New Product: 49-Way USB Interface - The GP-Wiz49 with DRS Technology (TM)

[RandyT]

RE: Shipping addresses


Here's MY policy (it's different from the store's)

If you are a "good guy" member of BYOAC, you get exceptions made for you.

That's it, no more complicated than that.  Tell me who you are in an Email, and I'll send it to your Grandma's house if that's where you want it to go.

Easy huh ?

RandyT

[dabone]

Ordered them with the boss's cc today.

Got 2 of the max's today.



But I'll remember that for the next order.


Later,
dabone

[jfunk]

Randy,

Is your software controllable by the 49-ways themselves?  I may have just missed this in the thread..  Until there's more FE support, would be cool if (like in MAMEWAH) you could launch CPViewer to see the controls needed, then launch your app to select the appropriate joy.  Not automatic, but easy 

*grumble, grumble* Now I have to buy more controls and encoders *grumble, grumble*



Thnx 

[RandyT]

Is your software controllable by the 49-ways themselves?  I may have just missed this in the thread..  Until there's more FE support, would be cool if (like in MAMEWAH) you could launch CPViewer to see the controls needed, then launch your app to select the appropriate joy.  Not automatic, but easy 

If I understand the question correctly, then no.  The software is mouse/trackball driven for manual use.

I will try to take a look at what would be involved to make the stick control it, but that's not the easiest in the language it was written in.

RandyT

[MrSaLTy]

This policy is done by MOST companies and if you think about it.... its really a GOOD thing.

[Kremmit]

Folks who bought the solder-version of the Eco:

If you have to have the new version, like somebody said, sell 'em!

But, shucks, you bought it knowing you had to push two buttons to switch modes.  Nothing's really changed!
If it was a PC, why upgrade to a 3.2 ghz machine when you just bought a 3.0 ghz machine?  Do you really need the extra 0.2 ghz?

I've got the old firmware in my Max, and I may not bother to upgrade, as I just don't need software switching.

[Troz]

Folks who bought the solder-version of the Eco:

If you have to have the new version, like somebody said, sell 'em!

Don't mind if I do! http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35337.0.html

For me, since I'm going to go with 4 I'd rather mess with the software switching than wiring up 4 different rotary switches on the 3 sides of my cocktail.

[RandyT]

Folks who bought the solder-version of the Eco:

If you have to have the new version, like somebody said, sell 'em!

Don't mind if I do! http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35337.0.html

For me, since I'm going to go with 4 I'd rather mess with the software switching than wiring up 4 different rotary switches on the 3 sides of my cocktail.

Troz,

If you are going to buy 4 of the new version, send this one back to me and I will credit you one.

Ok?

RandyT

[Troz]

Troz,

If you are going to buy 4 of the new version, send this one back to me and I will credit you one.

Ok?

RandyT

Sounds like a great plan, thanks.  I'll be emailing you shortly...

[Tiger-Heli]

<edit>modified to reflect correct software commands</edit>

Randy,

Is your software controllable by the 49-ways themselves?  I may have just missed this in the thread..  Until there's more FE support, would be cool if (like in MAMEWAH) you could launch CPViewer to see the controls needed, then launch your app to select the appropriate joy.  Not automatic, but easy 

*grumble, grumble* Now I have to buy more controls and encoders *grumble, grumble*



Thnx 

If I read your question corectly, then maybe in at least five different ways -

If I understand what RandyT is doing and MameWah (which I don't use) -

Let's use PacMan as an example and assume that RandyT's software has a command-line mode with a command of

"GPWiz49.exe 4"  to select 4-way mode.

Two ways to do it in software switching:

Method one - Create a batch file named pacman.bat with the following commmands:

C:\GPWIZ49\GPWiz49.exe 4
C:\MAME\mame.exe pacman
C:\GPWIZ49\GPWiz49.exe 3

Save this and modify MameWah to launch pacman.bat when you click on pacman in the gameslist.  No need for CPViewer or frontend support with this method, but a pain to write 5,000 batch files.

Method two -  Create a desktop shortcut named "4-Way Mode" with a target line of "C:\GPWIZ49\GPWiz49.exe 4"

Launch MameWah and CpViewer - Minimize to the desktop - click "4-way Mode" Icon, Restore Mamewah.  Start Pacman.

One way using a rotary switch - Wire and label a rotary switch for each Mode.  Launch Mamewah and CpViewer.  Rotate Rotary Switch to 4-way position, launch PacMan.

Two methods using classic mode (Method two may not work - UPDATE - Will not work now that I think about how 49-ways are connected).

Method one - Let's assume that P1B3 with the Mode key selects 4-way mode (it might be a different button).

Launch MameWah and CPViewer.  Press the Mode Button, and P1B3.  Launch PacMan.

