SOLVED: Pedal doesn't give enough gas - Spy Hunter

[Texasmame]

Seems like the pedal I have (5k pot DS hack) doesn't give enough gas in MAME Spy Hunter.  The physical range of motion on the pedal itself (from a Roadblasters, I think) seems to be much less than that of a real Spy Hunter pedal so I'm guessing that's my problem here - the damn pot just ain't turning enough.

In a related (maybe) note, it also doesn't seem to register when I want to have MAME recognize it as a key stroke when reassigning keys.  I had to hook up my SW hack to get the "J-axis Y" value for it to register.  I'm really thinking this is just because the pedal has such a short throw that MAME just doesn't recognize the pot.   

Is this something that can be adjusted with sensitivity/speed in MAME?  I've tried f'ing with those settings but I seem to be getting nowhere fast with that.  Perhaps I just need a pedal with a longer range of motion?

Help, help, help.   

Cruisin' at half speed,
John in TX

[Tiger-Heli]

It seems like I remember this issue before.  I think there was a restrictor on the pedal on the real machine that MAME is emulating.

Ooops, did a Google search and I got that backwards - MAME is not emulating the restrictor so it should go FASTER in MAME.

Link

[Havok]

Have you tried calibrating the DS in Windows? I'll have to dig up my DS and connect it to see if that is an option, but it seems like that would fix the problem - then it would have the correct range set in Windows, and it should work. You can access the calibration menu by going into Control Panel, Game Controllers, Properties. Other than that, the only other option I could think if is the sensitivity settings...

[Texasmame]

It seems like I remember this issue before.  I think there was a restrictor on the pedal on the real machine that MAME is emulating.

Ooops, did a Google search and I got that backwards - MAME is not emulating the restrictor so it should go FASTER in MAME.

Interesting stuff there.  This is very weird. 

[Texasmame]

Have you tried calibrating the DS in Windows? I'll have to dig up my DS and connect it to see if that is an option, but it seems like that would fix the problem - then it would have the correct range set in Windows, and it should work. You can access the calibration menu by going into Control Panel, Game Controllers, Properties. Other than that, the only other option I could think if is the sensitivity settings...

Yup, I've done that.

It's fine for Pole Position, tho.  Really odd. . .

[Texasmame]

I'm using MAME32 .78 if that matters. . .

[KenToad]

Um, this probably won't help, but ... you did switch to high gear right?   

Otherwise, I ...  

[unclet]

Yes, forgetting that you need to switch to high gear would be something to make sure you are trying first ...... but if that is not it ........ then

I had this problem with one of my arcade controls connected to a 5K POT.  It was caused by me not centering the POT correctly when I reconnected the gear which turns it after I disconnected everything to clean it up.  Basically, after I reconnected the gear to the POT, the range of motion of the POT was going from "very low to middle"  instead of  going from "middle to high".    I had to remove the gear again, turn the POT a bit, then mount the gear again.   Basically, when you press down on the pedal as far as it goes, then you want to make sure yoru POT is turning all the way to the MAX position (or just  a little bit less since you do not want to break the POT).   My problem was that my POT was only moving to the MID position, thus I could never get good speed.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Seems like the pedal I have (5k pot DS hack) doesn't give enough gas in MAME Spy Hunter. 

You need to calibrate the controls in the game itself, so that the game understands the range of motion available to it...... Open up the service menu for the game and run the in game calibration routine.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Texasmame]

Um, this probably won't help, but ... you did switch to high gear right?   

Otherwise, I ...  

Heh, yeah.   

[Texasmame]

Seems like the pedal I have (5k pot DS hack) doesn't give enough gas in MAME Spy Hunter. 

You need to calibrate the controls in the game itself, so that the game understands the range of motion available to it...... Open up the service menu for the game and run the in game calibration routine.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Done that, too.  My brother-in-law is visiting and was hoping to wow him with my cab. 

The "Driving Miss Daisy" Spy Hunter ain't gonna do that. 

[Havok]

Maybe try deleting the nvram and try again?

 

[ahofle]

I have the opposite problem.  When using a joystick for my pedal, moving only a small amount forward when in high gear sometimes causes my car to slam into the car ahead of me.  I've tried setting the sensitivity in MAME way down and it doesn't seem to help much.  I didn't realize there was a calibration in the game itself though -- I'll try that tonight.

[Xiaou2]

 What kind of  pedal are you using?   Does it have gearing?
 
 Because most all arcade pedals need a gearing system to
use more of the pot vaules.

 Using a direct-drive (instead of geared) with a 5k pot wont turn enough
for good enough resolution to be usefull.   

 Also, the latest version of mame has added the ability to use
half or full axis travel  for the pedals.  You may have to change the
settings.

[Derrick Renaud]

FYI, per Xiaou2's post:

The newest MAME allows you to pick full or half joystick axis for any emulated analog control.

When you are in the control selection menu, the first press on the pedal selects the full joystick axis.  Then you select to enter it again and it will toggle the selection to use the half axis.

So, for player 1 gas pedal, you select the emulated pedal to change, and press the gas  pedal and it will say "Y axis".  Then select and press the pedal again, then it will toggle to the "Y - axis".  Remember a windows gas pedal is usually Y- and a brake pedal is Y+.  Steering is X.

The point of this is so you can now select a pedal for use as thrust for Lunar Lander, etc.  Or even select a full joystick axis to be the gun position in Boothill, or just use your pedal(half axis) to move the gun position.

