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| In what ways will I be hurt if I use a Gamepad encoder rather than keyboard? |
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| AceTKK:
I've been tossing around the idea of using two Gamepad encoders (such as the recent GP-Wiz from RandyT) to run my cab instead of the standard keyboard encoder. Can anybody give me a reason that this is a bad idea? On one hand, it neatly solves the problem of running modern PC sports games that don't allow 2 player control from the keyboard (reference this thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=1%3baction=display%3bthreadid=10652 ). I know that MAME supports gamepads, do other popular emulators (Zinc, console emulators) also? Is there a downside to this solution? Thanks, -Ace- |
| Grasshopper:
I don't think there is a significant difference between using a USB gamepad encoder and a USB keyboard encoder, although I'm sure RandyT or someone will come up with all sorts of obscure points about timing/protocols etc :) But the advantages of a ps/2 keyboard encoder are peace of mind and compatibility. The ps/2 interface is tried and tested technology whereas USB can still occasionally be flaky. Also a ps/2 interface is fitted to the vast majority of PCs (even 20 year old ones) and the interface is compatible with all PC operating systems without the need for special drivers. |
| RandyT:
--- Quote from: Grasshopper on April 10, 2005, 08:12:51 am ---I don't think there is a significant difference between using a USB gamepad encoder and a USB keyboard encoder, although I'm sure RandyT or someone will come up with all sorts of obscure points about timing/protocols etc :) --- End quote --- Did I hear my name mentioned? :) USB Keyboard technology - Max number of keys that can be sent per transaction = 6 , with a limit on the total number of simultaneous keypresses that varies with the keys selected for use. Has overhead for things related to keyboards and not related to gaming. USB Gaming encoder technology - Max number of buttons that can be sent per transaction = 64 - All can be pressed at the same time and no additional overhead. Do you not consider these to be "significant" differences? If one needs to use USB, the Gaming encoder will always be the better choice. And, there are a couple of really good free applications for allowing gaming encoders to put out keycodes where necessary. But if USB isn't the primary objective, PS/2 keyboard technology does an admirable job as a gaming controller, with no limitations on simultaneous keypresses (on a well designed encoder, that is) and slightly quicker response times than USB. Top throughput speeds are slower with PS/2, but this isn't really a throughput oriented application after a practical point has been reached (i.e. when you can press 32 buttons at the same time and the data is transmitted in 1/8th of a second, you are in good shape, considering that this is a nearly impossible scenario, even on a 4-player panel.) RandyT |
| Hoagie_one:
if you are woried about emulators...there are emulators for just about every system that use gamepad inputs. |
| AndyWarne:
Randy's answer is correct when talking about USB keyboards but incorrect in context because the poster mentioned encoders not keyboards. The limit of 6 pressed keys and 6 keys per transaction is not fixed and does not apply to encoders because the device can set it's own limits in USB. Keyboard and Gamepad encoders have similar speeds in Windows XP. In earlier OS'es , gamepads were slowed by the OS reading the "heritage" game port as well. USB support in general in Windows 98 is not nearly as fast as in XP. Gamepads do have limits with software support which in some cases need the use of software which converts gamepad buttons into keypresses. In these cases a real keyboard emulator makes more sense. But MAME is just fine with gamepads under XP. Check out the A-PAC www.ultimarc.com/a-pac.html as this appears to Windows as two gamepads so setting up the app is easy, in fact in MAME all you need to do apart from enabling joystick support is assign coin and start buttons. All the playing buttons are left at the defaults. Andy W |
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