GP-Wiz 32 input USB Controls Interface

[Timstuff]

Yay, my first post!

I am probably going to build my own arcade cabinet sometime soon, but I've never done this before. Anyway, I wanted to know if the GP-Wiz 32 input USB Controls Interface would be a solid control interface board to build a two-player fighting game compatable interface around. I've never build anything like this before, so I apologize if my question seems a little silly to some of you. But I really wanna make sure I buy the right thing and don't end up wasting money on the wrong part. Thank you!

[cholin]

It will work fine, that's what it's made for.  There's a medium selection on this type of stuff.  You can get encoders from GGG, from Ultimarc, hack a keyboard, or get the cheap no-name ones off ebay.  Out of the projects Ive seen, The iPac seems to be the most used, but that's befcause the GP-Wiz and KeyWiz are newer.  Are you sure you want the GP wiz though?  That is for sending gamepad signals, whereas the KeyWiz is for sending keyboard signals.  If you're using regular MAME, I think the KeyWiz is what you're looking for.  Welcome to the board.  I, personally am getting a MiniPac.

[Bloinkxp]

Keywiz users here!

For a first time builder the KeyWiz Max 1.5 (for $34.95) is a good choice.  The program interface was so easy that I literally was done in 5 minutes.  Also, the screw terminal were very helpful for me (hommie can't solder very well).  I alsp really use the Shazam key so that I don't need admin buttons (ie ESC/TAB/Pause). 

David

As personal preference (I have an IPAC/2) I prefer the Keywiz.  I have no issues with the IPAC/2, but the Keywiz has mojo...

[Timstuff]

Well, all of my emulators are windows based, so I don't think that there'd be much problem with sending gamepad signals. I also have a pretty good keyboard emulator if I need to assign certain keyboard functions to my interface. Still, I'll look into the ones you guys mentioned if I decide I want to go with a "keyboard" interface.

[Timstuff]

So, are there any big advantages to using a keyboard-enabled control interface? I know that you have to if you want to use a dos-based emulator, but I'd like to know what exactly the reasons why I'd want to use a dos-enabled emulator are.

[Timstuff]

Also, a big question I have about using something like Key-Wiz is can you have a normal keyboard plugged in at the same time as the control interface with some sort of splitter cable? Having to unplug the interface when I need to use the keyboard could be a little inconvinient. Basically, now I'm getting into gamepad compatable vs. keyboard compatable. Is one objectively better than the other, or does it all boil down to personal preference?

[cholin]

I think that he has a switch on the KeyWiz, and on the Ultimarc theres an automatic switch-over between the encoder and a keyboard.  Ive never used anything mentioned here, but mostly, keyboard encoders are used over gamepad ones.

[CheffoJeffo]

Just to be clear, on the iPac it is a passthrough rather than a switchover (e.g. you can use both the keyboard and the controls at the same time).

[markrvp]

I have both an Ipac4 on one cabinet and a GP-Wiz32 on a control panel on another computer.  If you are building a dedicated cabinet that has a fixed control panel, then I would suggest going with either the Key-Wiz or Optipac.  MAME automatically maps functions like COIN 1, COIN 2, Player 1 Start, Player 2 Start and others to dedicated keyboard inputs.  The keyboard encoders have button inputs that map to these.  You will need to use COIN 1 and START 1 on every single game EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU PLAY, so I feel there is easier compatibility with using a keyboard encoder.  YOU CAN MAP INPUTS ON THE GP-WIZ to these same functions either with a JOYTOKEY utility or by creating INI (or .cfg, I can't remember which) which remap the MAME defaults for COIN 1, etc. to specific joypad buttons that would work with the GP-WIZ.  This isn't a big deal, but a keyboard encoder with MAME default keymapping will always work out of the box without having to modify your defaults.

The KEY-WIZ is PS2 only and requires that you manually flip a switch to use a PS2 keyboard.  However, you can use a USB keyboard connected simultaneously without having to switch anything.  The Ipac is EITHER USB or PS2 and requires no manual switching when a PS2 keyboard is passed thru. 

ALL PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE TOP NOTCH AND WILL DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU.

[Tiger-Heli]

Also, a big question I have about using something like Key-Wiz is can you have a normal keyboard plugged in at the same time as the control interface with some sort of splitter cable? Having to unplug the interface when I need to use the keyboard could be a little inconvinient. Basically, now I'm getting into gamepad compatable vs. keyboard compatable. Is one objectively better than the other, or does it all boil down to personal preference?

No splitter cable required.

The GP-Wiz is USB, so you can either use a PS/2 or USB (or wireless) keyboard alongside it.

The KeyWiz is PS/2, but has a switched pass-thru for a keyboard, but the best solution is to use a USB or wireless keyboard alongside it.

The I-PAC's have an active pass-thru, so no special considerations are required.

Re: Gamepad Vs. Keyboard - RandyT has implied that there is a slight speed advantage in going with Gamepad control and USB.  Otherwise, it comes down to:

DOS computers (and programs that have to run in true DOS - i.e. not a DOS window) cannot use USB.

A few old games and many PC games don't allow gamepad input.  You can use JoytoKey or the recent program that RandyT likes better (search for Visual Pinball threads by RandyT) to get around this.  OTOH, some games are only set up for gamepad input (EA sports VS. titles, mainly) and there is a program for working around this for keyboard encoder use.

Bottom line is there isn't much difference between them.

One other thing to consider - If you are planning multiple panels (let's say you have a trigger stick panel for assault/Zaxxon that you also want to use for P3 and P4) - with a GP-Wiz, you can set the Joystick to the directionals and the first stick you plug in becomes stick 1, the seconde GP-Wiz you plug in becomes Stick 2, etc.  This can't be easily done with a keyboard encoder.

[Tiger-Heli]

Just a few quick comments - One correction and something else you made me think about 

If you are building a dedicated cabinet that has a fixed control panel, then I would suggest going with either the Key-Wiz or Optipac.

You meant KeyWiz or I-PAC (the Opti-pac is for trackballs).  And I would suggest that the opposite of what you are suggesting is true - - i.e.

If you are building a dedicated cabinet that has a fixed control panel, then it doesn't really matter which way you go.  You will have to map Coin and Start to gamepad buttons, but this takes 10 seconds in MAME, either in an .ini file or just TAB - InputAllGames - Start 1 "1 or Gampad Button 28", for example.

Where you might have a problem is if you are building a desktop controller that you might want to take to a friends house.  If you use a keyboard encoder and follow the MAME default's, you just plug it in and play.  If you have a gamepad encoder, you have to reconfigure MAME before you can use it, and that could get old . . .

(Basically the same comments as Markvrp, but I disagree about WHEN this would be a problem).

ALL PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE TOP NOTCH AND WILL DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU.

Agreed!!!!

[markrvp]

Tiger-Heli:

I really enjoy all your posts.  Your discussion on multiple control panels on your website was very helpful when I came up with my own plan.

You meant KeyWiz or I-PAC (the Opti-pac is for trackballs). 

You're right, I meant Ipac.  It was getting late and the pain medicine for my back had just kicked in.

[Tiger-Heli]

Tiger-Heli:
I really enjoy all your posts.  Your discussion on multiple control panels on your website was very helpful when I came up with my own plan.

Hey, thanks!  (Unfortunately, that page never really got finished and is now badly in need of an update), but glad it helped you!!!

You meant KeyWiz or I-PAC (the Opti-pac is for trackballs). 
You're right, I meant Ipac.  It was getting late and the pain medicine for my back had just kicked in.

Again, I new what you meant, but I figured TimStuff might not with this being his first post.