How many keyboard inputs do I need?

[eytzni]

I'm starting a new project arcade (I'm pretty newbie...) and I would like to consult the forum regarding the keyboard system.
I know that I want:

1.   Two 8 ways joysticks
2.   One 4 way joystick
3.   7 buttons for each player = 14
4.   2 insert coin buttons
5.   2 start game buttons
6.   1 pause button
7.   1 exit button
8.   1 rest game button (Can be achieved using a “shift” shortcut?)
9.   1 computer shutdown (Can be achieved using a “shift” shortcut?)
10.   2 mouse buttons

Total Buttons  = 24 without using the “Shift” and 22 when using it.
Total Sticks = 12

1.   Is it recommended to hook the 4 way joystick on the same switches as players 1 joystick?
2.   I’m mainly trying to squeeze this into the Mini-PAC 28 inputs Encoder any suggestions?
Thank you.

[Thenasty]

#8. I hardly used to reset a game. Only time you need to reset it is when you change settings that requires you to reset (then you need more admin buttons) IMHO not needed, just exit out of the game and load it up again.

#9. You can just wire it throu the MOBO switch. Just pus it once and PC shutdowns (CHECK BIOS SETTINGS).


For the sharing the 4-way to the 1P JOY, you can put a switch to kill the 8-way/4-way when one is being used. You can achieve this by just the COM/GND wire on/off.

Then you should have enought for all your needs.
Just to let you know, since you have a MOUSE connected, you can also assign those Mouse buttons to do stuff.

[fjl]

Just to let you know, since you have a MOUSE connected, you can also assign those Mouse buttons to do stuff.

Yes, finally! 
And it took only what like 10 years for them to finallly decide to implement that? Jeez...

As for eytzni, have you thought about the u360's joysticks? When used with a frontend, they automatically configure themselves to 2-way, 4-way. 8-way, analog etc. Might save yourself some of the hassle. And you wont even need the dedicated 4 way joystick.

[unclet]

Would you like to add two side buttons to be used as pinball flipper buttons?  Possibly add another button for the plunger ..... or even get a real pinball plunger to use .....

Visual Pinball is very enjoyable

[Tiger-Heli]

http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/keyassignments.htm

Your math is quite a bit off:

1.   Two 8 ways joysticks = 8 inputs
2.   One 4 way joystick = now 12 inputs
3.   7 buttons for each player = now 26 inputs
4.   2 insert coin buttons = now 28 inputs
5.   2 start game buttons = now 30 inputs
6.   1 pause button = now 31 inputs
7.   1 exit button = now 32 inputs
8.   1 rest game button (Can be achieved using a “shift” shortcut?) now 33 inputs
9.   1 computer shutdown (Can be achieved using a “shift” shortcut?) now 34 inputs
10.   2 mouse buttons

Now working backward - combine the 4-way joystick = 30 inputs
Ditch the reset and shutdown = 28 inputs
Done!!!