Ipac and Happ Supers or just a U360 from ultimarc???

[hellothere123]

From what I've read, the Ipac encoder has 2 joystick inputs, 8 buttons, and 5 other inputs (coin1/2, start 1/2, shift for another complete set).


i was originally going to go with Happ Supers with an Ipac on a street fighter config, then a poster said to just get the Ultimarc U 360 which has 8 button inputs for it included.

So I'd like to know, can I get away with just buying the U360, or is it better to get the Ipac and Happ Supers.

Much Appreciated!!!

[Jouster]

Depends...how many buttons do you plan to use?

Plus the U360s have the ability to change on the fly (with MaLa and associated plugin) depending on the game you play...they can be 2, 4, 8 -way or analog...plus the other variations on the 2, 4, 8's.

Jouster

[Havok]

The U360's will give you more flexibility in playing games - it can be analog, 2 way, 4 way, 8 way, Q-bert diagonal, and everything in between. It's pretty much the do everything joystick. You also might want to experiment with the available springs and restrictor plates as well to get it how you prefer most.

And, any of the major, currently developed front ends can program it on the fly. (i.e. change the mode before the game starts)

The only thing is, with two joysticks, that only gives you 16 buttons. Since a Street fighter setup requires 12 just for the players, you only have 4 left over for things like coin up and player start. It is possbile, however just those things take up all the available buttons. So, if you want admin functions, you will need a keyboard.

[fatfingers]

The only thing is, with two joysticks, that only gives you 16 buttons. Since a Street fighter setup requires 12 just for the players, you only have 4 left over for things like coin up and player start. It is possbile, however just those things take up all the available buttons. So, if you want admin functions, you will need a keyboard.

If I'm not mistaken, the latest firmware allows for shift-key functionality effectively increasing the number of buttons that are usable for the stick.

[Jouster]

That is true...and I guess you could always use the Shazaaam wiring piece (from GGG) to make some dedicated buttons instead of using the shift button.

I use MaLa (and know it changes the U360 on the fly) and wasn't sure about any other FE's...didn't want to make a claim that wasn't true.

Jouster

[u_rebelscum]

From what I've read, the Ipac encoder has 2 joystick inputs, 8 buttons, and 5 other inputs (coin1/2, start 1/2, shift for another complete set).

You're basically correct except it should end "... and 4 other inputs, and any of these 28 buttons can be assigned to also act as shift for another..."

Technically, OTOH, Ipac has 28 keys + 27 virtual (shift) keys.  The non-shift default settings match mame's default player 1 & 2 joysticks and 8 buttons and start and coin, but you can change that both in mame and in the ipac.  IOW, you could for example use the Ipac for 4 players, each with only a joystick and 3 buttons, or whatever you want.  If this confuses you or you know you're only going to do two players, just ignore this paragraph.

i was originally going to go with Happ Supers with an Ipac on a street fighter config, then a poster said to just get the Ultimarc U 360 which has 8 button inputs for it included.

So I'd like to know, can I get away with just buying the U360, or is it better to get the Ipac and Happ Supers.

Personally, I really like the u360s, the supers are not bad either.  However, some people like to feel the corners, which you can't with supers, and need to get the 4-8way restrictor on the u360 to feel.

Are you only going to mame, or are you going to play other emus or PC software?  And what games do you like in mame?  Are you fixed on one type, or like many different types?

The u360 has many pluses:
works with any game that reads joysticks (ipac works as a keyboard)
different settable modes, including analog, 8-way, 4-way, 4-way diagonal, and 2-way
can have circle, square or diamond restrictor plates.
can use ball or bat handle
has 7 additional shift buttons for a total of 15
mmore flexible than supers and most other joysticks

The only minus is:
only 8 action buttons per player (the 7 virtual shift buttons aren't fast enough fro game play).

[divemaster127]

If you need these items I sell both happ & ultimarc items on the forums here, send a pm if you need a quote
thanks
dm

[hellothere123]

Thanks for all the info..I'm leaning towards the U360 now and then i don't need the Ipac



Is the U360 easy to work with mame? I know the Ipac comes preset for mame, and was wondering if U360 was just as easy?

[hellothere123]

Also,

How do you switch from 4 way to 8 way, is there a toggle switch?

Say I'm playing street fighter, then I try pacman...how do i get it to switch from 8way to 4way?