Method two - Assuming you literally meant using the sticks to select modes - limits you to 4 modes, say Raw 49, 8-way, 4-way, 2wayV.  Let's again assume P1B3 selects 4-way mode.  P1B1 selects Raw 49, P1B2 selects 8way, P1B4 selects 2wayV.

Wire your joystick so that UP activates P1B1, Left activates P1B2, Right activates P1B3, Down activates P1B4 (again no way to do this, I think I was thinking of the normal GPWiz at the time).

Launch Mamewah and CP Viewer - Hold the Mode button and move the joystick to the Right.  Launch PacMan.

Sounded good if it would work.

Alternate idea - I'm not sure if the above was what you were asking or if you meant "Can I modify the graphic that CP Viewer generates so that when it says PacMan is a 4-way game, it also tells me to press the Mode button and P1B3 to select the mode?"  This answer is "Yes, I'm sure you could, but I don't use CP Viewer enough to tell you how to."

Again, thanks to Randy for making such a versatile product (as usual).

[jfunk]

Since I've got MAMEWAH as my shell, I can't minimize to desktop    Was looking for a way to do everything through the frontend without the frontend having to specifically support it.

And yeah, 5000 bat files would suck   

I guess I could write my own program to look up the game in controls.ini and do it for me, but I mostly know Perl, Actionscript (if you can call it a language), and java...  Maybe will have to write a java app..  hrmm...

Thanx, though.

[screaming]

This is pretty off topic, but FYI...

MAMEWAH supports a "run external app automatically before launching the emulator" feature.  MAMEWAH can also pass the same input info that's available in -listxml to this external app (for example, "joy8way", "joy4way", etc).

If there were an app that could program this encoder on the fly that would accept some paramter like (to use TH's example):

Code: [Select]

C:\GPWIZ49\GPWiz49_Uploader.exe -input joy4way

That would fit in perfectly with MAMEWAH.

-sab

[IntruderAlert]

Minwah or Dave Butler can fix this

[Tiger-Heli]

Since I've got MAMEWAH as my shell, I can't minimize to desktop    Was looking for a way to do everything through the frontend without the frontend having to specifically support it.

And yeah, 5000 bat files would suck   

I guess I could write my own program to look up the game in controls.ini and do it for me, but I mostly know Perl, Actionscript (if you can call it a language), and java...  Maybe will have to write a java app..  hrmm...

Thanx, though.

I see what you mean.  I use EmuLoader, and a desktop controller, and a Windows PC, so not familiar with MAMEWah (other than everyone raves about it).

I also can't speak for MinWah, but I can virtually guarantee that Mamewah will add support for this eventually.

What you maybe could do - See option 2 where I mention desktop shortcuts for the modes.  Wouldn't there be a way to manually launch these from Mamewah (you could in EmuLoader)?

So for example, you either added a new "Emulator" called "Joystick Modes" with 8 "games" - 49way, 49wayP, 8way, 4way, etc - each game launching the shortcut to Randy's software.

So you launch CPViewer, change Emulators, launch 4Way, change Emulators, launch PacMan, etc.  (Not pretty, but).

Alternately, - Again not familiar enough to know how it would work best - You create the "games" in the MAME list, maybe name them !49-Way, !4-Way, !8-Way, so they were always at the top of the list.  Then you launch CP Viewer, page-up to the top of the list, (easier if MAMEwah has a one-button way to do this), scroll back down to Pac-Man (okay that might take a while, . . .)

Probably the best way to do this - Set up an 8-way emulator with only the !8-way shortcut and all the 8-way games, a 4-way emulator with only the 4-way games and the !4-way shortcut, etc.  Select the "emulator", click the shortcut, play any of the games, etc. etc.  This would likely take a long time to set-up, but could be expanded and would also be great for guys with swappable CP's b/c you could have "Emulator" lists with only the games that particular CP could play.

Sorry now, Randy, for essentially hi-jacking the thread.

[RandyT]

[
Sorry now, Randy, for essentially hi-jacking the thread.

Heh.  No need to apologize.  I appreciate the help.

I've been wrestling with this one myself, and the only way I can see for it to work is through the front-ends.  They need to be able to call an executable with a command line based on information related to the game being launched, or just dump information related to a current game into a file that can be loaded and parsed by the switching software.   The problem there is deciding on formats and terminology that would be standardized across FE designs, so keeping the switching as generic as possible would probably be for the best.


RandyT

[screaming]

I've been wrestling with this one myself, and the only way I can see for it to work is through the front-ends.  They need to be able to call an executable with a command line based on information related to the game being launched, or just dump information related to a current game into a file that can be loaded and parsed by the switching software.   The problem there is deciding on formats and terminology that would be standardized across FE designs, so keeping the switching as generic as possible would probably be for the best.

