Best Interface - Please Vote

[ripzone]

What do you think it's the best interface?  

You can find info of each interface on the following sites:

X-Arcade - http://xgaming.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=XOS&Product_Code=XPCB&Category_Code=
I-Pac - www.ultimarc.com
KeyWizard - http://www.groovygamegear.com/page5.html
Hagstrom - http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/
MK40 & MK60 - http://www.arcade66.homestead.com/files/index.html

General Info (Must See): http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade_input.shtml#tutorials

[rampy]

wqhat?!@ there's no "other" or "cowboy neil"
option... blasphemy...

rampy

PS the best interface depends on the application...

[Silverwind]

wqhat?!@ there's no "other" or "cowboy neil"
option... blasphemy...

rampy

PS the best interface depends on the application...

well yes.. and depends on budget, etc...
do you mean "best" by best bang for your buck?
or "best" as in which has the best performance/options?

[eightbit]

Bang for your buck with the most functionality I'd say keywiz. Hardly fair to put the keywiz in there though since it hasn't been released yet but it still gets my vote since I have been using it and like it.

I've done 2 ipacs, 1 gamepad, and now 1 keywiz and my next cab will be keywiz no question about it.

You also forgot to mention Happs interface- http://www.happcontrols.com/index.html?http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/49313200.htm!

[arcadepcnut]

I voted keyboard hack. The reason why Is I have never used an encoder. There was only one or two options when I built my cab and they were $75-$100.
The keyboard was free. Also the keyboard was one of the old ones with a circuit board and solder points. All I had to do to use the letter "f" was to solder on the left and right of the key. Super easy but hardcoded.

Were I to do it again and need configurable keys I'd use the ipac.

[eightbit]

I voted keyboard hack. The reason why Is I have never used an encoder. There was only one or two options when I built my cab and they were $75-$100.
The keyboard was free. Also the keyboard was one of the old ones with a circuit board and solder points. All I had to do to use the letter "f" was to solder on the left and right of the key. Super easy but hardcoded.

Were I to do it again and need configurable keys I'd use the ipac.

That doesn't make sense. You voted keyboard hack but said if you'd do it again you'd go ipac. Doesn't that mean you think the ipac  is a better interface?

[Silverwind]

Bang for your buck with the most functionality I'd say keywiz. Hardly fair to put the keywiz in there though since it hasn't been released yet but it still gets my vote since I have been using it and like it.

I've done 2 ipacs, 1 gamepad, and now 1 keywiz and my next cab will be keywiz no question about it.

You also forgot to mention Happs interface- http://www.happcontrols.com/index.html?http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/49313200.htm!

Are the features of the keywhiz better than the ipac.. or just comparable yet lower cost?

[eightbit]

Are the features of the keywhiz better than the ipac.. or just comparable yet lower cost?

My opinion is the features are better and  they will be sold at a lower cost and if your in the US your going to save on shipping which also brings the cost down.

[Dave_K.]

Bang for your buck with the most functionality I'd say keywiz.

Bang for your buck, with most functionality should be a console adapter.  One console pad hack can support all available nextgen consoles as well as PC interface.  Hack a madcatz pad with the macro function, and you can remap buttons or create combo's on the fly as well!  Did I mention its cheaper too?  Only down side is its not plug and play like keywiz/ipac...soldering is required.

[eightbit]

Bang for your buck, with most functionality should be a console adapter.  One console pad hack can support all available nextgen consoles as well as PC interface.  Hack a madcatz pad with the macro function, and you can remap buttons or create combo's on the fly as well!  Did I mention its cheaper too?  Only down side is its not plug and play like keywiz/ipac...soldering is required.

The poll didn't specify what to interface. I will concede that for consoles the only way to go is a pad hack or the x-arcade interface plus adapters.

But for PC I would say keywiz. Keywiz economy is $27. What do 2 madcatz pads with pc adapters cost? Using a keyboard encoder with a PC gives you maximum compatability with all emulators (that I know of) and can play most PC games.

[OSCAR]

Don't leave out the Canadian encoder!

http://www.3tronics.com/


Or the Button Box for the real DIY people....

http://surf.to/buttonbox

[Xphile]

Don't leave out the Canadian encoder!

http://www.3tronics.com/

<snip>

I had no idea...and in my own province, too...but it doesn't even emulate the blinking LEDs like the Ipac does..:-(

$59.95 USD vs $39 USD for the IPAC

hmm..but he offers free shipping...and no import taxes and duties for me..  so it's about even price wise...Aww man... NO BLINKING START BUTTONS!!

Ipac has a wider user base too, so If I have a question, I can just ask here instead of waiting for support from the MAMI guy :-)

[OSCAR]

I had no idea...and in my own province, too...but it doesn't even emulate the blinking LEDs like the Ipac does..:-(

$59.95 USD vs $39 USD for the IPAC

hmm..but he offers free shipping...and no import taxes and duties for me..  so it's about even price wise...Aww man... NO BLINKING START BUTTONS!!

Ipac has a wider user base too, so If I have a question, I can just ask here instead of waiting for support from the MAMI guy :-)

All true.  My post wasn't an endorsement for any product, I just thought they would be worth adding to the poll since they are both encoders specifically designed for MAME, unlike a generic joystick/keyboard hack.  Not to say anything is wrong with a hack, either, when used appropriately (I've used both!).  

