Mame "topgunnr" calibration error [Solved!]

[chillinwater]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I have been trying to get "topgunnr" the vector game in mame running for years with absolutely no luck.
(or at least tried every major mame release since mame 129.) I know it works, history says so and there are videos from Emumovies for it.

So does anyone know the proper way to calibrate the yoke/throttle controls?
I just cant figure out how to get past the initial setup for this rom without the "yoke/throttle calbration error" which causes crashing or freezing if I "press start to continue".

I'm using an xarcade tank stick (w/trakball) and added (2) turbotwists recently for extra configuration options.

Ive tried using the x-arcade/mame default control settings for calibration and also
tried to use the trakball for yoke and turbotwist(master "x-axis") for throttle.

I delete the nvram each time the config fails so that I can start configuring again but just cant get it going.

It seems obvious that its a (2) part process:
1) first I need to set the controls properly /tab/input (this game)
2) then go thru the calibration process with the configured input settings.
Whats even more obvious is that I just dont get it!

Any suggestions on which inputs to use, the ones I have, for yoke (trakball?) and throttle (turbotwist master?) and the proper calibration sequence using those inputs (even default inputs) would be greatly appreciated.

I guess this sequence has to be as precise as powering up the Apollo 13 re-entry capsule.  

[Tafoid]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I have been trying to get "topgunnr" the vector game in mame running for years with absolutely no luck.
(or at least tried every major mame release since mame 129.) I know it works, history says so and there are videos from Emumovies for it.

So does anyone know the proper way to calibrate the yoke/throttle controls?
I just cant figure out how to get past the initial setup for this rom without the "yoke/throttle calbration error" which causes crashing or freezing if I "press start to continue".

I'm using an xarcade tank stick (w/trakball) and added (2) turbotwists recently for extra configuration options.

Ive tried using the x-arcade/mame default control settings for calibration and also
tried to use the trakball for yoke and turbotwist(master "x-axis") for throttle.

I delete the nvram each time the config fails so that I can start configuring again but just cant get it going.

It seems obvious that its a (2) part process:
1) first I need to set the controls properly /tab/input (this game)
2) then go thru the calibration process with the configured input settings.
Whats even more obvious is that I just dont get it!

Any suggestions on which inputs to use, the ones I have, for yoke (trakball?) and throttle (turbotwist master?) and the proper calibration sequence using those inputs (even default inputs) would be greatly appreciated.

I guess this sequence has to be as precise as powering up the Apollo 13 re-entry capsule. 

This game has been subject many releases where it either froze up or crashed at various times due to core code regressions.
Effective 0.141, though, it seems pretty stable and can be started with the correct procedure.  What I did just now (hopefully, it will assist) is added a procedure to get Top Gunner working on first start.

http://mamedev.org/devwiki/index.php/FAQ:Games#Top_Gunner.2FVertigo

[chillinwater]

Holy crap, after years of frustration, It worked!! thanks so much!!

one follow up question...
The game is playable but on start I receive this message:
"Game eprom checksum
diagnostic failure
board location t10
press start to continue"

Pressing start does indeed continue and "topgunnr" is playable.
Is this the current state of "topgunnr" and should I just leave it alone?
or am I doing somthing else wrong?
Thanks again!!!

[chillinwater]

oops my bad!!

[Tafoid]

Holy crap, after years of frustration, It worked!! thanks so much!!

one follow up question...
The game is playable but on start I receive this message:
"Game eprom checksum
diagnostic failure
board location t10
press start to continue"

Pressing start does indeed continue and "topgunnr" is playable.
Is this the current state of "topgunnr" and should I just leave it alone?
or am I doing somthing else wrong?
Thanks again!!!

Yeah, that's just an emulation issue that doesn't effect gameplay or your configuration.. been like that since it was added.  The game is perfectly playable, still.

[chillinwater]

Yeah thats what I thought but just wanted to check.
Thanks so much for your help!