Author Topic: Any X-Arcade users out there? (Read 4955 times)

garnerb350 · « **on:** February 11, 2009, 08:23:12 am »

Yesterday, I got my Tankstick in the mail...and I felt like a kid at xmas...It looks nice...Also the measurements on my cab holds the Tankstick well....I then proceeded to hook the unit to my PC and check evevrything....I'm running Maximus Arcade and then it started to kick my tail.

I read the manual and I read where I had to download the x-arcade cfg file to be placed in MA...
My concern is this and I was hoping if there are anyone who is famialer with the X-arcades...The Tankstick has 4 modes...1 mode is the prescribed setting and the other 3 is where you can program the keys....is it better to stick with the main setting or does evevryone reprograms the setting for the better of their use?....

Also are there any other problems I should be aware of?

severdhed · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2009, 09:10:06 am »

i dont have a tankstick, but i do have a 2 player unit. if you are only using it for mame, there should be no need to reprogram it. i programmed mine so that i could play some PC games with it too. i wanted to play DOOM and it doesnt allow for alot of keybaord customization, so therefore i had to reprogram the keys.

as for the cfg file, it is usually included with MAME when you download it, you just have to tell it to use that cfg. (this can be set in mame.ini)

garnerb350 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:25:37 am »

My goal for my cab is to play MAME, Daphne, Pinballs, NES/Sega, Mugen

Common sense is telling me that I am going to have to take a day off work and sit all day and change the default controls to the button and joystick movements on the x-arcade, and that is just MAME.

Now last night I ran to a neighbor's house that had internet and I downloaded the cfg file...( it said to place in the prefs file in the Maximus Arcade folder...) Now when I opened my MAME 32 ver 129, I opened X-Men, and Mortal Kombat...I noticed that the joysticks alone wouldnt work...untill I assigned them....

I guess my deal is that I thought that this was going to be a simple fix...plug & play and rock n roll....

Burns711 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2009, 10:40:14 am »

I have a Tankstick too. Most FE's already have the .cfg in their file, so you shouldn't even need to download it. The trackball works like a mouse so if you play bowling games and Golden Tee, you have to enable it. I'm using MAME32 so I just clicked the enable mouse button.

As far as your joysticks not working right off the bat, it's probably that you either have Num Lock on or off. I can't remember which one X-Arcade uses. So give that a shot. You should never have to reassign your joys.

Visitor Q · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:07:25 am »

I have the two player unit and it works great. Infact I am going to be selling mine here since I now built a CP and have a upright arcade. It's cool that you can buy all the adapters for it to use it with different console systems. I use it on my original xbox from time to time, never an issue.

garnerb350 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:09:41 am »

Quote from: Burns711 on February 11, 2009, 10:40:14 am

As far as your joysticks not working right off the bat, it's probably that you either have Num Lock on or off. I can't remember which one X-Arcade uses. So give that a shot. You should never have to reassign your joys.

Num Lock was on....My FE didn't have the cfg...I went and dloaded it....
I was just wondering if everyone who has x-arcade...do they use Mode 1 or do they start off the bat and program their settings with the other modes (mode 2-4)

Also...do all x-arcaders go through the MAME game list and changed the default game controls and change it to fit their x-arcade, OR is there just a setting on MAME to pick to bypass it....

Now I am confusing myself...here....let me try this

Computer has...
MAME32 v129
Daphne 1.0
SK Jukebox

anytime should be receiving all Roms for NES/SEGA
Visual & Future Pinball

Mame was installed last month...I went to the help file located in options and set my options to what the suggested setting were on the list.

Just got tankstick yesterday...

Is there anything special that I need to do...?
Am I going to have to click on each game and change the controls settings?

What would you do?

Please be gentle with the noob...he is learning...and also suffering from mental deficiency

Burns711 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:22:40 am »

I used the mode that it was on originally and haven't touched it. I can't speak for any emulator other than MAME, because that's the only one I use.

