A couple of questions about the Ultimarc U360 sticks

[ARTIFACT]

1 - How do the U360 feel when playing with fighters? (Special moves, throw length)

I made the mistake of ordering 2 Mag Stick PLUS - they are great sticks (true restrictor, 4/8 switch from the TOP!) BUT I want to have sticks that have a longer throw for fighters AND allow switching 2/4/8/etc modes. I am OK with the lack of physical restrictors, as long as my Pac Man doesn't get "stuck" (as you know it does with regular 8 way sticks).

2 - Could you confirm that I can configure the U360 to AUTOMATICALLY switch the U360 modes on the fly when playing different games in a row?

2/4/8/diagonal q-bert/etc

3 - Can I use an IPAC2 (PS/2 connection) in addition of 2 U360 sticks in my cab, to allow for additional controls beyond the 8 ones on the U360?

(I already have the IPAC2 I ordered from Divemaster - might as well use it if I can, more possibilities to add controls)


Thank you!

[steveh]

questions 2 and 3 are both yes.

as for question 1 i dont know as i just ordered mine a few days ago

[javeryh]

1.  I don't know about fighters since I don't have any installed on my cabinet but for pac-man it's impossible for him to get stuck because two inputs never get pressed at the same time.

2.  Yes you can do this but I think only if you use MaLa and fatfingers's plug-in (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

3.  Yes.

[ARTIFACT]

I am using MaLA, so that's great ... I don't know what/where is the "fatfinger's plug-in" though

[javeryh]

I am using MaLA, so that's great ... I don't know what/where is the "fatfinger's plug-in" though

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/plugins.html

Scroll all the way to the bottom.

[ARTIFACT]

UltraStikMap, great to know!

Direct link to anchor on page:
http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/plugins.html#UltraStik

Do you know if there is an already made list of map files for MAME games, or will I have to manually create 1 per game?

(better, can this be done automatically via detection of the mame control panel dat file?)

[fatfingers]

Do you know if there is an already made list of map files for MAME games, or will I have to manually create 1 per game?

Most games do not require a special map.  The plugin comes with 2-way, 4-way, 8-way, etc. maps already and the plugin will detect that the game is a 4-way and apply the 4-way map.  That being said, if you don't like the map the plugin picks you can always write your own map and assign it the name romname.ugc (or whatever the extension is -- I forget now).

[Havok]

2.  Yes you can do this but I think only if you use MaLa and fatfingers's plug-in (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I believe Gamex has a plugin as well, and AtomicFE can do it with a bit of initial configuration, however that is on Youki's to-do list for a completely automatic solution...

[ARTIFACT]

thanks guys!

I'll see if I can send back the MAG STICK PLUS joysticks (+ optional red balltops) to Divemaster ... doh! I should have researched this more before ordering


I am still interested in hearing your thoughts about using U360 with Fighter games (SF2 sho ryu ken, etc) ... is the throw travel distance good for that?

[stephenp1983]

Gameex has support for automatic switching as well.  I just ordered one and have tested it briefly on my bartop, and it was very responsive imo.  I didn't have alot of time to play around with it, but I was able to do ryu's fireball with ease on the stick.  It did feel a little weird compared to an eightway, but I think I'll get use to it.

[u_rebelscum]

I'm not a fighter play, but here's my take anyway: 
No restrictor: great for analog games, a little long for shmups, has a "soft" end of movement.
Round restrictor: okay for analog games, great for shmups, has solid end of movement
Square restrictor: okay for analog games, can feel corners, has solid end
Diagonal restrictor (aka square restrictor rotated 45): great for 4-way (can feel cardinals), has solid end

My guess, you'd like to use one of the restrictors, depending on if you like to feel diagonals or not.


Also, mame has copied the u360 9x9 analog to digital conversion method starting with 0.117u2.  So even with FEs that don't switch modes, if you set the u360 in analog mode, mame will do the conversion automatically.

[destructor]

I am still interested in hearing your thoughts about using U360 with Fighter games (SF2 sho ryu ken, etc) ... is the throw travel distance good for that?

You must buy additional spring for U360. With default spring you can forget about playing on fighters.
Generally for fighters are better joysticks with microswitches, but for masters it's never mind. Practice is the key.

[Havok]

Also, mame has copied the u360 9x9 analog to digital conversion method starting with 0.117u2.  So even with FEs that don't switch modes, if you set the u360 in analog mode, mame will do the conversion automatically.

Nice! I've got to finish my U360 control panel and try that out!