New Arcade Controller Interface board

[atarimuseum]

Hi,

  Someone suggested I post over here and get a little feedback, I have a new controller I'm going to release in two weeks, but I'd like to just finalize a few things and get some feedback from anyone who's used various interface boards and such...

This is the Arcades32 interface:

2 player joystick inputs (4 way controllers on each side, mapped as an HID game controller)
6 standard buttons per player + plus 1 extra (also mapped as an HID game controller buttons)

Player 1 and Player 2 start buttons (mapped as HID keyboard keys 1 and 2)
Coin credit on each player (mapped as HID keyboard key 5)

2 Grounds on each player side
1 5vdc+ on each player side (for light up joysticks and other accessories)

Trackball -or- 2 spinner controls (mapped as a HID mouse device X/Y)


2 versions:

Basic with solder points ($32.99)
Deluxe with screw terminals ($39.99)

Now on the 7th buttons on each player side, let me ask everyone this:

1. would you prefer they be kept as game controller buttons like the other 6?

-or-

2. Have them mapped an HID keyboard keys like (ESC) one player 1 side and perhaps (TAB) on Player 2 side?

I'd like to hear everyone input before I finalize the firmware on them.


I expect to start selling these Mid-August.


Thanks,
Curt

[Ginsu Victim]

Need more inputs.

[Blanka]

I would add the spinner as second mouse X channel. That way you can handle most analog controls with one pad.
Does it have mouse buttons?
Can you remap buttons?
Does it have shift?

I would either make it a budget solution under 25 $ (it looks as complicated as an Arduino, and they sell under 25$ pre soldered), or make it a serious alternative to the MiniPac Opti (still with a lower price as you are new on the market).

[Blanka]

Oh, and do the Ryan-Air trick with shipping if 25$ is too low. Maybe you can send it in a bubble evelope through the world for 2-3$, yet you charge 10$ worldwide shipping.
With Ryan-Air you pay 10$ for creditcard use, per person, so 5 tickets in one buy is 50$ credit-card fee 

[atarimuseum]

Great info and feedback, thanks --- let me go back and have a look at adding more features.    I was looking last night and yes I could implement a function shift and give the inputs all additional functionality....

I think I could redo the inputs into a matrix and expand the inputs for 4 players/6 buttons per player.   I don't think I would be able to add a spinner AND trackball side by side in this design....


Thanks everyone!


Curt

[DaOld Man]

Also, maybe I missed something here, but coin credit for player 2 is keyboard number 6, for mame default anyway. Player 1 credit is number 5.

[Turnarcades]

Still can't quite gather if this is programmable or not. Sterling work on asking the community for input, but if it's not programmable then I think it would need to be significantly cheaper than established and feature-loaded encoders like the I-PAC family and GP-WIZ to warrant a purchase, particularly given the support offered with these existing products.

[Rick]

Still can't quite gather if this is programmable or not. Sterling work on asking the community for input, but if it's not programmable then I think it would need to be significantly cheaper than established and feature-loaded encoders like the I-PAC family and GP-WIZ to warrant a purchase, particularly given the support offered with these existing products.

I completely agree with this statement, while personally providing nothing new of value, myself.

Ok, so here's my thing.  (I lied - here's something of value.)  If it's comparable to a IPAC/GPWiz/Keywiz that's great.  It's certainly in the ballpark.  What I note is that, for the 'deluxe' model with what looks like a bit less configurability (is it configurable via software - if so, we need to know) than a KeyWiz/GPWiz, yet costs a dollar more.

Your thoughts?

[KuddlKat]

I'm still a newbie here working on my first controller... but I'd think that 6 buttons per player is fine, 1P/2P start and use the other two for coin, pause, escape... if those are options.

The controller I bought has double row headers and came with wire and connectors (although I doubt everything will reach when I'm done making the box), so using headers and including header connectors might be an option too.

Unrelated to the actual question... I wanted to ask if the board has mounting holes?  Sorry, I'm in QC/Assembly...

[Marsupial]

mid-august came and went... what happenned?

[shateredsoul]

I think he realized he has more work to do =)