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MAME Driver Patch for Hardware Gear Shift Support
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BadMouth:
Zero downloads of the modified drivers.  :-\

If having to compile was keeping you from trying it, here are already compiled v.144 binaries in both 32 & 64bit varieties:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OUGKTCHY
The only changes to these is the shifter fix.  They are otherwise vanilla MAME builds with nag boxes, etc.

Just put it in your mame folder and point your front-end toward it.
Or backup your original mame exe and rename this one mame.
brad808:

--- Quote from: BadMouth on December 22, 2011, 06:43:26 pm ---Zero downloads of the modified drivers.  :-\

If having to compile was keeping you from trying it, here are already compiled v.144 binaries in both 32 & 64bit varieties:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OUGKTCHY
The only changes to these is the shifter fix.  They are otherwise vanilla MAME builds with nag boxes, etc.

Just put it in your mame folder and point your front-end toward it.
Or backup your original mame exe and rename this one mame.

--- End quote ---

I'm yet to setup mame in my cabinet but I'm sure this will be helpful. If I understand correctly each of the games listed used a single switch in the gear selector and this patch makes the games hold the gears in cases where the gear would normally revert back to either hi or lo when the key is released?
BadMouth:

--- Quote from: brad808 on December 22, 2011, 10:47:41 pm ---If I understand correctly each of the games listed used a single switch in the gear selector and this patch makes the games hold the gears in cases where the gear would normally revert back to either hi or lo when the key is released?

--- End quote ---

(it's late.....having trouble conveying a simple explanation, but here's "something")

Not quite.  The original games used a single switch and would revert back to the default gear when that switch was released.
i.e. if the high gear switch wasn't pressed, it was assumed you were in low gear.  No switch needed for low gear=$ saved.

MAME currently has the  gear shift set as a TOGGLE.  Pressing a single button will toggle back and forth between hi and lo.
It makes it a lot easier for people using keyboards and gamepads, as they don't have to hold down a button to stay in high gear.

The problem is that a toggle doesn't work properly for people using real shifters.
People with original hi/lo shifters have to bump hi gear each time they want to toggle the gear...nothing like the way it originally worked.
Most end up adding a second switch to the lo gear side and mapping both switches to the single toggle input in MAME.  
This kinda works, but inevitably through not completing a shift or wrecking and the game restarting, hi and lo end up getting reversed.
It becomes confusing, especially for guests who don't understand what's going on.

Those of us using 4 speeds (or g27, etc) with a switch on every gear are pretty much in the same boat as those with 2 switches.

This patch removes the TOGGLE and lets the game function as it originally did.  It will not hold the gear if the switch is not engaged,
SO YOU MUST HAVE A SHIFTER THAT STAYS IN GEAR.

Basically, you map hi gear to hi on your shifter and that's it.  The game will default to Lo unless the high gear switch is engaged.

I have Hi gear mapped to 2nd on my 4 speed.  I shift to 1st for low gear (even though it's not mapped) and 2nd for high gear.
The shifter works just like the shifter did on the original games.  You shift to lo, it goes to lo.  You shift to hi, it goes to hi.  No confusion.

It's made a big difference in my enjoyment of these games, which is why I want other people with shifters to try it.
I can get a lot farther in Outrun now and have been playing games I overlooked before (like Chase Bombers and WEC Lemans).

EDIT: Just realized that you're using a sequential shifter that returns to center.  I'd forgot about that.
         You're better off sticking to the regular MAME build then and mapping both up and down to the single gear shift toggle input in MAME.

         I hope someone eventually takes enough interest in this issue to code a solution that works for everyone.
         It would be nice if you (and those who have paddle shifters) could have a separate input for hi and lo, and also have the gears latch.
         That way if you mess up and press hi again, it won't mess you up in the game by downshifting the way the current toggle would.
       
Howard_Casto:
I'm interested, and actually know how to do it, it's just a whole time factor thing. 

There never seems to be enough hours in the day.
brad808:
Badmouth, thanks for all the good information as usual. I'm guessing I'll understand it a little better once I start setting up mame and decide from there what I plan on doing with my shifter. I guess it also depends on if Howard is able to come up with something that would work for sequential shifters. @Howard - would a simple pretty please be enough to get the ball rolling?  ;D
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