NeoGeo ctrlr file configuration

[spjuenger]

I just finished my first MAME cabinet thanks to this forum.  Everything is working great except for my NeoGeo ctrlr file.  I have an LEDWiz lighting up my buttons.  I have the normal seven button layout working.

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I have added a NeoGeo system to my default ctrlr file to map the buttons like the following:
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Now, the LEDWiz is lighting the bottom 4 buttons like it should, but MAME is still using the default button map (the first one).  Am I missing something?

[u_rebelscum]

Without seeing your ctrlr, cfg, and ini files, and me not knowing LEDWiz config, it's hard to tell, but I'll list a couple easy ones.

1) In the ctrlr file, is the neogeo inputs before the default (if there is a default)? Default needs to be first, and neogeo after, then game specific after that.

2) Do you have any cfg files with remaps?  Cfg files will over ride ctrlr file maps.  Yes, default.cfg will over ride ctrlr file's system name=neogeo.

3) Does mame.ini include ctrlr yourctrlrfilename?  If yes, do you have any system or game specific ini files also?  These would over ride the mame.ini file (assuming defaults for readconfig) if the option is included within them.  (Hint: if you make sub ini files for special settings, include only the lines that differ from the main mame.ini file, so changes in the mame.ini file take effect without editing the sub ini's too.)

[spjuenger]

Thanks for the reply rebel.  I've read your other posts on this topic and they are very helpful.  I currently do not have access to my MAME machine.  I'll post the files when I get home tonight.

1. I have the neogeo inputs after the default.

2. I think the default.cfg file is still in the cfg folder.  I deleted it once, but it came back.  I'll try this again.

3. The MAME.ini includes my ctrlr file name in it.  I do not have any other system or game specific ini files. 

This is a clean install of MAME64.  I plugged everything in and it worked from the start.  I have not had to configure any games yet.  I'll double check your tips when I get home.

[u_rebelscum]

Sounds like you covered the basics already.  Just FYI:

2. I think the default.cfg file is still in the cfg folder.  I deleted it once, but it came back.  I'll try this again.

Mame will automatically create a default.cfg file.  It will be basically blank (very like a ctrlr file with just the default system and nothing in that).  If it's blank, no need to delete it, because it's doing nothing.  Only need to wrong if there's something in there.


If you could post your ctrlr file, I could go over it for you.  (Not sure if attaching text is wrong in this forum ATM, though.)

[spjuenger]

Maybe I can just email it to you when I get home. 

Another question since we are talking about neogeo.  Is there a way to remove the neogeo bezel?  I'd rather have a larger screen than have it taking up space.

[u_rebelscum]

Another question since we are talking about neogeo.  Is there a way to remove the neogeo bezel?  I'd rather have a larger screen than have it taking up space.

What about other games? 

If you want bezels on for them but not neogeo, there are a few ways about it.  I'd make a geogeo.ini file, with one line: "use_bezels 0" to disable bezels for all neogeo games.

If you want to disable bezels for all (or almost all) games, change the above line in mame.ini.

[spjuenger]

I just create a neogeo.ini file and disabled bezels, but it is still showing the marquee above the game while playing.  Is this something built into MAME?  Can I just delete the neo geo marquees?

[u_rebelscum]

I just create a neogeo.ini file and disabled bezels, but it is still showing the marquee above the game while playing.  Is this something built into MAME?  Can I just delete the neo geo marquees?

Yes, deleting is one of the ways I didn't list.  But before you do that, try if adding two more line to neogeo.ini works (to see if the art is some other artwork type):
use_backdrops             0
use_overlays              0

By trying that, we'll see if mame is reading the neogeo.ini file at all.  If mame isn't, it might be related to why the ctrlr file isn't taking effect.

[spjuenger]

Well I ran a test and I think it is GameEx putting the NeoGeo Marquee at the top of the screen while MAME is running.  It is taking up a third of the screen.  I'll try to change a couple of gameex settings and see if I can remove it.  I'm still not sure why MAME is not reading the ctrlr file.  Both CPWizard and GameEx LED plugin read it correctly and display/light the buttons according to the ctrlr file. 

[headkaze]

Check the MAME command line options and bezel options in the GameEx Setup Wizard (use it's search feature to find them).

[u_rebelscum]

Yeah, also check for other options (namely ctrlr & ctrlrpath) while you're at it.  If GameEx is enabling the marque, it also might be messing with the ctrlr file settings.

[spjuenger]

OK.  I got this fix.  I didn't realize how much stuff I had in my MAME folder.  The problem was that I had two Mame.ini files.  One in the root and one in the "ini" folder.  Once I removed the one in the ini folder the button mapping started working correctly for the Neo Geo games.  As for the Neo Geo marquees, if you go into the MAME menu -> Video.  The default was set to the first option "Marquee with mini" or something along that line.  If I change it to "4:3" the banner goes away.  I created a NeoGeo.ini and removed bezels like you said Rebel and that cleared it up. 

I had to start over with a fresh MAME install and slowly start copying my old files in to see what was going on.  I think I got everything working except for the high scores.  I'll have to spend more time on that tonight.  Thank you Rebel and headkaze.  Both of you are valued assets to this forum and the community.