[dhansen]

Wow, I consider myself pretty well versed in this stuff (I read this board about 100 times a day) but I must admit I'd never heard of the button box or the Canadian encoder!

hmmmm

The keywiz looks cool though, but it'll  be hard to beat Ultimarcs support.

Doug

[RandyT]

Wow, I consider myself pretty well versed in this stuff (I read this board about 100 times a day) but I must admit I'd never heard of the button box or the Canadian encoder!

hmmmm

The keywiz looks cool though, but it'll  be hard to beat Ultimarcs support.

That one was news to me too.  Thanks to Oscar for pointing it out to me a while back.

As for support on the KeyWiz, we don't expect that to be a problem, but as always, the customer gives out the final grades on this one  

One thing I can tell you is that several years ago we had an endeavor that generated a customer base of close to 20,000.   We dominated that particular market for 3 reasons; Quality, support and price.  You always have a couple of people that you just can't please no matter how hard you try, but I'm happy to say that out of that number, you wouldn't even need to use your toes to count them.

KeyWiz has been shipped to a few select individuals for testing and reports so far have been very positive.  It will be interesting to run this poll again after the KeyWiz is actually released  

RandyT

[Punchcard]

I LOVE my I-Pac.

I'm sure the KeyWiz will be a fine option when available as well.

But when I got my I-Pac and hooked it up I was exstatic. Had to wait for it to come from overseas but it just made it all the more sweet when it came. Yes it wasn't terribly cheap, but I did everything I wanted and more with no fuss. It was by far the best purchase for my cab.  (Though my Oscar Spinner is close

I am so happy with Ultimarc I would go with them again, if for nothing else out of brand loyalty. They were the only game on the block when I needed them, and they delivered spectacularly.

[Kilgore]

I believe the KeyWiz must be the best.  I read through of the feature lists and only the Keywiz has "The Shazaaam!  key" (tm).

[ripzone]

The I-Pac has also a Shift key.

I think the I-Pac and KeyWiz are the best.

[SirPoonga]

Since the KeyWiz isn't out how can you vote on it?

[eightbit]

Since the KeyWiz isn't out how can you vote on it?

Well since I have one I can vote for it. Its not quite fair to include it in this poll though.

[SNAAAKE]

my $000.002

PSX hack=$2
Then converter for every system.

USB=$10
DC=$10
x-box=$13
gc=$10

$45 and you have everything.. ..know i'm sayin..

[RandyT]

Since the KeyWiz isn't out how can you vote on it?

Don't *I* get a vote?  

[OSCAR]

Don't *I* get a vote?  

Well, that depends....  How many times are you going to vote for it?  





Just kidding ya, Randy!!!  

[1UP]

I-PAC!  I've hacked a lot of gamepads, have heard that keyboard hacking with modern keyboards is a NIGHTMARE, and the easiest piece of hardware I've ever used has been the I-Pac.  The only thing I've ever plugged in and it just worked like it was supposed to!  Not a single driver installed, not a single icon clicked, not single drop of solder spilled.

[Minwah]

Well the IPAC gets my vote, I receieved mine yesterday - it looks really simple to wire up.

I'm a little biased tho since I live in England and I haven't tried any of the other encoders  

[eightbit]

Does any one have any personal experience with the x-arcade encoder? Someone here had to at least have bought the whole control panel package.

[Brax]

Does any one have any personal experience with the x-arcade encoder? Someone here had to at least have bought the whole control panel package.

It doesn't look as "plug and play" friendly to me....

All hard coded with no software... lots of switches and buttons... I love the simplicity and functionality of the IPAC.

[Dave_K.]

my $000.002

PSX hack=$2
Then converter for every system.

USB=$10
DC=$10
x-box=$13
gc=$10

$45 and you have everything.. ..know i'm sayin..

Snaaake, although you get a bad rap around here with your numerous posts, occasionally you hit the nail on the head (like this one).  I'm glad you didn't add your $0.20 this time  .

[Silverwind]

I-PAC!  I've hacked a lot of gamepads, have heard that keyboard hacking with modern keyboards is a NIGHTMARE, and the easiest piece of hardware I've ever used has been the I-Pac.  The only thing I've ever plugged in and it just worked like it was supposed to!  Not a single driver installed, not a single icon clicked, not single drop of solder spilled.

yep.. I received my I-PAC4 about a week ago.. no complaints! wired up my joystick/buttons and was up and running first try..  didn't have to mess with anything.. mame defaults let me hop right in without any delay!

[Lilwolf]

Even thought the MK's seem to have only one voter (me) I want to mention...

They are GREAT!

They used to be the best / only reasonable priced solution for a 4 player cab if you wanted to configure all the buttons (since daisy chaining ipacs worked, but you could only configure one... and they didn't have the new larger version).

They where the first to have XP configuration support

Anyway, they are great... definately look into them when choosing an encoder.

[SNAAAKE]

my $000.002

PSX hack=$2
Then converter for every system.

USB=$10
DC=$10
x-box=$13
gc=$10

$45 and you have everything.. ..know i'm sayin..

Snaaake, although you get a bad rap around here with your numerous posts, occasionally you hit the nail on the head (like this one).  I'm glad you didn't add your $0.20 this time  .

OkAY..that was funny...mine cost $0.18 more..LOL !