Does this CP configuration sound ok?

[dcsipe]

I've been trying to do my research on how I want to configure my CP.  I think I have decided on all my parts, but wanted to see if my configuration sounded feasible and not to difficult to set up.

I would like to play a wide variety of games, from fighter games, old school arcade games, possibly some old SNES games as well.

2 Ultimarc 360's (plan to connect all 8 buttons to each of these.  6 for gameplay, 1 for P1 and 1 for Start)
1 X-Arcade Trackball (I plan to buy the trackball CP and deconstruct it, using the trackball and 6 buttons.  2 for mouse buttons, other 4 for admin)
Happs Ultimate Pushbuttons
Front-end will be GameEx

I'd eventually like to put some lightguns on there, but haven't decided which ones to use yet.

Now with this setup, especially since I'm connecting my buttons to the joysticks and trackball, will I have any problems setting up admin buttons through these without buying an encoder?  I believe I can get all the buttons I want to use without going over the amount of buttons that will connect to my controllers.  Since these are all plugging in via USB to the computer, I would imagine this would be pretty smooth.

Anything else that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks for any input, I appreciate how helpful everyone has been in this forum thus far.

[moriartyds]

I've been trying to do my research on how I want to configure my CP.  I think I have decided on all my parts, but wanted to see if my configuration sounded feasible and not to difficult to set up.

I would like to play a wide variety of games, from fighter games, old school arcade games, possibly some old SNES games as well.

2 Ultimarc 360's (plan to connect all 8 buttons to each of these.  6 for gameplay, 1 for P1 and 1 for Start)
1 X-Arcade Trackball (I plan to buy the trackball CP and deconstruct it, using the trackball and 6 buttons.  2 for mouse buttons, other 4 for admin)
Happs Ultimate Pushbuttons
Front-end will be GameEx

I'd eventually like to put some lightguns on there, but haven't decided which ones to use yet.

Now with this setup, especially since I'm connecting my buttons to the joysticks and trackball, will I have any problems setting up admin buttons through these without buying an encoder?  I believe I can get all the buttons I want to use without going over the amount of buttons that will connect to my controllers.  Since these are all plugging in via USB to the computer, I would imagine this would be pretty smooth.

Anything else that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks for any input, I appreciate how helpful everyone has been in this forum thus far.

I'm not sure i understand what you're trying to do.  Why are you connecting buttons to your joystick?  The simplest thing to do is use a IPAC from Ultimarc or KeyWiz from Groovy Game Gear.  The two player IPAC for example can handle up to 8 buttons per player + 2 joysticks (or something like that) plus it allows for additional functions via shift keys.  Check the homepages of both products for details.

Not sure why you need P1 and a start button.  Arent' they the same thing? 

Also not sure why you are deconstructing a trackball.  Just get a Happs trackball from Ponyboy or someone in the buy/sell forum.  It supports up to 3 mouse buttons without any deconstruction.  The admin buttons you can handle with your keyboard decoder above.

As for lightguns, the best option out there now IMO is the LCD topgun.  The major drawback on it is you have to stand back from your screen a bit to use it, and if you're in a very light area it may not work well.

[dcsipe]

Why not connect buttons to the joystick?  The U360 allows you to connect 8 buttons to it with a wiring harness.  Are you saying there is a problem using this feature?  I've checked out the IPAC and the KeyWiz.  I don't really need the shift function, and if I can get all the buttons I need out of the connections on the two joysticks and the trackball from X-Arcade, why get an IPAC?

I'm deconstructing a the X-Arcade Trackball CP because it's only $50.  The only decent trackballs I've found are twice that much. Plus, it will allow me to connect 6 buttons through it rather than 3.  I've already talked to someone that has done this and they said it worked quite well.

[moriartyds]

Sorry, I completely glossed over you were using the 360's.  Just seems like you're making this too difficult.  What are you trying to accomplish? 

If you're looking to save money, I would suggest you're better off buying the Happ Super's instead of the 360's and using the extra money to get a keyboard decoder.  It allows you to simplify your setup and you can program the keys via the software should you need to change them later.  Is there a specific game you need the 360's for?

I don't know much about how the programming of the 360 keys buttons works, but using that and a deconstructed trackball to combine keys seems cumbersome at best.  If you only need the 360 buttons and the 2-3 mouse buttons then that would make more sense. 

EDIT - I just saw your other post on the trackball so that makes a bit more sense now.  I have no idea of the quality of the x-arcade trackball, but you can easily find a new 3" Happs for $80, and probably 50-60 on ebay.

[fjl]

I went with the U360's. They're cool and they work for the most part. Something that needs getting used to its sensitivity. And it's pretty sensitive. What I mean by that is that I can do a Dragon Punch on street fighter easily while fighting the CPU or another person. But that's just because that game ignores the Joysticks, sensitivity. Cause apparently in between quarter circle motions and what not, I end up pressing back or up or some other off direction. And this is noticeable when playing the Bonus stages cause it will end up doing the dragon punch backwards or jumping when its not supposed to. It takes some getting used to.

Other games that don't compensate for this oversensitivity like Metal Slug, I'll find my character shooting uppwards or ducking while I'm trying to move forward. After a while you learn to use the controller correctly but if you go from a switch activated joystick to the U360's you'll definitely notice a difference. Plus the no click feel, is kind of weird and also takes some getting used to. Above that, its not a bad joystick.

As for the I-Pac, I decided to buy one simply because my Logitech computer controller could not and would not work for some admin options. Like resetting the game or entering the arcades setup functions. Maybe it was just my specific PC controller but either way I got the I-pac just because of this. MK2 for some reason always starts up with a low volume and the only way to get it to its volume to normal is to enter the MK2 setup menu.

I got the I-pac4. While it may have way extra buttons that I didn't need, I certainly don't regret buying it. It does the job great and now I don't have to hack a joystick to set up the buttons for the game. I didn't want to go through all that soldering nonsense.