Driving games: shifter hard coded to space bar???

[TheShanMan]

Controls.dat has "The shifter is hard-coded to the space-bar to avoid conflicts" in a bunch of driving games like spy hunter and outrun. I'm assuming this was true at one time, but it doesn't appear to be true in MAME 0.126. Am I correct in thinking this is obsolete information?

I'm getting ready to submit control information for spy hunter for inclusion in controls.dat (I'm amazed it's not already in there!!!) so while I'm at it I'm thinking of updating all the games to have this message removed. Just want to make sure I'm not misunderstanding something before I do.

[u_rebelscum]

That comment is about why the ctrlr files (usually*) doesn't work*, and it's not unchangeable as "hardcoded" usually implies.  They are remapped in the source code (aka "hardcoded"), but can be changed in mame's UI menu just like normal.  However, since the source mapping (usually*) overrides ctrlr mapping, it feels hardcoded.*

It looks like mame still remaps in source spyhunter's shift (to enter, though), and outrun (to space).

Maybe the comments should be clarified, but not removed IMO.


*BTW, you can get the ctrlr file to work.  Remap the remaped in source input back to "default" by using the tab, "Input (this game)" remap, but do enter, esc, wait until mame shows "none", enter, esc, wait until mame shows the normal default.  The ctrlr file remaps work only if the input is mapped to "default" in the "Input (this game)" menu.  It's a pain, and the ctrlr file in general is there so you don't have to edit by hand the inputs through the tab menu, true, but it's possible.

[TheShanMan]

I guess I'll have to read up on ctrlr files, because your explanation made no sense to me! But thanks for it nevertheless because at least now I know it's not completely incorrect/obsolete.

[u_rebelscum]

I guess I'll have to read up on ctrlr files, because your explanation made no sense to me!

Sorry, I know I go too far into the technical a lot of the time.    The wiki here has a terrible page on ctrlr files (I wrote it, so it's probably over technical, too).

The way to see if it's "hardcoded", aka remapped in the source, (besides checking the source, of course) is to start the game for the first time (IOW, reinstall mame in a new folder, or delete the cfg files in the cfg folder), tab, "Input (this game)" and if any of the input maps are highlighted, it was remapped in the source code, aka "hardcoded".  (Highlighted means "not default", or IOW remapped specifically for this game.)

If you have any questions, please ask.  And feel free too tell me if I go off the deep end.


And I forgot to see earlier, glad to see someone contributing info the controls.dat.


edit:  heh, just relooked at the wiki page, and there's even a section on hardcoded remaps.