2x360's, 1 Spintrack, 1 u-track connection help....

[wilno45]

will also (prob) have 7 buttons per joystick plus 1 and 2 player start and 2 coin buttons on the L/R side of the cabinet. Also 1 or 2 admin buttons lurking around.

Am I right in thinking I need either the Mini-PAC Opti. with Harness (p/n MP1) or the opti-pac?

There's no other easy solution I am missing is there?

Thanks

[TAG]

will also (prob) have 7 buttons per joystick plus 1 and 2 player start and 2 coin buttons on the L/R side of the cabinet. Also 1 or 2 admin buttons lurking around.

Am I right in thinking I need either the Mini-PAC Opti. with Harness (p/n MP1) or the opti-pac?

There's no other easy solution I am missing is there?

Thanks

The SpinTrak and U-Trak both come in USB versions, in which case you wouldn't need an Opti-PAC.

[wilno45]

Thanks, wasn't sure.

Can I have more than 16 buttons with just that though? I know less is more on this forum  but I think 18 plus 2 admin buttons would suit me. I know you can employ a shift function to double up and re-use the same buttons for different things but can you configure the 360's to use more than 16?

Cheers

edit - don't think you can on a re-read of the website. If I could make do with 6 per joystick 1/2 player start and 2 on the side to shift - that might work.

[DaveMMR]

If you're hooking up buttons to the U360 directly, yes, you are limited to 8 inputs (not including shifted functions) per stick.  That includes the coin and start.  If you want more than that, you will have to get a Mini-Pac, iPac or other keyboard encoder.

don't think you can on a re-read of the website. If I could make do with 6 per joystick 1/2 player start and 2 on the side to shift - that might work.

Don't forget the coins.  Instead of dedicated "shift" buttons, you can make the "START" or "COIN" a shift button.  This way, you free up an input. 

Also you can make it so that when you hold down Start and Button 1, you get a credit.  Not elegant IMO, but you can have 7 action buttons now without the need for an encoder.

[Turnarcades]

If you've got the Spin-trak and the U-trak, then I'd go with the mini-pac opti to limit the number of cables connecting your control panel to the PC. Connectivity is simple for the analog controls to the mini-pac.

[wilno45]

Mini-pac opti was my first choice for sure, it's a shame the 360's - which I really want, only allow 8 dedicated buttons per joystick. If they did 10 I wouldn't need an extra encoder at all. Getting the mini-pac would give me much more choice and you are right, much neater way to connect everything. Does anyone (games) actually use all seven buttons btw? I like the 3-3-1 layout most people use.

After reading another thread I am now considering putting the spinner vertically on the front of the control panel, keep changing my mind! Arkanoid is hell with my x-arcade joystick.

Thanks for the input.

[Turnarcades]

The 7-button layout people choose is for Neo-Geo purists who like the 4 buttons all in a row. There's no real need for it as 6 buttons cover most bases. Don't do a front-mounted spinner, that would just be weird unless you are doing some kind of steering wheel mod.

[wilno45]

The 7 button layout I was thinking of was 3 across the top 3 underneath and one at the bottom slightly to the left, a bit like the x-arcade (although that has 2 at the bottom).

No steering wheel mod for me - I am considering keeping my panel flush with the side of the arcade cabinet which will be as wide as the doorways in my house allow. This  means horizontal space (with a trackball centered) is at a premium although the spinner would normally be above the joysticks and I suppose be out the way anyway.

[scotthh]

The Spintrack "USB Version. Has 3 Mouse button connection". Now you're only short one button. I couldn't figure out if the U-Trak USB comes with mouse button inputs.

It's $7 extra for SpinTrak USB. It's $14 extra for U-Trak USB. So you "save" $21 getting the non-USB versions. The OptiPac ($39-$21=$18) has 4 mouse buttons. I thinkyou can use them all, getting the 20 buttons you want. The Mini-PAC Opti ($69-$21=$48) is your most expensive option, but it is the most versatile.

[BrianP]

I couldn't figure out if the U-Trak USB comes with mouse button inputs.

I send an email to Ultimarc asking the same question.  Here was Andy's repsonse:

The current version does not support mouse button connection. One way to get
mouse buttons is to use the Mousekeys function, which is described in the
Windows help.

So, you won't get the mouse buttons there.  But if the SpinTrak supports it, you don't need it with the U-Trak.

[wilno45]

Mini-PAC Opti was my first choice and the one I think I will go for tbh. I'd like to have the mouse buttons because Worms is one of the games I was going to play on it and you can't seem to change the controls.

Thanks for the posts