You propably have to go into MAME32 (not through the FE) and enable your Tankstick. Have you tried that yet?

In MAME, use TAB and setup your general buttons. You really don't have to do that, but I changed a few buttons on the X-Arcade for admin purposes. Sometimes, it assigns games to have awkward buttons. If I come across those, I just TAB and change it for "this game only".

garnerb350 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:48:43 am »

If I remember straight...( I'm away from my cab) in MAME I have everything set to my mouse (i.e trackball)...In the Help file in Mame...you see the suggested settings...(i changed mine to reflect those)

I think I just need to take a deep breath and step up to the plate and start at 005 and work my way to Zyzzzzuk... Hopefully , I'll see my daughter graduate from I'm old and gray ( she's already 2)

Burns711 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:22:53 pm »

Haha, it's not that bad. I'm going to tell you how I have MAME setup. Give that a shot when you get a chance and let us know how it worked.

Here we go:

Open MAME32 the .exe file(I'm using v120), NOT through your FE.

Go up to "Options" and click "Default Game Options"

On the "Controller" tab, check "enable mouse input". On the same tab, make sure that "Use Multiple Keyboards" is NOT CHECKED. X-Arcade thinks it's a keyboard so make sure of that.

Then on "Controller Mapping", the only options I changed were the Trackball and Lightgun to "Mouse".

So...those options and your X-Arcade .cfg file should make it work just fine.

severdhed · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:23:00 pm »

check your mame.ini file, under core input options you should see ctrlr, set it to xarcade

CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
ctrlr xarcade
mouse 1
joystick 0
lightgun 0
multikeyboard 0
multimouse 0
offscreen_reload 0
steadykey 0
joystick_map auto
joy_deadzone 0.3
joy_saturation 0.85

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2009, 12:43:27 pm »

A word of advice: Your best bet it to eliminate the Frontend until you can get your Tankstick working properly with MAME. The less variables you introduce the better. Once you get it working properly for all games, then set it up using the Frontend and take it from there.

Also, to fix your problem, you may have to just simply load the "xarcade.cfg" file which is located in the "MAME\ctrlr" folder (It's included with MAME so there is no need to download it). To make it load automatically, you have to edit your "mame.ini" file to load the xarcade.cfg. If you don't have a mame.ini file to edit in the MAME folder, then simply create one at the command line (make sure you're in the MAME directory) and type: mame -cc This will create the mame.ini file.

Here's the line you need to add to the mame.ini file:

Code: [Select]

ctrlr                     xarcade

This will look for the xarcade.cfg controller file before MAME loads.

Also, make sure you make the mouse is set to 1 (default is 0) and the trackball device is set to mouse (default is keyboard).

Code: [Select]

mouse                     1

trackball_device          mouse

Hope this helps!

~ DeLuSioNaL

garnerb350 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:25:09 pm »

Going home to try it now....Be on standby....

slapaham · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:35:32 pm »

Got a X-Arcade dual stick recently and I love it - I was surprised to come across a negative post about them on a forum recently - I can't fault it - well, perhaps the cost of it and the adaptors!!

I use it with my PC and Xbox and it really gives you that authentic arcade feel - but I must admit - I'd choose my cab over it anyday - good for comfort though as the cab is currently in the dark, cold garage!

DjLooter_951 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2009, 01:39:47 pm »

Quote from: garnerb350 on February 11, 2009, 11:09:41 am

Quote from: Burns711 on February 11, 2009, 10:40:14 am
As far as your joysticks not working right off the bat, it's probably that you either have Num Lock on or off. I can't remember which one X-Arcade uses. So give that a shot. You should never have to reassign your joys.

Num Lock was on....My FE didn't have the cfg...I went and dloaded it....
I was just wondering if everyone who has x-arcade...do they use Mode 1 or do they start off the bat and program their settings with the other modes (mode 2-4)

Also...do all x-arcaders go through the MAME game list and changed the default game controls and change it to fit their x-arcade, OR is there just a setting on MAME to pick to bypass it....

