Building a drive cab - Now a question about POTS

[leapinlew]

I have a driver cabinet that has some pedals. I'm really confused on analog vs pushbuttons for the pedals. When I test out Mame on a keyboard, it seems to play ok, but many of the games definetly could use the benefit of analog pedals.

So my questions are:

Is there a tutorial that explains hacking a joystick?
Is there a specific joystick that works better than another joystick?
How do I have to configure mame to work with analog controls?

Thanks!

[PoDunkMoFo]

You could simply buy an A-Pac or any other analog interface and wire up a potentiometer to each pedal.  If you wanted you could also put a microswitch at the max travel of the pedal so that you would have whatever type of input you needed.  Simply configure games that need an on off pedal to the switch and games that need analog to the potentiometer.

If you don't want to spend the money on an interface you could wire directly to a joystick port but there may be downfalls to this method.  There are plans on the net just search homemade driving controls.

[ArcadEd]

Just out of curiousity, why not just get a high quality PC Steering Wheel pedal combination?  Don't they work with MAME?

http://www.act-labs.com/products/race1.htm

Bummer, I guess Act Labs doesn't make their system anymore.  That was the one I was planning on using if I ever got around to making a MAME Racing cab .

[leapinlew]

You could simply buy an A-Pac or any other analog interface and wire up a potentiometer to each pedal.  If you wanted you could also put a microswitch at the max travel of the pedal so that you would have whatever type of input you needed.  Simply configure games that need an on off pedal to the switch and games that need analog to the potentiometer.

If you don't want to spend the money on an interface you could wire directly to a joystick port but there may be downfalls to this method.  There are plans on the net just search homemade driving controls.

Quite simply.... I didn't know what an a-pac was. It looks perfect! I took the pedals off my mame cab last night and I'm not certain what pot value they are, but this apac looks like it can handle it. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll order one.

Quick question - I was going to do a mouse hack for the steering wheel. Would the apac be able to handle both the steering wheel and the pedals?

[leapinlew]

Just out of curiousity, why not just get a high quality PC Steering Wheel pedal combination?  Don't they work with MAME?

http://www.act-labs.com/products/race1.htm

Bummer, I guess Act Labs doesn't make their system anymore.  That was the one I was planning on using if I ever got around to making a MAME Racing cab .

I thought about it, and it is still an option. It already has a steering wheel, pedals and shifter mounted, and I wanted to see how these worked first. I figure I can always put in a steering wheel, shifter and pedals. Also, I like the 360 degree atari steering wheel.

[PoDunkMoFo]

Quick question - I was going to do a mouse hack for the steering wheel. Would the apac be able to handle both the steering wheel and the pedals?

From the website:

32 Buttons
One analog axis and 30 buttons
Two analog axes and 28 buttons
Three analog axes and 26 buttons
Four analog axes and 24 buttons

So yes you could do an analog steering wheel with 3 pedals if you wanted.  Of course you mentioned a mouse hack which would be a 360 wheel (spins forever in each direction) using a Pot for your wheel you would be looking at a steering wheel that has limited travel in each direction.  Arcade games used both types depending on the game.  If you will be playing PC type driving games then potentiometers is the way to go but if games like Ivan Stuarts Off Road are your thing they just won't cut the mustard.

[leapinlew]

Quick question - I was going to do a mouse hack for the steering wheel. Would the apac be able to handle both the steering wheel and the pedals?

From the website:

32 Buttons
One analog axis and 30 buttons
Two analog axes and 28 buttons
Three analog axes and 26 buttons
Four analog axes and 24 buttons

So yes you could do an analog steering wheel with 3 pedals if you wanted.  Of course you mentioned a mouse hack which would be a 360 wheel (spins forever in each direction) using a Pot for your wheel you would be looking at a steering wheel that has limited travel in each direction.  Arcade games used both types depending on the game.  If you will be playing PC type driving games then potentiometers is the way to go but if games like Ivan Stuarts Off Road are your thing they just won't cut the mustard.

