Plug n play CP idea/question

[Rok]

Would it be possible to make a standard 2 player fighter set up CP, but also have additional mini CPs like, to add a 3/4 player or a trackball or something that can plug into the main CP?

I dont have room for a full arcade at the moment and was wondering if something like this was possible.

(I am talking about one that would plug into a TV screen that is only a CP)

[TelcoLou]

Anything is possible, depends on the skillset of the builder. A CP is just a box with some controls screwed on wired up to a controller.

[Rok]

I have very minimal skills with electronics...

[TelcoLou]

Well, so do I (thus, I'm going to order a pre-made custom-built CP from arcadesrfun.com).

To be honest, it's really not hard at all, as far as wiring up the controls to the encoder, but it's the wood-cutting tools which I don't have, don't feel like buying, and the free time I simply have VERY little of, which prevents me from doing it myself. 

[DrFrag]

Sure, I'm doing this on my cab. 

There's an auxilliary panel in the back:



So I can connect control panels for players 3 and 4.  They're just simple 15-pin D-Sub connectors which the controls will be wired through.  There's also a secondary VGA connector, so they can have their own screen or projector in case things get too crowded.  (plus USB, soft power and a network panel, cos I'm a freak like that)

I toyed with the idea of having extra control panels physically clip on to the sides of the main panel, but the sturdiest design was also the ugliest.

[Franco B]

Nice DrFrag 

Yeah d-subs are probably the best way to go. You can either buy the d-subs connectors on their own and then solder wires to the solder buckets but an easier option for you would be to buy a 15 pin VGA extension cable or a 25 pin parallel printer extension cable (depending on you needs) and simply cut it in half and wire each side up (one in your main CP to the IPAC etc and the other end to your secondary CPs)

Like DrFrag you will probaly want some kind of aux panel for your d-subs and also for your video if you are connecting your CP to your TV.

Ive made a aux panel for my project:



Left to right, power/USB Hub/USB ports (for connecting Xbox360)/Audio-Video in/Audio-Video Out/VGA in (for connecting Xbox360 and Dreamcast via VGA Box).

Ive also made some console controller adapter plates to connect DC, PS1/2 and N64 controllers.

[daywane]

problem with the words plug n play!

if you start Mame with a CP that has 2 players and a couple of guest show up. You can not just plug in a extra CP and expect it to work.

you must restart Mame for it to see the extra CP.

this is what happens with me....  If there is a work around  I never thought of bringing it up before.

some folks have game pads pluged in for the extra players , that show up

[TheShanMan]

DrFrag, great minds think alike. I have DB9 connectors on the underside of my CP for hooking up player 3 and player 4 cp boxes.

My cp is a swappable design using db37 connectors. I agree with the suggestion of cutting the cable in half and wiring up the cable's wires to the encoder, but for the cp side I suggest getting the solder cup connectors. The d-sub cables have such fine wire (I believe mine are 28 gauge) that I was afraid of reliability issues. On the encoder side it doesn't matter because the wires are tied down and never move, but I wouldn't want the process of connecting and disconnecting over time to cause connection failures.

[Rok]

I dont even know what a d sub is...

Looks like I'll just go with a franken panel

[TheShanMan]

D sub is just the style of connector used for serial ports (DB9 - 9 pin), video (DB15 - 15 pin), parallel port (DB25 - 25 pin), etc.

[patrickmaher]

Sounds like you guys started talking about what you are doing on your own projects rather than what might be best for Rok. I take it from Rok's comments that he wants something less complicated.

if you start Mame with a CP that has 2 players and a couple of guest show up. You can not just plug in a extra CP and expect it to work.

you must restart Mame for it to see the extra CP.

I would assume this is because they are gamepad encoders you are using. I think 2 keyboard encoders would not have this issue if you plugged the second encoder in when MAME is already running because there is no such thing as multiple keyboards. I have not tried this, so correct me if I am wrong.

