UltraStik Mapper: vjoy2way?

[TheShanMan]

I'm just getting started with this plugin and trying to understand if I actually need to do any configuration. I created the umapper.log file to see what it's doing, picked pooyan, and started the game. It doesn't seem to be picking 2way.ugc as I'd expect. Is it looking for vjoy2way.ugc? I'm not sure, but it's failing to pick the right map.

Code: [Select]

EVENT: Game start (ROM: 'pooyan', CLONE OF: '', CONTROL: 'vjoy2way')

_build_mapname: Built map file name: 'd:\mala\Maps\pooyan.ugc'
_file_exists: Seeing if file 'd:\mala\Maps\pooyan.ugc' exists
_file_exists: 'd:\mala\Maps\pooyan.ugc' does not exist
_get_mapname: did not locate rom name map file: 'd:\mala\Maps\pooyan.ugc'
_get_mapname: empty cloneof
_get_mapname: locating map by control type: 'vjoy2way'
_get_mapname: did not locate control name map file: 'd:\mala\Maps\pooyan.ugc'
_build_mapname: Built map file name: 'd:\mala\Maps\M.A.M.E. v0.126 (Aug 23 2008).ugc'
_file_exists: Seeing if file 'd:\mala\Maps\M.A.M.E. v0.126 (Aug 23 2008).ugc' exists
_file_exists: 'd:\mala\Maps\M.A.M.E. v0.126 (Aug 23 2008).ugc' does not exist
_get_mapname: did not locate emulator map file: 'd:\mala\Maps\M.A.M.E. v0.126 (Aug 23 2008).ugc'
_build_mapname: Built map file name: 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc'
_file_exists: Seeing if file 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc' exists
_file_exists: 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc' does exist
_get_mapname: located default map file: 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc'
_file_exists: Seeing if file 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc' exists
_file_exists: 'd:\mala\Maps\default.ugc' does exist
_run_ultramap: command line '"C:\Program Files\UltraMap\ultramap.exe" "d:\mala\Maps\default.ugc"'
_run_ultramap: '"C:\Program Files\UltraMap\ultramap.exe" "d:\mala\Maps\default.ugc"' completed successfully


[fatfingers]

Hello.  I see I missed the vjoy control option in the plugin, so that's why it's not locating the file.  I will have to get an update out for this, but it may be a while due to kid #3 arriving any day.  In the meantime, if you create pooyan.ugc in the maps directory, and set the correct map to use in that file (I'll look for the correct map name later, if you can't figure it out).

[fatfingers]

2-Way, Up & Down.um

is the name you'll want to put into your pooyan.ugc file.

Let me know if you need more help.

[TheShanMan]

Sounds simple enough. There was one thing I couldn't figure out from the log info. It says "couldn't find pooyan.ugc" twice, and the 2nd time I think it is actually trying to find the control type ugc, so I think the log string is writing the wrong thing. But what I was wondering is if I could just create a vjoy2way.ugc so that other games of that type are covered too?

Thanks, and congratulations on #3!

[fatfingers]

As it turns out that 2nd did not find pooyan.ugc is a relic from not looking for and finding the 2way it's supposed to be finding (but has no code to find it), so you'll just have to ignore that.  At this point in time creating the vjoy2way.ugc will not work.  When the fix is written, that will be the exact solution that you will want, but until the code actually looks for vjoy2way.ugc, creating it will not help you out.

[TheShanMan]

Would it not be a good idea for it to not have hard coded control names that it supports, but just take the control name and look for <control name>.ugc?

[fatfingers]

Perhaps.  I don't quite remember the reason I did it the way I did, but I think it was because of the joy4way and dualjoy4way type of things where I wanted to simplify it to just 4 way.

 

[TheShanMan]

I can understand that, though the downside to having duplicated ugc files is really small (because they're nothing more than pointers to the um files, right?). But more importantly, I think having a 1 to 1 correspondence between control types and ugc files (using the control type name as the file name) would make trying to understand what the plugin is doing easier (particularly for a new user). Plus it would eliminate the possibility of some other control type being missed.

Just my 2 cents.

[Neverending Project]

Slightly off-topic question... Do you notice a difference when using the maps loaded by UltraStik Mapper vs. letting Mame map the stick for you? I imagine there are subtle differences, and in a few games maybe not-so-subtle. But I am wondering if you can tell a difference in everyday use?

