config mame, 3 sided cocktail

[squirrellydw]

So I am ready to configure mame and I have a question on how best to do it.  I have a 3 sided cocktail table and not sure how to do it.  The 2 end panels have 4 buttons each and 2 joysticks (1 reunion and 1 u360 on each) the 3rd panel has 6 buttons and 2 u360.  U360s are USB and everything else is connected to a ipac4.  3rd panel joysticks and buttons are hooked up as player 3 and 4.

3rd panel is used for horizontal games and I don't want the other buttons and joysticks to interfere with the game play.

What do you guys suggest?

[squirrellydw]

Anyone, any ideas?

[rockin_rick]

Here's my first, unthunk through thought...   Maybe you could connect the vert buttons and reunion to the vert u360's inputs?     They have 8 inputs each.

Rick

[squirrellydw]

if I do that I would need the wireharness for the u360 right?  How would I tell mame what to use then?

I guess my big question is I have 6 joysticks but only plan on havnig a 1 and 2 player machine.  How do I set that up in mame?  If I do what you suggest that takes me down to like 4 joysticks sortof.  This is the problem I am having.

[spacies]

I have been thinking about this problem.

Tell me this, are you planning on using the 2 joysticks on the vertical panels at the same time?

Or will you only play horizontal games on the horizontal panel?

I ask because Karate Champ is vertical.

Cheers

[squirrellydw]

If I use the ipac software I can make the other two joysticks player 3 and 4 but can I select these in mame this way and have them work as player 1 and 2?  The whole mapping controls with the ipac and in mame is new to me.  I am use to playing it with a keyboard but I am finally able to use my cab now.

[squirrellydw]

I have been thinking about this problem.

Tell me this, are you planning on using the 2 joysticks on the vertical panels at the same time?

Or will you only play horizontal games on the horizontal panel?

I ask because Karate Champ is vertical.

Cheers

Vertical one at a time, horizontal both at the same time
The only reason I have both a u360 and a reunion on the end panels is for the authentic feel of the reunion stick.  Still only one will be used at a time like a typical cocktail table.

[spacies]

Well, that makes it easy.

Just leave everything as default in MAME (input general) and program each game individually.

That is done through" TAB", "input this game."

To not have the vertical panels running while you are playing horizontal games, and vice versa, put in a toggle switch on the earths running to the panels.

So the toggle would be switched up to run vertical and down to run horizontal.

[squirrellydw]

To not have the vertical panels running while you are playing horizontal games, and vice versa, put in a toggle switch on the earths running to the panels.

So the toggle would be switched up to run vertical and down to run horizontal.

I assume in earths you mean grounds.  So this goes for the buttons and joysticks.  What about the u360s, how do I do them, they are USB.  What type of toggle switch, 2way?  End panels to one input and the 3rd panel to the other input?

[spacies]

Yup, earths = grounds.

And all buttons and sticks will need to be wired into the switch.
So you have a whole lot more wiring to do yet.

Not sure about the USB sticks. I haven't used them before.
Can you change the default settings for them or do they just use up, down left, right arrow key?

Jump in the chatroom if you can. Might be easier?

[squirrellydw]

thanks, but no more wiring.  I was hoping for something a bit easier.  Didn't know if there was something in MAME I could do.

[spacies]

Well,

there is nothing else you can do to disable controls
All the best!

[squirrellydw]

thinking about this, if I just have to wire the grounds to the toggle switch its not much more wiring to do.  Won't fix the u360 joystick issue but that's OK for now.  Might try this, not sure

[rockin_rick]

What type of toggle switch, 2way?  End panels to one input and the 3rd panel to the other input?

Use a SPDT (or DPDT) switch.  The SPDT will have 3 terminals.  The center is common, the switch will switch between the two outer ones.  (Assuming that you orientate the switch so that it switches up and down), check the terminals to see which is which before wiring, it should be that when the switch is up, the bottom term. will connect to center.  Connect ground to center.  Connect the up terminal to all the grounds of the switches and joys of the end panels.   Connect the down terminal to all the grounds of the switches and joys of the side panel.  When switch is up, side will work, when switch is down, the end panels will work.

A DPDT will have 6 terms.  It works the same except that it switches two sets of contacts rather than just the one that the SPDT.

With the u360's, perhaps you could have your front end program a custom map into the unused (per game) sticks that contains all center cells.  Say your side panel has #1 and #2, while the ends have #3 and #4.  When playing a horz game, have your FE program 1 & 2 to (say) 8-way, while programming #3 & #4 to all center.  Not sure if FE's can program 4 at a time...

Rick