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History of the keyboard hack
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: spystyle on April 26, 2005, 12:57:17 pm ---Tiger-Heli,
I hear you, one would think that a keyboard hack like that which does not map the matrix would have ghosting and blocking, but the 2-player panel pictured has no problems at all. It is played regularly (my brother-in-law is a Metal Slug maniac) and when we played 2-player simultanious all was well. The controls were tight and responsive.
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Yep, I find that hard to believe. But remember ghosting and blocking are only issues when a certain combination of three keys are pressed at the same time. You may be rarely hitting the right combination or hitting it so briefly that you don't notice.
--- Quote ---Try building a keyboard hack out of a new keyboard (manufactured in the past year or two) and you'll see they perform well. I think the problems of ghosting and blocking were worse "back in the day" and manufacturer's eventually responded and corrected the problem.
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I don't have access to a new keyboard and I'm not going to buy one just to prove a point. I did test on my 3-year-old work computer. The first time I was able to press 8 keys simultaneously, but no more. The second I was able to press 6, but no more. I randomly pressed keys, so I'm sure I must have hit different combinations each time.
And I don't think manufacturer's responded and corrected the problem. Keyboards are made for typing. I don't think manufacturers care or would go to the trouble of making sure their products worked correctly when multiple keys were pressed for an arcade hack.
--- Quote ---While I am not an electronics certified guy and can not hit it with meters and such to prove or disprove that it is good - I can tell you the one pictured works a treat and is used daily without any issues.
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You don't need to be electronics certified, or have access to meters. Do me a favor and humor me. Download and fire up GhostKey or KeyJammin from http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_downloads.shtml#Utilities
Hold down the four P1 buttons and have your Brother-in-law hold down the four P2 buttons. You will either see 8 keys on the screen or it will beep at you, indicating blocking.
Now press both joysticks to the upper right. You should see 12 keys on screen (or it will beep). Rotate the P1 stick through the diagonals. Should still have 12 keys on screen, but they will be different. Now move the P2 stick to a different diagonal and repeat. Try with the other diagonals. If all this works, get a third person to press the 6 admin buttons at the top of the screen and repeat.
18 buttons and no beeping will convince me, b/c most keyboards use an 18x6 matrix and the odds that none of your buttons were in the same row is pretty slim, but I think you'll be surprised.
Post your results back here.
--- Quote ---Does it compete with keyboard encoders? No, but if cost is more of a consideration than anything else when putting together a cab, a keyboard hack is a viable option. Especially if you have most or all of the parts already in your shop.
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I never argued that it wasn't a viable option (although I think it's kinda pointless given the cost of the KeyWiz Eco) - but I do think you need to map out the matrix for it to work effectively.
--- Quote ---In closing - the keyboard hack tutorial was written to illustrate an old school method and should not be taken too seriously. It would be more reasonable to order a KeyWiz.
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No reason not to take it seriously, I did on my page. I just don't want people to try it out and then find it doesn't work well for them (and have no idea why).
Let me know if you prove me wrong on this (or if you prove me right).
saint:
Keyboard manufacturers upgraded their technology by introducing blocking to counter-act ghosting, as far as I know. Older keyboards are likely to suffer from ghosting, newer keyboards are likely to suffer from blocking. (IANAK)
nostrebor:
Ghosting and blocking aside... this is the simplest description of the mechanics of performing a keyboard hack that I have ever read.
I will still just buy an encoder though. I'd rather keep my 3 hours :P ;D
screaming:
--- Quote from: saint on April 26, 2005, 01:44:58 pm ---(IANAK)
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I Am Not A Keyboard?
spystyle:
I can dig it,
Next time I go out to his neck of the woods I'll bring that prog on CD and see what it has to say.
But the bottom line is it works well, cost about $5, and was simple to make.
Groovy?
Craig