I have (so far) only tried the U360s using mame's mapping. I leave them in analog mode and let mame (v126 I believe) do the mapping for me.

[TheShanMan]

I'm interested in knowing that too! I was thinking about asking it, but I decided just to try the ultramaps first to see if I could notice a difference.

My biggest concern is that I have swappable panels, so I just hope that when I switch to my single mag stik joystick panel, I don't get an error message or a long delay on game start/end due to my u360's not being plugged in.

[fatfingers]

Slightly off-topic question... Do you notice a difference when using the maps loaded by UltraStik Mapper vs. letting Mame map the stick for you? I imagine there are subtle differences, and in a few games maybe not-so-subtle. But I am wondering if you can tell a difference in everyday use?

I have (so far) only tried the U360s using mame's mapping. I leave them in analog mode and let mame (v126 I believe) do the mapping for me.

I don't know that anyone has reported a difference.  I think the winning point of the plugin is that you can customize the maps to exactly what you want them to be.  Other than that I'm guessing there's not that big of a difference.  Note that I too, have not tried the MAME mappings.

[Todd H]

Slightly off-topic question... Do you notice a difference when using the maps loaded by UltraStik Mapper vs. letting Mame map the stick for you? I imagine there are subtle differences, and in a few games maybe not-so-subtle. But I am wondering if you can tell a difference in everyday use?

I've been testing Mala as a possible front-end for my cabinet and have been using an X-Box 360 controller to play games until I order U360's. I tested out MAME's mapping of analog controllers. I fired up Ms. Pac-Man to see if controlling it with the 360 controller's analog stick would be an exercise in frustration. Amazingly enough, it worked like a charm. I think I made it through four mazes before losing a man. There didn't seem to be any dead zones.

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, we do know that mame handles analog joysticks properly. It's a question of whether the ultrastik maps do a better job for your average game.

[Todd H]

Yeah, we do know that mame handles analog joysticks properly. It's a question of whether the ultrastik maps do a better job for your average game.

I am aware of that. And as soon as my U360's arrive, I'll see if it's any different. Just noting my observation with a standard analog stick.

[TheShanMan]

Gotcha. It is nice that you don't have to use the ultrastik maps!

Look forward to your assessment. I haven't had much chance to get started with the mapper plugin yet so I'm still relying on mame translation.

[TheShanMan]

So I'm actually starting to use the mapper plugin. Just out of curiosity, any progress on fixing the vjoy2way problem? I know you're probably busy with baby, so no pressure!

Since there's nothing worse than having to break out your keyboard and mouse because a game isn't working properly when you have friends over, I am hoping for reasonable reassurance that I cover all cases reasonably well, if not ideally. So I'd like to know what the mapper plugin doesn't cover properly out of the box? For instance, I think I have to copy qbert.ugc to congo.ugc for congo bongo (right?). Are there other games people have found aren't covered out of the box?

Maybe fatfingers can include congo.ugc and any other ugc's for any other games people report as not being covered well in the next plugin update?

[Ummon]

Gotcha. It is nice that you don't have to use the ultrastik maps!

You don't if using a late-enough mame version. Before that controls feature, you do have to.

Why don't you ask if you can pick it up from him? You do have some coding experience. (I have zero...unless you include a saturday class back in....'80, maybe, where we had to pick a language and then type in a page's worth of commands. I never got zero 'diagnostics', so have no idea what the result was supposed to be.)

[TheShanMan]

Maybe I would (though I have no idea if he even wants that!), but I've just got too many projects right now. It's not like there is a major problem that I can't get past.

[fatfingers]

Hey guys.  I do have a new version that's probably ready for testing...but it's at work and not at home where I'll be for the next week or so.  I may try to remote into work to grab it and if so I'll post it here for people to try.

[TheShanMan]

Thanks fatfingers. No big deal if I have to wait. I asked about an update before I saw your birth announcement, and I was assuming that had happened a week or 2 ago. Enjoy your baby and don't worry about us!

[fatfingers]

I will still try to get the update out at some point when the baby is napping and the other kids are at school (yeah...right).

[fatfingers]

Wrong thread.  Never mind.

[Ummon]

Groovy. When you can is cool.