Ok, so I think I got it. If I use the Apac - I need to be using pots. If I want a 360 steering wheel, I won't be using pots, I'll need to use a spinner (mouse hack). That sound right?

Thanks for the help - it sounds like the apac will be perfect to take care of my buttons and analog controls.

Do I need a special version of mame? And willl all this work with Atomic FE?

I'm going to order the apac and begin repair on this driver cabinet. I'll probably put something up in the project announcements. Thanks again for the help - very useful.

[PoDunkMoFo]

I don't know anything about atomic FE.  As far as MAME is concerned what we are talking about will show up as a USB joystick (actually I think it shows up as a joypad).  You don't need any special version of Mame and if your front end responds to joystick controll then it will also be compatible.

[leapinlew]

Ok - so the pots. Where can I buy replacements? Happs I assume, but is there a recommended place?

Also, whats the difference between the difference pots? 5k 10k etc.

[PoDunkMoFo]

Higher quality pots will last longer, I don't know if Happs is the best source for this.  Go thru someone like Ponyboy if you decide to go Happs.

If you just want to try it all  out you could pick up some cheap pots from Radio Shack although I notice you find less and less in the way of components there lately.

The value listed on the pot is it's max resistance.  You can use either with the A-Pac and I believe there are a couple more values that are possible.

If the pedals you have already have pots and they work then you can use em'.

[michelevit]

i am not sure if most of the mame driving games even benefit from a analog pedal.
usually is just gas on or gas off. modern pc games are different. i used to play gplegends
and it had a analog brake, gas AND clutch. That was a simulation. you could slip the
clutch and feather the brake.

i encourage you to just use an already made pedal controller.

[Luigi]

Hi.

I used the A-Pac to connect my pedals and a self-made Yoke (from an Atari Road Riot steering wheel) to my Mame-PC. So there are four pot inputs in use and I never had a problem (after all configuration was done  ). You can try to play each Mame-game with the new controls. Some games (like futuristic racers make a lot of fun now).

The great advantage is that you can use any pot (pair) that you find. The A-Pac can be made compatible with a matching capacitor. Capacitors for 5K and 10K were included.

Here can see a little report: http://www.retro-offensive.de/diverse/02/index.htm

Sorry, all in german, but if you have any questions, feel free to email me

[leapinlew]

i am not sure if most of the mame driving games even benefit from a analog pedal.
usually is just gas on or gas off. modern pc games are different. i used to play gplegends
and it had a analog brake, gas AND clutch. That was a simulation. you could slip the
clutch and feather the brake.

i encourage you to just use an already made pedal controller.

Good advice. I'll check it out.

I took the pedals off the cab and I noticed that when the pedals are pushed about 3/4 of the way down they make a definite click sound like a microswitch. Do Pots click?

[shardian]

Personally, I have never played an arcade racing game, pot or microswitch, that I didn't mash the gas to the floor and never let up until time was up. 

As a side note, I just wanted to throw this design idea out for others to consider. There are some people on here who are really into innovative design  development (I am not)
Picture this: a steering wheel that has a clutch type mechanism to switch from analog pot control, to free-wheeling optical 360 control. I have no idea if this has ever been developed, so be gentle if I am not original.

I could try to work out a rough design if anyone would be interested in running with it.

[horseboy]

It has been discussed at least 3.64 million times. AFAIK no one has pulled it off just yet.

[leapinlew]

Personally, I have never played an arcade racing game, pot or microswitch, that I didn't mash the gas to the floor and never let up until time was up. 

As a side note, I just wanted to throw this design idea out for others to consider. There are some people on here who are really into innovative design  development (I am not)
Picture this: a steering wheel that has a clutch type mechanism to switch from analog pot control, to free-wheeling optical 360 control. I have no idea if this has ever been developed, so be gentle if I am not original.

I could try to work out a rough design if anyone would be interested in running with it.

If you play spy hunter with the pedal mashed - you'll be playing a short game of spy hunter. So... fine, microswitch it is. I think they are microswitches anyhow. I'll take some pictures.