Posted by Cryofax on 10, 2001 at 12:48 AM:
In Reply to: default MAME key maps / buttons posted by dan on 9, 2001 at 11:37 PM:
: I have questions on the default programmed keys that MAME uses for it's various functions:
: 1) first, when I fire up a game and hit TAB, I get a menu; option 1 is always "input - general" while the second is "input - this game". These 2 options specify what the various keys do. If I change a key in the "input - general" mode, does this change happen in every MAME game I have. I would assume so, though on the MAMEWORLD webpage on pc2jamma page, the following statement is made - "It's a pain to go through every single MAME game and remap the keys". This sounds like I have to reprogram every game one at a time??
A: The "general" input is used for EVERY game. If there are keys set in the "this game" input then that overrides the general settings (for that game only of course). The two do not "combine". So if you have general settings COIN 1 set to "1" and "this game" settings COIN 1 set to "2", only "2" will activate COIN 1. For any setting not present in "this game", the general setting is used.
: 2) the default keys mapped do not have any keys programmed for player 2's button 5 and 6, player 3's button4, 5, and 6, and any buttons what-so-ever for player 4. If I map these blank keys to an available key in the "input - general" mode, will all my MAME games use these newly mapped keys for those buttons?
A: Yes
: 3) I noticed in the "input - general" section that player 1's right/up key and player 3's up key are the same. I would assume then that if a 4 player game is being played, if player 3 moves up, then player 1 would also move up/right?????
: Why would MAME default the keys to do that???
How would I go fix this?? Why would MAME even program a separate key for up/right, up/left, down/right, and down/left since I believe these are the standard up/down/right/left programmed butttons just being pressed simultaneously.
A: There could be a circumstance where you want one keypress to activate a diagonal. Not sure if certain games require this. Perhaps someone else has a good answer for this one. I don't know if the "overlapped" key inputs would cause players to control each other, as many game may not recognize "up/right" as anything other than "up and right" pressed at the same time, and may disregard a single keystroke(?) To change it just edit the inputs :)
: 4) again in the "input - general" section I am also able to map keys for AD STICK, DIAL, TRACK, PADDLE, PEDAL. What are these??? I assume TRACK is a trackball and PEDAL is a racing pedal.
A: I think AD Stick is a second joystick ala Robotron... Dial and/or Paddle are the spinner devices I believe (Tempest, Tron, etc).
: 5) on MAMEWORLD, it suggests to re-program the default MAME buttons 2 and 3 as they conflict with CALLUS? I believe Callus is another emulator? Why would someone need Callus if they already have Mame. Have any of you remapped the keys to suit Callus?
A: Callus runs those Capcom CPS-1 games faster and more accurately.
: Lastly, and slightly off topic, but when downloading MAME games, I notice there are usually two files, one called a game rom and one called a parent rom. Are both required to play the game - why are there 2 files instead of just 1.
A: Mame games often share files. Some clones, sequels, or even games on similar hardware use some of the same files, so often there is a "parent" game, and then to save space, "sub" roms sets that contain a few files, but then use files from the parent (check out the 6 billion versions of Street Fighter for Pete's sake heh). If the parent is not present the sub game will not run. You could have the complete file set for every game but that would eat more drive space unnecessarily.
- Cryo