Posted by Andy Warne on 3, 2001 at 7:13 PM:
In Reply to: IPAC and Keyboard hack combonation. A cheap way to add more inputs. posted by Agent Davis on 3, 2001 at 4:13 PM:
This would work but defeats the object of buying an encoder really, to avoid having to do a keyboard hack!
If you really do run out of inputs sometimes two switches can be used to the same input, eg you may want to pair up a third and fourth joystick with some of the buttons that are not used in games which use 4 sticks.
It's really only 4-player monster cabs which may need more separate inputs. Two players could never press that many buttons/sticks!
: Hey everyone, I was just thinking and I came up with another idea. It probably isn't original but I don't think anyone's posted it before, so here it is.
: The IPAC is a great, inexpensive keyboard encoder. Some people have complained though that there aren't quite enough inputs for what they have planned. Here's a way to add more inputs the cheapest way possible.
: The IPAC has a keyboard passthrough. I know keyboard hacks are frustrating, and I know all about masking and ghosting, but for the most part you won't have to worry about that. What you do is hack to the keyboard all the administration buttons. These are buttons that most likely will only be pressed by themselves. Coin 1, Coin 2, Player 1, Player 2 buttons could be wired to the keyboard, giving you 4 more inputs. Plus, you could add ESC, TAB and all the other buttons in a discrete location on your cab.. wired to the keyboard. Hope this helps someone.