Donkey Kong Forum
General Donkey Kong Discussion => General Donkey Kong Discussion => Topic started by: NWnike on March 08, 2019, 01:56:22 pm
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So, I recently started playing DK on MAME. When I am asking this question I am really asking about handheld devices. I do not have a cabinet, although the plan is to build one later this year. I got an Xbox controller since it is plug and play but the stick has way too much range of motion to be read consistently by the engine, leading to Jumpman stalling for just a bit, which in turn makes it hard to not lose lives in senseless ways. I guess I need something either very stiff or as close to a 4 way controller as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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OK, that didn't receive any suggestions... lol. I have seen it mentioned in the forums that some play MAME DK with their KB but I did not think that would be what a majority would do since it is so different from a cabinet. Is this the way you play or do you play MAME in a cabinet with a control panel? I'm looking for a more consistent way to control Jumpman since about 1/2 my deaths are from lack of controller response. I thought I would get used to this controller but that hasn't been the case.
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Sorry I can't help, but I am a keyboard video game warrior myself. I have heard people give a pretty good review to the X arcade joystick. It's expensive though.
https://www.ebay.com/b/x-arcade-joystick/bn_7024796862
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I have heard people give a pretty good review to the X arcade joystick.
For Donkey Kong, specifically?
They're not bad for Robotron or Black Widow type games, just a little stiff. I would never recommend them for Donkey Kong or Pac-Man.
I am completely incapable of playing Donkey Kong or Pac-Man with the keyboard. What I would love to find is a simple standard game controller with an ordinary directional pad that is somehow rigged not to recognize diagonals. I would buy that in a heartbeat.
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I could use a directional pad myself if you find that.
Homer: Thanks for the post of the X-Arcade joystick. I had never seen that and it looks like it would work with a lot of games for MAME. I really like the idea that you could play it almost as if it is a control panel.
Weehawk: How long did you use that X-joystick? could it just be so stiff when it is brand new and it breaks in?
I play a lot of games but I just started focusing on DK a few weeks ago. I just don't have much time to play so I'm improving slowly.
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How long did you use that X-joystick? could it just be so stiff when it is brand new and it breaks in?
I never did put it to a lot of use. It's been in storage for 12 years now while I've been moving around. Yes, it's possible they would have gotten better with breaking in.
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I use a PS3 or PS4 controller for 99.9% of MAME stuff. D-pad and X for Donkey Kong.
I also have the X-Arcade Dual Joystick, but I swapped out the stock sticks for ball-top J-Stiks from Ultimarc.
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Keyboard for 95% of games. Exceptions are most 8-way shooters or some games that require analog where I'll use a PS4 controller
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Sanwa JLF stick + buttons.
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I usually play on an arcade cabinet, but I play a little MAME for save state practice and to play the holiday remix ROMS. For MAME, I use the Mayflash f500 with the stick and buttons that came with it, and it is okay. I am thinking about upgrading the joystick and buttons to Sanwa JLF (which are supposed to be compatible). I did get a different restrictor (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDGLVKX/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that has a 4-way setting that can be turned diagonally to be more like the cabinet joystick. I feel like the practice I do with this setup translates to the cabinet reasonably well, which is something I care about.
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I sometimes use my PS4 controller for Donkey Kong Mame. You can set it up in the software to only recognize up, down, left, and right, and not register diagonals. This will help it feel like a 4-way joystick.
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I started playing DK on a PS4 controller in Retropi, then an Xbox controller in Retropi, then keyboard in MAME on my PC, then got an Xarcade for cheap, didn't like the stick in it so replaced it with a Sanwa 4way, didn't like the Sanwa and replaced it with a Seimitsu 4way, didn't like that and went back to keyboard which is what I'm happy with now. In the end, the keyboard felt the most precise for DK. I do like the DK cab Nintendo stick a lot though.
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When I am not busy working all the time...I use Groovy Game Gear joysticks/dials that I installed in my X-Arcade Tank Stick and Dual Stick. The stock XA microswitch joysticks will wear out pretty fast if they don't drive you crazy from all the clicking noises first! The Tank Stick also fits nicely in a Home Depot 30" x 23.25" x 13.375" shelving unit footprint to help keep it more stable
(https://i.ibb.co/zQVgncY/20190311-081613.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zQVgncY)
The Tank currently has a GGG PacPro 4 way joystick on the left and a Dominux8 with a 4 way gate setup on the right (currently for working on DigDug if I ever get time to play again that is). I actually haven't had much time to test out the PacPro. It is also a pain in the A to install leaf switch joysticks on the left hand side of any XA box because it is so close to the sidewall (need to bend the connectors to get them on).
I also have a GGG TurboTwist 2 for the Tank that isn't installed right now (replaces the bottom right red button near the joystick). The silver spinner in the photo is a TurboTwist Hi-Lo I installed into the panel (had to cut a hole for it). I removed the stock trackball because frankly it sucks. Still looking for a good one to play Millipede etc. that I can fit in this unit eventually.
I use the same size shelving unit with the smaller Dual + use a couple of wood shims to hold it in place (along the back and at the front left corner). This one has two Dominux8 joysticks with without any gates installed. Because this unit isn't as deep as the Tank I had to cut holes to keep the Dominux8's from rubbing the bottom panel. They don't stick out the bottom though. They are off by only about half the width of the bottom panel. This is the setup I used to score 35 million points+ on Robotron ;)
(https://i.ibb.co/jHhF2jn/20190311-085113.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jHhF2jn)
The buttons are mostly GGG CLASSX (red/wht) with some left over original XA ones (black). I mostly use their True-Leaf Pro switches with a handful of Micro-Leaf ones here and there. The stock XA switches will wear out on you pretty fast. They tend to stick too sometimes. I replaced most of them with Zippy microswitches that I am pretty happy with so far. My next upgrade is to find a good button/leaf switch combo for Asteroids/Star Castle type gaming (and prob scrap the Dual for another Tank because of the depth/fit issues).
