Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Raspberry Pi & Dev Board => Topic started by: mvolke1 on October 27, 2014, 11:24:13 pm

Title: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: mvolke1 on October 27, 2014, 11:24:13 pm
I'm planning on using an iAc with my Pi. I'm thinking it'll be plug and play since it's set to MaME default controls. Has anyone ever done this? If so did you have to do any programming? Thanks
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: nitrogen_widget on October 28, 2014, 07:43:43 am
I would try the piplay and retro pi forums along with the raspberrypi forum itself.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: spoot on October 28, 2014, 11:25:31 am
Haven't tried it myself, but since the ipac is more or less a usb keyboard in this case I'd be surprised if it didn't work.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: mvolke1 on October 28, 2014, 12:45:39 pm
According to this post, it works fine: http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/ (http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/)

I have an iPac 4, which I am reusing from a previous project I scrapped.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: Locke141 on October 28, 2014, 01:36:40 pm
According to this post, it works fine: http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/ (http://www.raspberrypi.org/guest-blog-6-mame-cabinet-by-darren-j/)

I have an iPac 4, which I am reusing from a previous project I scrapped.

You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a)

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.   
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: nitrogen_widget on October 28, 2014, 03:52:30 pm
there was an issue with emulationstation 2 and the GPIO app.
Something to do with sdl2.
there is also a fix I believe.

I haven't gotten to this point yet (just got my gpio breakout adapter & breadboard) but i'm also using advanced menu so I shouldn't have these problems.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: mvolke1 on October 29, 2014, 12:45:02 am
Testing the ipac and it wwill dis great with MAME. However it doesn't sent work for consoles since the iPac uses the default buttons for MAME. Shouldn't be too bad to change them.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: Grasshopper on October 29, 2014, 03:48:32 pm
You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a)

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: yotsuya on October 29, 2014, 03:51:58 pm
You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a)

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.
Based on my experience, at that pricepoint I'd rather buy a MinimusAVR from xconsoles.com and load the KADE firmware on it. I used one of those from eBay a few years ago to build a bartop for my nephews, but I just got it back from them because the controls are unreliable. Gonna switch it out with a Minimus I got last week - haven't had ANY issues with those.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: mvolke1 on October 29, 2014, 04:35:24 pm
For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: yotsuya on October 29, 2014, 05:10:02 pm
For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.

Completely agree - but if you want to spend $10-$15, a Minimus is the way to go.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: sharpfork on November 02, 2014, 12:37:37 am
I'm setting up my first raspi emulation brain and no way do I want to use any processor cycles checking gpio pins.  I hear the zero delay's are fine in most cases.  Minimus + KADE software is a super cheap way to go too.  You can program it as keyboard or HID joystick.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: AndyWarne on November 02, 2014, 06:48:53 am

We have many customers using I-PACs with the Pi and no reported issues.
Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: Locke141 on November 02, 2014, 07:05:35 am
For my money, the ipac couldn't be easier. I think it's like $35.

Completely agree - but if you want to spend $10-$15, a Minimus is the way to go.

 I-pac 4 run for $65 before shipping. Your bar top build is nice enough to justify the price of the I-pac. If I went that rout I would have gotten one of the cheeper models. 

Title: Re: IPac and Raspberry Pi question
Post by: Locke141 on November 02, 2014, 07:11:25 am
You could get a cheep encoder like two zero delay ($10.34 each) and sell the I-pac here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-Delay-USB-Encoder-PC-to-Joystick-Arcade-MAME-Multicade-2pin-Happ-Push-Button-/191065889930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7c6a1c8a)

Hell, you could use the GPIO pins on the I R-pie. Go ask on the PiPlay forums on how to do this.

Interesting. Have you actually bought one of those encoders? They look remarkably cheap. I presume they're not programmable but at that price who cares.


I have one but from a different vender. It seems to work fine on a little test rig I built. Plans are in the works to use it in a stick build.

If I didn't already have one I'd be taking yotsuya advice as he definitely knows better then I.

I'm setting up my first raspi emulation brain and no way do I want to use any processor cycles checking gpio pins.  I hear the zero delay's are fine in most cases.  Minimus + KADE software is a super cheap way to go too.  You can program it as keyboard or HID joystick.

True,
 That never crossed my mind.