The default control for player 1 gas is the first joystick Y-, and Y+ is the brake.  This is the default of most pedal controls.  Otherwise just go into the controls menu and change it.

It also helps to delete the NVRAMs for namcos2.c and midvunit.c games.  The NVRAM should then auto default to the aligned setting if you have you joystick axis mapped properly.

D.

[Texasmame]

I have the opposite problem.  When using a joystick for my pedal, moving only a small amount forward when in high gear sometimes causes my car to slam into the car ahead of me.  I've tried setting the sensitivity in MAME way down and it doesn't seem to help much.  I didn't realize there was a calibration in the game itself though -- I'll try that tonight.

Actually, the game calibration is just there to help you set the pot to "zero."  It won't let you set a relative distance.  It's just geared to being used on a real SH machine, as it should be.

[Texasmame]

 What kind of  pedal are you using?   Does it have gearing?

Nope.
 
 Because most all arcade pedals need a gearing system to
use more of the pot vaules.

That's what I thought. 

 Using a direct-drive (instead of geared) with a 5k pot wont turn enough
for good enough resolution to be usefull.   

 Also, the latest version of mame has added the ability to use
half or full axis travel  for the pedals.  You may have to change the
settings.

I'm using .78.  Maybe I can recompile and just add that feature???

[Xiaou2]

As much as you dont want to hear it,  you are much better off rebuilding that part
of your pedal design. 

 I had the same issue with a PC pot in a custom starwars yoke.   

 I found a package of green gears at a local hobby shop which
solved the problems (with some drilling of the centers).

 If you do not wish to use gears, you can also use a system of
levers to create the mechanical leverages needed.   Do a
search on Pedals, or Sim racing, and you should see many
great examples of this.

The more control ability you have in Spy HUnter, the better !  

Also,  you may find other games do not react well with
a reduced value pot.  Everything from windows
calibration itself...  to win games, and even other games
inside mame...  all may exibit poor control or lack of
functionality.  Even failure to operate properly, if at all.

[Tiger-Heli]

I'm using .78.  Maybe I can recompile and just add that feature???

I think that would be hard to do.

It would be much easier to install 0.113 in a new folder - get an updated spyhunter rom (if it changed), and use 0.113 for SpyHunt and other pedal driving games and 0.78 for everything else, and set your frontend up to use the appropriate MAME version for each game.

[Tiger-Heli]

The point of this is so you can now select a pedal for use as thrust for Lunar Lander, etc.  Or even select a full joystick axis to be the gun position in Boothill, or just use your pedal(half axis) to move the gun position.

The additional point of this is that (from a MAME viewpoint) - it is no longer required to have the DPDT switch that was commonly recommended on racing sim sites to switch between gas=X-axis brake=Y-axis and gas=Y-axis+ and brake=Y-axis -, you can just pick one or the other and adjust MAME to suit.

Thanks again Derrick for all the controls improvements in recent MAME builds.

[Texasmame]

I'm using .78.  Maybe I can recompile and just add that feature???

I think that would be hard to do.

I seem to remember a tutorial somewhere on it - the hardest thing is finding the file(s) you want to recompile, IIRC.

It would be much easier to install 0.113 in a new folder - get an updated spyhunter rom (if it changed), and use 0.113 for SpyHunt and other pedal driving games and 0.78 for everything else, and set your frontend up to use the appropriate MAME version for each game.

May have to cave and do that.  Lame. 

[Texasmame]

Well, my Roadblasters pedal, as is, ain't gonna cut it for SH.  I can't find any good diagrams/how to online for adding gears.  Guess I gotta just start here and brainstorm.:

http://www.happcontrols.com/driving/50282800e.htm


Also placed a WTT ad in the appropriate area.

 

Guess I'm finding it hard to believe I'm the only guy ever to encounter this?  What, nobody here love Spy Hunter? 

[Texasmame]

It seems like I remember this issue before.  I think there was a restrictor on the pedal on the real machine that MAME is emulating.

Ooops, did a Google search and I got that backwards - MAME is not emulating the restrictor so it should go FASTER in MAME.

Well, I've got it to an acceptable level now.

That above link got me looking more at the physical construction of my pedal and, sure enough, there is a restrictor on this pedal, too!  I removed it and it increased the range of motion for the pot just enough so that I can be happy with it.  Much better than having to rig up some odd gears and such!

Thanx, all! 
 

[IceBear81]

I know this topic is super old, my google-fu keeps bringing me back to this thread and another ... Question is: Does Spy Hunter have variable speed or is it just low/high ? I can't seem to find a direct answer, and the pedal being a POT makes me think that each gear has a variable speed based on how much you press the gas.

Using MAME, I have an analog pedal registering, and I see the variable level when pressed but I only get one speed per gear ... Any references or links would be greatly appreciated.

[spisi]

I'm pretty sure that you're supposed to get variable speeds in both gears (depending on how far you press the pedal).  Low gear maxes out at a certain speed, and high gear maxes out at a higher (maximum) speed.

[spisi]

Did you calibrate in Windows?

[BadMouth]

I know this topic is super old, my google-fu keeps bringing me back to this thread and another ... Question is: Does Spy Hunter have variable speed or is it just low/high ? I can't seem to find a direct answer, and the pedal being a POT makes me think that each gear has a variable speed based on how much you press the gas.

Using MAME, I have an analog pedal registering, and I see the variable level when pressed but I only get one speed per gear ... Any references or links would be greatly appreciated.

Do you have your gas pedal mapped to Pedal INC?  (you shouldn't)