MAME Key Config

[Bill Mote]

I built a 4-player cab with a trackball.  One of the things that drives me crazy is that a number of keys are re-used.  Why on earth would anyone do that?!  The other thing that I found troublesome was system key combinations.  Things like CTRL-, ATL-, or SHIFT- plus some other key.

So, what I've done is remap all my keys that were reused as well as remove the use of any system/special key.

Players 1 and 2 have 7 buttons each.  Players 3 and 4 have 4 buttons each.  I have 4 admin buttons: exit, menu, select, and pause.  I have coin and start buttons for each player.

What does that leave me with if I don't use system/special keys?  2 keys!  I've attached a PDF of the default mapping, the overlap, and the new mapping.

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[Bill Mote]

I figured it might help if I uploaded a picture of my CP.

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[rdowdy95]

This has nothing to do with your situation, but the carriage bolts for the joysticks are those under any kind of plexi or are they just mounted flush with the control panel.  Just wondering.  Also wondering if you recessed your joysticks any like did you rout out any wood on the underside of the control panel.

[Bill Mote]

The CP is 3/4" plywood with a Formica finish.  The color pattern is brushed nickel.  There is no plexiglass cover.  The carriage bolt heads sit above the surface.  They're smooth to the touch and I've never noticed them while playing.  I didn't route any part of the underside of the CP.  Everything is flush-mounted with the underside of the plywood.  The only bolts that were close were the Happ trackball mounting bolts.  You could argue that they fit perfectly as there were only a couple of thread visible after installation.  I personally would prefer a couple more turns, but it's *never* been an issue.

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[Bill Mote]

I realised that I didn't remap my player 3 button 3 to anything.  So, it's been remapped to the "]" key.  That leaves just the "[" key available.

I did, however, just realize that in MAME 1.09b (and possibly before) that the keypad codes are supported as separate scancodes.  That does make:

Keypad_

[Insert]
[Delete]
[Enter]
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/
*
-
+

Without using the "special" keys that makes 14 new inputs available.  You'd have to have a LOT of buttons on your CP to use that many!  I have 50 inputs and I have a "regular" key to spare.

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