How do you play Q-bert?

[Ummon]

I don't know how many people really like this game. I always have and have a special stick for it on my panel. I haven't seen anyone mention accounting for this game in their design/set-up and am curious how those of you who do like the game play it?

[TheShanMan]

You can alter the keymap for q-bert, using an 8 way, to only register inputs on the diagonals (i.e. requires 2 keys simultaneously). I haven't played it a whole bunch, but it seems to work fine.

[Danny R]

You probably don't hear as much about Q-bert now because its now so easy to program a standard stick for just the diagonals, and one can use a restrictor plate to get the specific feel of the game.  And advanced sticks like the U-360 are a breeze in setting up for the game.

But only a couple years ago there were several designs of control panels that had slightly rotated 4 way joysticks mounted especially for Q-bert, which is what it sounds like you have.

[Ginsu Victim]

I have Happ Universals, so I just twist the base 45°, then turn the dial to 4-way mode.

EDIT: I've since replaced them with U360's and I'm convinced there's no better sticks out there. These play damn near EVERYTHING!

[javeryh]

I use the U360s and it's matter of loading a simple map (totally seamless thanks to FatFingers!)   

[(+_+)]

With my right hand. 

It plays extremely well with my U360.  I'd say infinitely better than my old crappy dedicated 4 way cheapo replica pacman joystick with the small ball. Man, did I hate that piece of crap.

I think it was this one. If anyone disagrees, then it must be that I got 2 lemons.  The one dedicated to Q-Bert and the other to Pacman.

http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/5060841125r.htm

[milhouse]

U360 is awesome for q-bert (and congo bongo).

My wife is a big fan and I would have put a dedicated diagonal on my CP, but thankfully I got a U360.  Its great.

[Matthew Anderson]

Don't hate me for this but....

When I play Q*Bert I play with push buttons....


*DUCKS*

I always go in the direction I want...

You might want to try it.... or not

I have a 6 button + neogeo layout and I just use

XX0
XX0  the x buttons!

[Ginsu Victim]

^Not a bad idea actually, for those without a proper setup for playing it.

[shardian]

Back in the day, I had Q-bert for my gameboy. It had two control schemes: one that used the diagonals to control, and another that used the standard UDLR controls, but you had to train yourself that up was actually up/left, and so on. I prefered the latter, thus that is what I use with a standard stick. I've never even played a dedicated Q-Bert, so its all the same to me!

[u_rebelscum]

I use the U360s and it's matter of loading a simple map (totally seamless thanks to FatFingers!)   

FWIW, you don't even need the map anymore.  Leave the u360 in analog mode and let mame do the exact same conversion but in software.  Mame modeled the analog to digital joystick conversion from u360's; both have 9x9 grids, a diagonal 4-way map, game specific remapping, etc.

So you just need the u360 and a semi-current mame. 
OTOH if you use other emus, you'll need the external remap app.

[Spacedueler]

Unfortunately I'm still in the planning stages of my cab. If I'd stop researching (playing the games) I might get the project started sooner. In the meantime I use the computer number keypad. I works better for me than my analog stick. I use these settings in mame to get the diagonals:

Up - keypad 9
Down - keypad1
Left - keypad 7
Right - keypad 3

Just because I like Qbert I was thinking of using the E-stik from Ultimark as my dedicated 4-way. They say you can switch it to 45 degrees by simply rotating the base while it's mounted on the CP. I think the draw back is the oval vs. round knob for authentic play of most 4way games

Unfortunately to play robotron I'm using the keypad for fire and my analog stick for movement... I gotta get that cab built...

[ahofle]

I have an E-Stick which I got specifically for Qbert and 4 way games.  I now use my 8 way Super with the MAME mapping mentioned by TheShanMan because it's so much easier and works just about as well.

[wp34]

I use the U360s and it's matter of loading a simple map (totally seamless thanks to FatFingers!)   

FWIW, you don't even need the map anymore.  Leave the u360 in analog mode and let mame do the exact same conversion but in software.  Mame modeled the analog to digital joystick conversion from u360's; both have 9x9 grids, a diagonal 4-way map, game specific remapping, etc.

So you just need the u360 and a semi-current mame. 
OTOH if you use other emus, you'll need the external remap app.

