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Best 3rd party control panel
brianoneill:
OK. So i've checked up on this I-Pac and it seems there are 2 versions. I-Pac2 and I-Pac4.
If I wanted a 2 Player panel with also a dedicated 4-way joystick for Pacman and such.... would I need the i-pac4 as the i-pac2 only has... 2 joy inputs ?
cheers,
brian.
Moebius:
You can still go with Ipac-2.
Two options.
1 - 4-way and one of the 8-way joysticks share the same terminals on the I-Pac. This will work, so long as you don't plan on using these 2 joysticks at the same time.
2 - Use the "Button 7" and "Button 8" terminals of te I-Pac for the 4-way joystick. This will allow you to use the joystick at the same time as the 8-ways (not sure if that is useful?)
Disadvantages of this are, you can't have 8 buttons per player (most use only 6 or 7 anyway), and some key config work will need to be done on either MAME or the I-Pac, nothing big though.
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: brianoneill on April 02, 2003, 07:29:20 am ---OK. So i've checked up on this I-Pac and it seems there are 2 versions. I-Pac2 and I-Pac4.
If I wanted a 2 Player panel with also a dedicated 4-way joystick for Pacman and such.... would I need the i-pac4 as the i-pac2 only has... 2 joy inputs ?
cheers,
brian.
--- End quote ---
You can use the /2 . . .
Okay, here's a short primer - I-PAC/2 has 28 inputs. (you don't have to wire like it shows). There are 2 joystick inputs, eight buttons per player and player 1 and 2 coin and start inputs.
For a street fighter layout (six buttons per), you could use the P1 and P2 buttons 7 and 8 inputs for your 4-way joystick (this will make the LED's flash when the 4-way is used, if you are using LED's, but I assume you aren't).
The easier option is to wire your four-way and Player 1 joystick both to the joystick 1 inputs. (2 wires to the P1Up terminal, etc.). The drawback to this is that if someone bumps the P1 stick it will mess up your 4-way game, and vice versa.
You might also consider the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com which has 4 more inputs, but lacks a constant keyboard pass-thru and LED support.
bloodyviking77:
--- Quote from: brianoneill on April 02, 2003, 07:29:20 am ---If I wanted a 2 Player panel with also a dedicated 4-way joystick for Pacman and such.... would I need the i-pac4 as the i-pac2 only has... 2 joy inputs ?
--- End quote ---
well . . . that all depends on whether you anticipate using your 4way at the same time as either of the 8ways!!
AFAIK most people with a dedicated 4way use an Ipac2, with the 4way wired to the same inputs as player 1 8way.
Of course, remember that an ipac2 has (i think) actually 28 separate inputs. make sure you read all the instructions at andy's site - www.ultimarc.com.
IMO an Ipac4 is really only necessary if you want to have 4 players simultaneously with more than 2 buttons each.
re the original post: i've never used any of the three products mentioned, but I have bought some stuff from Chris at Ozstick and I can tell you he is super helpful (and if you're in Australia his prices are really quite reasonable!!).
Cheers
viking
brianoneill:
thanks guys. Your help is much appreciated.
I'm still a bit nervous about this stuff.
I have no idea of what type of buttons/joysticks or wires/tools needed but it is beginning to sound like a really good option.
I have been in contact with Chris from OzStick and am considering buying a custom panel from him once he sends me the quote for it.
Cheers,
Brian.