The solutions i can think of would be:
1. Keyboard encoder for each CP with the secondary encoder set as standard player 3/4 keys(assuming your encoder can save settings). The secondary encoder could just plug in via USB port on the main CP. More encoder cost but less work. Same can be done with an extra trackball CP.

2. One keyboard encoder in main CP and use D-sub or similar to interface the second panel.

3. All gamepad encoders/hacks in main CP always plugged into computer then use D-sub or similar to interface the second panel.

Would it be possible to make a standard 2 player fighter set up CP, but also have additional mini CPs like, to add a 3/4 player or a trackball or something that can plug into the main CP?

I dont have room for a full arcade at the moment and was wondering if something like this was possible.

(I am talking about one that would plug into a TV screen that is only a CP)

Rok, I assume if you want to plug the CP into the TV then you are going to have your computer in your main CP. Have you decided on the product you want to use for your encoders?

If you don't mind spending more in order to make the wiring easier you could do solution 1 that I mentioned above. You will just need to mount a USB port on the outside of your main CP (can use a USB extension cord). This will save you dealing with D-sub connectors (or whatever type of connector you would have chosen). It will also take a little less wiring. In the end you will still have to do wiring and you may end up thinking doing the D-Sub is not so bad.

I can understand wanting to take the easier route if you are new to wiring stuff and not very worried about added costs of additional encoders. You will probably get it done faster also.

I dont even know what a d sub is...

Looks like I'll just go with a franken panel

A lot of people have done 4 player CPs with a trackball, that look very nice. They are not usually what I would consider a franken panel. Were you planing more add on panels then just player 3/4 and the trackball?

[Rok]

Well, I just have a few things I know I want to be able to play like...

Besides all the classics which dont usually use more than 2 players and 2 or 3 buttons
Fighters
Simpsons (preferably 4 player) and similar scrolling fighter games
Smash TV/Robotron/Total Carnage
Golden Tee

I dont want a spinner or a TRON stick or single game controls, though.

What basic dimensions are we talking about here? Storage is an issue for me.

I really like the 1st solution you posted. If I just used a second encoder for a second panel with 3/4 player and auxiliary controls, I could just plug that into the computer's second USB port?

[patrickmaher]

I really like the 1st solution you posted. If I just used a second encoder for a second panel with 3/4 player and auxiliary controls, I could just plug that into the computer's second USB port?

I have not finished my CP yet but I decided to try this out today to make 100% sure it would work.

I have an Ultimarc J-PAC and I-PAC2, both USB. I programmed the I-PAC2 with MAME defaults for player 3/4. The J-PAC is set for player 1/2. I loaded a 4 player game in MAME and started to play with player 1. While the game was still running I plugged in my I-PAC2 and started to play with player 3.

So yes, your secondary CP with it's own encoder will just need to be plugged into a USB port and it will be ready to go even if you are already in game.

I should add that this is based on both player 1/2 and 3/4 CPs being keyboard encoders (not gamepad hack/encoder). The secondary CP would have to be USB and have the ability to have the keys programmed(no I-PAC VE). I think that only leaves you with the option of I-PAC2 for your secondary CP, all the KeyWiz products are PS/2.

I think the same should be true for a trackball CP if it is also USB.

Well, I just have a few things I know I want to be able to play like...

Besides all the classics which dont usually use more than 2 players and 2 or 3 buttons
Fighters
Simpsons (preferably 4 player) and similar scrolling fighter games
Smash TV/Robotron/Total Carnage
Golden Tee

I dont want a spinner or a TRON stick or single game controls, though.

What basic dimensions are we talking about here? Storage is an issue for me.

I think most 4 player panels are around 40" wide. It really depends how you design it, some are wider. The depth and height can vary alot depending on your design. You might find that 1 large panel takes up less storage than 3 separate.

If you want to do 2 player Smash TV you will probably want to keep player 3/4 joysticks facing the same way as player 1/2 rather than angling them.

Check out the Control Panel Database thread and Project Announcements section for some examples.