Controller Prioritization When Plugged In

[radioactivemx]

Okay so I'm about to build my first arcade cabinet and set up Launchbox for the first time ever (it's a bit daunting to say the least). So what I'm trying to accomplish is to have a 4 player arcade control panel with 4 usb outlets on the side. I'd like the arcade controls to work as the main player 1-4 controls UNLESS I have a usb controller plugged in. For example, let's say I want to play some snes games, I want to be able to do so on the arcade board unless I pull out my snes usb controllers and plug them in to the usb outlets (in which case I want the system to prioritize them). Is there a way that I can set it up to auto prioritize a usb controller upon game launch if there is one plugged in?

[JoeViking245]

I think what you'll end up doing is to set up dual inputs for each player.  Assuming your control panel is connected through something like an I-Pac encoder and the buttons correspond to keyboard keys (i.e. Player-1 Button-1 = Ctrl, Button-2 = Alt, 3 = Space, and so on) and the controllers are all X-Input... you'd have something like (generally speaking):

Player-1 Button-1 = Ctrl OR Controller-1 Button-1
Player-2 Button-1 = "A" OR Controller-2 Button-1

These will need to be setup on a per emulator basis.  Which at first will seem daunting as well, but it's really not that bad.

[radioactivemx]

Thank you! I'm planning a 4 player control top with 2 I-PAC Ultimates. One will have player 1 and 3 controls wired to it and the other will have 2 and 4. As far as the dual controls go that you were mentioning. Will unplugging/plugging the controller to the usb mess up it's mapping?

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, radioactivemx said:

Will unplugging/plugging the controller to the usb mess up it's mapping?

Mapping? No. (Though with MAME, there's some steps you'd need to take.)  Controller assignment? (i.e. which controller is Player 1, which is Player 2...) Yes.  But generally, the 1st one you plug in gets assigned P1. Then second, P2.  And so on.  But that too may vary depending on the emulator and [possibly] the actual controllers you use. But for at least MAME, there's a [semi-daunting] way around that too.  Though as a 'purist', I'm sure you'll stick with the cab controls for the Arcade Platform.  

My cab is a 2 player and I only have one controller (Xbox 360), so I haven't personally 'worked' with setting up multiple controllers.  But there's been a lot of discussion here on the forums around this topic. 

Bottom line, it depends on the emulator you're using.  And even then, should not be an issue [once set-up].

For your I-PAC Ultimate's, though you have the option to set those as XInput, you may consider keeping them as DInput.  It'll make the overall setup a lot less convoluted.