Now I am confusing myself...here....let me try this

Computer has...
MAME32 v129
Daphne 1.0
SK Jukebox

anytime should be receiving all Roms for NES/SEGA
Visual & Future Pinball

Mame was installed last month...I went to the help file located in options and set my options to what the suggested setting were on the list.

Just got tankstick yesterday...

Is there anything special that I need to do...?
Am I going to have to click on each game and change the controls settings?

What would you do?

Please be gentle with the noob...he is learning...and also suffering from mental deficiency

You should be fine on the original mode for MAME along with other emulators I never have had a problem with the X-Arcade stick.

garnerb350 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2009, 03:02:17 pm »

Quote from: slapaham on February 11, 2009, 01:35:32 pm

Got a X-Arcade dual stick recently and I love it - I was surprised to come across a negative post about them on a forum recently - I can't fault it - well, perhaps the cost of it and the adaptors!!

By NO means, I'm not putting down X-arcade...I love it....This is mostly user error...I think what the problem is that my Mame folder didnt have XArcade cfg. I just got it and I'm going to throw it in soon as I get home...That and also this noob is getting his battlescars...

Few things come into play about this...
1. Like you, I've been on the forums since July and I havent seen ONE question about X-arcade setup.( so in my mind, I thought setup was gold)

2. I'm still learning when it comes to Emulation and all the programs. It very hard when you havent been gaming since Mortal Kombat 3 came out and getting back into the game .

3. What sucks is that there is nobody near where I am from and can look in the eye and talk about MAME....You guys( the forum) are the only ones I know...

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 11, 2009, 12:43:27 pm

A word of advice: Your best bet it to eliminate the Frontend until you can get your Tankstick working properly with MAME. The less variables you introduce the better. Once you get it working properly for all games, then set it up using the Frontend and take it from there.

Hope this helps!

~ DeLuSioNaL

DeluSioNaL....Thanks for the info...I'm going to try it...
Hell man you are the reason why I went to Maximus Arcade...

Besure to check back here later....Tommorow I'll tell you how everything went...
Thanks everybody!!!

slapaham · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2009, 05:45:09 pm »

garnerb350 - I wasn't referring to this post!

(it was one in another forum) If anything, you've only shown positivity for it!

I know exactly what you mean on the MAME comment - haha, I think everyone thinks I'm mad for this hobby but I genuinely love it - I don't think I've learnt so much since I started doing it!

Sorry I can't offer any good advice on your trackball problem - havent got around to sorting a trackball for myself yet - but wish you luck!

dkubarek · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2009, 06:31:13 pm »

One thing that confused me is that X-Arcade changed its .cfg file when it released X-Arcade 2.0 controls. Both versions of the .cfg are out there, so you may want to make sure you have the correct version. It will say at the top of the cfg file. I used the wrong one and my joystick didn't work, so it sounds like you may have done the same. But, like others have said, you can reprogram all the buttons in Mame in about 5 minutes.

As for other emus, most let you set inputs for each button. However, they don't let you change GUI controls such as "exit program." This sucks for the X-Arcade because you don't have a dedicated "esc" button and most emus are hacked to quit on esc. I just said the hell with it and just play Mame. I was lukewarm about playing console games on an Arcade cab (for anti-nostalgia's sake) and that was a deal-breaker. But, if you want to set it up, here's how:

Follow the instructions for configuring the buttons. You must program all buttons. You can't just modify one, which would be great. You need a keyboard, too. Set up all buttons except the one you want to use for exit using Mame's mapping (or anything you want). Then set the exit button to "esc." Note that X-Arcade can quit Mame using a button combo (Player 1 button 1 + Left pinball button, I think) because it's written into the .cfg file. But this won't work for other emus.

