Main > Everything Else
History of the keyboard hack
spystyle:
--- Quote from: HarumaN on February 09, 2005, 04:28:52 pm ---
--- Quote from: spystyle on February 09, 2005, 04:22:36 pm ---
--- Quote from: GGKoul on February 09, 2005, 04:17:20 pm ---You should add an IPAC to the list. As most people on here use an IPAC.
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<snip>
Keyboard hacks are so much simpler...
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Not hardly...
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OK, I can dig it.
Then explain the KeyWiz to me...
Here's what I can tell so far:
The KeyWiz supports 2 sticks with 4 buttons each right out of the box, simply plug-and-MAME.
If you have a control panel with a different layout (let's use Gauntlet and it's 4 sticks 2 buttons each as an example) you have to program the KeyWiz, this is done by connecting it to your computer and running the software it ships with.
All that makes sense to me, then there's confusion :
1. If you program the KeyWiz does it load what you've programmed upon power up every time, until you re-program it, or do you have to use the Shazaaam button?
2. What is Shazaaam button all about? Are you telling me that people want to change their control panel layout in-between games? I don't get it.
How could it be simpler than the 2 wires of a keyboard hack?
saint:
Hagstrom Electronics, who has been in the business of making keyboard encoders for years, verified that diodes could be used to prevent ghosting. I'll see if I can dig up some of the details when I get home.
--- Quote from: spystyle on February 09, 2005, 04:42:35 pm ---Back on the topic of keybaord hacks, has anyone ever proved or disproved the diode theory?
I think I've read that the problem it solved had more to do with the older style (AT) keyboards and not PS/2 keyboards.
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spystyle:
Saint,
While tracing the history of the keyboard hack I sent an e-mail to Decosa (as it was written in his joy-of-joys doc) and it was undeliverable.
Does he still live?
saint:
Haven't heard from him in a long time, don't know unfortunately ....
danny_galaga:
--- Quote from: spystyle on February 09, 2005, 02:50:06 pm ---OK,
I've finished the 1st draft of my new chapter "Building the keyboard hack"
any old-schoolers care to comment on it?
http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/index79.htm
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man, that is one tidy hack!! rather a contrast to your wiring to the actual control panel though ;)