Do I need a MaLa and fatfingers's plug-in ? What do they do? Do I really need this also?


Thanks Thanks and Thanks!

[hellothere123]

Another one...

The U360 hooks into USB, so I need 2 USB's for the joysticks (and I assume that takes care of 8 buttons also in the USB per joystick)

Do i need more than 2 USB's on my computer?  Wondering how many USB's I'll need to make it all work?

[fatfingers]

Also,

How do you switch from 4 way to 8 way, is there a toggle switch?

Say I'm playing street fighter, then I try pacman...how do i get it to switch from 8way to 4way?

Do I need a MaLa and fatfingers's plug-in ? What do they do? Do I really need this also?


Thanks Thanks and Thanks!


Another one...

The U360 hooks into USB, so I need 2 USB's for the joysticks (and I assume that takes care of 8 buttons also in the USB per joystick)

Do i need more than 2 USB's on my computer?  Wondering how many USB's I'll need to make it all work?

Switching from 4-way to 8-way or to any other way is not done mechanically, rather it is done via software.  So, you can either run MaLa and my plugin or some other frontend that supports the mapping, or you can run Ultimarc's software by hand to switch the map.  The downside of the latter is that it is not automatic.

As for number of USBs...You can always add a powered USB hub (I did) to your system if you think you need more USB ports.  Some people might say it won't work well, but I have not seen any issues with it yet.

[fjl]

I went with the U360's but as far as I know, PC controllers and joysticks cannot be programmed to use certain admin options on MAME such as game Reset, Service and other similar funtions. While this may not be a big deal, for me, those options are a neccesity for certain games. You might end up realizing that you need them as well. I went with an I-Pac to make sure I have access to them through the Control Panel.

[SGT]

I went with the U360's but as far as I know, PC controllers and joysticks cannot be programmed to use certain admin options on MAME such as game Reset, Service and other similar funtions. While this may not be a big deal, for me, those options are a neccesity for certain games. You might end up realizing that you need them as well. I went with an I-Pac to make sure I have access to them through the Control Panel.

I do not see why function keys for Reset and Service cannot be mapped to buttons like any other key when using the button inputs on the U360s.  What are you referring to?

[xmenxmen]

To throw more option out there and hopefully not to confuse u more, alot of people around here uses 3 joystick in the cp.  And if you are a street fighter fan, the happ competitiion are great joystick for that.  So, 2 happ competition, 1 super (dedicated as 4 way), plus your choice of ipac or keywiz. 

The combination is still cheap than 2 360.  Again, it's just another option...

[fjl]

I do not see why function keys for Reset and Service cannot be mapped to buttons like any other key when using the button inputs on the U360s.  What are you referring to?

I haven't tried on the U360's but i have tried mapping those buttons on other PC controllers and my experience was that it won't support it. For some reason, those admin options ONLY work on their default keyboard buttons. Even if I tried remapping them for some thing else, they wouldn't work. So unless a PC controller can input its buttons as keyboard buttons, those options are not accessible. And seeing as how Windows treats the U360 as simply another type of PC controller, I would assume the same. But hey, maybe they will work. I haven't tried since I didn't order the extra button wiring for my u360's.

[fatfingers]

I do not see why function keys for Reset and Service cannot be mapped to buttons like any other key when using the button inputs on the U360s.  What are you referring to?

I haven't tried on the U360's but i have tried mapping those buttons on other PC controllers and my experience was that it won't support it. For some reason, those admin options ONLY work on their default keyboard buttons. Even if I tried remapping them for some thing else, they wouldn't work. So unless a PC controller can input its buttons as keyboard buttons, those options are not accessible. And seeing as how Windows treats the U360 as simply another type of PC controller, I would assume the same. But hey, maybe they will work. I haven't tried since I didn't order the extra button wiring for my u360's.

I have successfully used my player one button along with down on my 360 for pause.

[u_rebelscum]

I went with the U360's but as far as I know, PC controllers and joysticks cannot be programmed to use certain admin options on MAME such as game Reset, Service and other similar funtions. While this may not be a big deal, for me, those options are a neccesity for certain games. You might end up realizing that you need them as well. I went with an I-Pac to make sure I have access to them through the Control Panel.

I do not see why function keys for Reset and Service cannot be mapped to buttons like any other key when using the button inputs on the U360s.  What are you referring to?

Reset can be remapped (tested 0.118), but service mode (F2) doesn't ATM.