Long-term Ms Pacman problem (encoder?). Please help!!

[jeoff]

Ms Pacman is my favorite game and I am very unhappy that I am unable to get it to function correctly.

Let me explain.  I like to run the game in the "fast" mode where Ms Pacman runs around fast while the ghosts are normal speed.  This is a DIP switch setting.

However, I cannot get my joystick to respond fast enough to make the proper movements.  I have to basically move early to make the proper turns.  And forget trying to move left-right-left-right to stay in the same spot.  That just doesn't seem to work.

At first I thought the problem was my 8-way joysticks.  I then first tried software means of going to 4-way and that didn't work.  I bought a Wico 4-way leaf joystick and couldn't get it to work as I needed even after playing with the leafs.  I played with the leafs because I though maybe the problem was the amount of time it was taking the joystick to move from one set of contacts to the other.  I then scrapped that and purchased a J-STIK, which is a fantastic joystick.  However, the problem still remains and I am sure it is not my joystick.

So then it struck me last night that maybe my keyboard encoder is not fast enough to keep up with multiple fast movements.   I have a Hagstrom LP24 and am using a 2x24 matrix.  Is the lag a real possibility with this encoder?  Should I try a newer encoder like an IPAC?

I am just trying to solicit suggestions as to what to try.  Do others have this working correctly, and specifically with an LP24 or other Hagstrom encoder?  

My machine is running XP with dual 2.4 GHz processors.  It is plenty fast so that is not the problem.  FYI, this problem also occurred with my previous system generation that was slower yet played everything else just fine.

Please provide any suggestions.  If you need more information or details, let me know...

Thanks in advance.  I will be watching this closely.
Jeoff Krontz
jeoff@krontz.com

[Lindner24]

Have you tried rewiring the joystick to different inputs?
That might relieve the matrix a little...

I really don't know, I have a KE72 and an older IPAC and have never used a matrix.
I have also never switched that dip switch (think I'll give it a try here...)


Worth a shot though, also call Hagstrom, they have
great customer service.

Good luck
Let us know the fix

[eightbit]

What happens when you play with just a keyboard and no encoder?

[Nailz]

That would be a good test, try it with your keyboard only like eightbit said and see if that does the trick, if so the problem could be the encoder.  I have a KE72 and I would test it out for you but I am out of town this week for work, maybe someone else could test it and let you know the results?

[jeoff]

I'll try a scaled down matrix tonight and see what happens

[Rockin]

What Rom Set or Version of Mame is needed for the "speed up" version of MS PacMan?  Certainly didnt see it in the one I have .58  

Thanks for reading

Rockin

[jeoff]

Well, I was able to fix the problem.  I think it is definitely an encoder limitation so I will be contacting Hagstrom.  

I redefinied the player 1 directional keys to be something besides arrow keys and the difference was instantaneous.  Having done some low-level work with keyboards before, I know that the arrow keys are special and ever time a key is pressed or released the keyboard has to send two scan codes to the computer.  Normal keys only require one scan code.  Maybe the LP24 just has a problem keeping up or maybe it is some other artifact.

- The speed up version of Ms Pacman has been in there for a long time.  Just hit tab to go into the configuration menu.  Go under "dip switches" and on my mame the bottom item is "speed up".

[canardo]

very intresting thanks for posting your solution I intend to make a cabinet next week and trying to read up on as many problems as I can from the start

[jeoff]

I need to send Hagstrom an email with my configuration file attached so that they can try it.  They claim that this problem should not be occurring and that they do not see it.

Jeoff