Track & Field question

[Patent Doc]

I remember later versions of Track & Field  having a trackballl to run instead of buttons.  Sir Poonga's link in the steering wheel interface question reminded me of a question I've always had.  Has anyone out there used a trackball to play Track & Field in MAME?  Currently, my cab is in construction so I can't and haven't tried this (heck I don't even know if MAME will allow for it). 

[APFelon]

Check here:

http://www.arcade-history.com/history_database.php?page=detail&id=2958

That should answer most of your questions as to where to look in the Track and Field heirarchy for trackball support.

APf

[Patent Doc]

APFelon

Thanks for the reply, and maybe I'm a little slow, but I already knew the history of the game.  How does that link tell you if MAME will let you play it with a trackball?  No disrespect is intended, I just dont follow you.

[APFelon]

Ah, my apologies. According to that site, it looks as though Hypersports (same thing as T&F, essentially) has the trackball support. I'd check there to see if you can get it to work w/ a mouse or whatever. I'll go down to check it on my cab right now...

APf

[Patent Doc]

Thanks

[APFelon]

Ah, sorry. No go. Neither one has trackball support through MAME. A romset yet to be dumped, I suspect.

Again, sorry.

APf

[Minwah]

Try searching the boards @ MameWorld...I recall a similar discussion there - someone had a photo of a trackball Track n Field control panel.

IIRC the consensus was that the trackball had an interface to send digital signals as the buttons normally would.  I think 

[spriggy]

For people who are unfamiliar with this panel.. here's a shot of one..

[Rocky]

Ah, sorry. No go. Neither one has trackball support through MAME. A romset yet to be dumped, I suspect.

I think it's the same ROM. It uses an interface board between the trackball and PCB.

[Minwah]

I think it's the same ROM. It uses an interface board between the trackball and PCB.

I think you're right, that's basically what I was trying to imply

[GGKoul]

Using a trackball for Track and Field is for wimps!   

[Patent Doc]

Using a trackball for Track and Field is for wimps!   

Hey let's not slam the patent attorney.  I'm going on VERY little sleep and still need to come up with a viable legal strategy for our little trademark issue.

[IMMark]

I remember the game with the track ball....I think it was a better version...so count me amoung the wimps.  Is there any type of interface that would work with Mame?

[NoOne=NBA=]

It might be possible to rig something up using really wide teeth on the encoder wheel, and widely separated optics, so that it reads the spin as a left-right-left-right series of digital inputs.

[Patent Doc]

Thanks for all the info guys.  Yeah just love the trackball. You move so much faster and don't murder the buttons on the cab.

[tommyinajar]

Bump !

 Anyone figure it out  if and how you can use a trackball in MAME for Track & Field ? A separate encoder board the only way 

[Patent Doc]

Woah, talk about reviving a dead post... that was one hell of a bump.  In answer to your question, I haven't seen anyone propose another solution, but I'm sure it could be solved on the software side.  I say this because those 40 in 1 multicade boards allow you to play trackball games with a joystick so I'm betting the reverse would work (since a button and one cardinal direction send the same signal).