Does this work for 4-way, 2-way games as well?  (Using Mame .122) I would like to try something other than Mala with my U360 but really like how Fatfingers mapping works with it.  Non 8-ways were basically unplayable with my U360 until I got his Mala plug-in configured.  

I'm at work so I can't try it out myself.  

[mrserv0n]

did the original qbert cabs stick only move in diagonals?

[Ginsu Victim]

Yes.

[Thenasty]

What I did with mine  is attached LEAF Switches to my P360 Diagonally (Q-Bert/Congo Bongo) and change the Joystick with a longer shaft. Works great

[u_rebelscum]

did the original qbert cabs stick only move in diagonals?

It was a normal 4-way (like pacman), but rotated 45 degrees so it could only do "diagonals", even though to the joystick it was still up, down, left & right.  This is also why mame calls the directions as such.

So yes, and no.

FWIW, you don't even need the map anymore.  Leave the u360 in analog mode and let mame do the exact same conversion but in software.  Mame modeled the analog to digital joystick conversion from u360's; both have 9x9 grids, a diagonal 4-way map, game specific remapping, etc.

So you just need the u360 and a semi-current mame. 
OTOH if you use other emus, you'll need the external remap app.

Does this work for 4-way, 2-way games as well?  (Using Mame .122) I would like to try something other than Mala with my U360 but really like how Fatfingers mapping works with it.  Non 8-ways were basically unplayable with my U360 until I got his Mala plug-in configured. 

Yes.  Mame has automatic default maps for 8-way, 4-way, diagonal 4-way, and (sort of) 2 way games.  If the u360 is in analog mode when mame starts, mame will use the correct map.  You can also make your own maps if you don't like mame's default ones.  More info can be found in docs/config.txt, under -joystick_map option.

I'm at work so I can't try it out myself. 

I don't know what you're talking about.

[ChadTower]

In Soviet Russia, Q-Bert plays you.

[Ginsu Victim]

Well, when I answered yes, that meant, "Yes, the original was restricted to diagonals." Of course it was a standard 4-way at 45°
I didn't get into specifics.

[telengard]

I just finished a module w/ an original Q-bert joystick.  I had a tough time orienting it though.  Looking forward to trying it.

~telengard

[fjl]

How do you play Q-bert?

Drunk!

[paigeoliver]

I always saw that as the best possible Q*Bert option out there and is what I have done on multiple machines.

I have Happ Universals, so I just twist the base 45°, then turn the dial to 4-way mode.

[genesim]

I use to have the J Stick rotated, but now I have a U360 and it works great.   Just waiting on a tighter restrictor, and all will be perfect.   Great stick!!

[Ginsu Victim]

I always saw that as the best possible Q*Bert option out there and is what I have done on multiple machines.

You're the person who inspired my decision to get Universals.

EDIT: Which, as previously mentioned, have been replaced with U360s.

[Ummon]

I always saw that as the best possible Q*Bert option out there and is what I have done on multiple machines.

I looked that up but it doesn't say specifically. Do you have to open your CP to change it?

Yes.  Mame has automatic default maps for 8-way, 4-way, diagonal 4-way, and (sort of) 2 way games.  If the u360 is in analog mode when mame starts, mame will use the correct map.  You can also make your own maps if you don't like mame's default ones.  More info can be found in docs/config.txt, under -joystick_map option.

That's outta sight. I didn't know that.

What I did with mine  is attached LEAF Switches to my P360 Diagonally (Q-Bert/Congo Bongo) and change the Joystick with a longer shaft. Works great

Do you have any pictures of that?

[Ginsu Victim]

I looked that up but it doesn't say specifically. Do you have to open your CP to change it?

I have a flip-up panel on the front of my CP. I just reach in to twist the base/dial.

EDIT: Not anymore. U360s...

[stan2323]

Don't hate me for this but....

When I play Q*Bert I play with push buttons....


*DUCKS*

I always go in the direction I want...

You might want to try it.... or not

I have a 6 button + neogeo layout and I just use

XX0
XX0  the x buttons!

Tried this and it ROCKS.   

[arzoo]

I use the U360s and it's matter of loading a simple map (totally seamless thanks to FatFingers!)   