Enjoy!
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I also have an extra Nintendo arcade DK joystick I'd like to create a control panel around to play on mame but have never gotten around to it (yet)
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Keyboard for anything not requiring or allowing diagonal movements.
Everything else gets my Qanba Q4, a great stick for under $200, has survived multiple Yolympics, Craps, and IGBYs. Comes w/ 9 Sanwa buttons. Also comes w/ stick restrictors, so can do 4-way, 8-way, and all-way (circular). Very sturdy, though the stick does auto-center a little too quickly for DK Jr, which might not be a bad thing.
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Chris P has best control panel imo
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Absolutely. Not being "boxed" into a particular manufacturer was a "Priority" of his.
Chris P has best control panel imo
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Feast thine eyes.
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ChrisP: As a Rural Letter Carrier I do have to admire your choice of panel! ;)
Krehztim: When you say circular restrictor, do you mean it prevents the joystick from being centered? I am actually looking for a way to play 720 which needs that circular motion.
Jerky: Your setup is insane! I would love to have those but I fear I will have to a little smaller and possibly lose some of the stability because the wife would think I was cuckoo for having that sitting beside my computer. I am looking for a good track ball to play Centipede and Missile Command with so I may actually try to install one like you did.
Thanks for all these ideas guys. This is what I needed to know!
and Hooch, I did setup the software to recognize the 4 way movements. The problem is my controller is so easy to move from just right to right/up and Jumpman stops. The main thing that is giving me issues is getting on/off ladders.
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Never used it, but would allow complete unimpeded circular motion, about an inch in diameter
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That is closer to what I am looking for but 720 cabinet had a stick that only went in a circle around the circumference. It was literally impossible to just move from east to west or north to south. I never saw the joystick setup but it has to be a circular track. If you never played 720 it is a skateboard game and the circular motion allowed you to do spins in the air.
"Skate or Die!"
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I use an Xbox 360 controller. It works perfectly fine when it’s working. But lately, it keeps losing a few of the mapped commands when I start my PC and I have to set them up again. It’s always plugged in. What’s worse is that it now occasionally stops working when I’m in the middle of a game. Unplugging and plugging back into a different port usually fixes it. The other thing is that the slightest movement when playing causes beeping from the PC and flashing Xbox home button on the controller, which makes me paranoid.
I think I’ll order a new one and hopefully it will be as stable as this one was when I first got it.
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Here are the controller I've been using for 10 years on my cab, never had a problem at all ... 4 and 8 way. Here is a link.
http://www.ultimarc.com/controls.html
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Damn Ron! I love that! Can you play any other games on it or is it dedicated for DK now?
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Thanks !!! Any game you want, I added the side controllers for the long screen games like defender, frenzy etc!!!! I've been stuck on playing Donkey Kong spooky most of my time.... Love the work that went into it, I'm running mame so I can't get the DK JR remix that I would love to try!!!
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I play on my desktop computer & use Wolfmame.
joystick:
"Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT-SK OEM Green Ball Handle Arcade Joystick 4 & 8 Way Adjustable (Mad Catz SF4 Tournament Joystick Compatible)"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027Z7L5I/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Restrictor Plate for 4-way:
"Sanwa GT-Y Octagonal Restrictor Plate for JLF Joysticks"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AU0H4U/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Buttons to replace stock Mayflash:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003D8897M/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Mayflash F300 that sits on my desk:
https://www.amazon.com/Mayflash-F300-Arcade-Joystick-SWITCH/dp/B019MFPLC0/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mayflash+f300&qid=1552917949&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I find this setup great to play on.
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Although I don't play with it as much anymore since I have a cabinet, I picked up a Madcatz fight stick for xbox 360 (really cheap). I believe it already had the joystick swapped to a Sanwa because there is a 4-way plate in it. I've used it on PC and on the Nintendo Switch, with an adapter. It isn't the greatest, but it does work.
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What kind of Xbox controller were you using? I got my replacement Xbox 360 controller recently, and it completely fixed the connection problem I described before, but now I occasionally get the problem you’ve been having with it not responding to commands. It’s rare but has killed some good games I had going. I might try using my PS3 or PS4 dpad if necessary. It would take some getting used to. Hopefully it’s not harder to use.
The strange thing is, I never had this problem with the old 360 controller which had much looser sticks by the time I started playing DK, just the problem of losing connection completely which seemed to be getting worse.
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I use the Razer Panthera EVO arcade stick.
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Nitelite, do you have a 4 way restrictor in it?
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I don't but I definitely wish I did.
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Nitelite, do you ever have problems with controlling jumpman? I have not been able to play in MAME much because my controller has problems with directions being understood by the MAME engine. I didn't know if it would be a problem for any controller that wasn't 4 way.
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go to mikesarcade.com and buy a real DK control panel and convert it to usb ....
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go to mikesarcade.com and buy a real DK control panel and convert it to usb ....
That looks great!!
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Or.... take the poor man's out... I went on Amazon and bought a Nyga 3 in 1 fight stick for 30 dollars. Sure, it is a bit loud and the stick needs to be tightened. However, it gets the job done for me. At least I am alive to play and post... because if I spent over $100 on a joystick, my wife wouldn't divorce me, she would kill me... I'm not even kidding.