Software Support > controls.dat
controls.xml outdated
u_rebelscum:
--- Quote from: Space Fractal on September 23, 2008, 05:28:49 pm ---unknown labels is not needed if not used. otherwise it just waste a space.
--- End quote ---
Not sure which way you're leaning here.
Unknown labels Values can skip the Value, yes.
Unknown button Actions IMO should be listed as such, so people know to look for it. See TheShanMan's last post.
I'd think the number of unknown actions will be small, as A. the label has to be undescriptive or unknown/unverified/blank, and B. the action not marked as "unused". (Which actually voids the super mario example as it probably would have been marked as unused, but still.)
--- Quote from: Space Fractal on September 23, 2008, 05:28:49 pm ---multi-element would clearly break compatible with older viewers and frontends that use it, but is not updated anymore. So that is not good, since you NEED allways have it backwards compatible.
Instead you could do something a much simple alternative:
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I know it's an overkill, but would it really break compatibility? Probably depends how parsed, I guess. Well written & flexible parsing won't bat an eye, AFAIK. Hmm.. you're probably right it would break at least one of 'em, and that's too many.
And your suggestion is easier to human parse, too.
One note about the action attribute: if added, it would increase the number of games needed. For example, the neogeo games would need to get their own actions, instead of sharing one entry. Not bad IMO, but something to take into account.
Howard_Casto:
Boy you guys had some interesting converstations in the few years I was gone. Too bad I wasn't here or I could have saved you all a buttload of effort.
Q: Why are the playchoice games given only the A and B labels?
A: Because that's what's printed on the control panel silly. We have absolutely no interest in doing special cases just to make things even more clear than they already are. Why don't they have add more descriptive labels? Because if you press one of the service buttons during gameplay in a playchoice game, it gives instructions on how to play the game on the top screen!!!
Q: Why do neogeo games only have the labels A,B,C,D?
A: First off... see the reply to the playchoice games. Secondly have you ever played a neogeo game? Because every single solitary game, without exception, has a "how to play" screen prior to the start of the game explaining, in detail, exactly what the controls do.
I know there's no real point in mentioning all of this after two years. But my point is the the controls.dat format was thought out a lot more than people think. If something doesn't seem right to you then you probably just aren't thinking big picture.
It never hurts to ask though!
*edit*
Oh I also forgot to mention it, but explaining what a button does when the label isn't clear enough is the job of the misc details entry. If you are confused then the viewer of your choice probably doesn't show the mis details. It should! It is VITAL for some games!
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