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X-Arcade Tankstick limited button presses (6 button limitation)
eds1275:
Awesome. I would keep the old x-arcade interface if I were you and use it on a single player bartop or mini machine like I did. Or in a jukebox project or something. Maybe not the best for gaming but it's still a good piece of kit for other projects.
relay01:
Sorry to revive a twice dead thread but I have seen the 6 button limitation as soon as I took mine iut of the box and tested it.
I have access to ps/2 ports on my computer so wasn't too worried. What intrigues me most is that if you look at the features for xarcade's BYO kit it says plane as day "No Limit On USB Simultaneously-Pressed Switches" .
One would deduce that either the byo kit is different than the PCB in the tankstick, or its a lie maybe. I know this cp gets a lot of flack on this forum but other than this concerning problem, this thing's great.
ABACABB:
Interesting point there Relay. I think this is new to X-Arcade's site. I do not recall seeing it before, maybe I just missed it. But it still should be something for anyone who is thinking of buying this to consider. Now with that said, I do love my Tankstick. So easy to setup and use. It has taken some abuse over the last 2+ years and help up great. The price is also hard to beat.
Perhaps if someone is considering buying this, a call or email to X-Gaming for clarification on this button press issue. Maybe since so many people have viewed this thread they have changed their encoder. It would be a wonderful thing if they did!
BadMouth:
Maybe that's why they had a fire sale on the dual stick a few weeks ago.
I've since deleted the email, but I think it was something like $60 for former customers.
I had no use for it, but seriously considered it for that price.
relay01:
I contacted the company for this and an issue I had with my unit. One of the buttons was kinda spongy. I took advantage of the "fire sale" since my friend purchased something from them and forwarded their promo to me. So I have presumably a "new" model and I can assure you, the button issue still persists.
I, like the OP, am loving my tankstick and all the computers I intended to use it on have compatable PS/2 ports. I really only take issue to the idea that a company marketing to enthusiasts, would be more up front about this limitation. And having the "typo" (see below) only serves to further confuse their customers. I'll be interested to see if a new PCB gets release soon or if the typo gets removed from their page.
Anyway, here's a transcript of our conversation:
Me:
Hi,
I've noticed through usb that there is a simultaneously pressed button limitation on my tankstick of 6 normal keys and 9 with modifier keys. I've read that this is normal for usb keyboards but your BYO kit states that there is: "No Limit On USB Simultaneously-Pressed Switches: Full Native On-Board USB Support"
Does this mean that the BYO kit is different than the PCB in the tankstick? Or am I doing something wrong to have the button limitation. Please advise.
A second issue relating just to my tankstick is all the buttons work great except for one which seems a bit "spongy". It doesn't have the same click as the others. Can I get a replacement button or fix this issue somehow?
Xarcade Tech:
We're sorry to hear that you're having a problem.
That is a typo, as you correctly stated all USB keyboard do have a limitation. However, no games (even the most advanced fighters with 2-players) need more inputs than what it's capable of using the modifiers.
Also the PS/2 connection has no limitations at all.
Please confirm the mailing address for the button. Is it just a standard black button?
Me:
A typo? Wow!
My understanding is some of your competitor's products get around this issue by either having the system recognize the product as a joystick (Which I know your product can do with an adapter) or have the system recognize the product as multiple keyboards with no more than 6 buttons per each keyboard.
Some humble feedback:
I know the 6/9 button limitation is perfectly acceptable for most gameplay. But imagine if you will, an unexperienced userbase playing on your target market's control panel. Unexperienced users tend to button mash, lean on panels and are overall less coordinated during gameplay. 6/9 button limits get eaten up quickly. Your product is the most comprehensive and versitle "complete" control panel on the market. Sure you could buy an I-pac then make your own panel, but your product is complete and works out of the box (that's why I bought yours). Said for this one, glaring flaw your product is amazing. I don't know whether you are just tasked with support or you may have other duties in the company but if you ever have a new PCB revision please strive to resolve this issue somehow. Maybe just bundling a gamepad adapter with your product would suffice but as I said before, 6/9 buttons is really not enough for many scenarious.
<Rest of message redacted for personal info>
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