2 player CP vs. 4 player CP

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Tiger-Heli:

--- Quote from: pointdablame on June 17, 2003, 06:30:16 pm ---what kind of "compromises" will I have to make if I use a KeyWiz. Also, is it any harder/easier to work with compared to the others?

--- End quote ---

Easy questions first:

Well, first IIOOIIOO's (sp?) solution above is simpler, if that is acceptable to you. Personally, I think whoever uses the gamepad's will end up feeling at a disadvantage to the person with the "real" controls. An option (just thought of) would be to mount a four port USB hub below the panel and use 4 gamepads for the 4-player, 4-person games so everyone is on an even keel, so to speak.

Harder\easier to use: I think the KeyWiz is a little simpler and the software is a little better, but they're all basically the same as far as functionality and hook-up's. I can walk you through it. Main advantage is the KeyWiz will support 4-player, 3-button games and the I-PAC will only support 4-player 2-button games. NOTE: This covers everything in MAME except about 4 games, mainly Dungeons and Dragons series, which are four player, four button.

Compromises - Will take three full posts to get you all the details, but first there are some things to decide:

If you only want to support four player three button games - (not Street Fighter or classics) then you have less compromises, basically, you end up re-mapping the encoder away from the default codeset, re-mapping MAME away from the default codeset, and doing some funky stuff to support select, escape, and pause buttons (and note I am adding six additional inputs to each encoder without using shift keys).

If you want to support Street Fighter style games, then you end up with shared inputs to throw into the mix. So for example, you have six buttons for Player 1, but TMNT only needs 3 (2?) of them, so you can map buttons 4, 5, and 6, to be Player 4 Up, Down, and Button 3. Likewise, Player 2 Buttons 4, 5, and 6 become Player 4 Right, Left, and Player 3 button 3.

I would recommend putting Player 1 and 2 in the middle for SF games. Now for TMNT, you can either have Player 3 and 4 on the outsides, or re-map MAME and have a standard 1, 2, 3, 4, but either way, the middle players can "mess up" Player 3 Button 3 and Player 4 joysticks controls by using the buttons above them. So depending on how "honest" your friends are, will determine how you set the player positions up.

(You also could probably rig some kind of hidden rotary switch to disable buttons 4-6 (on the panel) for TMNT style games, but now we're really complicating things).

Anyway, give some thought to what you want out of the panel, and then post back and I'll walk you through it. Tomorrow for sure this time (It's late here . . . )

Odonadon:

--- Quote from: pointdablame on June 17, 2003, 05:22:00 pm ---First of all, hello, my name is Pete. I'm looking to build my first MAME cabinet very soon, so expect a lot of questions from me. I've been reading this for a while now, and after some trouble signing in to the forum (still having trouble with my comp at home using XP) I figured I'd give ya my first question.

I am leaning towards building an Ultimate Arcade II because I like the look of the larger CP, but I may possibly buy an old cabinet to use. Either way, some of my favorite arcade games are 4 player games such as the Simpsons and the X-men beat-em-up etc.

My question is: If I am thinking on a budget, should I start off with a 2 player CP and eventually build a 4 player in the future? Or just go for a 4player now? Also, are the games mentioned above playable with only a 2player CP? I'd really like all the opinions I can get, and you guys seem very knowledgeable. Thanks.

--- End quote ---

I say build a 2 player CP, and stick with that. I HATE these 4 player panels with trackballs, this, that, and whatever. Stick with two joysticks, and however many buttons you feel is necessary. Keeps it looking more classical (in my opinion), and therefore MUCH nicer. You can always hook a USB gamepad up to it so buddies #3 and #4 can play along with you. I don't think there are enough 4 player games to warrant the ugliness of the 4 player CP.

Edit: TMNT, Simpsons, and X-men (for example) have 2 player versions where you can choose your player - as opposed to picking that player's corresponding joystick.

Odonadon

The cranky hermit:
You can select your character in all versions of X-Men, with the exception of the six-player version. And the six-player version's been removed from MAME, so you don't have to worry about that.

Lilwolf:
I use 4 player more then 2 player... really! Why? My wife doesn't play at all... so its me... or a social thing... and we usually invite more then one person over... mostly kids.

Trouble you will have later is having enough inputs into your keyboard encoder. So adding anything else later will feel like a hack. Either a second encoder (and you can't always configure the second one from the machine without removing the first)... or a different hack... Like the usb solution. Remember you CAN hack these into real controls.

But if you are pretty sure you will do it someday... go for a MK64 encoder or a IPac4. You won't be sorry... even if you don't use the extra settings right away.

Next...

4 players on a normal cab is nearly imposible. I have a gauntlet cab myself... and it works well! But you need to replace the control panel (in my opinion) because there isn't enought space for 4 players with players 1 and 2 with 6 buttons... but enought for 4 each. And 4 player control panels kinda suck for 1 or 2 players... You have to configure all 2 player games to use the middle two joysticks... So anyway, consider a hot swap control panel solution.... then you can add a 2 player now, and a 4 player later, and a SW yoke, and a few steering wheels... and a 720 controller... and a 4way... DEFENDER.... sorry...getting excited...

good luck

nighthawk2099:
well.... the other option is to run Simpson or TMNT that are not US (ie.. Japan or World versions) as they are set as 2 players which allows for picking who you want to be... just a note..... ;D

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