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What joystick to use? Again...
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KenToad:

--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on May 26, 2005, 01:00:14 pm ---

--- Quote ---It looks like there is software that comes with the 49-way that you can load on your pc that will allow you to change the setup functions of the 49-way joystick to be a 4-way or an 8-way or what ever you want, does this actually work in the games running through MAME?

--- End quote ---
This should confuse you more, given Fl0yd's post.  Yes - the software works.  Not just in MAME, but in ANY PC program.  You do have to launch the software and change the modes through software before the sticks will change modes.

There are efforts underway to set it up so the front-end parses controls.ini or MAME and finds out what mode the game requires and automatically switches the stick (what Fl0yd mentioned), but it is still a WIP.


--- End quote ---

I didn't think you needed software to run the GP Wiz 49.  I thought it was coded into the firmware and the software was entirely optional.  So you don't have to launch the software, just activate the hotkey and choose your mode of restriction, just need a few hardware switches.  Am I missing something?  I'm not really an electronics person.

Cheers,
KenToad
Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: KenToad on May 26, 2005, 02:03:06 pm ---
--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on May 26, 2005, 01:00:14 pm ---

--- Quote ---It looks like there is software that comes with the 49-way that you can load on your pc that will allow you to change the setup functions of the 49-way joystick to be a 4-way or an 8-way or what ever you want, does this actually work in the games running through MAME?

--- End quote ---
This should confuse you more, given Fl0yd's post.  Yes - the software works.  Not just in MAME, but in ANY PC program.  You do have to launch the software and change the modes through software before the sticks will change modes.

There are efforts underway to set it up so the front-end parses controls.ini or MAME and finds out what mode the game requires and automatically switches the stick (what Fl0yd mentioned), but it is still a WIP.


--- End quote ---

I didn't think you needed software to run the GP Wiz 49.  I thought it was coded into the firmware and the software was entirely optional.  So you don't have to launch the software, just activate the hotkey and choose your mode of restriction, just need a few hardware switches.  Am I missing something?  I'm not really an electronics person.

Cheers,
KenToad

--- End quote ---
KenToad is correct.

Technically, there are four ways to change modes with the GP-Wiz49 -

1)  Press the mode button and the corresponding button (doubles as an action button).

2)  Wire up a rotary switch and rotate it to change modes (loses 8 buttons from the capability).

3)  Manually launch the software and change modes, then launch your game.

4)  Have the software run automatically and change modes based on calls from your front-end (only minimally implemented).
Kremmit:

--- Quote from: KenToad on May 26, 2005, 01:56:18 pm ---I'm also a fighter fan, especially Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting and I too was worried about joysticks being good for repeatedly performing especially the quarter circles and dragon punch maneuvers.  What I ended up getting, after much searching like you, was to get a couple of Competition joysticks from Happ.  These things feel great, although a few people on this board hate them.  I can perform all those special moves with virtually no difficulty or thought--my big test was to take Ken all the way across the screen both directions just using the dragon punch.  So, I have competions with a Keywiz eco (for player 2 and other buttons) and a hacked psx pad (for player 1) and will never look back.  Truthfully, although the grommets on my 49 way joysticks are still fresh and new (A lot of folks have mentioned that the grommets need to be broken in at first in order to feel great), I don't think I want to use the 49 ways even in 8 way mode to play fighters.  All the fighters I ever played felt just like the competition joys, or at least that's what I remember. 

--- End quote ---

Most 90's era games had Happ joysticks in them, and most of those were Ultimates and Competitions.  That's why they feel "right" to a fighter fan- they're what you were using when you played them for real.

Maxxonline-  It doesn't sound like you care about Ikari Warriors and the rotary games, and I also don't hear you saying you really have to play Sini-Star, Road Runner, Qbert or Congo Bongo.  It does sound like you care about the fighters and having a real 4-way for "the classics".  If that's all you really need, you can save a lot of cash by getting 4 Supers or 4 Competitions, plus one 4-way, and calling it good.  You'll need ONE keyboard encoder, either a KeyWiz or an I-Pac4.  And that's all. 

If you go this route, you will not be able to play any rotary games, and games that use a 49-way, analog, or Hall-Effect stick will play badly.  Q-bert and Congo Bongo won't play as well as they should, althougth there is a workaround that will be OK but not perfect with those sticks.  But all the 8-way games, including your fighters, will play great, and so will all the 4-way classics.  That's a lot of games, for a lot less $$.  Since I don't hear you saying you need those other games, this is my new reccomendation.

PS- and if you do decide on Supers, buy a Ms. Pac Reunion stick at the same time, plus an extra Super handle.  That way all 5 sticks will match.  Unless you prefer the 4-way to have the balltop, of course. 

Oh, and you can probably save some more by buying those sticks from Ponyboy instead of ordering direct from Happ.  He can get your buttons, too.
Tiger-Heli:
Just some additional details -

--- Quote from: Kremmit on May 27, 2005, 01:23:12 am ---If that's all you really need, you can save a lot of cash by getting 4 Supers or 4 Competitions, plus one 4-way, and calling it good.  You'll need ONE keyboard encoder, either a KeyWiz or an I-Pac4.  And that's all. 

--- End quote ---
Actually, for a four-player panel, it's a lot of compromising to use a KeyWiz alone (but possible).  You probably want either:
1) An I-PAC4
2) A KeyWiz and a GP-Wiz, or
3) Two GP-Wiz's.

--- Quote ---Q-bert and Congo Bongo won't play as well as they should, althougth there is a workaround that will be OK but not perfect with those sticks.

--- End quote ---
I think NoOne=NBA has a thread on that, but it basically consists of mapping the inputs to "UP RIGHT, NOT UP, NOT RIGHT", etc.

--- Quote ---Oh, and you can probably save some more by buying those sticks from Ponyboy instead of ordering direct from Happ.  He can get your buttons, too.

--- End quote ---
Or www.therealbobroberts.com or TornadoTerry on E-bay.
Bursk:
Kremmit,

I had been hoping that I could do a '49 way fits all' kind of CP, but fighters are a big part of what I enjoy about retrogaming.  I suppose there was always going to have to be a compromise, and having to decide between having p360s or 49 ways is one of those tough choices.

Maybe what I'll end up doing is having one CP for fighters (and other 8 way games) and 4 way games, and a second CP with 49 ways, a trackball and spinner.  This would cover most things, I'd have thought, and will have the advantage of not having too cluttered a CP.
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