Can all MAME games be set on freeplay+Ultrastick360 questions.

[nickynooch]

Hey guys,
Really dumb question, but I haven't found an absolute definitive answer yet, but can all MAME games be set on freeplay, therefore making the "insert coin" button useless for player one and player 2 controls?  Also, what about daphne?

I am trying to limit my buttons so I can use the ultrastick360 without an IPAC and curious if this is possible, and recommended or not recommended.

Thank you for all your help.  Without this forum I wouldn't even attempt this project.  You all have been extremely helpful.

Also, is there any recommendations to the most versatile joystick, regarding multiple MAME games?

Basically, I play fighting games and the old games too and would like to have fluent gameplay on both.  The ultrastick360 from ultimarc.com sounds like a good choice so far, but I was curious what everyone thought.

[juggle50]

No, MAME works just like the arcade so you have to either insert a coin by wiring up a coin door or(and) wiring up a freeplay button that makes MAME think a credit has been entered.  If you want less buttons you could probably do this with the "shift" function on the I-pac but it doesn't sound like you to get one.  I would advise installing an I-pac as you may find you want other admin buttons on your cab.

EDIT:  I'm not sure if the U360 software has shift functionality.  If it does then you might be able to get away with not having an ipac.

[stan2323]

Set up the control in Mame so when you hit player one or player two you insert a coin and start the game.  Some times you hit player one once and get a credit then it hit player one again to start.    That is how I have mine set up.  I am going to set up actual coin buttons in front of the CP but I had to order more buttons.  When I play pinball teh front will be coin and start for the pin emulator and when in Mame both front buttons will be coins. 

[vidmouse]

If the original game has freeplay capability then you can
set it using dipswitches or service mode.

ex.  Galaga uses dipswitches, Street Fighter Alpha 3 uses
a service mode that's menu-driven

[nickynooch]

Cool.  Thanks tons guys.  I forgot that I could map player 1 start to insert coin too.  I may do that, or I may just get the extra buttons.   Just kind of looking at my options on whether or not to get the IPAC and whether or not to get the Ultrastick360.

The dipswitches mode is a good suggestion too!  Just seems like it may be a pain to set up so I may just add the buttons after all.  Just was debating on if the 2 buttons were worth buying the IPAC.  I think it may after all.

[vidmouse]

The dipswitches/service mode change is easy unless you
have a ton of games you want to do this with... there's no
way to gang-program all your roms to do this that I'm aware of...

using dipswitches (ex "Cabal")
Press TAB, then select Dipswitches.  Under "Coinage"
press left or right continuously until you get the Free Play option
then press Tab again to save it

using service mode (ex "Strider 2")
Press F2 to enter service mode, then use the joystick
and fire button to menu select.  Most menus will have
this under "System Options" or something like that.

[CrazyKongFan]

Wouldn't it be better to wire up player 2 start as the coin button? Otherwise, on 1 credit games, it'll start the game right away, with no chance of letting you start a 2 player game.  (I don't know if it does this with all of them, but it did on a couple I tested)

[Ginsu Victim]

The U360 has a shift function. The eighth button is a shifted button.
The sticks are also downright awesome, especially with the stiffer spring and circular restrictor.

[nickynooch]

The U360 has a shift function. The eighth button is a shifted button.
The sticks are also downright awesome, especially with the stiffer spring and circular restrictor.

I'm glad to hear the sticks are awesome.  I think I'm going to get 2 of them and hook them up to IPACs as I will need more than 8 buttons each. 

2 joysticks
(12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2)

I assume you can hook it up to an IPAC just like any other joystick right?

[paigeoliver]

It is better to shift your coin buttons then it is to just make start do double duty, double duty start doesn't work properly for lots of different multiplayer games.

However having the start button shift the player's Button 1 to coin works just fine.

[Ginsu Victim]

The U360 has a shift function. The eighth button is a shifted button.
The sticks are also downright awesome, especially with the stiffer spring and circular restrictor.

I'm glad to hear the sticks are awesome.  I think I'm going to get 2 of them and hook them up to IPACs as I will need more than 8 buttons each. 

2 joysticks
(12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2)

I assume you can hook it up to an IPAC just like any other joystick right?

You can, but you're better off plugging them in via their USB ports, then wiring up the eight buttons as well. It doesn't have to hook up to the IPAC at all. I have an ipac running only my top-side control panel buttons, plus two U360s running on their own with hidden buttons running off them.

[nickynooch]

The U360 has a shift function. The eighth button is a shifted button.
The sticks are also downright awesome, especially with the stiffer spring and circular restrictor.

