What System Buttons should I have?

[GGKoul]

Almost finshed placing my buttons on my panel.  I just wondering what "system" buttons should I have?

Here's what I'm adding:

F2 - Service
Tab - Options
Esc - Quit
P - Pause


--- What do you recommend and what other command buttons are there anyways?

F3 - Reset
~ - volume ( I have volume control knob for this)

Many Thanks!
-GGKoul

[delta88]

Almost finshed placing my buttons on my panel.

[GGKoul]

I'm using a 56 IPAC...


So how would you map the IPAC to do:
Pause
Exit
F2
F3

[Gorre]

With the I-Pac the player 1 button functions as a shift-key (So you don't need additional switches/Buttons)
Meaning:
Pl1 + Pl2 = Esc (Exit)
Pl1 + Down = Pause
Pl1 + Right = Tab

I guess you have to assign F2 yourself

You can see the key-mapping for the I-Pac at this link

http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html

I hope this clarifies it a bit

[soslo]

Would this ever cause a problem with calling a command unintentionally?

Example: 2 people want to play a game, so they both hit their respective player buttons and [BAM] you are out of MAME.

[NY_in_TX]

yes it could cause some problems,  but do it once and you'll remember not to do it again.    To prevent this move the esc to a much less likely to happen combination, like "coin in" or even a hidden dedicated button.  

Pretty much the IPAC mame defaults are ready to go out of the box, but I did add F2 for the occaisional game that needs this at the start up.  

Look through the programming info on ultimarc's website, it'll go through the procedures for assigning shift keys.  I use the built in programmer.  All you need is a keyboard and notepad and your ready to go.  

[TalkingOctopus]

I put in 6 black admin buttons, because I did not want to deal with keystrokes, and I wanted other people to easily have some control.  

They are layed out at the top mid of my cp like this:

<enter> <tab - menu>  <left mouse - service> <right mouse - reset> <f2 - pause> <esc>

[Dr. J]

All of them.  
None of them.
It's up to you.

I've only got 2.  Launch Game and Exit Game.  (and 2 for speaker-volume if those count)  Everything else I preset.  If something isn't set right I plug in the usb keyboard, fix it and close it back up.

I wanted it so people cannot access any of those menu options and tinker around when I'm not there.  For me that would be about as annoying and confusing as when people play with your computer, screw something up, don't tell you about it and then you've got to figure out how to set it straight.  

I've seen other control panels that have buttons for just about every menu option under the sun.  That's what they like.  More power to 'em.  

[AlanS17]

I seriously recommend removing the "tab" and F2 button. It's great way for other people to screw up your stuff.

I plan on having dedicated buttons for:
enter (likely mapped to the "Enter" button for use outside MAME)
exit ("Esc" key)
pause
a couple special buttons for navigating FE menus

If you want a "Tab" button put it in the coin door where it's not so easy to mess with.

[AlanS17]

I also don't recommend having a reset button. Friends will come over and reset your game just to get you mad. Doesn't serve much of a purpose and is likely to cause more problems than it fixes.

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, using the shoft function of the IPAC you don't need extra buttons.  However since I know many people end up using my cabinet I put in a quit and a pause.  That way I don't have to consantly tell my friends how to quit and if the phone rings it is a 1 button push to pause.

[AlanS17]

In my last incarnation I used the shift keys, but they would work against me (like both players pressing "start" at once and kicking us out of a game). Plus, like SirPoonga mentioned, it's helpful for people that have never used it.

[l00pus]

I have a Dedicated pause button that I moved the shift key to. This completly removes the dreaded both people hitting start at the same time issue.

i have Pause as shift

P1 Start as `
P1 Coin for Tab
P2 Coin as Enter
P2 start as Esc.

I was thinking about binding reset but thats about it.

[SirPoonga]

oh yeah, I ahve simular. My pause button is also my shift.

Player 1 button 1 shifted is Tab
Player 1 button 2 shifted is reset
Player 2 button 1 and 2 shifted is load and save

[Sasquatch!]

Yeah, using the shoft function of the IPAC you don't need extra buttons.  However since I know many people end up using my cabinet I put in a quit and a pause.  That way I don't have to consantly tell my friends how to quit and if the phone rings it is a 1 button push to pause.

Almost word-for-word, this was going to be my answer.  OUT OF MY HEAD, DAMMIT.

I also recommend against a TAB button, since it's too easy to accidentally hit it.  And F2 is used so damn infrequently, I'd skip it altogether.

[u_rebelscum]

Would this ever cause a problem with calling a command unintentionally?

Example: 2 people want to play a game, so they both hit their respective player buttons and [BAM] you are out of MAME.

Yup

Happened to me once, so I changed it.  I might remember to watch out for it, but not everyone else will, and I already forgot it one time in the heat of the battle, anyway.  Ticked me off big time.  

Happened again while using the HotRodse default ctrlr ini settings; I think "P2 start & P2 coin" is mapped to exit. That ticked me off big time, again.   grrrr  Changed the ini file.


I'm looking at two admin buttons: pause and [ipac shift key].  I am intentionally having that shift button do nothing but shift, for my blood pressure and my computer's safety.

[Minwah]

I am planning to have 1 extra button - dedicated IPAC shift.  This will be in between my P1 & P2 Start buttons (which are not on the control panel, rather a separate panel between CP & monitor).

Shift + P1 Start = Quit
Shift + P2 Start = Pause

I may add: Shift + P1 Button 1 = Tab or suchlike if I find the need...

