Newbie with HS questions!

[PrimoOptimoso]

hey guys -

just found HyperSpin and HyperPin and am likely going to use HS for my new emu cab! (and HP is making me really want to build a pin emu, too).

First things first though. I've made and had emu machines before, but not in the particular config i'm going for right now. As a result, I'd like to ask those of you in the know a few controls questions, if I could:

I'm planning to use an X-arcade tankstick, coupled to a laptop and an LCD TV, for a minimal, modern machine.

Now, I'm already going to yank the 7th and 8th buttons on the tank stick on either player side, and make those the two coin-up buttons plus Pause and Exit... Then, I'd just make sure MAME is mapping to whatever keys the tankstick already uses.

The reason I'm posting here is that I believe I read that HS has to read in some kind of config to work with the XArcade? Does the XArcade not just have each button mapped to a keypress, and then I can configure HS to read those keys the same as the stick and MAME would? Or is there something different that screws up the whole thing?

Thanks!

[koolbrez67]

http://www.xgaming.com/support/questions/99/HyperSpin+Frontend+and+the+X-Arcade

that link should help

[PrimoOptimoso]

http://www.xgaming.com/support/questions/99/HyperSpin+Frontend+and+the+X-Arcade

that link should help

Crap. That sucks. I don't want those mappings. For example, P1 isn't going to have a button 8 and button 9 anymore, and how can P2 ever start a game if P2 button exits the game? For instance, I want Escape to exit the game itself, but I'll be assigning something else as the key combo to exit MAME/HS entirely (mine won't have multiple emulators).

There's no way to just assign the Tankstick, HS, and MAME to just all use the same keys for the same functions?

EDIT: I found the default keymapping for the XArcade, so really it *should* not require any sort of weirdo configuration, right? I'll just open up HyperSpin and redefine the buttons to the XArc defaults, no?

[aloner187]

you could maybe try something like xpadder to map you controls to keyboard presses and then map hyperspin and mame with those

[loppydog]

are you dead set on a tankstick?....I think most people would agree that it is much better to build your own control panel with an ipac and an opti-pac(if you want a trackball). Then you can map the buttons however you want.

[chillinwater]

Ahhhh the X-Arcade Tankstick (The "VolksWagon" of Arcade Controllers)
its all I can afford but its solid.

Using "Xarcade Defaults"
For reference see attachments

Be sure to back up,
\hyperspin\settings\settings.ini
and try these codes,

These codes correspond to what I have setup in HyperHQ.
see "My X-Arcade Tank.jpg"
and "PC-Mac Mode button layout.jpg" ("X-Arcade"-Default)
of course you can change them to whatever you want either in HyperHQ or Manually in the settings file above.
see Ascii Keycode attachment


[P1 Controls]
Start=49
Exit=50
Up=38
Down=40
SkipUp=37
SkipDown=39
SkipUpNumber=70
SkipDownNumber=86
HyperSpin=32
Genre=88
;Genre=88 is p1 button "x"
;Genre=18 is alt key but hyperspin doesnt recognize it
;it may be an unreported bug
Favorites=17

[P2 Controls]
Start=49
Exit=50
Up=82
Down=70
SkipUp=68
SkipDown=71
SkipUpNumber=74
SkipDownNumber=77
HyperSpin=81
Genre=83
Favorites=65

Also, in the hyperlaunch.ahk script (close to the top) you will have to change this line below, to either,
exitScriptKey = ~q & ~s
or any other keys not of the "X-Arcade Defaults".

or else when playing emulators any time someone hits the "Q" and "S" keys (player2) at the same time it will exit the emulator and send you back to HyperSpin!
Be sure to save and compile after making changes to Hyperlaunch.ahk file

-----;
; MAIN SETTINGS ;
;------------------------------------------------------------------------------;
;[UNIVERSAL HOTKEYS] ;SEPERATE MULTIPLE KEYS WITH &(ampersand) up to 2 keys.
exitScriptKey = q & s ;Secret hotkey(s) to exit script if needed
;Not to be confused with exit emulator keys

exitEmulatorKey = Esc ;This key/key combo will close any emulators
;that do not have normal closing methods.
I use Player (2) coin and Start as my exit emulator keys
exitEmulatorKey = ~2 & ~4

[PrimoOptimoso]

are you dead set on a tankstick?....I think most people would agree that it is much better to build your own control panel with an ipac and an opti-pac(if you want a trackball). Then you can map the buttons however you want.

Honestly, I kind of am. I have built my own before, and at this point I'm facing the fact that I simply don't have the energy or proper tools to make it nice enough. My plan to relocate a couple of the tankstick's buttons, even, is going to make it need a new overlay to cover the empty holes already...

the kicker is that every other place that builds panels charges some 500+ for one, when we all know good and well that the materials are barely a hundred bucks (150 if you get a nice trackball).

In talking with Andy at Ultimarc, I'd probably need a MiniPAC Opti from there, plus of course the sticks and buttons, a few of which I might have left over from my arcade collecting days, but then I'd need the panel itself and the wiring.

If anyone here is capable and willing to devote a little time (I've seen some of the great projects!), I'll gladly throw the couple hundred bucks your way instead of to XArcade... I'm not looking for anything complex - fewer buttons than the tankstick, actually...

[loppydog]

I think I ended up putting about 250 dollars into my control panel. I bought a used trackball. I got some free laminate from a local counter top store. I agree the woodworking part is kind of a pain, but having the layout exactly like you want it is really nice. I have not tried the tankstick, but before I built my CP I was able to try the xarcade dual joystick model. Comparing the two, i would never go with the xarcade (nothing against the company). The versatility of the ipac is unmatched in my opinion. Anyway, whatever you choose, I am sure you will be very happy. Here is a link to my cab incase you would like to see what 250 dollars can get you when building one yourself.

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6381

btw, if you do decide to make a new overlay, that counter top material worked very well for me. Then I used a C02 laser here at work to cut it out. I would imagine an engraving store would have this machine. If you can draw it up in CAD, they can cut it out for you.

[PrimoOptimoso]

I think I ended up putting about 250 dollars into my control panel. I bought a used trackball. I got some free laminate from a local counter top store. I agree the woodworking part is kind of a pain, but having the layout exactly like you want it is really nice. I have not tried the tankstick, but before I built my CP I was able to try the xarcade dual joystick model. Comparing the two, i would never go with the xarcade (nothing against the company). The versatility of the ipac is unmatched in my opinion. Anyway, whatever you choose, I am sure you will be very happy. Here is a link to my cab incase you would like to see what 250 dollars can get you when building one yourself.

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6381

Thanks for the candid opinion on the Xarcade. Like I said, I have built them myself in the past (one Star Wars cab running all three classic games via MAME, one upright running classic vertical games, and one big 2-player by 6-button monster cab)... I just don't have the wherewithal to do it myself anymore.

Seriously, I'll pay the money if it's in the $250 range as you say... it's just that stuff like Northcoast is hugely expensive fully done.

Thanks
Dave