Qbert/Congo Bongo type games

[mcleanjoel]

As mentioned in several topics here you can configure mame to recognise the diagonals only on an 8-way stick for Qbert & Congo Bongo.
I tried this with my Super but I had trouble with it (maybe my Super doesn't hit the diagonals easily?)
The games do work great with my Wico 4-way leaf stick.

So here is my question:
I am not crazy about either game but I might consider a dedicated stick if there are enough other games I would like  - What other games would use a 4-way diagonal stick?

[spidermonkey]

As far as I know those are the only two. Some people think that the Zaxxon triggerstick is mounted on a 45 but it isn't.
Forcing the horizontals with the Happ 8-way comps works perfect for me. I used to have Happ supers which were quickly replaced with competitions for this very reason.

[1UP]

Try either a Happ Universal stick or an E-stick from Ultimarc.com.  It's a switchable 4-way with a true diamond restrictor plate, but the switch plate also rotates 45 deg to allow for diagonal games.  That way you can just have it as a dedicated 4-way, and switch it when playing diagonal games.  Works for me.

[mcleanjoel]

I was considering that stick & ended up with Happ Supers.
Questions:
Is it easy to switch from 4 to 8 way? It looks like you just rotate the dial.
It has 4 screws on the dial - do these need to be loosened & retightened to make the switch?
Do you know if the Universal is the same as the E-stick or just similar and which one have you used?

[1UP]

I was considering that stick & ended up with Happ Supers.
Questions:
Is it easy to switch from 4 to 8 way? It looks like you just rotate the dial.
It has 4 screws on the dial - do these need to be loosened & retightened to make the switch?
Do you know if the Universal is the same as the E-stick or just similar and which one have you used?

The 2 sticks seem to be almost identical, I have an E-stick.  The switching is done by just turning the dial.  You don't need to adjust the screws unless you want the dial tighter or looser.  I use mine as a dedicated 4-way though, so I only rotate the switch plate for diagonal games, and not the 4-8way dial.

One thing I will tell you about the E-stick -- the spring tension is a little stiff.  I am going to look for a similar-sized spring at Home Depot that uses a thinner gauge wire today, I'll let you know if I found one that works.

[1UP]

As far as I know those are the only two. Some people think that the Zaxxon triggerstick is mounted on a 45 but it isn't.
Forcing the horizontals with the Happ 8-way comps works perfect for me. I used to have Happ supers which were quickly replaced with competitions for this very reason.

Hey spidermonkey, tell me, does the square actuator on the competitions help to better locate horizontals and diagonals?  I've been thinking about these for fighter games.

[1UP]

Well, tonight I went to Home Depot and found a spring of the same approximate size, but made of a thinner gauge wire.  Popped it in the E-stick, and now it feels just like a Happ super!

The spring was a "Handyman Springs" brand (Prime-Line Slide-Co), part# SP-9706.  The specs are 1/2" x 1-1/2" x .041

[spidermonkey]

Yes 1UP,
I think the comps. have a more accurate  feel especially for the diagonals and I do think its because of the square actuators. Happ supers are a good heavy duty all around stick but in my opinion they are a "jack of all trades" and "master of nothing" type of stick and since I do have a dedicated wico 4-way I decided to do away with the supers in favor of the more fighter oriented Happ comps. One of my buddies is a street fighter freak and after I switched the supers with comps.the first thing he said was "ahh thats more like it". After hearing that I knew I wasn't the only one that didn't think the supers felt quite right/authentic for fighter games. I know others will rip me apart for giving supers a thumbs down but in my case I had enough room on my cp for numerous specialty sticks rather then two all in one sticks.
No facts here... just personal opinions
S.M.

[eyal8r]

Forgive my ignorance here guys-
But how do you configure the games in Mame?  I can't seem to find it anywhere. I can find all the general MAME options- but, where do you go to configure a specific game?
Thanks
D

[Oddfeld]

Forgive my ignorance here guys-
But how do you configure the games in Mame?  I can't seem to find it anywhere. I can find all the general MAME options- but, where do you go to configure a specific game?

I'm assuming you mean configure the controls used for a specific game. Just start playing the game in MAME and hit TAB to bring up the config window - it's in there somewhere (an option called 'Input (this game)' or somesuch).

[eyal8r]

Hmmm- I do that and nothing happens.  Am I missing something?
Thanks
D

[NoOne=NBA=]

HERE is the thread I started awhile back about how to do this.

[eyal8r]

yeah, here's the problem. I hit the tab key during the game, and nothing happens. How do you access the specific game menus to configure this?
Thanks bud...
D

[spidermonkey]

Sounds like you remapped the tab key by mistake. Delete the "cfg" file/folder  and tab should work again.

[eyal8r]

yup- that was the problem!  Thanks!
D

[spidermonkey]

Just a heads up for people looking for another game to use a 4-way mounted on a 45 degree angle...."Jackrabbit" by Zaccharia. Its in MAME.

[Thenasty]

Q-bert
Q-bert Qubes
FHMCQ (Fast Harder More Challnging Q-bert)
Q-Bert Mellow Yellow
Congo Bongo
Popper
Tylz
Jackrabbit

Buy a 360 Joystick and mod it for a diagonal setup to play this game. No switching, no twisting, no going under the panel trouble .

Note on Jackrabbit. This games joystick is setup as a normal 8-way joystick and in order for you to move, you must hit the diagonals. I don't think it was a dedicated 4-way (diagonal 45) setup at all.

[koolmoecraig]

You guys are putting way to much effort into this. Just configure mame to require to inputs for each movement. For example: For moving down right diagonal you must hit right and down at the same time. THIS WORKS PERFECTLY. There is no reason at all for a dedicated diagonal joystick. Obviously this only works with an 8-way joystick.

By the way, did I spell diagonal wrong?

[RacerX]

You guys are putting way to much effort into this. Just configure mame to require to inputs for each movement. For example: For moving down right diagonal you must hit right and down at the same time. THIS WORKS PERFECTLY. There is no reason at all for a dedicated diagonal joystick. Obviously this only works with an 8-way joystick.

By the way, did I spell diagonal wrong?

As was mentioned in the very first post of this thread, this doesn't work all that great with Happ Supers, which is what spawned the question.

[Thenasty]

You guys are putting way to much effort into this. Just configure mame to require to inputs for each movement. For example: For moving down right diagonal you must hit right and down at the same time. THIS WORKS PERFECTLY. There is no reason at all for a dedicated diagonal joystick. Obviously this only works with an 8-way joystick.

By the way, did I spell diagonal wrong?

As was mentioned in the very first post of this thread, this doesn't work all that great with Happ Supers, which is what spawned the question.

And also don't work so well witht he 360. Thats why that mod was born.

[Oddfeld]

You guys are putting way to much effort into this. Just configure mame to require to inputs for each movement. For example: For moving down right diagonal you must hit right and down at the same time. THIS WORKS PERFECTLY. There is no reason at all for a dedicated diagonal joystick. Obviously this only works with an 8-way joystick.

By the way, did I spell diagonal wrong?

As was mentioned in the very first post of this thread, this doesn't work all that great with Happ Supers, which is what spawned the question.

Given that the original post is getting on for 2 years old and we're only talking about it because the thread got hijacked for no apparent reason to ask about the MAME tab menu, why are we even arguing about it?

I'm sure the OP has probably settled on a stick for Q*Bert by now...

[eyal8r]

yup- I apologize if I got this off track here- but, my T-Sticks work GREAT doing this mod- been playing congo, qbert, etc all perfectly fine- just an FYI for future searchers- let's move on now...
D