Encoder vs. game pad interface

[monkeybomb]

I am NOT asking which encoder is best.  I am NOT asking which gamepad interface is better.

Why would people choose one over the other? - exclude the 49-way since it is only available as a gamepad.

[NoOne=NBA=]

If you are only getting one, or the other, make sure that ALL the games you want to play will use the one you get.

There are games out there that will ONLY accept keyboard commands, and others will ONLY accept gamepad commands.

You can get software like Joy2Key that will overcome this, but it's alot easier to just use something that is compatible natively.

If I were only buying one of the two, I'd get a keyboard encoder.
Most software will allow keyboard control, and may have necessary commands that are not remappable.
A good example of this is the entire Digital Leisure series (Mad Dog McCree, Last Bounty Hunter, etc...).
These all require that you press "F" to go to full screen mode, and "Alt-F4" to quit, etc...

If all you have is a gamepad encoder, you will have to use the conversion software above to get the gamepad commands to map over to keyboard commands.
There are very few games that will ONLY accept gamepad commands, however.

Adding gamepad encoders in parallel with a keyboard encoder works great.
The only issues I've run into with it is that I need to be careful about what I plug in, and unplug to keep the joysticks from swapping ID's.
I don't have all that hardwired into a cabinet yet, so I am swapping individual control panels, at this point.

[monkeybomb]

So no one will help me?   

[AceTKK]

to follow up on what the other poster said: there are also several games that will not allow 2 players to play using a keyboard (or a keyboard encoder).  Virtua Tennis and the EA sports PC games require players 2,3, and 4 to use a gamepad.  Once again, there is software available to overcome this limitation, but it's a little bit harder to find than Joy2Key.  I haven't decided whether I'm going to use a Kb or Gp encoder, but I'm leaning towards Gp because Virtua Tennis is a must-have game for me.

-Ace-

[markrvp]

I have used several different keyboard encoders and GP encoders.  If I'm choosing one over the other I would choose the keyboard encoder.  My primary concern with a keyboard encoder would be that it has enough inputs for all the controls on my control panel.  I would also like it to be easy to wire up using screw terminals or a 40pin IDE header.  It should also have a default MAME^TM configuration.

One thing that is important to me (because I play PC games on my cab as well) is that it be able to accept alternate key configurations through an easy to use software interface so I can quickly change keysets between MAME and other PC games easily.

Fast shipping, good customer support, and a reputable product would also influence my decision.

[Grasshopper]

If you're going down the USB route then I don't think it really matters. But if you want maximum compatibility with as many operating systems and PCs as possible then I'd choose a ps/2 based keyboard encoder.

[Tiger-Heli]

So no one will help me?   

No One is a very helpful member of BYOAC 

[Tiger-Heli]

NoOne covered this well.  My 25 cents:

It really, really comes down to what games you plan to play on the cab.

MAME couldn't care less.  Most PC games want keyboard input, but see below for an important caveat.

These all require that you press "F" to go to full screen mode, and "Alt-F4" to quit, etc...

OTOH, the I-PAC software will allow you to send a macro (like Alt-F4) with a single keypress, but the KeyWiz software will not, so with a KeyWiz, you would either need a hacked version that quits with escape (for ZSNES, Z26, etc., not sure about Digital Leisure), or I am pretty sure RbKey will allow you to assign Alt-F4 to a gamepad input.

As usual, I feel that I gave you good and factual information but may not have helped you out - I'd be the engineer in http://www.thevoiceofreason.co.uk/WorldsFunniestJokes/ManagerHotAir.htm