  Using information currently available from MAME is the most reasonable, isn't it?  That would offer the easiest "upgrade path" for front ends to support running external applications natively without messing with batch files (like MAMEWAH already does).

  Even using different terminology like "4way" vs. the existing MAME format of "joy4way" would mean that every front end (or anyone else that makes an external application to handle writing to the encode based on game info) would have to come up with some sort of translation.

  I kind of see it as an all or nothing thing (maybe I'm wrong). If you don't go with the MAME-style, you might as well come up with your own format.. but that would potentially allow you to make it "better" by natively supporting controls.dat, for example.

-sab

[screaming]

I also can't speak for MinWah, but I can virtually guarantee that Mamewah will add support for this eventually.

  Did you read my post?  How is this different than what's already in MAMEWAH?

-sab

[Tiger-Heli]

I also can't speak for MinWah, but I can virtually guarantee that Mamewah will add support for this eventually.

  Did you read my post?  How is this different than what's already in MAMEWAH?
-sab

Actually, I was typing when you posted it, but I did read it. 

I was thinking more of an option like "Use GP-Wiz49 software = Checkbox" and then MAMEwah would automagically decide what command to issue and take care of the switching (after RandyT finalizes the software of course).

I also think the data should come from controls.dat where possible as MAME is flat wrong about 30% of the time (I don't have raw data to back up that stat).

I also think Toonces had this working with GamEx using the same command structure as you mention for MAMEwah, so I think the FE devs and FE users should review what he has done to get it working (replacing the Parallel Port calls with command-lines to the GP-Wiz software).

[IntruderAlert]

Minwah or Dave Butler can fix this

...oops
sorry Mr. screaming
I didn't realise you were the "MAMEWAH config" dude
http://www.bluecamel.org/index.php?id=14
.. i think you should be able to fix it too 

[Toonces]

[
Sorry now, Randy, for essentially hi-jacking the thread.

Heh.  No need to apologize.  I appreciate the help.

I've been wrestling with this one myself, and the only way I can see for it to work is through the front-ends.  They need to be able to call an executable with a command line based on information related to the game being launched, or just dump information related to a current game into a file that can be loaded and parsed by the switching software.   The problem there is deciding on formats and terminology that would be standardized across FE designs, so keeping the switching as generic as possible would probably be for the best.


RandyT

The way the batch files and GameEx approaches this is by using the ability to run a program or batch file before and after each rom. Modes are passed to my batch file in a numerical format based on controls.ini. The numbers GameEx passes to my batch files are the same mode numbers Randy has already assigned:

1 = 49 Way
2 = 49 Way Progressive
3 = 8 Way
4 = 4 Way
5 = 4 Way Diagonal
6 = 2 Way Horizontal
7 = 2 Way Vertical
8 = 16 Way

So just pass the mode number to the app and it switches. This is easy for the FE and Randy's app. By using the mode numbers Randy's app doesn't have conform to the MAME terminology.

There's a reason controls.ini exists. The information in MAME is wrong or not descriptive enough for quite a few of the games. In MAME there is no differentiation between a 4 way joystick and a diagonal 4 way (Q*Bert, Congo Bongo), there's also no differentiation of 2 way controls either (Vertical vs. Horizontal) all are just joy2way (Defender, Space Invaders, etc). There are many 4 way games that have joy8way as the controller.

The only thing the FE has to do (or an external app if you want MameWah to support it right now) is parse Controls.ini and pass back 1-8 to Randy's app and the mode is switched. If a game is not in Controls.ini, add it and contribute it to the project! Of course, you could also fall back to MAME's control info but if the game is a 2 way H or V, you're not going to know which one. For GameEx, I use a default of 8 way if it's not in Controls.ini. GameEx also uses the list of all of the controller names from controls.ini as a seperate file to get it's mapping info so the end user can change the selected mode for a given controller type.

Certainly not the only way to do it but it definately works.

[monkeybomb]

Intruder did you ever get an answer on Donkey Kong?

[jfunk]

Thanx for all the info!  A lot to digest..  Unfortunately, this is all theoretical until I get my controls    But I love the way it's all heading!

Sorry for hijacking the thread...

Did somebody ask about Donkey Kong? 

[Tiger-Heli]

Did somebody ask about Donkey Kong? 

He heee!  Intruder Alert asked about three times in a different thread how the 49-ways with Randy's interface played in Donkey Kong.

[IntruderAlert]

Did somebody ask about Donkey Kong? 

He heee!  Intruder Alert asked about three times in a different thread how the 49-ways with Randy's interface played in Donkey Kong.

..yah .. and i'm still waiting
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35227.msg308358.html#msg308358

[Lilwolf]

BTW, why not just have different directories for 4 way games and a batch file like this

mame4way.bat

@config49 4way
@mame %1  %2 %3 %4 %5
@config49 8way

I don't know about mamewah but then you add an emulator mame4way and a mame8way and a mame49way (ext).  Each one would only know about the specific rom directory.

anyway, just a thought.

