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Freebie damaged Ms Pac Cocktail. What to do now?
Crowquill:
The lag isn't a big concern of mine. A slightly lagging trackball and spinner is better than none. Up until this project I've not been able to implement analog controls, so I was completely unaware of this. I'm sure that this could be fixed in later versions anyway.
I wonder if it matters what TYPE of inputs it's using (USB,PS/2, or serial) or the OS handling the device. It seems like a lag that is consistant throughout MAME's input code should definitely be addressed. Has it always been like this or is it just in newer versions?
FrizzleFried:
--- Quote from: Wade on April 15, 2007, 08:06:34 pm ---
--- Quote from: ahofle on April 14, 2007, 01:44:24 am ---
--- Quote from: Wade on April 14, 2007, 12:48:18 am ---Besides, MAME doesn't play the trackball games accurately anyway,
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It doesn't? ???
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No, there is a delay from the trackball inputs to the game, on every MAME version I've tried (from .36 up to 1.x). It isn't that noticable if you haven't played the games in ages or have nothing to compare to. Side-by-side Missile Command, Centipede, etc. there is a huge lag in the inputs in the MAME setup.
Before someone asks, it isn't something specific to my setup - it's easy to verify this problem by launching MAME with a mouse and observing the lag.
Wade
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Uh...I play Centipede, Marble Madness, Missle Command and many other trackball games and experience ZERO lag on my cabinet with a Happ Trackball. Perhaps a setting? Perhaps something else, but I have been playing Centipede for 20 years and I am 100% positive that I would recognize it if there were even a few milliseconds of lag. There is none, I can assure you of that. I am using MAME version .108u1 I believe it is on my cabinet with the trackball.
FrizzleFried:
--- Quote from: Wade on April 16, 2007, 09:54:17 pm ---Sounds like you have a real good idea about what you want, and have a good plan to execute it (along with the cabinet repairs). Should be a neat build up!
FWIW, the input delays aren't just with the trackballs, they were with anything that uses a spinner. If you have any concerns about this at all, you might want to load up your target games and play them a bit and see if you notice or mind the lag. If it doesn't bother you, then you're in good shape. It has always annoyed me, but I don't know if it'd cause me to omit a trackball or spinner from a future project.
Wade
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Hmmm...and BOTH my spinners on BOTH my cabinets experience zero lag. I think it is in your head my friend. I play Tempest as well at home as I do at the arcade and if anything my home spinner is MORE accurate and sensitive as it can be adjusted...
Wade:
--- Quote from: Crowquill on April 17, 2007, 12:04:23 am ---The lag isn't a big concern of mine. A slightly lagging trackball and spinner is better than none. Up until this project I've not been able to implement analog controls, so I was completely unaware of this. I'm sure that this could be fixed in later versions anyway.
I wonder if it matters what TYPE of inputs it's using (USB,PS/2, or serial) or the OS handling the device. It seems like a lag that is consistant throughout MAME's input code should definitely be addressed. Has it always been like this or is it just in newer versions?
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Since it hasn't been fixed by now, I doubt they ever WILL fix it, disappointing.
I tried DOS and Windows MAME versions from around 0.36 through over 1.0 with PS/2, serial, and USB trackballs/mice, and they ALL did it. I couldn't think of any other reason the lag would be there, other than it is simply the way the basic MAME analog routines are written. Good luck getting them to fix it, but who knows, if enough people are aware of the problem and complain, maybe they'll correct it.
Wade
Wade:
--- Quote from: FrizzleFried on April 17, 2007, 12:19:09 am ---
--- Quote from: Wade on April 16, 2007, 09:54:17 pm ---Sounds like you have a real good idea about what you want, and have a good plan to execute it (along with the cabinet repairs). Should be a neat build up!
FWIW, the input delays aren't just with the trackballs, they were with anything that uses a spinner. If you have any concerns about this at all, you might want to load up your target games and play them a bit and see if you notice or mind the lag. If it doesn't bother you, then you're in good shape. It has always annoyed me, but I don't know if it'd cause me to omit a trackball or spinner from a future project.
Wade
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Hmmm...and BOTH my spinners on BOTH my cabinets experience zero lag. I think it is in your head my friend. I play Tempest as well at home as I do at the arcade and if anything my home spinner is MORE accurate and sensitive as it can be adjusted...
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I'd believe this ONLY if I saw it for myself. I suspect you haven't done a comparison side-by-side, have you? It may not be entirely obvious if you haven't played the games back-to-back.
Every MAME setup I've ever played had this same problem. I've also tried it myself on dozens of computers/mice. I don't talk out of ---my bottom--- and I don't cry wolf, and I'm certain of this problem.
The only exception I could think of is if they fixed it in a VERY recent version of MAME. I have tried over 1.0 but I haven't tried the very latest.
Wade