4 SPEED SHIFTER?

[dirt]

is it possible to hook up a 4 speed shifter to work with mame. i think i remember that it wont but i want to be sure.


dirt

[JustMichael]

The arcade ones you sure can.  It just takes 4 inputs on whatever interface you are using.  (At the bottom of the shifter is 4 microswitches)

[dirt]

thanks for the reply. is there one that works better than others. i need to put a 4speed shifter into a pole position mamecab.

dirt

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you're replacing the existing one, I'd probably go with one out of a Sprint cab.
They look the same as the PP shifter, but have 4 speeds.

If not, any of the Happ's style ones will work.

[RayB]

I have one off a "Sprint" if you want to trade, but it's a little on the rough side. Could use a thorough cleaning and new switches.

By the way, it doesn't require 4 inputs like people assume. The way it works is it uses 3 switches, and if NONE of the switches are on, then that is the 4th gear.

~Ray B.

[Chris]

I have one off a "Sprint" if you want to trade, but it's a little on the rough side. Could use a thorough cleaning and new switches.

By the way, it doesn't require 4 inputs like people assume. The way it works is it uses 3 switches, and if NONE of the switches are on, then that is the 4th gear.

Ouch... MAME doesn't work that way, so you'll probably have to tinker with the source to get it to work, or hack on a fourth microswitch.

..Chris

[RayB]

Ouch... MAME doesn't work that way, so you'll probably have to tinker with the source to get it to work, or hack on a fourth microswitch.

Sure it does. Think about it. If NO gear switch is pressed, then which gear would a game default to? Gear Zero? No such thing.

~Ray B.

[Chris]

Ouch... MAME doesn't work that way, so you'll probably have to tinker with the source to get it to work, or hack on a fourth microswitch.

Sure it does. Think about it. If NO gear switch is pressed, then which gear would a game default to? Gear Zero? No such thing.

I haven't played a four-gear MAME game for a while, but I think they've been set to treat the gear buttons as press and release to change gears, just as Pole Position is modified to use two press and release buttons rather than the correct "button held for one gear, button off for another".

[Minwah]

I haven't played a four-gear MAME game for a while, but I think they've been set to treat the gear buttons as press and release to change gears, just as Pole Position is modified to use two press and release buttons rather than the correct "button held for one gear, button off for another".

Yes, AFAIK.  The only game I can say 100% works like this is Night Driver.  So if no microswitch is activated the car will be stuck in whatever gear was last selected.  You could probably work something out using the NC contacts of the microswitches tho - if all NC signals are go then have that activate a 4th input.

I believe the Hard Drivin' shifter is very similar in looks to a Pole Position shifter, but 4-speed also.  I should be receiving one fairly soon for my Pole Pos. control panel, so I'll know for sure soon...

[RayB]

OK so i researched it a bit deeper. I'll try and do this next time rather than shoot my mouth off. 

MAME tolerates keeping the gear button pressed. Now if I could find that damn shifter I could tell you if it's possible to add add a 4th switch to it!

[Chris]

I believe the Hard Drivin' shifter is very similar in looks to a Pole Position shifter, but 4-speed also.

[Minwah]

Hard Drivin' is COMPLETELY different.

[Silver]

I have a "bootleg" hard drivin' shifter/ignition key/3 pedal set. The shifter definately has 4 microswiches. There is no obvious "5th" position although you can leave the shifter in the middle not touching any switches.

As it was sold to me as bootleg, it may be that the original was analogue. I played hard drivin plently but can not for the life of remember how the gear switching felt. To be honest I would be surprised if it was analogue - does not make sense for gears surely? All 3 pedals are analogue pots though.

[Chris]

I have a "bootleg" hardrive shifter/ignition key/3 pedal set. The

[Silver]

The unit I have came pre-wired, with all microswitches wired independantly (with grounds daisy-chained). Without the real PCB or connectors I don't know how they are treated later on though.

I have not seen the hard drivin analogue calibration screen myself.

What advantage would there be to programming an analogue input to a microswitched input? I would be interested to know....

[Chris]

I have no clue.  It seemed strange to me too.

[u_rebelscum]

I have a "bootleg" hardrive shifter/ignition key/3 pedal set. The  shifter definately has 4 microswiches. There is no obvious "5th" position although you can leave the shifter in the middle not touching any switches.

As it was sold to me as bootleg, it may be that the original was analogue. I played hard drivin plently but can not for the life of remember how the gear switching felt. To be honest I would be surprised if it was analogue - does not make sense for gears surely? All 3 pedals are analogue pots though.

FWIW, Hard Drivin had analog or microswitch shifters, depending on which cab design.

The original full size and "deluxe" cabs used analog joysticks with an H restrictor.

The "compact" cabs used the more common digital, 4 switch, shifters.

IIRC, mame emulates both these correctly, depending which ROM you play.


As for why an analog shifter for digital gears, well, act-labs GS shifter is an analog joystick with modular different shaped restrictors.  This way, the driver can translate the analog inputs to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 gears without needing to add/remove/move swtiches.

But I think the real reason analog is better is that real physical gears are analog, and you can have the shfter in wrong positions that will grind your car's gears.  Not sure if HD simulated that, but it was an arcade simulator, not just an arcade game.

[JustMichael]

RayB, my shifter has 4 microswitches on it.  I'm guessing when no microswitch is pressed then the car will be in neutral.

[Silver]

As for why an analog shifter for digital gears, well, act-labs GS shifter is an analog joystick with modular different shaped restrictors.  This way, the driver can translate the analog inputs to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 gears without needing to add/remove/move swtiches.

Thanks for that - that certainly makes sense - in terms of the act-labs one at least.

I'm guessing when no microswitch is pressed then the car will be in neutral.

Yes I believe so - I think the hard drivin shifters are 4+1 gears.

[Minwah]

FWIW, Hard Drivin had analog or microswitch shifters, depending on which cab design.

The original full size and "deluxe" cabs used analog joysticks with an H restrictor.

The "compact" cabs used the more common digital, 4 switch, shifters.

Good point, hadn't thought of that.  I think the one I'm getting is from a compact version, so hopefully it'll be switches.