4 out of 5 guys on this board are going to recommend Ultimarc products. You cant beat em with a stick and Andy gives excellent customer support. I've built 2 cabs and both use I-pacs.
I was trying to think of a 4-player game that requires more then 3 buttons. If you know of any let me know I may add a button for 3&4.The dungeons and dragons games were 4-player and 4 buttons.
I'm #5.
Keywiz \ gpwiz \ gp49. If for nothing else, price point.
| Players 1 & 2: 4 - Directionals 6 - Buttons 1 - Start Button | Players 3 & 4: 4 - Directionals 4 - Buttons 1 - Start Button[/color] |
Assuming you'll be using Windows, I'd use a KeyWiz for Players 1 & 2 and a USB GP-Wiz for players 3 & 4. This is a more affordable option and I'm a big fan of RandyT's products (that said, I don't doubt that the IPac is excellent).Agreed, and I like this option, although you could alternatively use the GP-Wiz for Players 1 and 2 and the KeyWiz for 3 and 4, or a combination. For MAME, it doesn't make a difference, but it depends whether your other programs are geared more toward keyboard or gamepad input.
Also, I'd give Players 1 & 2 six buttons each - seems that people that like 4 player games also like fighters.Agreed in general.
Total inputs: 41OTOH, total inputs: 41 and the KW and GP-Wiz combined gives 64 inputs, so you have plenty to add 4 start, 4 coin, and Pause and Escape without button combos if you wanted to. Also, the KeyWiz has the option of 1-press combo buttons, so you can use these as well.
You don't need all those extra administrative buttons (for coins etc) - just use the Shazam key or button combos. For example, in Mame you can set Coin1 = Shift and P1 Button1 , Exit = P1 Start and P2 Start.
Make sure you realize that programming a codeset from the PC on the fly is largely marketed as a feature in an attempt to cover up the fact that some encoders DO NOT haveDead wrong! I use my encoder for PC games as well as MAMETM. Each PC game needs a different codeset. So I use the encoder software to load the different set. This would be a useful feature whether the encoder uses EEPROM or SDRAM. It would be a royal pain to change 32 (ermmn 16) key assignments MANUALLY each time I wanted to play a different game.
EEPROM for persistent storage of your settings. Read the fine print.
This means you have to reload everytime you unplug your encoder or restart the PC
which is very undesirable for desktop consoles.
The TOKN KB16 is designed as a cost reduction for commerical standup arcade,Okay, 2P simultaneous with 2 gameplay buttons each, so basically a 1Player or classics cab (no 2P street fighter).
typically 1P 2P alternating w/up to 8 gameplay and 4 control buttons
or 2P simultaneous with 2 gameplay buttons each and 4 control.
TOKN KB16 also shines in the area of desktop consoles because you can connect many together with DIN cables. 8 or more! While connected in series, each player can still change their assignments! Something that you definitely can't manage with a PC shazzapp.Yes, but it takes two of them to get the number of inputs of a KeyWiz Eco, and the programming still needs to be done manually.
Don't let the eBay low prices fool you. Its a promotional campaign. If you get one cheap, then congrats, you've waited patiently. If you don't like waiting you can get them at tokn.net for about 25 a pop plus shipping. The lowest on the web for true passthru w/ EEPROM. Check em out....I thought there was a pretty limited market for it at the E-bay prices, much less at $25 a pop plus shipping.
Make sure you realize that programming a codeset from the PC on the fly is largely marketed as a feature in an attempt to cover up the fact that some encoders DO NOT have
EEPROM for persistent storage of your settings. Read the fine print.
This means you have to reload everytime you unplug your encoder or restart the PC
which is very undesirable for desktop consoles.
The TOKN KB16 is designed as a cost reduction for commerical standup arcade,
typically 1P 2P alternating w/up to 8 gameplay and 4 control buttons
or 2P simultaneous with 2 gameplay buttons each and 4 control.
TOKN KB16 also shines in the area of desktop consoles because you can connect many together with DIN cables. 8 or more! While connected in series, each player can still change their assignments! Something that you definitely can't manage with a PC shazzapp.
Don't let the eBay low prices fool you. Its a promotional campaign. If you get one cheap, then congrats, you've waited patiently. If you don't like waiting you can get them at tokn.net for about 25 a pop plus shipping. The lowest on the web for true passthru w/ EEPROM. Check em out....
Latency Question: If you can sense the .5msec it takes to transmit a keycode byte from encoder to encoder then you must really get tired during the 20msec switch debounce period.
Pretty blinking lights: Everybody wants one.
Series connected desktop consoles: Are you planning on running a 100 wires from player to player? How about the novel idea of no bottleneck passthrough via DIN cables?
DIN cabling makes for very clean wiring, especially with cocktail setups.
EEPROM scenario: PCs keyboard power glitches enough reset the encoder but not the PC.
Without EEPROM on the encoder, your only out is to pull the power on the PC and run a batch, to coin a phrase. Every good embedded platform deserves a well planned fault recovery method
Last but not least. No soldering. Complete with connectors.
According to your website, they are "about" $28.00 plus shipping. Has there been a recent price reduction, or is that some of the "fine print" you mentioned in your post?
TOKN KB16
Why bother?
TOKN KB16 is the only encoder under $30 that supports persistent keycode storage
in EEPROM which means its hot pluggable and does not need a support program on the PC.
TOKN KB16
Q? Keycode propagation from one encoder to encoder is nominal 1ms. Guaranteed < 1.2ms.
How? TOKN KB16 runs a 16Mhz while the other encoders run 4 times slower at 4Mhz.
Why bother?
TOKN KB16 is the only encoder under $30 that supports persistent keycode storage
in EEPROM which means its hot pluggable and does not need a support program on the PC.
It has a diagnostic LED which is very handy in verifying your crimp connections are good.
This is a great visual aid during assembly and in the field.
TOKN KB16 is also the only encoder under $30 that supports true keyboard passthrough.
This means you can simultaneously use a keyboard during gaming for configuration.
A toggle switch does not satisfy true passthrough.
This also means that you and friends can build individual desktop consoles and connect them in series with DIN cables. If you don't support passthrough, you can't do this.
Comes with a pin header which is easier to install and service than screw terminals.
TOKN KB16
Q? Keycode propagation from one encoder to encoder is nominal 1ms. Guaranteed < 1.2ms.
How? TOKN KB16 runs a 16Mhz while the other encoders run 4 times slower at 4Mhz.
I'm not aware of any encoders that run as slow as 4mhz, but the speed of the processor has little to do with the speed of the PS/2 port or it's protocol.
How are you prioritizing activity on the bus?
Saint,Looks more to me like Squeeky started this thread in search of information on your (TOKN KB16) product and YOU didn't like the factual answers he received.
This group of threads was launched by a registered user of
your forum with the primary intent of denigrating a competitor's
product. This type of sleaze marketing is common and unfortunately
a gross misuse of public domain.
See this link to an internet marketing newletter that summarizes these
practices. http://www.apexpacific.com/newsletters/nl2004apr.html
I'll close by stating that I'm leaving
it up to the mediator of this forum and those involved
to examine the user profile registation dates and thread contents
for signs of this type of abuse.
Thank you and best regards,
Mattp
Tokn Media
Make sure you realize that programming a codeset from the PC on the fly is largely marketed as a feature in an attempt to cover up the fact that some encoders DO NOT have
EEPROM for persistent storage of your settings. Read the fine print.