enter if i dare!

[falkensmaze]

Would like bit if advice pls, am about to design my cp and obviously want to keep admin buttons as few as pos and so far have decided on pause, setup, exit, and reset what i would like to know is should i have an enter button also how to hook one up? I am using an ipac2 and am wondering if i hook one switch to the shift key AND player one left (which should be ENTER) will that do the trick or should i program my ipac for sw 7 or 8 which i wont be using, 

[xmenxmen]

What's wrong using using a keyboard and using that to do setup whenever needed.  I for sure have not really use much of the setup or enter or configuration after the initial setup. 

BTW, putting a title in the subject would be nice....

[falkensmaze]

1. Cant remeber ever seeing a keyboard at my local arcade
2.

[leapinlew]

1. Cant remeber ever seeing a keyboard at my local arcade
2.

But you do remember seeing an Reset, Pause, Setup?

See, the thing is, you don't need those keys very often. You don't have to use any admin keys if your using a Ipac2. The more popular ones are: Credit, Pause and Quit. I only have credit and pause on my latest one.

[falkensmaze]

I wont have credit so to speak as ill hook my coin door button up, and as for reset some williams games need it to run and quit speaks for itself. thing is i might want to change dip's etc from time to time so enter mite be useful or not!? my system has wirless keyboard but would rather adjust the system remotely when needed i just dont want a button there i will not use in 6 months

also im using a happ 3"high ball and an optipac  and as im using gammex should i go for a couple of mouse butons? id rather not just wondering

[FrizzleFried]

Both my CP's include a P1 credit, P2 credit and exit button.  All the rest I use shift funtions.

I am considering adding a pause button to the top of both cabinets as that seems to be the most popular shift function used and it gets screwed up sometimes because of the joystick spring-back, etc.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I wont have credit so to speak as ill hook my coin door button up, and as for reset some williams games need it to run and quit speaks for itself.

After the first run you don't need admin buttons for the Williams games.

I setup my Ipac so that the pause key is also the shift key.
If you press it and release it, it will pause the game.
If you press it and hold it, it will allow shifted functions on all the other inputs.

That setup lets you get away with only one admin button; but, on a 2-stick 6-button setup, you have 20 admin functions available.
Another side benefit of this setup, over the factory settings, is that you avoid the "1-P/2-P Simultaneous Start = Exit" problem.

[Xam]

Yup...use the shift key to perform the admin features.

Xam

[miles2912]

I have mouse 1 and 2 buttons - coin and pause on my cp.  Enter and  tab use shift keys and the occasional coin 2 usually gets mapped to an unused button for player2.

As I see it the cab is not just for MAME.  Karaoke, Nintendo EMU, Jukebox, you don't know jack, etc  - the mouse buttons get their fair share of use.  The pause key for shift is a good idea.  I have mine mapped to player 1 start and it works fine there.

Don

[NoOne=NBA=]

The pause key for shift is a good idea.  I have mine mapped to player 1 start and it works fine there.

It works fine unless you have (Shifted P2 Start) mapped to exit, which is the default on the Ipacs.
There's nothing quite as frustrating as getting deep into a 2-p game and having exit hit by accident when both players are trying to continue their game simultaneously.

You need to watch your mappings for everything else as well.
Every time that P1 continues their game the shift functions will be activated.
If you hit ANY button while P1 continues, the Ipac will perform that function instead of the respawn.

The reason I settled on the pause button being shift is that it won't be hit intentionally during a game like the P1 start.

[vorghagen]

I am using an ipac2 and am wondering if i hook one switch to the shift key AND player one left (which should be ENTER) will that do the trick or should i program my ipac for sw 7 or 8 which i wont be using

This is something I was also wondering. If I hook up a particular button to the shift input AND a second input on the IPAC, will it work as the shift enabled function? I'd use the shift button normally but I want the cabinet to be as user friendly as possible.
Just so you know, these buttons will be semi-hidden so the CP doesn't look hideously crowded.

[Chris]

My only visible admin buttons are Shift, Pause and Exit; all other funtions are handled through shifts. There are two credit service buttons inside the coin door, plus a switch to turn on or off the switches connected to the coin reject buttons which also register credits.

[Scumgriever]

I have my panel without any extra buttons though my cabinet is 4 player and has credit buttons standard which I'm using as 'coin' buttons.

Other than that there are just joysticks, action buttons and start. All the admin stuff I do using the shift function of my IPAC as people have mentioned. I've just left mine using the standard programming but there's not reason '9' or 'F2' coulbnt be tied to shift as well.

INPUT        KEY             SHIFTED

START 1        1               SHIFT
START 2        2               ESC
1 RIGHT        R arrow     Tab
1 LEFT          L arrow      Enter
1 UP             U arrow     Tilde(adj volume, gamma, etc ) 
1 DOWN       D arrow     P (pause)
 
I am probably going to change shift and ESC to P1 ans P2 coin to keep them out of the way though.

Also Player 3 button 3 on my cab is Enter, I think thats standard for MAME so if you're going for a 4 player cab Enter isn't an issue.     EDIT: Sorry just re-read that you're using a IPAC 2 so I guess thats a no go on the 4 player.


A pic of my controlls for reference, the extra holes are for the start buttons and a 4 way stick. Its since been finished and is working well. Nice and un-cluttered for a 4 player panel.

[NoOne=NBA=]

This is something I was also wondering. If I hook up a particular button to the shift input AND a second input on the IPAC, will it work as the shift enabled function? I'd use the shift button normally but I want the cabinet to be as user friendly as possible.

You need to build a delay circuit for the second button.
Tiger-Heli had the schematic for it in his encoder review, IIRC.

As far as user-friendly goes, I don't want anyone doing anything beyond pausing on mine.

I am probably going to change shift and ESC to P1 ans P2 coin to keep them out of the way though.

Same problem, different keys.
Both players will coin up simultaneously alot, causing the game to exit while they are doing that.
I highly recommend putting ESC on one of player 1's buttons.
Most people will coin up, and start with their button hand, which makes it unlikely that they will hit shift and ESC at the same time while doing it.

[Scumgriever]

I am probably going to change shift and ESC to P1 ans P2 coin to keep them out of the way though.

Same problem, different keys.
Both players will coin up simultaneously alot, causing the game to exit while they are doing that.
I highly recommend putting ESC on one of player 1's buttons.
Most people will coin up, and start with their button hand, which makes it unlikely that they will hit shift and ESC at the same time while doing it.

Good point. I'll take that advice.

[Lilwolf]

I use unthrottle more then I use pause.

playing a game... don't give a crap about the  intro screens... hold down the button until your done.

[Chris]

One overlooked area for a shift function is pinball.  If you have flipper buttons, they make great shift buttons.  Left Flipper-Pause is save state on my machine and Right Flipper-Pause is Load State.

[Q*Bert_OP]

1. Cant remeber ever seeing a keyboard at my local arcade
2.

The Typing of the Dead had a keyboard...