Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Patent Doc on February 20, 2005, 11:21:01 pm
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I remember later versions of Track & Field having a trackballl to run instead of buttons. Sir Poonga's link in the steering wheel interface question reminded me of a question I've always had. Has anyone out there used a trackball to play Track & Field in MAME? Currently, my cab is in construction so I can't and haven't tried this (heck I don't even know if MAME will allow for it).
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Check here:
http://www.arcade-history.com/history_database.php?page=detail&id=2958
That should answer most of your questions as to where to look in the Track and Field heirarchy for trackball support.
APf
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APFelon
Thanks for the reply, and maybe I'm a little slow, but I already knew the history of the game. How does that link tell you if MAME will let you play it with a trackball? No disrespect is intended, I just dont follow you.
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Ah, my apologies. According to that site, it looks as though Hypersports (same thing as T&F, essentially) has the trackball support. I'd check there to see if you can get it to work w/ a mouse or whatever. I'll go down to check it on my cab right now...
APf
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Thanks
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Ah, sorry. No go. Neither one has trackball support through MAME. A romset yet to be dumped, I suspect.
Again, sorry.
APf
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Try searching the boards @ MameWorld...I recall a similar discussion there - someone had a photo of a trackball Track n Field control panel.
IIRC the consensus was that the trackball had an interface to send digital signals as the buttons normally would. I think ::)
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For people who are unfamiliar with this panel.. here's a shot of one..
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Ah, sorry. No go. Neither one has trackball support through MAME. A romset yet to be dumped, I suspect.
I think it's the same ROM. It uses an interface board between the trackball and PCB.
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I think it's the same ROM. It uses an interface board between the trackball and PCB.
I think you're right, that's basically what I was trying to imply :)
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Using a trackball for Track and Field is for wimps! :D
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Using a trackball for Track and Field is for wimps!
Hey let's not slam the patent attorney. I'm going on VERY little sleep and still need to come up with a viable legal strategy for our little trademark issue.
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I remember the game with the track ball....I think it was a better version...so count me amoung the wimps. Is there any type of interface that would work with Mame?
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It might be possible to rig something up using really wide teeth on the encoder wheel, and widely separated optics, so that it reads the spin as a left-right-left-right series of digital inputs.
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Thanks for all the info guys. Yeah just love the trackball. You move so much faster and don't murder the buttons on the cab.
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Bump !
Anyone figure it out if and how you can use a trackball in MAME for Track & Field ? A separate encoder board the only way ???
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Woah, talk about reviving a dead post... that was one hell of a bump. In answer to your question, I haven't seen anyone propose another solution, but I'm sure it could be solved on the software side. I say this because those 40 in 1 multicade boards allow you to play trackball games with a joystick so I'm betting the reverse would work (since a button and one cardinal direction send the same signal).