Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: RayB on December 02, 2005, 06:56:24 pm

Title: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: RayB on December 02, 2005, 06:56:24 pm

I have a question, maybe it shoudl go in Software. I dunno.

Here's the scenario:

Classic games that "alternate" players typically use only one set of controls. Most MAME cabs are built with multiple sets of controls. Picture a cab made for 2 players side-by-side. Is it at all possible to configure MAME so that those "alternating" player games also alternate between 2 sets of controls rather than use only player 1's?

Title: Re: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: Thenasty on December 02, 2005, 10:34:41 pm

nope you can't (the way you want it) but you can by setting the Player 1 controls to both controls. I mean setup P1 & P2 UP = P1UP or P2UP.
Problem with this is that the other player can mess up your game. You have to tell him not to touch his controls while its your turn.

Title: Re: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: Kremmit on December 02, 2005, 11:21:31 pm

There's talk of using RandyT's LED-Wiz or Bubbading's board to control devices other than LEDs.  Maybe you could use one to control a circuit that swaps the controls.  You'd need MAME to trigger the device when the players change turns... SirPoonga and Gl.tter have both done work on getting MAME to trigger events, maybe you could put something together.

Or, it might be easier to just wire a switch that lets you make the ground loop for only 1 set of controls be active at the same time.  Your players would have to switch it by hand, but it's certainly easier to build.

Out of curiosity, why?  Building a dual-monitor machine, or two separate-but-linked machines?

Title: Re: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: RayB on December 03, 2005, 02:01:43 am

Quote from: Kremmit on December 02, 2005, 11:21:31 pm

Out of curiosity, why?

Title: Re: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: Grasshopper on December 03, 2005, 10:49:42 am

What you really want is cocktail mode without screen flipping. It would be useful if this facility could be built into MAME.

I think a few games actually provide this option by setting an appropriate dipswitch.

Title: Re: 2 players; 2 sticks alternating?
Post by: RayB on December 03, 2005, 05:14:08 pm

Quote from: Grasshopper on December 03, 2005, 10:49:42 am

What you really want is cocktail mode without screen flipping. It would be useful if this facility could be built into MAME.

I think a few games actually provide this option by setting an appropriate dipswitch.

I happened to find one game that had a setting for how many controls there are (1 or 2). But they are rare. Your screen-flipping is absolutely right! It would use alternating controls! Hmmmm...