I'm glad to hear the sticks are awesome.  I think I'm going to get 2 of them and hook them up to IPACs as I will need more than 8 buttons each. 

2 joysticks
(12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2)

I assume you can hook it up to an IPAC just like any other joystick right?

You can, but you're better off plugging them in via their USB ports, then wiring up the eight buttons as well. It doesn't have to hook up to the IPAC at all. I have an ipac running only my top-side control panel buttons, plus two U360s running on their own with hidden buttons running off them.

But saying that I have 12+6 buttons, with only 2 joysticks means I need to get an IPAC too right? 12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2

Also, I don't really understand the "hidden" button feature. How are they "hidden" is hooking it up much different than the happ controls?

[pzler]

I'm currently dealing with the same issues that you are and instead of buying an ipac i am thinking about hacking an old mouse for a few more buttons. i'm not 100% sure if this will work but it is a lot cheaper.

[Ginsu Victim]

The U360 has a shift function. The eighth button is a shifted button.
The sticks are also downright awesome, especially with the stiffer spring and circular restrictor.

I'm glad to hear the sticks are awesome.  I think I'm going to get 2 of them and hook them up to IPACs as I will need more than 8 buttons each. 

2 joysticks
(12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2)

I assume you can hook it up to an IPAC just like any other joystick right?

You can, but you're better off plugging them in via their USB ports, then wiring up the eight buttons as well. It doesn't have to hook up to the IPAC at all. I have an ipac running only my top-side control panel buttons, plus two U360s running on their own with hidden buttons running off them.

But saying that I have 12+6 buttons, with only 2 joysticks means I need to get an IPAC too right? 12 buttons for gameplay, 1 start, 2 start, exit, pause, coin 1, coin 2

Also, I don't really understand the "hidden" button feature. How are they "hidden" is hooking it up much different than the happ controls?

Let's say you buy the U360s with wiring for both controls. That's 16 buttons. You can set up 6 buttons per player, start, and coin. If you make button 8 your start button, it can be shifted to do whatever else you need it to do. You really don't need an IPAC.

As for the hidden buttons, I mean they are wired up, but not on my control panel. I have a flip-up door on the front of my panel that I reach in and press admin buttons and control volume with. It's stuff I don't want the average person messing with. Nothing special to it.

[nickynooch]

I understand what you mean now!  I'm contemplating whether or not having the pause and exit button are worth not shifting.  Just one of those internal decisions I guess.

Is the set up different on the ultrastick 360 wiring the buttons wise as compared to the happ controls?  I read their site but was a little bit confused.

The main reason I am considering the ultrastick 360 is because I have read some complaints of "clicking" on happ joysticks (if anyone has reviews on if the clicking is annoying or not let me know) and obviously the compatability with 360... should work with all games great!

[Ginsu Victim]

I understand what you mean now!  I'm contemplating whether or not having the pause and exit button are worth not shifting.  Just one of those internal decisions I guess.

I have my exit shifted. Keeps me from exiting a game by mistake, though a poor shifted setup can cause accidents as well.

Is the set up different on the ultrastick 360 wiring the buttons wise as compared to the happ controls?  I read their site but was a little bit confused.

Because it's USB and not microswitch-based, you run the controller into your PC through the USB port, then there's another connector for hooking up the buttons. You plug in the wiring harness, then runs those to your buttons. Really simple. I recommend buying the ground wiring harness from ultimarc if you don't know much about wiring. You can do everything with crimp connectors.

The main reason I am considering the ultrastick 360 is because I have read some complaints of "clicking" on happ joysticks (if anyone has reviews on if the clicking is annoying or not let me know) and obviously the compatability with 360... should work with all games great!

The U360 is virtually silent and it works for damn near everything, using the proper maps.

[nickynooch]

Thanks for all the advice. Guinsu I think you sold me on the ultrastick haha.  I think I am going for the ground harness as I am not in the slightest wiring savvy.

thanks for the easy explanation too.  This forum is awesome.

[Ginsu Victim]

Feel free to ask any questions here, or PM me if needed.

Stripping the wires and crimping on connectors is easy. I'll help you with whatever you need. (And I apologize in advance if it's the evening and I don't respond until the next day)

I ran all of my wires into a 12-Position European-Style Terminal Strip from Radio Shack. (I only use one controller's button hookups, so you'll need two if you go this way.)



