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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ltgiv on June 05, 2020, 05:23:16 pm

Title: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: ltgiv on June 05, 2020, 05:23:16 pm
Hi all,

A friend recommended Ultimarc to me, and I wanted to confirm a BOM before proceeding with the order, for modding a TMNT cabinet with 4-8-8-4 button configuration for 4 players, as well as 2 buttons up top (start + coin) for each player:


For the 4 joysticks, I'll be ordering from a different vendor whose joysticks are compatible with the Ultimarc Ultimate I/O.  Are there any other parts that are missing from this list that I need to add to my Ultimarc order?

Thanks for your time.
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: PL1 on June 05, 2020, 08:20:59 pm
Quote from: ltgiv on June 05, 2020, 05:23:16 pm
modding a TMNT cabinet with 4-8-8-4 button configuration for 4 players, as well as 2 buttons up top (start + coin) for each player
1. Are you planning on using "shifted functions" or dedicated buttons for other admin functions like exit, pause, etc?
- The FAQ covers the pros and cons of both approaches.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Number_of_admin_buttons (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Number_of_admin_buttons)

2. Have you gone through the design process described in the FAQ?
- Depending on your answers to steps 2 and 4, you may find that you don't need 8 buttons for P1/P2.
-- MAME only needs 6, maybe 7 if you want a 4-button-in-a-row layout for NeoGeo.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#What_type_of_build_meets_my_needs.3F (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#What_type_of_build_meets_my_needs.3F)

3. How do you plan to mount the joysticks?
- If you aren't using carriage bolts, you may want to consider threaded inserts.

https://www.ultimarc.com/arcade-controls/joystick-accessories/joystick-mounting-kits/ (https://www.ultimarc.com/arcade-controls/joystick-accessories/joystick-mounting-kits/)

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Hardware (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Hardware)
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Joysticks (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Joysticks)

Obligatory reminder about angling P3/P4 sticks:  Green is good.  Red is bad.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Orientation (http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Orientation)

(http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/images/thumb/d/da/StraightAndAngledSticks.jpg/690px-StraightAndAngledSticks.jpg)


Scott
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: nipsmg on June 08, 2020, 08:57:49 am
*waits patiently for the WWIII level argument about angled vs non-angled sticks*......   ;D
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: ltgiv on June 29, 2020, 04:07:33 am
Hi Scott,

Thank you for your response, I apologize for the delay as I didn't receive any notifications of replies.

1) Shifted functions and/or a wireless keyboard that I have tied in.

2) Thanks for the link/info.  This is excellent and I basically did this without seeing this, but it reinforces what I had already determined.

3) Poorly.  I used short screws, and probably should've done it the proper way like everyone on here.  Photos (and video) are under my active projects page (https://thad.getterman.org/about/portfolio/#tmnt).

Thanks for the info. about the joysticks (not trying to start a religious war), I based it off of multiple photos that I saw, as well as stock deck in Arcade1Up cabinet.

I bought the Ultimarc GoldLeaf RGB Illuminated Pushbuttons.  The only problem that I'm having now is needing to track down what kind of LEDs are inside of these for replacing on these brand new (not even a week old!) buttons, since I need to replace a few of the LEDs (mistakes were made).

I'm using the Ultimarc Ultimate and am maxed out on everything (I'll add more photos) and having to use a LED splitter to merge the Start and Coin buttons for each of the 4 players (e.g. for TMNT, player 1 start & coin would be blue, player 2 start & coin would be yellow, player 3 start & coin would be purple, player 4 start & coin would be red).

Further down the road, I'm going to remove the use of the coin buttons and dedicate them to something else (e.g. dedicated buttons that you mentioned in your question #1 since I've 3-D printed a replacement mount with "quarter insert" buttons below.  Since I'm out of available interrupts on the Ultimarc, I'm going to put together a H.I.D. microcontroller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_human_interface_device_class) (basically the same functionality that the Ultimarc does) that also serves as a "state machine" microcontroller (like what's described in this article (https://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Better-Raspberry-Pi-Power-Button/)) for a power button that toggles the state of the machine.
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: Ropi Jo on June 29, 2020, 09:02:53 am
Quote from: nipsmg on June 08, 2020, 08:57:49 am
*waits patiently for the WWIII level argument about angled vs non-angled sticks*......   ;D

OK, so without trying to prod a turd, what is wrong with angled joysticks?
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: Mike A on June 29, 2020, 09:12:38 am
Quote
Obligatory reminder about angling P3/P4 sticks:  Green is good.  Red is bad.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Orientation

Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: JDFan on June 29, 2020, 09:37:30 am
Quote from: Ropi Jo on June 29, 2020, 09:02:53 am
Quote from: nipsmg on June 08, 2020, 08:57:49 am
*waits patiently for the WWIII level argument about angled vs non-angled sticks*......   ;D

OK, so without trying to prod a turd, what is wrong with angled joysticks?

WHen playing you automatically think of up on the joystick as being straight toward the monitor - not always forward to the position you are standing and will move the wrong direction in game play if they are angled due to it not being placed that way ! ( It's an unconscious behavior that your mind does and having them angled confuses your movement to where you have to think about what way to move instead of relying on instinctive movement. ( Sure you can overcome it and even get used toplaying with them angled but that is learned behavior and not instinct.) So best just to not angle them so users do not have to learn how to play on those positions.

Same reason Q-bert comes with an angled joystick and is difficult (but learnable) to play on a Mame machine with a straight setup -- due to your character only jumping at angles on the screen and your hands automatically wanting to move at that angle not straight toward/away from the screen.

Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: Arroyo on June 29, 2020, 10:27:58 am
Quote from: JDFan on June 29, 2020, 09:37:30 am
Same reason Q-bert comes with an angled joystick and is difficult (but learnable) to play on a Mame machine with a straight setup -- due to your character only jumping at angles on the screen and your hands automatically wanting to move at that angle not straight toward/away from the screen.

You can configure the joysticks to only work on the angels for Q-bert.  Just make the inputs for up, down, left, right the angles (both keyboard presses simultaneously).
Title: Re: Confirming B.O.M. before ordering
Post by: Ropi Jo on June 29, 2020, 11:58:50 am
I would never have thought that. But I accept it, no probs.

I've made (am making) swappable CPs that include 2 x 2pl (4 way and 8 way). And I made P1 at an angle on both. Not got to actually playing any games yet as it's WIP, but it didn't feel right when scrolling the mala games list, especially on the 8 way. It's clear why, now. Think I'll have to re-address that.

Thank you.