Under used admin key?

[blind_dado]

One of the admin keys I use is "Insert" which, by default, MAME uses as a throttle that lasts for as long as you hold the key down.  I use it all the time to get past a game's startup routine or to fast-forward through a game's "cut scene" (like in the beginning of dkong when he has to climb up the ladder) or when I want to get to the high score screen quickly.  I haven't seen the Insert key talked about much as an admin key, so just wanted to throw this out there.

[Ginsu Victim]

I have a hidden fast forward button. I use it sometimes to get through the rom check.

[Bender]

^^

I like that idea, I might have to steal it

[Benevolance]

Dang, that's a great idea.

[jasonbar]

Yup, I gots me a fast forward button, semi-hidden under the front lip of my CP: http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/infernolab/Arcade%20Game/15keyboardbracket.jpg

I have it hooked up to F10, however, to toggle it between throttled & max speed mode.  I wasn't aware that there even *was* a command for temporary fast forward.  Is it the same speed as the max speed that you get from F10?  I think I'll stick w/ F10, because I can load the DECO cassette games & walk away & come back & they'll be loaded (rather than holding the INS fast-forward button).

Thanks,
-Jason

[Ginsu Victim]

Ooooo, that gave me an idea, Jason. I have extra on/off toggle switches lying around, maybe I'll use one for fast forward so I can just click it over to ON and walk away.

[jasonbar]

Cool.

Just to clarify, as I'm not sure I was clear before, but F10 "latches" into fast-forward mode, so my FF switch is just a normal momentary pushbutton arcade switch.

So, you can use a momentary switch that drives F10, or you can use a latching switch that drives INS & they both should work the same, methinks.

Thanks,
-Jason

[Ginsu Victim]

Hmm, F10 eh? I might do some remapping.... thanks

[blind_dado]

According to the site below, the F10 method and the Insert method should run at the same speed.  Insert requires you to hold down the key and F10 does not (it acts like a toggle switch).  I found that with F10 I always fast-forwarded way past where I wanted to be.  Insert gave me more control.

"F10: Toggles the speed throttling on and off. Assuming you have Throttle checked on the Display page of the Game Properties dialog, pressing F10 will remove the throttle and allow the game to run as fast as possible. To return to normal speed, you must press F10 again."

"Insert: This works in a similar way to F10, except that the throttle only lasts for as long as you hold Insert down. As soon as you release Insert, the game returns to normal speed. You can use this to skip past particular long or boring segments of a game. "

http://strategywiki.org/wiki/MAME/Special_Keys