Software Support > controls.dat
Unofficial Controls.xml Update - Preliminary Release
garwil:
--- Quote from: headkaze on August 11, 2009, 07:38:07 pm ---As for editing the data at the top, that is read directly from Mame so it doesn't make sense to be able to edit it. None of that data is stored in ControlsDat anyway it's just used as a guide to help fill in the ControlsDat data. The Dip Switches data can also be used to help determine things like Cocktail and Services mode etc.
As for CatVer.ini and NPlayers.ini I think those data files are already well maintained so for now I don't think I will bother adding support for them.
--- End quote ---
OK fair enough, I didn't realise it was done that way. I'll have a look at the new version of the software later. Thanks ;D
--- Quote from: u_rebelscum on August 11, 2009, 07:41:02 pm ---That data is direct from mame. To change it, you need to change mame. :-\ If we complicate the DB (and maybe break many of the apps that use it), we could "fix" it in the DB without hacking into mame. Stuff like a "disabled" or "notused" attribute pop to mind, but not sure how to handle the "physically/emulated 8-way is a 2-way in gameplay" type relationships.
We need the DB to mame relationships so the info in controls.dat can be used with and around mame.
--- Quote from: Space Fractal on August 11, 2009, 06:07:01 pm ---...Other examples is I remember was Galaga (not sure which game(s) it was) and such games which was detected as 4 or 8-way joystick by MAME, but in real use it only use 2-way joystick. I prefer how the gameplay works and not how MAME emulate it.
--- End quote ---
Galaga is listed as a 2-way by both controls.dat and mame's listxml. FWIW, in old (pre 0.106 IIRC) mame, all 2-way sticks were listed as 8-way.
But yeah, Galaga88 physically had an 8-way joystick, and only used the left & right directions. Neogeo games are the other big example: all came with 4 buttons, but most games only used 2 or 3.
If would be nice to be able to note these cases so queries wouldn't be fooled, but that would expand and complicate the DB and DB <--> mame relationships.
edit: headkaze beat me to much of what I said
--- End quote ---
I see your point there, I've got no wish to mess about with the structure of databases, I was just wondering about getting some of the data a bit more accurate. As it turns out, I've looked into this a bit more and it would seem that it doesn't actually matter what info is in MAME, as long as the correct info is added to controls.xml.
Long story short I've been using Romlister with a merged XML file (listxml, catver, nplayers, controls) and it's been missing stuff out or putting stuff in that shouldn't be there, and that's what prompted my concerns. It turns out I can just use RomLister with the edited controls.xml to get the filtering I need after all! :embarassed:
Oh well, now that I've finished interfering I'll go and do some more editing!
Thanks for your input guys ;D
Space Fractal:
I would very much like to filter games that COULD been played on my 2 player 4 button arcade, so it dosent filter out the games that could been played on cabs with fewer buttons (I use NeoGeo layout). This project seen only do labels as the important, but would been nice to expand it to correct data when possible.
Howover I do think it can been marked by N/A, so most unused controls can been detected that way (could been handy with NeoGeo games to mark unused buttons as N/A example)....
Only Taito games can been problem with the combo spinner and joystick system.
Space Fractal:
How goes with updating the last bits, its a really nice update.
As I wrote again, I think rather to change number of buttons and controls, all I think is make unused controls as N/A and only with N/A, which and then ask NOP (if I remember correct) to support that and change it when found to RomLister (which can have a big use of it). The problem now is N/A sometimes is named as "Not Used" and also ??. It should either stand "Unknown" or "N/A" and no other.
Then it would not break the current xml format, since it could been checked with unused inputs checking for N/A instead.
I think I would look on the editor too, and would been handy with these Taito as well NeoGeo game (which still can been named ABCD, but just mark D or C with N/A on these games that does not use the last buttons.
NOP:
--- Quote from: Space Fractal on August 19, 2009, 05:19:37 pm ---As I wrote again, I think rather to change number of buttons and controls, all I think is make unused controls as N/A and only with N/A, which and then ask NOP (if I remember correct) to support that and change it when found to RomLister (which can have a big use of it). The problem now is N/A sometimes is named as "Not Used" and also ??. It should either stand "Unknown" or "N/A" and no other.
--- End quote ---
I'll make sure that ROMLister is up to date on whatever format comes of this discussion. This is too good of work to let slip by.
I won't do anything until the formatting is solid though.
garwil, feel free to PM me with any concerns or questions you may have; your work and mine go hand in hand here.
garwil:
I'm still working on this, albeit at a slower pace because I'm now back at work.
All NeoGeo games have been left with the ABCD as they usually have in-game instructions or an instruction card marquee/bezel. I've taken a similar approach with things like the Nintendo & SEGA multi-game systems.
For stuff like the Taito games, which MAME shows as 6-button, 4-player, spinner, 8-way, etc. I've edited them as if they were a standalone game. I've edited the number of players to be either 2, 3 or 4 player depending on the game. I have also deleted any unused buttons and only added the controls that are actually used in-game. e.g. 2-player, 3 buttons, 8wayjoy.
I've taken the same approach with all the other games. There's a few games that are shown in MAME as being 1-player but are actually 2-player alternating games. I've edited these accordingly. Some games support 3 buttons but only use 2 buttons in-game, and I've edited controls.xml to reflect that.
Like I said in my first post, I'm not going for 100% authenticity, just enough to be able to filter games accurately in RomLister and show appropriate info in CPWizard.
Regarding the issue of games being listed as using an 8way but actually only using 4 directions, I might go through and edit these, for the simple reason that it will allow for more accurate filtering in RomLister. As far as games like Galaga 88 go, I'm not going to change anything as I doubt there are many people out there with a dedicated 2-way joystick only cab, and if there are, I'm sure they know which games they want to play anyway.
For games like Tetris that use an 8-way joystick but only use 3 directions, I've simply been omitting the directions that aren't used, that way they don't show up in CPWizard. I've done the same for unused buttons, with the exception of the systems mentioned above. I don't really see the point in having things like "Not Used" or "??" listed in the file.
Anyway, I'd best get back to work!
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