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Have some newbie questions.

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neuromancer:

--- Quote from: dimebolt on September 02, 2004, 12:10:35 am ---Ok, I really just want some f eedback  on the keyboard decoder/ghosting questions and my choice on the ebay buttons/sticks


--- End quote ---

As for ebay, check the prices on happcontrols.com -- I think you can buy the stuff for less than his "buy it now" price.

"Ghosting" means that when you press several buttons at once, the keyboard encoder thinks you are pressing another key that you are really not pressing. Around 20 years ago, the keyboard standard was changed to eliminate ghosting.

Instead, you get blocking. As you press more and more keys, a lot of the others are "deactivated". You can try that out by just pressing more and more keys on your keyboard. After a certain number, it will stop responding.

If you buy a keyboard encoder that is designed for video games, you don't need to worry about any of that, just follow the instructions it comes with and you'll be fine. If you intend to "hack" a keyboard, then you can successfully control 2 sticks with 6 buttons each, but no more. It is a little tedious to do it, and you need to find and read the instructions on mameworld.net before starting. You end up mapping all sorts of odd keys like insert, f7, num pad - and who knows what, but it works.

Bob

dimebolt:
TY again, Im going to deffo get a keyboard incoder proolly the ipac.

Mameotron:

--- Quote from: neuromancer on September 02, 2004, 11:57:38 am ---
--- Quote from: dimebolt on September 02, 2004, 12:10:35 am ---Ok, I really just want some f eedback  on the keyboard decoder/ghosting questions and my choice on the ebay buttons/sticks


--- End quote ---



If you intend to "hack" a keyboard, then you can successfully control 2 sticks with 6 buttons each, but no more.

--- End quote ---


There are lots of threads all over here debating the keyboard hack.  I haven't read through them, I just went to the Interfaces link on the BYOAC site and carefully read the articles there.  Then I built my keyboard hack.

You can get more than 2 joysticks with 6 buttons each.

I have 4 joysticks, 2 with 6 buttons and 2 with 2 buttons.  Gauntlet plays with four players with no problems at all.  This may be attributed to the keyboard I used (an old Dell), but I have no problems with 16 simultaneous inputs.

I think the only issues with a keyboard hack is how comfortable you are with soldering and how much time you want to spend on it.  It does require lots of work.

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