Super mario bros problem: holding the jump button

[TheShanMan]

My son and I have been playing Super Mario Bros a lot in the last month or two, and occasionally when we hold the jump button for a high/long jump it registers as just a short jump, as if I had quickly pressed and released. I've gotten this to happen with different buttons, so it's not a wiring/button problem. And I haven't experienced any button problems with other games (though button holds aren't common, at least in the games I play).

Anyone else notice this problem? Is it maybe a mame bug (I'm currently using 0.126)? I can't imagine it's a bug in the actual game. I was playing today and it happened 2 or 3 times in one game, causing me do die where I otherwise wouldn't have.

[protokatie]

My son and I have been playing Super Mario Bros a lot in the last month or two, and occasionally when we hold the jump button for a high/long jump it registers as just a short jump, as if I had quickly pressed and released. I've gotten this to happen with different buttons, so it's not a wiring/button problem. And I haven't experienced any button problems with other games (though button holds aren't common, at least in the games I play).

Anyone else notice this problem? Is it maybe a mame bug (I'm currently using 0.126)? I can't imagine it's a bug in the actual game. I was playing today and it happened 2 or 3 times in one game, causing me do die where I otherwise wouldn't have.

What encoder are you using? If you are using an Ipac, are you using the PS/2 or USB connector? (There is a difference, from what I understand, the USB mode of the Ipac will cause it to repeat the code automatically as long as the button is held down). All it would take is for MAME to hiccup long enough for the IO to see it as a release on the key. If the cab is dedicated, do you have any other software that may cause a multitasking "hiccup"? If not, maybe try TinyXP or some other OS that doesnt have a lot of services that could cause a latency in multitasking.

[headkaze]

AFAIK key repeat for IPAC in PS/2 mode is only for up and down and is set for all keys in USB mode.

Key repeat shouldn't effect Mame though, but I guess protokatie might be right that something might be causing it to register a KEYUP event.

First thing I would do is turn off Sticky Keys. Go to Start->Settings->Control Panel->Accessibility Options then turn off Sticky, Filter & Toggle Keys.

[TheShanMan]

Good thinking headkaze. I'm not sure whether or not that applies when explorer isn't running, but it's certainly worth trying. I am using an IPAC 4 in USB mode. It could be coincidence but it seems like it happens a lot more since I installed my u360's a couple of days ago. Too early to say that for sure though. And it certainly did it when I used happ comps. It seems like it happens more when I am running, but then again that's when I do most of my jumping of course.

I have very little running on my cab but it is standard XP with some services disabled, not TinyXP. The system itself is very capable (the best system in my house!).

I planned to do some testing by firing up notepad and doing the same kind of running and jumping stuff to see if I can see that kind of a problem happen there. It's somewhat of a different scenario with key repeat and all, but should be interesting to try anyway.

Thanks for the feedback, hk and pk. If I don't get anywhere with these tests then I'll see what Andy has to say.

[TheShanMan]

Well I tried both Notepad and WinIPAC's test mode and for the life of me I can't get the problem to occur if I try the same thing in those apps. So are people playing this game without experiencing this problem ever?

[NickG]

Is this something that happens with your keyboard as well?
  With regard to MAME hiccups, try to enable steadykey in your mame.ini (if you haven't yet) -seems like it may help.

[TheShanMan]

Good suggestions. I'll try the keyboard. And I remember noticing the steadykey option. What are the downsides to using it?

[u_rebelscum]

... And I remember noticing the steadykey option. What are the downsides to using it?

Lag of one frame if everything is working perfectly, more if a button goes back and forth between closed and not closed quickly.