Starting Game Play

[LynnOnTheWeb]

I have a feeling that I'm missing something incredibly obvious here.

When I get to this screen, I can't figure out how to start a game and play. I hit the coin button, the start button, the buttons to the right of the joystick, etc. No luck. Is it a mapping issue or a "this user is just clueless issue"? And no matter what the answer, I'm hoping someone can help me find my solution.

Background:

• Launchbox with Bigbox
• Mame 0.273 installed via Launchbox when I imported ROMs
• I also have Mame 0.174 installed for a ROM that didn't work on 0.273 and Dolphin installed
• Windows 11
• I setup the machine this is all on before I had my control panel, then hooked it up to the control panel. All of the buttons and joysticks are recognized.
• I've tried to add/change mappings in Mame but always get a "cant save mame.ini file" message. I've looked at the permissions and the file is not read only.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[JoeViking245]

6 minutes ago, LynnOnTheWeb said:

When I get to this screen, I can't figure out how to start a game and play. I hit the coin button, the start button, the buttons to the right of the joystick, etc. No luck.

 

6 minutes ago, LynnOnTheWeb said:

I've tried to add/change mappings in Mame but always get a "cant save mame.ini file" message.

These 2 comments are interrelated.

Pretty sure MAME default input settings are for keyboard.  Is your control panel encoder set to keyboard? or XInput?  I ask because your 2nd image is showing the controller mapping (in LaunchBox) [which has nothing to do with controlling in the emulator. But could indicate XInput.].

You can test by: While in-game (1st screenshot), press Tab on your keyboard.  Select Input Settings < Input Assignments (this System).  You'll be on P1 Up.  Press Enter, then move you player 1 joystick up.  What does it show to the right on P1 Up?

If the encoder is indeed XInput, you need to map those in MAME. That is, figure out why it's not letting you save to the file.

[LynnOnTheWeb]

I think  you've got me on the right path. I was going directly into Mame and hitting tab, not hitting tab in Launchbox. I'm pretty sure both my keyboard and controllers are recognized (Twin USB Gamepad).

My coin and select buttons were mapped to buttons 4 and 5, not joystick 1 button 9 and joystick 1 button 10. I mapped them correctly and was able to play the game I pulled up. I then went in and mapped them under input (general) and they seem to be working on the other games I've pulled up too.

Now I'm looking for what I would consider the back button. I'm playing a game, I want to back out and look at all the games (previous screen). I see a "UI Back", but when I map it to buttons, it doesn't seem to work.

Only since I'm referring to button numbers, adding this photo for context.

Edited February 7 by LynnOnTheWeb

[JoeViking245]

35 minutes ago, LynnOnTheWeb said:

Now I'm looking for what I would consider the back button. I'm playing a game, I want to back out and look at all the games (previous screen). I see a "UI Back", but when I map it to buttons, it doesn't seem to work.

UI Back?  You're talking about when just in MAME?  vs 'Back' to exit the game and return to LaunchBox?

UI Back [in MAME] by default should be (I believe) [keyboard] Escape.  The encoders I've seen will have a "Hold" button.  Let's pretend it's Player 1, Button 9 on your cab.  Pressing it by itself will insert a coin.  You can then map a 'button combo' using that Hold button and another button.  So you'd press and hold that P1-B9 button and then press another button at the same time, it'll do some other function.  Like "press Escape".   You'd need to check with your encoder manual or the manufacturer if they have that feature and then, what it is.

On my cab, P1-Coin is the Hold button. And when pressed in combination with the Pause button, it "presses Escape".  When pressed in combination with the player-1 Start button, it "presses Enter".  But mine's also in keyboard mode.  (Not XInput)

[LynnOnTheWeb]

No, this scenario:

I'm in Bigbox playing a game. I don't want to play that game anymore, I want to back out and choose another game. I think you're right, it's escape on the keyboard. I'll try the hold button thing. I can encode a two button push, I didn't know about the hold part. 

When you say yours is in keyboard mode, does that mean you always have a keyboard nearby to do those things? I'm doing them with the keyboard now but the goal is to tuck it away.

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, LynnOnTheWeb said:

I'm in Bigbox playing a game. I don't want to play that game anymore, I want to back out and choose another game

K. That makes sense now.  In BigBox, System Menu, Options, Controller Mappings.  Map a button (or button combo) to Close the Active Window.  (NOT "Exit".  That exits BigBox.)  Use the button (or combo. whatever you assigned) when in-game, to exit the game and return to BigBox.

 

1 hour ago, LynnOnTheWeb said:

When you say yours is in keyboard mode, does that mean you always have a keyboard nearby to do those things? I'm doing them with the keyboard now but the goal is to tuck it away.

No.  Keyboard mode means the buttons and joy movements on the control panel are actually sending key presses.   i.e.  If I had notepad opened and moved player 2's joystick up, down, left then right... it would type out "rfdg".  That's the default MAME mapping for that joystick.

[cenutrio351]

Hello!.

 

I cant help with your question but, with your persmission, did you build this control pad?, its amazing, I want one, lol.

Thanks!.

 

[LynnOnTheWeb]

@JoeViking245 Thanks for your help on this. All is working like I want it to and I'm able to map all of the buttons.

@cenutrio351 I didn't make it myself. I bought a machine from Game Room Solutions but it's custom artwork, and am putting my own computer in it. 

[cenutrio351]

Its beautiful, enjoy!!