Re: MAME Source looks like it already filters diagonals in 4-way games with nothing special required. Please read and comment...

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Posted by BillyBoy on 18, 2000 at 2:58 PM:

In Reply to: MAME Source looks like it already filters diagonals in 4-way games with nothing special required. Please read and comment... posted by jeoff krontz on 18, 2000 at 2:29 PM:

I'm fairly new and guessing a bit at this, but I think ope of the advantages to a "true" 4 way stick is the physical restriction on diagonal positions. I believe some 4-way sticks have a diamond shaped restrictor plate incorporated to restrict/prevent pushing the stick in a diagonal direction. If I imagine this correctly, I'm assuming if you were to try to move the stick in a circular path, the "plate" would "assist" you in making only up/down or left/right "throw" with the stick. Almost like the "gated" shift pattern on a sports car

I suppose this would enhance the feel or playability, even if the software didn't read anything differently.

: I was looking at the MAME source today.

: In INPTPORT.C, it looks like for ALL joystick types the program filters out opposite directions being pressed at the same time.

: For 4-WAY joystick games, it filters out diagonals. It looks like as long as you've got the joystick going one direction, it will not let any other direction occur. So, if you are pressing up and start moving to the up-right diagonal, it will still register up. Once you've gone completely to right, that will kick in.

: If this is the case, why does an 8-way joystick cause problems (control issues) in 4-way games? Can someone take a look and let me know if my analysis is incorrect?

: This would also seem to indicate that the previously mentioned control configuration of using NOTs is not necessary. For instance, configuring UP as (UP AND NOT LEFT AND NOT RIGHT) wouldn't really make a difference.

: What does a real 4-way joystick do when in a diagonal? Does it register NO direction at all just like if it was in the center position? If so, maybe this is the difference between the MAME implementation that causes problems. You could probably modify MAME to register a diagonal as "CENTER" for 4-way games.

Follow Ups:

4 ways and 2 ways... The Truth... xiaou2 6/19/2000 (4)
- They did have a plate. Definitely Chris 6/19/2000 (1)
  - It is a mechanical difference not electrical Andy Warne 6/19/2000 (0)
- Re: 4 ways (contains cr@p diagram) nick J 6/19/2000 (0)
- Re: 4 ways and 2 ways... The Truth... xiaou2oops 6/19/2000 (0)

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: I'm fairly new and guessing a bit at this, but I think ope of the advantages to a "true" 4 way stick is the physical restriction on diagonal positions. I believe some 4-way sticks have a diamond shaped restrictor plate incorporated to restrict/prevent pushing the stick in a diagonal direction. If I imagine this correctly, I'm assuming if you were to try to move the stick in a circular path, the "plate" would "assist" you in making only up/down or left/right "throw" with the stick. Almost like the "gated" shift pattern on a sports car : I suppose this would enhance the feel or playability, even if the software didn't read anything differently. : BB : : I was looking at the MAME source today. : : In INPTPORT.C, it looks like for ALL joystick types the program filters out opposite directions being pressed at the same time. : : For 4-WAY joystick games, it filters out diagonals. It looks like as long as you've got the joystick going one direction, it will not let any other direction occur. So, if you are pressing up and start moving to the up-right diagonal, it will still register up. Once you've gone completely to right, that will kick in. : : If this is the case, why does an 8-way joystick cause problems (control issues) in 4-way games? Can someone take a look and let me know if my analysis is incorrect? : : This would also seem to indicate that the previously mentioned control configuration of using NOTs is not necessary. For instance, configuring UP as (UP AND NOT LEFT AND NOT RIGHT) wouldn't really make a difference. : : What does a real 4-way joystick do when in a diagonal? Does it register NO direction at all just like if it was in the center position? If so, maybe this is the difference between the MAME implementation that causes problems. You could probably modify MAME to register a diagonal as "CENTER" for 4-way games.

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