I can't seem to get QBert to recognize my 360. When I try to set the up/down/left/right, it won't accept input from the 360 (which is in diag mode). 

[wp34]

Yes.  Mame has automatic default maps for 8-way, 4-way, diagonal 4-way, and (sort of) 2 way games.  If the u360 is in analog mode when mame starts, mame will use the correct map.  You can also make your own maps if you don't like mame's default ones.  More info can be found in docs/config.txt, under -joystick_map option.

I finally got a chance to test the automapping.  You are correct.  The newer version (.122) did not recognize diagonals on 4-way games.  Defender still recognized left and right (which is I think what you meant by "sort of") but the game was playable.  Interestingly Qbert worked fine as well.  Thanks again for the tip! 

[u_rebelscum]

I can't seem to get QBert to recognize my 360. When I try to set the up/down/left/right, it won't accept input from the 360 (which is in diag mode). 

Are you just talking about not accepting in game, or while remapping in-game mame too?

If the later, did you enable joysticks in mame? ("joystick 1" in mame.ini)

If just in game, try remapping in mame (tab, "Input (this game)", go to left, press enter, move stick up left, wait, repeat of other directions).

... automapping.... Defender still recognized left and right (which is I think what you meant by "sort of") but the game was playable....

Yup.  It's just the 8-way map, but signal-wise the 8-way map is just two 2-way maps superimposed on each other.

[arzoo]

I can't seem to get QBert to recognize my 360. When I try to set the up/down/left/right, it won't accept input from the 360 (which is in diag mode). 

Are you just talking about not accepting in game, or while remapping in-game mame too?

If the later, did you enable joysticks in mame? ("joystick 1" in mame.ini)

If just in game, try remapping in mame (tab, "Input (this game)", go to left, press enter, move stick up left, wait, repeat of other directions).

Well, I finally got back to messing with the QBert config. I do have the analog joystick enabled in mame. When the u360 is mapped as a 4-way diagonal - then the mame in-game config won't accept the diagonal mapping - I can't remap the up/down/left/right. When the u360 is mapped as an analog stick, then the mame in-game config allows me to map up/down/left/right, but these are not diagonals and the game does not play correctly - move the stick up and the game moves left/up, move left and the game moves down/left, etc. I'm running mame 121. I'm stumpted!

[ArtMAME]

I just finished a CP with standard Fighter layout plus 3" trackball plus dedicated Qbert joystick.  I used a Happ universal in 4-way mode and rotated 45 degrees.  Plays wonderfully.

[Zobeid]

Well, I finally got back to messing with the QBert config. I do have the analog joystick enabled in mame. When the u360 is mapped as a 4-way diagonal - then the mame in-game config won't accept the diagonal mapping - I can't remap the up/down/left/right.

The standard 4-way diagonal map that UltraStik comes with isn't any good for Q*Bert.  You need to make a special map that translates diagonals into non-diagonals.  Looks like this. . .



I tried this map and it worked like a charm for me.

[Ginsu Victim]

That map actually didn't work for me. For some I had to move all the arrows counter-clockwise.

[arzoo]

Well, I finally got back to messing with the QBert config. I do have the analog joystick enabled in mame. When the u360 is mapped as a 4-way diagonal - then the mame in-game config won't accept the diagonal mapping - I can't remap the up/down/left/right.

The standard 4-way diagonal map that UltraStik comes with isn't any good for Q*Bert.  You need to make a special map that translates diagonals into non-diagonals.  Looks like this. . .



I tried this map and it worked like a charm for me.

Worked for me also  Thanks!

[Jdurg]

Inebriated!   

Seriously though, I'll probably play with my 8-way joystick and just figure out how to do what I want to do.  Will probably cost me quite a few "practice" games. 

[TheShanMan]

Jdurg, see my post at the top. It's easy to configure an 8-way to work with diagonal games so that the diagonals work as expected.

[GAJoe]

Personally, I learned to play Q*Bert on the Atari 2600, so my brain is trained to play it with a regular joystick.  I considered getting an eStik for it, but couldn't justify getting a fancy stick just for it that wouldn't even feel right to me after playing Q*Bert for 20+ years the other way.

[marlboroa]

this is how i play Qbert