[Toonces]

Did somebody ask about Donkey Kong? 

He heee!  Intruder Alert asked about three times in a different thread how the 49-ways with Randy's interface played in Donkey Kong.

..yah .. and i'm still waiting
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35227.msg308358.html#msg308358

There, I answered

[Toonces]

BTW, why not just have different directories for 4 way games and a batch file like this

mame4way.bat

@config49 4way
@mame %1  %2 %3 %4 %5
@config49 8way

I don't know about mamewah but then you add an emulator mame4way and a mame8way and a mame49way (ext).  Each one would only know about the specific rom directory.

anyway, just a thought.

That would require you to go through and individually manage your sets to put them in the correct directory. The info in Controls.ini is perfect for making the decision on which mode to use. As a backup, the output from MAME is ok until you hit 2 way or 4 way diagonal controls. Not to mention games where it's just wrong. So far, I have found using controls.ini with 8 way as a backup if it's not in there to be pretty darn good.

[IntruderAlert]

I'm going to have to buy 4 of these babys!
The $15 premium for the MAX version is going to end up costing me $60.. ouch
How hard is it so rig up a cable for the ECO?
Should I just bite the bullet and go with 4 MAXs?

[Toonces]

I'm going to have to buy 4 of these babys!
The $15 premium for the MAX version is going to end up costing me $60.. ouch
How hard is it so rig up a cable for the ECO?
Should I just bite the bullet and go with 4 MAXs?

How comfortable are you with soldering and or crimping? I used the solder version and 12 pin .100 connectors to make the cables. Pretty easy to do and it came out very nice. You can also go the solderless version and use a floppy cable per Randy's diagrams but for me that is actually more difficult. Mainly because I always miscount the damn things The 12 pin connectors fit perfectly and it's easy to follow the wiring when you're doing it one wire at a time.

[IntruderAlert]

Well.. I don't mind soldering but I kind of like the idea of having a quick disconnect cable too
If that's the only difference I guess I'll go with the ECOs

[Toonces]

Well.. I don't mind soldering but I kind of like the idea of having a quick disconnect cable too
If that's the only difference I guess I'll go with the ECOs

I think it's probably safe to do so. I can't imagine that Randy is going to be updating the firmware anymore

[RandyT]

Anyone who wants to check out the software, please go to this thread.

You can download a copy and play with it even if you don't have a GP-Wiz49.  There is documentation incuded that may be of value to front-end writers if they are interested in supporting it.

Please direct any software questions to that thread as well.....this one is too deep....

Thanks,
RandyT

[fl0yd]

Have you guys ever seen this before?

It's supposed to be a 49 way with rotary.

I've been working on an adapter to mate the midway 49-way with the rotary switches used in Happ's rotary joys.

[ferrarimanf355]

Have you guys ever seen this before?

It's supposed to be a 49 way with rotary.

I've been working on an adapter to mate the midway 49-way with the rotary switches used in Happ's rotary joys.

[Tommy Boy]

Cool!  I'm very interested in the rotary 49-way.  You should place this in a separate thread so that it doesn't get buried under 15 pages of other stuff...

[MajorLag]

A rotary 49 way? I'm well on my way to narrowing everything down to one pannel!

[IntruderAlert]

I've been working on an adapter to mate the midway 49-way with the rotary switches used in Happ's rotary joys.  I have a working prototype but before I proceed with having them produced in mass, I'd like to see if others have any interest.

Please reply to this if you'd like an adapter that could mate the shaft of your midway 49-way joy to a 12 position rotary switch.

You can see in the picture that the adapter replaces the usually e-clipped adapter on the shaft of the midway joystick.

12 position?
is that like the SNK stick?
Someone told me that the WICO stick that I was asking about is actually 49 position rotary

[fl0yd]

Cool!

[Tiger-Heli]

12 position?
is that like the SNK stick?
Someone told me that the WICO stick that I was asking about is actually 49 position rotary

IA - Your WICO stick is an 8-way 12-position rotary - 8 stick positions and 12 rotation positions.  Fl0yd is making an adapter to add the rotary portion of your stick to the Happ/Atari 49-way sticks that work with the GP-Wiz49 interface.

[IntruderAlert]

Yahooo!!!
I got my 4 GP-Wiz49s yesterday!!!

I was reading the instruction sheet this morning..
I thought this thing was just for the joystick ONLY
I completely missed this before:

-  23 additional inputs, including 5 that are "shiftable", for conventional Joysticks, buttons or similar switch based devices. (in Manual and Software Modes.  Rotary Switch/Jumper mode disables "Shift-mode" buttons and provides 15 usable buttons)

So with these 4 units I could have 92 buttons on my CP