I-PAC shift function vs. KeyWiz Shazaam Function for Howard C.

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OSCAR:

--- Quote from: RandyT on February 21, 2003, 06:05:03 pm ---A number of them have shipped and that includes to some regulars on this site (including the Owner, it's good to be the King :) ) I expect they will offer their opinions soon.
--- End quote ---

Hopefully saint gets around to offering his opinion on the KeyWiz quicker than he is on the Pro spinner I sent him, oooh, about 5 months ago now. Still waiting on that review... ;)

Just kidding, John, take your time. :)

Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on February 21, 2003, 04:42:01 pm ---Tiger I think you are starting to see the problem I have with the shazaam key. As you can see andy was correct in putting in the delay in the shift function and it was well thought out.

--- End quote ---
I agree with you that Shift keys in general are bad and the best option is to buy an encoder with enough inputs that you don't need to use shifted inputs. OTOH, I feel that Randy's implementation of the Shift function is better than any other encoder on the market, but it comes down to whatever you want the function to do.

--- Quote ---Also just for the record, and only for the record, randy's excuses of not doing things to "prevent key blocking" or "increase the number of simultanious keys pressed" is another one of those vaporware features I was talking about.

--- End quote ---
Randy was responding to a post that I made asking for blocking of additional inputs when the shazaam! key was pressed. He wasn't saying that key blocking was a problem with the I-PAC. He was merely responding to my questions.

--- Quote ---And that's been my point all along... you can't call something a feature when it doesn't do anything. You can't say something performs better when the original already preformed as well as the related hardware will allow.

--- End quote ---
Yes, you can! It just doesn't mean anything!!! A Hayabusa (motorcycle) will go almost 200 mph, an Interceptor tops out around 140. The Hayabusa performs better, but if you aren't stoplight racing or going more than double the U.S. speed limit, it doesn't matter.

The claims about number of simultaneous keypresses and processor speed fall into this category, but it is helpful to quantify this things to show that the product isn't merely a standard keyboard encoder chip with some terminal strips added. The other features clearly differentiate the unit from the competing products.

To me, the biggest consideration is what games can I play with it, and what games am I unable to play with it. In this category, the KeyWiz has a big advantage over the I-PAC/2 and is comparable to the MK40.

Tiger-Heli:
Hi _Iz-,

I am considering using the adapters for coin and start and also pause and escape, but you make some valid points that I hadn't considered. I still think it is workable. (Read on).

--- Quote from: _Iz- on February 21, 2003, 05:04:58 pm ---Other than as dedicated MAME/emu function keys the only place they can really be used is for non-essential inputs, like coin-up and start. (keep reading for why)

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Right, that's been said many times!

--- Quote ---Whenever someone presses a coin or start button ALL buttons on the panel are shifted for however long the button is held. In a 4 player game this can wreak havoc on the other 3 players who are still mashing away!

--- End quote ---
It wouldn't be that bad, ideally, the worst thing that might happen is Player 3 might have a missed shot or a coin input himself instead of a shot. I could deal with that.

--- Quote ---Yes, you can minimize this by making everyone's 3rd and 4th buttons the shifted coin and start and program 1 and 2 to have the same shifted/nonshifted code but the problem exists.

--- End quote ---
Good point, you better program ALL the non-shifted (that aren't used for coin/start etc when shifted) buttons to have the same shifted/nonshifted code (joystick directionals too).

--- Quote --- What if player 2, 3 or 4 try and coin or start at the same time player 1 sticks left or right?
Then you're into another codeset altogether! Scary!

--- End quote ---
Excellent point that I hadn't even considered!!! RandyT, is there any way to add an option in software (or otherwise) to disable the joystick code switching to avoid this?

--- Quote ---I wouldn't want to use the Y adapters for much more than producing a 1 button "esc" or "tab" (not that I want those buttons on my cab anyway, I prefer them hidden as secondary functions).

--- End quote ---
Here's a caution and a workaround which RandyT pointed out to me. BE VERY CAREFUL HAVING A SHIFTED FUNCTION FOR COIN INPUT AND ESCAPE.

Let's say Player 4 button 4 shifted is mapped to escape. Player 1 goes to insert a coin, Player 4 continues playing and presses button 4 and . . . GAME OVER!!!

Here's the solution: P1B7 and P1B8 are used as Joystick 3 Up and Down on my panel. They are assigned to C and V, whether shifted or non-shifted. They cannot be pressed at the same time, because a joystick cannot be both up and down simultaneously. However, I can use two special adapters to map the ESC button on the panel to Shazaam! P1B7 and P1B8. Now in MAME, I set my ctrl.ini file to "UI EXIT Keycode_ESC | Keycode_C Keycode_V" (the KEYCODE_ESC is kept as I plan a desktop controller and might want to use the keyboard occasionally, you could make it just "C and V" otherwise).

Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: RandyT on February 21, 2003, 06:05:03 pm ---Howard is now starting to make comparisons to the IPAC4. *punt* :D

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Howard's comparing it to the I-PAC/4, I'm comparing it to the MK40. The KeyWiz is in some pretty good company now. RandyT, you should be proud. Those considering a KeyWiz, you should take notice!!!!

Note: this isn't a blanket endorsement - there are some features I would really miss having on the KeyWiz (LED Support, dedicated pass-thru, USB support), however the unit is very well thought out and very attractively priced. We've been through the reasons that the unit doesn't have these features and whether I agree or not is irrelevant at this point.

The KeyWiz will not be for everyone, but it's definitely one to consider!!!

_Iz-:

--- Quote from: Tiger-Heli on February 21, 2003, 10:13:24 pm ---Here's a caution and a workaround which RandyT pointed out to me. BE VERY CAREFUL HAVING A SHIFTED FUNCTION FOR COIN INPUT AND ESCAPE.

Let's say Player 4 button 4 shifted is mapped to escape. Player 1 goes to insert a coin, Player 4 continues playing and presses button 4 and . . . GAME OVER!!!

Here's the solution: P1B7 and P1B8 are used as Joystick 3 Up and Down on my panel. They are assigned to C and V, whether shifted or non-shifted. They cannot be pressed at the same time, because a joystick cannot be both up and down simultaneously. However, I can use two special adapters to map the ESC button on the panel to Shazaam! P1B7 and P1B8. Now in MAME, I set my ctrl.ini file to "UI EXIT Keycode_ESC | Keycode_C Keycode_V" (the KEYCODE_ESC is kept as I plan a desktop controller and might want to use the keyboard occasionally, you could make it just "C and V" otherwise).

--- End quote ---

This works great for MAME but what about outside MAME? Most other emulators and front ends don't support this.

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