Can't get X-Arcade Tankstick to work with MAME

[evolDiesel]

Hey guys,

I recently dug up a MAME zip I had from 2007.  It was about 18Gb in size, contained almost 7,000 roms, had the MAMEUI32 front end, and I think the version was like .122 or something (I don't have it in front of me right now).

In any event  I unzipped it, got out my ancient USB controller and quickly remembered how much I loved it.  The old USB controller worked flawlessly - no effort required to get it connected.

So I bought an X-Arcade Tankstick.  I also bought the latest Project Arcade book off Amazon to get me fired up to build a real set up like you guys have!  Some of these builds are so inspiring.

OK, so I get the Tankstick home and go to X-Arcade's webpage to get the manual which is very clean and simple.  I test the Tankstick using their Java based webpage.  Everything looks good.  Then I go to use it in the old MAMEUI32... no response at all. I change every controller related setting... nothing works.  I switch controller type to xarcade... still nothing.

Then per X-Arcade's instructions I download their package for MAME Plus! which is set up for X-Arcade.  I copy the files into my old Mame directory and run it from there.  Looks good... all the snaps and artwork come through.  Roms work - But, Tankstick still does not work.

I've checked the .ini file.  I've used X-Arcade's ctrlr file.

Here's the deal - it's totally NOT there!  It's not like this old USB controller that shows up in my Windows Game Controllers.  The Tankstick shows up like a keyboard (I think).  Bottom line - it's not showing up like a controller.  Is that the issue?  Is there a driver or something out there to make this be seen as a simple game controller?  Has anyone else had these issues?

After an entire weekend of sporadic attempts to get it going... I have struck out.  I've launced a help request w/ X-Arcade (haven't heard back yet).

My buddy just downloaded what appears to be the lastest ROM pack (41GB).  I think he also downloaded 5 or 6GB worth of artwork & front end type data.  Anyway - my plan is to give my tankstick to him and have him try it just to see if he has better luck with more recent software/ROMS (like I said, mine are 5 years old).

Any ideas on what's going wrong?  I'm running a micro tower core 2 duo 3GHz, X64, Win7 setup, 8GB RAM.

[05SRT4]

Have you tried installing a different version of mame yet? create a separate folder so nothing gets mixed up.

[evolDiesel]

Have you tried installing a different version of mame yet? create a separate folder so nothing gets mixed up.

That worked.... I just installed the latest 64 bit binary and it worked from there

[05SRT4]

good to hear.

[Gray_Area]

Mmmm. SOLVED in the title would help, then.