Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Jakobud on October 20, 2009, 05:31:34 pm

Title: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Jakobud on October 20, 2009, 05:31:34 pm
Quick question, how do you build a cocktail where each player has their own independent trackball?  A modified version of Mame that allows multiple mice?
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Hoopz on October 20, 2009, 05:40:32 pm
It doesn't need to be a modified version of Mame now.  Multiple mice have been supported for a while now.
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Jakobud on October 20, 2009, 05:40:44 pm
Also, how come according to mameinfo.dat, Centipede's controls are an 8 way joy?
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Jakobud on October 20, 2009, 05:41:06 pm
It doesn't need to be a modified version of Mame now.  Multiple mice have been supported for a while now.

Ah ya I just realized that after messing around with it.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: u_rebelscum on October 20, 2009, 06:18:23 pm
Also, how come according to mameinfo.dat, Centipede's controls are an 8 way joy?

Mameinfo only lists one input type per game (like maws).  Mame's Centipede driver has inputs from both 8-ways and tTBs.  Due to the logic maws uses, if a game has these two inputs, maws always picks 8-way as the listed type; I'm assuming mameinfo.dat uses the same logic.

I don't see any code (in my very quick skim) of the driver of any of the centipede games using the 8-way inputs.  Millipede has code specially designed for 8-ways, even though it doesn't a dipswitc to pick between 8-way & TB.


So the main question is should the driver have joystick inputs, too?  And what about millipede?  If neither had joysticks wired, the driver should be updated.  If that but their clones or bootlegs did use joysticks, whose should declare their own inputs separate from their parents who didn't.

The secondary question is when will Maws/mameinfo update their logic to beable to have more than one input type per game?  (Tron, wacko, quaterback to name a few.)
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Jakobud on October 20, 2009, 07:27:12 pm
I guess as I look through the mameinfo.dat file, I don't see any information in there regarding what controls each romset use. Where is MAWS getting their info?
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: Turnarcades on October 20, 2009, 09:05:52 pm
I guess as I look through the mameinfo.dat file, I don't see any information in there regarding what controls each romset use. Where is MAWS getting their info?

Does it matter? If it now works, it now works - let the techy guys and dev teams worry about that.
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: speedklz on October 21, 2009, 10:35:56 am
I noticed that about centipede and milipede when I was trying to find TB games.. How many other games are there that use a TB that are mislisted.
Title: Re: Cocktails & Trackballs
Post by: u_rebelscum on October 21, 2009, 01:33:56 pm
I guess as I look through the mameinfo.dat file, I don't see any information in there regarding what controls each romset use. Where is MAWS getting their info?

MAWS converts mame's listxml ouput.  Listxml is able to list more than one input per game, but maws only takes the first input listed.  Mame always lists the inputs in a certain order: x-way (single) joysticks, double joysticks, analog sticks, dials, trackballs, paddles, lightguns, and last pedals.  I wouldn't be surprised if mameinfo does the same way (or might even grab from maws).

I noticed that about centipede and milipede when I was trying to find TB games.. How many other games are there that use a TB that are mislisted.

romlister to the rescue!  (had to do the find string by hand, though)  46 games (20 parents, 26 clones) have both a x-way joystick & trackball in listxml, but only listed as x-way in Maws.  A few with doublesticks & TBs.  There's one parent that has dial & TB in listxml, but lists as dial in Maws.  Eight parents had analog stick & TB & list as analog stick.  Included below is the output (edit: parents only).

romlister find string:
(joy2way | joy4way | joy8way | doublejoy8way | dial | 'type="stick"') & trackball & !cloneof &  !('BIOS')