[crashdmj]

Do you need the Enter button (start game) if you are using a frontend?
Also what exactly does F2 do? Why is it neccesary?
Derek

[SirPoonga]

Do you need the Enter button (start game) if you are using a frontend?
Also what exactly does F2 do? Why is it neccesary?
Derek

Think about this one, you should know the answer
No, you don't need an enter button.  Mame controls are mappable.  Which is a hint to the answer of the second question.  Run mame and look at what it is mapped to

[crashdmj]

Lol sorry it's been awhile. Should've known.
Derek

[gndprx]

One of the reasons I like MAMEWAH (although others are probably mappable the same way)  P1 and P2 start buttons (default mame 1 and 2) are Game Launch and Menu buttons respectively.

I have 3 dedicated system buttons though.  Esc, Pause and F3 Reset.  Just found it easier to tuck these up in the corner of the CP where they won't get touched during game play and are still easy enough to hit when needed (quick pause for phone?)

Just my $.02  Haven't found a need for any others.

[Brax]

I don't use any system buttons with my IPAC, that's the beauty of it.

If I would have anything it might be a dedicated shift button but it's not the end of the world the way it's set up now either.

[REBIRTH]

I too have an I-Pac, and while I love the I-Pac and agree the "shift" functionality it has is awesome - I wanted dedicated buttons to make it easier.  I have 4 buttons - Tab/Enter/Escape/Pause.  If you have Tab, you should have an enter - can't do much without using the enter key in the Mame menu.  The Pause button is key, use that a lot.  Escape key is a great one too.  Again, not needed with the I-Pac, but I like having the buttons.  

[AlanS17]

I like the idea of dedicated menu buttons as well as dedicated "enter", "esc", and "pause".

I realize that makes for a lot of extra buttons but it keeps things simple.

I suppose the menu buttons are optional. I would avoid a shift button at all costs, though. To me, it seems to be the only thing wirder than dedicated menu buttons. Plus I've had problems with those shift keys. Menu buttons are optional, but I find dedicated "enter", "esc", and "pause" to be nearly essential.

[Lilwolf]

btw, another nice one is

F10... Then add show FPS to F10 and F11.

So press it once... full speed... another click and it's back to normal.  

Very nice

[u_rebelscum]

...can't do much without using the enter key in the Mame menu....

Not exactly true: just remap P1 Button 1 to do the same thing.

Make a ctrlr ini default.ini file with

Code: [Select]

UI_SELECT               "KEYCODE_ENTER | KEYCODE_LCONTROL"
or edit the TAB "Input (general)" input

Code: [Select]

UI_SELECT               "Enter or Left Ctrl"
Lctrl is usually P1B1, so you can use it instead of the enter key, thus ending the need for an enter button.


Unlike the exit (aka "esc" aka "UI cancel"), menu (aka "tab" aka "UI configure"), or pause (aka "p") buttons, mame does not check the select button (aka enter) during normal play, so mapping it to an action key is not much of a problem.  

Only problem I can think of: in the middle of the game, player 2 presses the menu (tab) button just before player 1 presses P1 button 1 (select) two or more times (before P2 can press either the escape or menu button).  That would make select and menu the same button, making it impossible to use the menu.  Small enough chance IMO.

FWIW, hotrod, slikstik, and xarcade all map the P1B1 to select in their default ctrlr ini files. *shrug*


Not that having a Select (aka enter) as it's own button is a bad idea, just that it doesn't have to.  
(In fact, if I had micro buttons I could use for admin stuff, I think I'd include a select button programed to enter and only map enter as "ui select" in mame; but I don't, so I haven't.)

I like the idea of dedicated menu buttons as well as dedicated "enter", "esc", and "pause".

Alan, what do you mean by "menu buttons"?  Enter, Tab, ...?

[REBIRTH]

...can't do much without using the enter key in the Mame menu....

Not exactly true: just remap P1 Button 1 to do the same thing.

Make a ctrlr ini default.ini file with

Code: [Select]

UI_SELECT               "KEYCODE_ENTER | KEYCODE_LCONTROL"
or edit the TAB "Input (general)" input

Code: [Select]

UI_SELECT               "Enter or Left Ctrl"
Lctrl is usually P1B1, so you can use it instead of the enter key, thus ending the need for an enter button.

That is a good idea too.  Never thought of remapping the select ket to another button.  I think I still like having the "enter" button on my cab, but you are right - if space is an issue you do not need it.

[ErikRuud]

I guess I'll add my design ideas.

Accorss the top of my cp I have the following buttons.

Pause, Advance, Coin1, P1 Start, P2 Start, Coin2, Tilde(~), Tab, Enter, Save, Pause(Wired in paralell with the other pause button).

Tilde, Tab and Enter are all wired to a hidden switch to enable them.

Coin1 is the shift button.  The Shifted functions are:
Esc,Reset,Shift,P1 Start,P2 Start,Coin2,Tilde(~),Tab,Enter,Load,Esc.

All of my The player buttons and joystick inputs are setup so that it does not matter if the shift buttin is pushed.

[AlanS17]

By menu buttons I mean buttons that are specific to FE navigation. Some fe's (like 3darcade) need buttons to switch between emus, categories, add favorites, etc.

You can use the joystick to scroll through a games list and all, but pressing P1B1 to switch emus and P1B2 to switch categories is less than intuitive for anybody that has never played your machine before.

[AlanS17]

Mapping the "enter" key to an "enter" button gives the added benefit of upgradability and versatility. If you plan on doing more than just MAME with your machine then the enter button will come in handy all the time for other applications, pc games, etc.

[ErikRuud]

I actually have different IPac configurations for each emulator and my FE.

In GameLauncher, all of the buttons accross the top of the screen will launch a game.  The Coin1/Pause combination is still ESC.  The player buttons are all mapped to space, which toggles the screen shot display on and off.  Up and down on the left stick scroll one line in the list. p and Down on the right stick page up and down.  Left and right on either stick switches among the emulators.