Mouse Buttons as Player 1 2 and 3

[cadis12]

I am currently wiring up my control panel. 
Are there any drawbacks to having player 1,2 and 3 buttons as my left, center and right mouse buttons? 
Can't I just assign Player 1,2 and 3 as left, center and right mouse buttons in the mame program?  I don't want to add individual mouse buttons on my control panel. 
Thanks for the help.

[AlanS17]

The only drawback would be the placement of the buttons, themselves. The player 1 controls are on the left side of the trackball (assuming it's mounted in the center) so that means you'll be mousing around with your right hand rather than your left. If that's not a problem then go for it. Otherwise you can map the buttons on player 2 to be the mouse buttons. Then the only problem left is that you might have other buttons in the way when you're using mouse functions.

The one way to get around all of this would be to use player 2 buttons 4, 5, and 6. Then the only thing left to complain about would be the counter-intuitive choice of buttons.

[waldo]

just a quick question, wouldnt using the trackball with your right hand be logical anyway? unless your a lefty

I Think Ill do the same, but only use mouse left and mouse right. cant think of a valid use for the middle mouse atm, apart from the fact the trackball i got from happ is pre wired

[AlanS17]

I'm just used to playing every arcade game with the left hand. I even play Pac games with my left hand. It comes down to a matter of preference. The only trackball games I play with my right hand are bowling games and Golden Tee (basically the games that don't require hitting a button).

[NickG]

Don't forget - you can double-map (or triple map, or whatever) the buttons in Mame per game for left-handers and right-handers.  Meaning even if you physically wire the mouse buttons to player one in Mame, you can map the same actions to player two buttons as well.  That way the right-handers and left handers use the same row of buttons (assuming a two player panel has identical sets of buttons)   

[FrizzleFried]

What would happen if I were to connect my trackball to 2 buttons...mouse buttons...but then wired them as button A and B for Player 1.   None of the MAME games use the mouse button for anything right?   Would it cause conflict of some sort?

[AlanS17]

What would happen if I were to connect my trackball to 2 buttons...mouse buttons...but then wired them as button A and B for Player 1.   None of the MAME games use the mouse button for anything right?   Would it cause conflict of some sort?

What we're saying is you can achieve the same effect with less effort. Don't wire player 1 A and B to their regular buttons. Wire the mouse buttons into those positions. Then re-map those buttons as permanent Player 1 A and B through MAME configuration. Know what I mean?

[ahofle]

The only trackball games I play with my right hand are bowling games and Golden Tee (basically the games that don't require hitting a button).

How do you play Centipede/MissileCommand?
I don't think I've ever seen a trackball game that was designed to be used with your left hand (other than trackball games with no buttons which are obviously usable by left or right hands).

[ahofle]

What would happen if I were to connect my trackball to 2 buttons...mouse buttons...but then wired them as button A and B for Player 1.   None of the MAME games use the mouse button for anything right?   Would it cause conflict of some sort?

If you physically map player one inputs and mouse inputs to the same microswitch, you will encounter windows issues.  For example, Pressing Ctrl (default player one button 1) at the same time as pressing mouse button 1, you enter a 'persistent selection' mode (for example, selecting multiple icons on the desktop, it will keep selecting things if you hold down Ctrl).  This is probably only an issue if you need to navigate around in Windows at all though.  I would do as the others said and remap things in your emulator.

[AlanS17]

The only trackball games I play with my right hand are bowling games and Golden Tee (basically the games that don't require hitting a button).

How do you play Centipede/MissileCommand?
I don't think I've ever seen a trackball game that was designed to be used with your left hand (other than trackball games with no buttons which are obviously usable by left or right hands).

Yeah, I usually criss-crossed my arms to play. There just doesn't seem to be anything natural to me about having the TB in the right hand. I die so much quicker.

When most people add seperate TB buttons to a CP, notice how they almost always go on the right side.

[cadis12]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I could be wrong but weren't the buttons for missle command on the left side?

[AlanS17]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I could be wrong but weren't the buttons for missle command on the left side?

Yes, they were.

[cadis12]

So back in the day you would have been crossing you're arms at the arcade when playing Asteroids and Centipede?   
Seems to me most games back then used the trackball with the right hand and buttons with you're left. 

[AlanS17]

Yup! And I made higher scores that way, too. If you want arcade accuracy, then of course you'll want the buttons on the left. There's no question.

I'm just saying I think it's more comfortable to have the buttons on the right. Though I can't say with certainty, I think most people who have built their own cabinets would agree. I always see the buttons on the right on custom control panels. That's all I'm saying.

[cadis12]

I'm just saying I think it's more comfortable to have the buttons on the right. Though I can't say with certainty, I think most people who have built their own cabinets would agree. I always see the buttons on the right on custom control panels. That's all I'm saying.

That's interesting.  Hmmmmm....  Now I am toying with the idea of having the buttons on the right (Using the player two 1,2 & 3 buttons).  But I am torn with wanting things to be accurate to the true to life game.  What to do...what to do..

[ahofle]

That's interesting.  Hmmmmm....  Now I am toying with the idea of having the buttons on the right (Using the player two 1,2 & 3 buttons).  But I am torn with wanting things to be accurate to the true to life game.  What to do...what to do..

No offense to AlanS, but I have to think he's in the minority preferring the TB on the left (unless you are left-handed perhaps).  Would you use a PC mouse or trackball with your left hand?  If not, I'd stick with a right handed TB setup.  It's more authentic and it will come natural to most people using your cabinet.

That said, I never was able to get the hang of Robotron with the left stick for movement and the right stick for firing.  I always crossed my arms so I could move with my right hand, so I know what AlanS is talking about.   

[cadis12]

Thanks for the info guys.  The beauty of doing the wiring yourself is that it really isn't that hard to change things. 
Thanks again!
 

[AlanS17]

Thanks for the info guys.  The beauty of doing the wiring yourself is that it really isn't that hard to change things. 
Thanks again!
 

You can always try it both ways and see which works best for you.

[AlanS17]

By the way, this isn't the same as using a mouse. At least not to me.

The left hand is the movement hand. The right hand is the action hand. That's just the natural way of playing video games to me, regardless of whether you're using a trackball, joystick, spinner, or whatever.

Most people also seem to play Pac Man with the right hand. I use the left. 

[cadis12]

You can always try it both ways and see which works best for you.

I have been slowing building my cabinet.  I have finally gotten to the point of wiring the control panel.  After wiring a few buttons and joystick I hooked the panel up to my computer just to test things out before I proceeded further.  What I have found is that testing things can be very time consuming.  I found myself playing games instead of finishing the wiring!   I'm sure this happens to everyone building their cabinet.  I am concerned that once I get the panel finished and in place it will be another slow process of finishing all the little things (art, t-molding and such).  Must stay focused...must stay focused.  
Thanks again guys.  I'll definitely try it both ways.

[u_rebelscum]

If you look at rampart (dedicated) the CPs have the buttons on the left and TB on the right.  The Cabal kit ops manual suggests having buttons on both sides, and if on only one side then suggests to put the buttons left / TB right.  Then there's missile command (buttons left, TB right) & Atari Football (select button left / TB right for 2 player).

Personally, I usually use my right to control the TB, except when going down right, where my left hand is faster.  I'm talking marble madness & cabal, mostly.

So my dual TB CP has two buttons on the left of the TBs, but my single TB CP has three buttons on both sides of the TB.