Main > Main Forum

First standalone CP, looking for input

Pages: << < (2/3) > >>

ArtsNFartsNCrafts:


--- Quote from: javeryh on February 29, 2008, 10:31:39 am ---A couple of comments:

IMO, the only joysticks that are friendly to use for people other than the builder (and especially kids) are the ones you can program like the U360.  No 7 year old is going to be able to switch from Pac-Man to Street Fighter and also switch the joystick from 4-way to 8-way. 

--- End quote ---

Right you are.  Not to mention that switching it takes a bit of elbow grease!  The thing is built quite sturdily.


...or maybe I'm just really freakin' outta shape!  :dunno



ivwshane:


--- Quote from: Fozzy The Bear on February 29, 2008, 11:09:46 am ---
--- Quote from: Jdurg on February 29, 2008, 10:29:48 am ---So for your panel you would need 32 unique inputs which means you would have to get the I-Pac4 since the I-Pac2 only has room for 28 inputs.

--- End quote ---

If he needs 32 inputs then the Keywiz provides that without the extra expense and additional unnessesary inputs of the Ipac4.  Check out www.groovygamegear.com Keywiz MAX 1.5 offers exactly what he needs including a keyboard socket.

Another thing to avoid is a key encoder that uses USB as this limits the number of simultanious keystrokes that are allowed.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

--- End quote ---

I've heard people say that about usb but then on ggg's website they have this header on their usb gp-wiz.

--- Quote ---Unlike USB Keyboard Interface technology, USB Gamepad interfaces have no limits on simultaneous button presses. They are also faster, capable of delivering the status of all 32 inputs every 10ms. They are easy to install, and multiple units may be used at the same time with no conflicts.
--- End quote ---

Am I missing something?
For the best performance (lets say a two player button masher) which one would perform better, the keywiz or gp-wiz (usb)?

mperemsky:

Thanks for the helpful feedback. I would put quotes in here but still a noob and not sure how to get quotes from multiple postings into a single posting. So here goes...

Jdurg/javeryh:

Thanks for the correction on the 8-way joystick for counting active buttons.

javeryh:

I saw the "menu" and "enter" buttons on a mamewah interface in the CP sticky post. I have not been able to get mamewah running on my machine yet. I made the ASS-umption :o that these were useful for mamewah. If not, then I will need to re-think these.

I was thinking of trying to implement the SNES and maybe the Atari 2600 emulators also. The SNES has 6 play buttons, not sure how easy that would be to play on a CP like this. The Left and Right buttons on the controller do not seem like they would be very friendly on a CP like this. So it seems like the 7-button layout will be more than sufficient.

Not sure what maws are in "check maws for a list of spinner games that use more than 2 buttons".

Fozzy:

Thanks for the note about the usb vs. ps2, I had forgotten about that. I looked up the IPac-4 and the Keywiz Max 1.5. Looks like the Keywiz is about half the price. Have you tried both the IPac and Keywiz before? Do I need a dedicated button on the keyboard for the Shazaaam Key on the Keywiz?

CrazyKongFan:

Yeah, I did not really think of the start/coin as admin per se, just kind of threw them in there to include all the buttons. At least we both have Escape and Pause the same.  ;D Now, if I use the Keywiz, do I need a Shazaaam key as an Admin key?!?


Joysticks...how to integrate

Hmm, I was kind of wondering how hard it would be for the boys to switch the joysticks from 8-way to 4-way. Do the U360's work well for all 2/4/8/+ way games? I see online that the U360 uses an analog/usb connection, how does this connect to the IPac-4 or the Keywiz? Does the joystick not connect to this piece of hardware or is there some other piece needed to get them to talk to each other? This part is very confusing to me.

CP Image 2:

Ok, here is an updated CP image. Slightly more compact 14" x 29". For some reason 29" wide seems kind of wide to me, how wide are panels typically?





javeryh:

MAWS is a sortable database on the games in MAME - you can search by controls to see which games use what.  http://www.mameworld.net/maws/

As for the U360, it can switch from 4-way to 2-way to 8-way, etc. on the fly.  It is totally customizable.  You plug it in by USB and not into an encoder (like the ipac).  There is a harness for it which allows for 8 additional inputs (more via shifting) but you are going to need more than that, I think.  The only thing I should mention about the U360 that certain people may not like is that there are no switches and no restrictor plate (although you can add one if you want).  It takes a bit of getting used to but once you do I think it's the best "all-in-one" solution.

Your revised CP looks a bit better - I don't think your button layout is ergonomic enough for my tastes but that's a personal preference.  I like this one and a 7th button could easily be added if that's what you want:



SNES and Atari 2600 should be playable with your setup but you also have to have a solution for start and select because some games used those buttons as well if I remember correctly - you could map them using the shift function of the ipac because I don't think you will need them while playing other than to view in game maps or something.   

29" is pretty narrow for a 2 player CP with trackball.  I'm working on one now that's 34" wide so if you can do it in 29" that's great!  :cheers:

DaveMMR:


--- Quote from: mperemsky on February 29, 2008, 11:43:40 pm ---
Now, if I use the Keywiz, do I need a Shazaaam key as an Admin key?!?

Ok, here is an updated CP image. Slightly more compact 14" x 29". For some reason 29" wide seems kind of wide to me, how wide are panels typically?

--- End quote ---

I would make the Shazaam key some small, hidden button that only you really know about, especially since you have Pause, Exit and Coin buttons anyway.   It's not horrible on the panel though - just hanging around wasting space and tempting people to press it leading to those inevitable "what does this do?" questions.

Secondly, ditch the TAB key.  Especially if you're going to be using a shifted-button method (Shaazam key) to map additional commands.  Leaving the TAB key out in the open is inviting people to come and mess with your settings.

And 14" x 29" should be fine.  I have a 10" x 25" panel and all the same controls (TB, Spin, 6 button), and I have no complaints at all.   Although javeryh is right in saying that if you go a bit wider/deeper, you have more comfort.

Pages: << < (2/3) > >>

Go to full version