PS2 analog controllers for MAME steering wheel/spinner/rotary games

[EssexMame]

Hi
I have setup a Mala front end to include Master System, Mega Drive, NES, SNES and (some) Amiga games. This is run using a 2 port PS2 USB connection and is working well.

I also included Mame within this setup for the joystick games at least. These were the ones going into my arcade cabinet (4/8 way Joystick x 2, trackball and 6 buttons per player) so Pacman, DK, Street Fighter 2 and the like.

However, part of my disappointment with this is many of the games I loved the most were Out Run, Afterburner, Arkanoid - so wheel/spinner and analogue controls. Then there is Ikari (Rotary) and so on.

However, with the PS2 analogue controls I can at least simulate/play these games a lot closer to how they should play (though not ideal I realise - I'd love a wheel and will do it at some point but need the simple cabinet first).

Anyway, has anyone setup the PS/PS2 analogue sticks to act as analogue controls for wheel, spinner or a flight type stick? With the rotary one - perhaps stick two for the rotary part? What settings would these have in MAME - to get a similar feel/response on the thumb stick as a steering wheel for instance? So, rather than steering too far, re-adjustsing back again etc etc - i.e. to flow not stutter around the bends in Out Run?

Like I say, not as great as a wheel BUT it would be better than, say, the Amiga version of Out Run which although controlled by an 8-way stick and 1 button was, well, average at best. Same applies for other arcade conversions and I think a PS2 analog stick would be a good middle ground at least until I build a driving cab.

[adder]

i used to use a PS2 dualshock2 pad myself in the past (via pc usb adapter) and found the analog thumbstick to be good in mame for outrun and hangon, and paperboy was another one which was nice with the thumbstick. i dont remember the exact analog controls settings in mame i used, but it's just a case of experimenting/tweaking.
i wouldnt recommend breakout games like arkanoid, or racing games which dont natively use a self-centering steering wheel eg. pole position.
ps. i think space harrier is another good one to use with the thumbstick, but it was quite a few years ago since i used the PS2 pads so can't remember it so well (i ditched the PS2 pads as my hands were getting sore if played for long sessions. old age i think.  )  actually i remember you can get a kind of rubber silicon skin to put on PS2 pads to make them a bit more comfortable, eg: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180742306504

[EssexMame]

Thanks Jadder,

Yep Out Run doesn't play too badly - certainly I'm better with that than cursor keys :-) I'll try the others you mention. It would probably also include Enduro Racer which (I think is the same/similar Sega engine) too I expect.

The trouble I will always have is with the tweaking as I have no real useful memory of exactly how they behaved/played in the cabinets. Though I loved playing them I wasn't ever any good - I didn't have enough supply of spare 10p's then (25c to you American guys). I guess though if it's playing well and I'm happy with it I'll just go with that for this purpose. I got Out Run setup on left thumbstick for steer, right thumbstick for accelerate/brake and trigger buttons (L or R) for the Gear button). I almost got to stage 3 which is good for me ;-) [Out Run would be my game in the "loved it but I'm crap" thread that's started recently]

A shame about Pole Position but I'm sure I can use something on the controller for that - the Analog Inc/Dec setup as it probably is now. At least I can play it, even if it isn't arcade real.

Arkanoid is an odd one - its effectively a spinner (as is Out Run) so I'd expect it to behave in a similar way. Arkanoid was a joystick based game on the Spectrum/Amstrad/C64 type ports (though it was mouse on Amiga) so I will see how I can get it. I'm not looking for pefect, just playable for my (not good) skill levels.

Space Harrier and Afterburner should work I agree. Thunder Blade played ok though using L stick for L/R/U/D and the R stick for speed up/slow down was tricky I think that was probably a bit like the original game (though I think I only ever played in on Amiga, not Arcade).

I also suffer aching with using the controllers too long so I will check out the comfort pads :-)

[DarthMarino]

Maybe get a PS3 controller instead of a PS2 controller.  Basically the same thing but the analog triggers will work great for your Out Run pedals and you'll free up a few options for the gear shifting. Also, I would lower the joystick deadzone in Mame to get better control.

Stuff like Space Harrier shouldn't give you issues at all since the real game is using a big analog stick anyway.  Again, just lower that joystick deadzone if it feels a little unresponsive.

[EssexMame]

Maybe - I have a PS3 controller and have recently seen you can set them up on a PC via the USB cable at least.

The pedals don't work too badly as the right stick for accelerate/brake with the left stick for turning L/R. I then use the triggers for the gear shift so you can press buttons easily without to come off the sticks. An analogue trigger accelerate/brake could be good though. I assume the PS2 controllers never had that?

The rotary Ikari I got working in a similar way - left stick for move, right stick L/R for turn gun angle, trigger left fire, trigger right grenade. Midnight Resistance was less successful but I'm less familiar with this game and perhaps it was just bloody difficult to play even with the rotary stick!

Those that are more problematic are Arkanoid and (probably) all spinner/360 wheel games though some are "playable" at least. But, with Arkanoid, you can have the bat move fast, or slow, but not both during game play.

[DarthMarino]

An analogue trigger accelerate/brake could be good though. I assume the PS2 controllers never had that?

No, the Dual Shock 3 added analog triggers.  All the buttons on the DS2/DS3 were those weird pressure sensitive buttons but nobody cared about them and they were dropped for PS4.

The PS3 controller works great but it won't work right away if you just plug it in.  You can use MotionJoy to get it working.  It's a bit annoying at first but it does work. If you have a bluetooth adapter you can play wirelessly as well. I've read about a few newer programs working a bit better so you can try those out as well.

[EssexMame]

Sounds good. Especially being wireless as that would work well in any Console box/cabinet setup.
I don't have bluetooth adapter but sure they are cheap/easy to install.
I'm also looking at a new, generic, cheap, household PC (for schoolwork, internet and the like )and I'm sure they all have bluetooth cards now?

Also toying with the idea PS controllers as Player 3 & 4 on a 2 player arcade cabinet. If I ever do get that bloody thing built!!
In reality, at my age, getting 3 friends round to play games is slim but I'm sure at least once we'd play Gauntlet and it would be worth it just for that one time!