New Arcade I/O Adapter being built

[davidrfoley]

I'm working on a new arcade interface controller and wanted to see if there are any requests for feature sets out there while we are in the midst of developing it.

Here are the rough specs so far:

- JAMMA Interface for Player 1 & Player 2
- Additional Input Pins for Street Fighter type layout (six buttons)
- Digital Outputs
- Two Trackball & Spinner Direct Connections
- USB HID requiring no drivers
- Joysticks and buttons map to keyboard
- Trackballs and spinners map to mouse
- Software Mappable Inputs to reassign keys
- Open Source firmware for customization

[Hoopz]

More of your b.s.?

You could be delivering babies, healing the blind, and rescuing classic cabs, but no one on these boards is going to believe your marketing hype.  u_rebelscum had a good response in another thread regarding marketing b.s.

•No Drivers Required

Wrong.  Wrong, wrong wrong.  (I hate that above false statement;; makes support so much harder.)

It's market-speak for "Seems like it doesn't require the user to install a driver, since the device uses a standard driver that comes with the OS that installs automatically". 
It needs a driver, period.

Not that this is a reason to not buy it; it's so common that it's almost a required lie market-speak stat to sell to the masses nowadays. [sigh]

[/rant=off]

[Blanka]

@ Hoopz? Do you have something personal between you and davidrfoley?
Kind of rude and useless reply for the rest of us. What's the problem with using a OS included driver? All the Ultimarc stuff runs like that and does a damn fine job. Always good to have some competition to keep the innovation going on.
One thing I miss on the Ultrastik 360: A mapping to use it as a rotary. I think a 360 could be used for Tempest and others if it would work as rotary too. Might not be totally the same as a spinner, but for some games it will play equal good. So implement that use for analog sticks please.

[Franco B]

Obviously 'David Foley' means nothing to you.

If you didn't know, 'David' (I have other names for him, not forum friendly), tried to trademark MAME.

Have a lookise.

http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76627578

Edit: One thing to add, Hoopz I think you may be confusing Ultracade with Ultimarc, they couldnt be more at the other ends of the spectrum.

Edit again, sorry replace 'Hoopz' for 'Blanka' 

[Xiaou2]

 David Foley stepped on a lot of toes with the mame issue...

    However,  he also helped improve visual pinball and shared his work openly.
(as far as Ive heard)


  While I personally didnt like his attitude...  If he makes some quality parts...
I wouldnt be opposed to purchasing them.

  Its a much better route to go rather than the 'take over mame' route.


 With arcades falling out of existence... it may be only a matter of time before
vendors like Happ's goes out of business.   Before arcade joystick, buttons,
and other parts are no longer mass produced.

 However, we have seen the crazy prices of the previous things that he has
sold... and those are well beyond what most here would ever pay.   So, the
question is...  will it be competitive with current offerings? 


 Wish List:
 

 Me personally,  I would like an  "all in one"  unit that can attach to multiple
devices.   4 trackballs, 4 spinners, 8 analog pot inputs (dual pedal
sets + analog shifter for race drivin)   4 player support w/ around 36 digital
inputs (2 Street fighter layouts + 2 other joys w/ 4 buttons each)

 Dual mechanical Rotary translator circuity. (fixing mames code for true
support would be best however)
 

 Hardware on/off of devices:  Press special button + move analog for 1.5
 secs to turn it off or on.

 
 Optional force feedback board + power setup + coils and or motors.

  - get true shaker motor support in Outrun.   Simple force feedback wheels
do not do justice to the original shaker assembly in the real machine.

 - real simulator motor support:  Using heavy duty electric motors, one could
constructs motion cockpits for Outrun, Afterburner, etc.

 - Force feedback wheels:  Interface happ or custom wheel with real powerful
force feedback motors.

 - Solenoid support:  For Qbert knocker,  pinball simulation (2 flippers and
kickers..etc. for more realistic feel)  Terminator 2 support (dual guns with
solenoid in each whos speed is regulated by the game)  Minimum of 3.


Possible pinball kit:  Ability to control many solenoids, lights, flashers,
leds, switches, optos...etc.   Controlled with interface to pc... can output
display to pc monitor for animations.   Easy drag n drop programming of
modes and game.  No need for complex scripting or language (but allow
support for it for advanced users)


 Shifter Unit.   Analog shifter built almost exactly the same as the sit-down
version of Race Drivin.   The feel of that unit is pure joy... and its
very durable.   Would prefer 6 gears + reverse instead of 4+R.

 Analog Shifter Controller: can switch modes to allow for simulated
digital shifter (2,4, or 6 + Reverse)  which sends pulsed key or certain keys
per gear depending on mode selected.   

 Digital Shifter controller:  Sadly, Mame does not currently have accurate
arcade shifter support.   Adding support in mame code for joystick buttons
that can always be held down would be great.  However, it would also be
good to have a device which can simulate that behavior as well...  for non
mame related games.


 3d LCD Glasses support unit:   Mame has a few games that support the LCD
shutter glasses.  To see/play the game Continental Circus in 3d alone is well
worth the expense.   Not sure if mames code needs tweaking, or if
it may just need a hardware sync ...or both.

 

[Blanka]

Edit: One thing to add, Hoopz I think you may be confusing Ultracade with Ultimarc, they couldnt be more at the other ends of the spectrum. Edit again, sorry replace 'Hoopz' for 'Blanka' 

No confusing in my post though.