfect, though).

But the best solution would be...

..so I will go to plan b for now. Lightgun first? but then I read there are many problems with it too.

...What about making a 360 degree spinner steering wheel?  With lightguns you might wait until .62 comes out with the rumored fixed. [shrug]