Dual TRACKBALLS HACK?

[JayTea]

I was wondering if anyone had attempted to install Player 1 and Player 2 Trackballs in their cabinet.  My favorite game growing up was Atari Football (The X's and O's) and it was also a few of my friend's favorite game, too.  I'd love to play head to head, but I don't see how this is possible under a Windows platform.  If someone has any information or a solution, I would be eternally grateful!  Thanks!

Jeff, The Football Guy

[SirPoonga]

Only one possible way right now.  Windows 98, Analog mame, and 2 USB trackballs (actually, you could do 4 and run 4 player atari football)

[JayTea]

I am running MAME .62 under Windows 98...so am I SOL?  Is there a way to make a serial port trackball hack?  If you can plug a joystick into it, why not a trackball?  Sorry if I sound like a rookie at this...I am!  

I understand the USB port scenario, but won't Windows simply recognize both trackballs as the same input device?  Thanks for the help!

ps, I need a beer fridge to go along with this hobby...

[cdbrown]

MameAnalog+ allows multiple usb mice under 98.  Windows itself will only show one pointer but with analog+ you can control different players with separate trackballs.

If using serial then have to use dmame, only plug the second mouse after windows starts, run a new driver and hope it works (from what I've read - never tried).  USB is much easier way to go.

Go and download analog+ from u_rebelscum

Good luck
-cdbrown

[u_rebelscum]

I am running MAME .62 under Windows 98...so am I SOL?  Is there a way to make a serial port trackball hack?  If you can plug a joystick into it, why not a trackball?  Sorry if I sound like a rookie at this...I am!  

I understand the USB port scenario, but won't Windows simply recognize both trackballs as the same input device?  Thanks for the help!

ps, I need a beer fridge to go along with this hobby...

Check my sig if you need a link to Mame:Analog+.  It is limited to USB on win98 or winMe if you want more than one trackball, due to window's and directX's mouse handling (winXP or serial/ps2 wouldn't do two ).  So if you have serial trackballs already, you need dmame with the correct drivers (look at mame.net download for a driver that works).  Or hack the trackballs to USB, or buy two USB trackballs.

As noted above, if you have four USB trackballs, you can play four player atari football (and atari soccer) with analog+, while dmame is limited to two trackballs (at least one being serial, with a un-normal setup).

If you have any specific questions on analog+, feel free to ask.

[JayTea]

Thanks for all the info and tutorials!