I got the X-Arcade BYOAC buttons, sticks, board and wiring kit and love the way they play. The board is fine in terms of playability, but the way it needs to be wired isn't great if you want to customize it at all. The wires are too short for many cabs, too. I wonder if the X-Arcade 2.0 included a better board, because many on this site hammered the old one.

u_rebelscum · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2009, 07:10:04 pm »

A little OT, but...

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 11, 2009, 12:43:27 pm

Also, make sure you make the mouse is set to 1 (default is 0) and the trackball device is set to mouse (default is keyboard).

Code: [Select]
mouse 1 trackball_device mouse

This is redundant*. The second line is coded in mame "if this game has a trackball type input port, then set 'mouse 1' no matter what it was set to before". However, the first line already enables mouse for all games, so the second line is enabling an already enabled mouse.

*The only time it's not redundant is if mouse is disabled in game specific ini files (with mouse 0) or in commandline (with -nomouse). These will override the mame.ini file setting. Then the second line will re-enable it if the game has the TB type input port, as long as this settings isn't also overridden. If having only the first line doesn't work but adding the second does, something elsewhere is overriding the mouse setting. I'd suggest looking at the FE settings in this case.

Not that having both casues any bugs, but you could make do with just one or the other:
mouse 1, or
trackball_device mouse (and maybe lightgun_device mouse for lightgun games, and dial_device mouse for spinner & 360 wheel games.)

MrMojoZ · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2009, 11:15:25 pm »

Quote from: slapaham on February 11, 2009, 05:45:09 pm

garnerb350 - I wasn't referring to this post! (it was one in another forum) If anything, you've only shown positivity for it!

You can find alot of forums with negative opinions of X-arcade products. It seems to vary by the type of games favored by the forum members.

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2009, 12:43:12 am »

If it matters, the author of Maximus Arcade purchased a Tankstick a couple of months ago in order to ensure that it functions 100% with the frontend.

Now THAT'S dedication!

dreamakuma · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2009, 04:59:54 am »

Have the two player duo, and I'm happy with it. I also have happs buttons/joys on another cab. I enjoy both. the only thing that i'd like more is if the had ball-tops on xgaming's site. as for compatablity, never had a problem, I don't have a .cfg for it, just do tab,works. but the wiring is very tight, and a pain to work with so my whole unit is mounted, for ease.

garnerb350 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2009, 08:36:02 am »

FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was my mame folder....I found a zipped file hidden in a wrong folder and found the x-arcade cfg.
MAME works perfectly....Also last night I got MA configured with the Tankstick also....

One thing remains though...

The 2 back white buttons ( on the left and right sides)...Has anyone figured how to use them?

I had the X-arcade tester and also opened notepad and when I hit those 2 buttons....nothing came up...Does anyone know about this? ( or do I need to open the panel up and see if they are connected?)

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2009, 03:21:50 pm »

Glad to hear that you solved it! Welcome to MAME!

dkubarek · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2009, 05:47:55 pm »

I think the one white button on the back right is to switch to modes 2, 3, and 4. You have to move the position switch to the desired mode (after you programmed it) and hit that button to change modes. Not sure why you would have one on the left, tho. I don't have the cp, tho, just the parts.

chrisnack · « **Reply #24 on:** March 02, 2009, 07:28:38 pm »

Quote from: garnerb350 on February 12, 2009, 08:36:02 am

FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was my mame folder....I found a zipped file hidden in a wrong folder and found the x-arcade cfg.
MAME works perfectly....Also last night I got MA configured with the Tankstick also....

One thing remains though...

The 2 back white buttons ( on the left and right sides)...Has anyone figured how to use them?

I had the X-arcade tester and also opened notepad and when I hit those 2 buttons....nothing came up...Does anyone know about this? ( or do I need to open the panel up and see if they are connected?)

The 2 buttons on the side closest to the "front" are analog/digital conversion buttons for when using it with an xbox or something, the farther back side buttons are the coin buttons.

Tankstick works great with the latest beta of Maximus.


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