Project64 help

[bigjase]

Can somebody please tell me if there is anyway to program the controls for each rom for project 64. I would like to try and just use my control panel for game play, since I only have a few of the wrestling games that I want to play, along with mario kart. The problem is, I'd like to be able to play these games with a friend, but there are only 8 buttons a side if I use the start and coin buttons.

[Sensei]

If you look under the Controller Plugin options on the menu
(sorry I dont have the exact menu configuration....I'm at work right now
shhhhh.....dont say anything to the boss).

There are two controller plugins that come with the Project64 program for input.  Simply Choose to configure them and you can change all the inputs to your preferred buttons.
If I remember correctly, one of the plugins was easier to remap buttons than the other...but either will work.

That being said, I've tried running Project64 roms from my arcade cabinet control panel.....and it sucked 
The main thing was the lack of an analogue controller (or perhaps you have an analogue stick on your panel).  Without one most of the games are unplayable (well....that is if you wish to do well on them that is).
Also the Nintendo64 controller has trigger controlls.  For some game having to input 3 or for buttons at a time (ex:  analogue + fire/jump + trigger(s)) makes it a hard thing to do on a regular control panel.

I purchased a MadCatz wireless controller for the computer and just hide it away when not in use.  The setup for the controller was ideal and my kids love it. Definitely worth the $15 bucks or so.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Good Luck

[Fat_Trucker]

Yup as stated above arcade controls do not make the transition very well to some consoles that had specific controllers with lots of different buttons (not to mention analogue joys). Definitely invest in an N64 or PS2 controller converter and use a proper controller instead.

[Howard_Casto]

Also invest in a tv or (gasp) an actual n64. 

Standing 1 and a half feet from an angled monitor clutching a n64 controller while three of your buddies are scrunched around you doing the same for several hours is just silly.  Lay back on the couch and play these games as they were meant to be played. 

99.9% of the time console games have no business on an arcade cab. 

[bigjase]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try the different plugins and see what works. I really am probably going to only run Mario Kart and maybe a couple wrestling games, so I'll see how that goes. Mario Kart seemed to run fine with my first setup,  it just didn't work as well with my WCW game.

[Howard_Casto]

I can tell you ahead of time that n64 plugins only allow you to remap inputs globally.  You can't do it on a per game basis.  Why?  Because the plugins are intended to be used to remap your controls to a gamepad, preferably a n64 one. 

Considering the wcw games need a whopping 9 buttons to be playable you might as well give it up.    (a,b, c arrows, L, R, and analog stick tap) 

As I said, console games have no business on an arcade panel.  Even the other game you mentioned, mario kart, requires an analog stick (or better yet steering wheel) to be played properly.  You can play it on digital controls, but it's kinda like playing all those cool-looking racing games on the psp....... akward, and not worth the time/money.

[Fat_Trucker]

Standing 1 and a half feet from an angled monitor clutching a n64 controller while three of your buddies are scrunched around you doing the same for several hours is just silly.  Lay back on the couch and play these games as they were meant to be played.

Its good advice.

After years of having several consoles at a time connected to my TV through a spaghetti of wires and splitters I finally set up an emulation PC for this purpose just a couple of weeks ago.
The PC sits out of sight behind the TV cabinet with a couple of PS2 controllers running through to the front.

Anytime I fancy a bit of classic console gaming just switch on, and play. Neat, tidy and much more comfortable. The added bonus is that my poor abused old consoles can finally be boxed up and stored for posterity (or possibly ebay if I can ever bring myself to part with them).

[thebrownshow]

Agreed.

I want to play console games standing up at my cabinet with arcade controls about as much as I want to play arcade games from my couch with a gamepad.

The console PC is a fantastic idea, and there are tons of project examples on the net for putting a pc inside an old NES shell or some other console system.  I hear the Xbox is great for hacking and putting emulators on as well.  And if you're going to connect a PC to your TV, why not add DVR functionality as well... it's certainly what I plan on doing.

[daywane]

I like console's on my cab.
I do use the console pads though and I have bar stools at each of my cabs
I can play for hours with them

[deadkenndys1105]

I might put ddr in my cab but thats about it.  There are few games that would work with arcade controls.

[Frosty]

99.9% of the time console games have no business on an arcade cab.

Add one more in agreement with this.  For the most part, the only console games worth playing in a cabinet are arcade ports to begin with!

The console emulation PC is a such a great idea for the classic systems.  I'm in the process of configuring a Mac Mini for just this...

[namedos]

So friggin what if you put some console games on an arcade cabinet.  It's a friggin piece of wood and electronics that you play games on.  Yes, I'm extremely proud of what I built, but I built it so me and my family could enjoy playing games on it.  My kids have had more fun playing smash brothers via Project64, my wife loves playing Zuma and I like playing the old arcade classsics.  If I was hung up on it being authentic I would have built an exact replica of asteroids and that is the only game that would have been on it.

If you want to put one or one hundred console games on it for goodness sakes just do it.  Obviously, Howard does not like them on his.  Great for Howard.  Howard is more than entitled to his opinions.

Bigjase, put all the friggin console games on your unit that you want and enjoy the heck out of them.

[thebrownshow]

Relax dude, I was just trying to create some discussion on the oddity of how we all built cabinets to "recreate the authentic arcade experience" -- yet we're all so quick to throw console games on there that aren't authentic at all.

[namedos]

thebrownshow,
I thought the console arcade was also a great idea.  My response was directed much more towards Howards's comments of:

Also invest in a tv or (gasp) an actual n64.

Standing 1 and a half feet from an angled monitor clutching a n64 controller while three of your buddies are scrunched around you doing the same for several hours is just silly.  Lay back on the couch and play these games as they were meant to be played.

99.9% of the time console games have no business on an arcade cab. 

As I stated before Howard is welcome to his opinions however when other people started  joining in like it is sacrilege to have console games on an arcade cab, I just had to throw my two cents out on the forum.

Play what you want as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters.   

[bigjase]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm still planning on trying to use the different plugins to play a few different games. I love playing some of the older system games on there, like SNES games, so I thought I'd try some N64 games. I also wanted to get NFL Blitz playable, but I should have grabbed the PS version. When its all said and done, I'll probably get a couple of controller converters, but not right now. I'm in college, so it took a lot of saving just to get my cab made. When I was a kid, I lived 45 miles from the nearest arcade, so I'm trying to make up for lost time. To be honest, the only arcade games I had ever even played were WWF Wrestlemania, TMNT, and X-men. My first system was a PS also, so I missed out on a lot. Played Super Mario Brothers 3 for the first time yesterday. 

[big daddy]

Agreed.

I want to play console games standing up at my cabinet with arcade controls about as much as I want to play arcade games from my couch with a gamepad.

I actually do play console games on my cabinet and arcade games on my modded xbox with a gamepad.   

The reason I do the former is that my daughter can manipulate a joystick much easier than a gamepad, so she has a lot of fun sitting on a barstool in front of my cab and playing GBA-type barbie games on my arcade.  It's not "authentic" but tell that to her 

The reason I do the latter is sometimes I'm sitting in front of my tv and feel like playing donkey kong but don't feel like going standing in front of my cab to do it.  It's not "authentic" but I don't particularly care since I'm just vegging anyways.   

So to each his own.  If you have a mame cab already, why NOT add the extra emulators for consoles?  It's not like it takes that much more effort and then its always there if you need it.  Same with putting arcade games on your modded xbox.  Now if a friends over and wants to play techmo bowl I'm going to take them into the living room and play on the xbox, not the arcade...but that doesn't mean there's not ever a need to do the other.