This makes things easier (to me, at least)

I also recommend the stiffer springs and circular restrictors. If you're in the US, I can tell you that my order of 2 U360s, 1 encoder wire (you'll need two), 2 springs, and 2 restrictor sets ran me $177.00

Your total will be slightly more with the extra wires. You won't need the ground harness, because I'll show you how to wire up your own for less (it's easy).

[nickynooch]

Feel free to ask any questions here, or PM me if needed.

Stripping the wires and crimping on connectors is easy. I'll help you with whatever you need. (And I apologize in advance if it's the evening and I don't respond until the next day)

I ran all of my wires into a 12-Position European-Style Terminal Strip from Radio Shack. (I only use one controller's button hookups, so you'll need two if you go this way.)



This makes things easier (to me, at least)

I also recommend the stiffer springs and circular restrictors. If you're in the US, I can tell you that my order of 2 U360s, 1 encoder wire (you'll need two), 2 springs, and 2 restrictor sets ran me $177.00

Your total will be slightly more with the extra wires. You won't need the ground harness, because I'll show you how to wire up your own for less (it's easy).

Cool. I'm posting here instead of PMs as I feel this information may be useful to people other than me too.  The way I understand, encoder wire to button... joystick to USB, then no ground wire?  Will that work?  What is the terminal strip used for? 

Thanks for the advice!  I am ordering all the pieces you suggested.  Now that your suggestion was made, it is starting to make sense.

[Ginsu Victim]

There's a ground wire. That was the point of the ground wiring harness I mentioned earlier. (Which, as I said, won't be needed)

What I do is run my button wires to each terminal, then I loop the ground to the rest. I then run two grounds from each of the ground terminals, giving eight grounds for the eight buttons.

                                                  THESE WIRES ARE COMING FROM THE U360


Then you wire each button as follows:


I suggest looking up a simple guide on stripping and crimping wires. If you don't find anything, I'll help you with that as well.

[nickynooch]

ok I just bought all the stuff you recommended.  Now I'm a little confused.  So say the green wire from the wiring harness that plugs into the U360, does that go straight to the 12-Position European-Style Terminal Strip from Radio Shack if so, then what goes to the button?


Is the terminal strip like an extension chord for wires?
thanks!
-Nick

[TPB]

Feel free to ask any questions here, or PM me if needed ...

Cool. I'm posting here instead of PMs as I feel this information may be useful to people other than me too ...

That's certainly the case.   

Others will benefit from this advice ... keep it coming !

It's all good stuff.

These sticks are awesome by all accounts.  But it's a bit daunting parting with > 200 Greenbacks for a pair of them (including wiring harnesses, restrictors, springs, long shafts, and international shipping), when you've no knowledge of wiring, and unsure how you'll put it all together.

Of course, these sticks connect via USB, so that part's easy.

But the tricky part, for some folks, is properly wiring the buttons to the sticks.

[Ginsu Victim]

ok I just bought all the stuff you recommended.  Now I'm a little confused.  So say the green wire from the wiring harness that plugs into the U360, does that go straight to the 12-Position European-Style Terminal Strip from Radio Shack if so, then what goes to the button?


Is the terminal strip like an extension chord for wires?
thanks!
-Nick

Yep, it makes adding longer wires easier, plus you don't have to worry about pulling the original wires that are hooked into the U360 a bunch of different directions. It'll last longer.

So, U360 wiring harness ----> strip ----> buttons.

[nickynooch]

woo hoo!  I think I have the idea now... the only thing I am missing now is the buttons... after that I make my attempt!  I'll post here if I have any problems.  Thanks for the assistance so far!

[IDDQD]

My first post here, although I've been lurking for quite some time!

This information is definitely helpful, as it's made me decide that I don't want to buy an iPac, so I'll just use the wiring harness with the U360. Just to clarify, though -- is there a ground coming from the $8 UltraStik Button / Encoder Harness sold on Ultimarc? I think I understand the use of the 12-Position European-Style Terminal Strip, but to make sure, it's just so that there aren't eight wires going directly from the U360 to the buttons, saving that wear and tear, and also to give you four ground wires (which would be coming from the four plugs on the strip) instead of just the one. If that is correct, then my only question is whether or not there is a ground wire in the harness. I'm pretty sure there is, but I want to confirm. Thanks!

[Ginsu Victim]

Actually, you can run two grounds from each connection, giving you ground for all eight.

And, yes, the ground comes from the button/encoder harness via the U360.

[Encryptor]

Here's a couple of links for basic wiring instructions.

http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/01/index8.htm

http://webpages.charter.net/rbecker5/plans.html#wiring


Encryptor