is the optipac needed?

[mo1e]

hi all im going to purchase the ipac from ultimarc and 2 ps/2 trackballs but can these be connected to the ipac? or do i need t opurchase an optipac?

[Bones]

IPAC has nothing to do with spinners or trackballs it is to detect "keystrokes" only. If you get ps2 trackballs then no, you do not need the Optipac as the trackballs will plug directly into your computer.

[Jabba]

Bones, I've been discussing this with Mole in the B/S/T thread. Can he plug both PS/2 connectors to his computer? That means he would need two PS/2 ports. Worst case, he could get a PS/2 to USB converter adpater. Would Windows detect both trackballs?

[mo1e]

i would also now like to add the main fact im connecting the ipac to my xbox console using the xbox adapter i need to know does the ipac have 2 ps/2 ports?

[Bones]

Bones, I've been discussing this with Mole in the B/S/T thread. Can he plug both PS/2 connectors to his computer? That means he would need two PS/2 ports. Worst case, he could get a PS/2 to USB converter adpater. Would Windows detect both trackballs?

I know when I have a USB and serial mouse plugged in at the same time they act as one. I really don't know if/how they would be individually configured in MAME.

Good question for the software geeks.

[mo1e]

what i want to do is be able to use one trackball for the player 1 right analogue stick on the xbox controller and the other for player 2

[CheffoJeffo]

What is this plugging into ? A PC ? XBox ?

Makes a pretty big difference ... as far as I know, Andy's XBox converter does the standard substitution of digital controls for analog. No option for real analog controls that I am aware of.

Cheers.

[mo1e]

ok this is for the xbox for the left analogue stick i was going go use a happs 8 way and for the right analogu stick on the xbox controller i was going to use a rollerball as the right analogu stick is used alot for aiming in games such as first person shooters

[mo1e]

heres what i mean

[CheffoJeffo]

I didn't know that you could connect a trackball to an XBox ... you sure can't do it with the XBox adaptor that I have seen.

per Andy's notes on the subject:

Important Note: The X-Box controller contains some analog controls, and your arcade control panel has switch-type controls. This means that pressing each switch simulates the analog control being pushed hard across. Some games (flight sims for example) cannot be played with switch-type controls.

This is pretty standard for every console/arcade kit/hack I have seen.

Cheers

[mo1e]

ok so basically i should just get 4 8way controls instead of 2 and 2 trackballs?

[CheffoJeffo]

My impression (and I am out of my element here) is that Andy's XBox Adaptor is for use with a two-player panel (e.g. one stick and 8 buttons per player). You can have one player use all of those controls (the stick becomes the two analog controls, the P2 buttons become the D Pad), but can't do it for two players simultaneously.

http://www.ultimarc.com/xba.html

Maybe someone on the Consoles board has better info.

Cheers.

[mo1e]

ok so is this correct for 2 player games like fighting i use 1 stick each then for games like halo i play one player using both analoque sticks?

[CheffoJeffo]

That is the way I read it.

I do not own an XBox, so you may want to pose your question in the Consoles board.

Cheers.

[mo1e]

yep thats the way i read it to and only an ipac will be needed for this right?

[Jabba]

Mole, I wish I could help but am not familiar with Console game adapters. I think you should ask the guys this questions in the Consoles forum. I though consolte game analue sticks were more like a 49 way or a 360 style joysticks. I may be wrong though...

Sheesh, you're getting the run-around, but best be sure before you lay down your hard earned money dude!

[mo1e]

yer but atleast scrapping the 2 trackballs will take a load off the price tag
but basically if my cps like this





how will i use both hands and press the buttons?