IPAC advantages ?
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I'm a newbie but so far into my build I don't understand what advantage an IPAC really has. I have USB encoder boards for my controls. Any knowledge to explain to me about IPAC use would be appreciated.
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@normanmsu96 an ipac is a high quality usb keyboard encoder that has a higher compatability than several usb encoders. A lot of arcade encoders are seen as 1 giant controller and you have to do some voodoo just to get them recognized as 2 controllers. Even then they can still have other issues. I have never seen any issues with the ipac.
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So if I'm running 2 controls and individual usb encoders are working ok, should I stick with that for now or do you anticipate problems? I just got them going.
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@normanmsu96 if they are running good and seperate then no worries. If you were having issues or starting fresh i wouldnt recommend anything else.
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@edmaul69 Understood ! I guess I will see if issues arise.
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@normanmsu96 i have put the ipac in several arcades and use one now in my pi modded apple iie
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@edmaul69 Is the IPAC difficult to setup/configure? I'm not a linux command line guy without some instructions.
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@normanmsu96 you just use the windows pc with the ipac program if you want to reprogram the buttons to different keyboard keys. Really easy. Otherwise it is already programmed to the keys mame default uses.
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@normanmsu96 I would add that the IPAC also claims zero "ghosting". Traditional (actual) keyboards would sometimes exhibit odd problems when multiple keys are held down at the same time. The IPAC design claims to solve this so that you cannot create problems with complex key combinations.
Another benefit is that the IPAC has some unique hotkey (shift functions) built-in allowing you to generate keystrokes like ESC by setting up a hotkey combo. This is similar to RetroArch software, but it would work in ANY emulator instead of just Libretro cores.
Finally, the IPAC uses hefty but convenient screw-down terminals pre-labeled with their default inputs (Coin1, Start1, Up, Down, Left, Right, etc.) and the default config matches MAME keyboard inputs.
Of course, the IPAC is fully programmable, but this is best done on a windows system using the provided utility programs.
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@caver01 ah yes. Ghosting. I have been using the ipac's for so long i forgot about keyboard ghosting. Nothing could ruin a good game of street fighter ii like keyboard ghosting did....
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@edmaul69 well, back in the days before RetroPie, we had builders hacking actual keyboards and soldering wires directly to the pads or under the switches. Ghosting on those devices was an issue the ipac was built to overcome.
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@caver01 oh i know. I was one of those people pulling the circuit boards out for arcade mods. Some of the old keyboards had really nice designed boards that made modding them a breeze. (In the scheme of things). I even found one with the same type of connectors that the ipac uses.
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@edmaul69 that’s awesome! I never did it myself. I bought an ipac instead. ;-)
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@caver01 intellivision controllers suffer the same problems as keyboards because they work on the grid system too and not on a universal ground. Coleco and other keypads do too but intellivision put the d-pad in that same grid system. People have modded intellivision controllers to make them with two 9pin cables putting the dpad (disc) on one controller and the keypad on the other so when they play tron deadly discs they can run and throw discs at the same time with one controller
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@edmaul69 Wow. Is that why I could never get the hang of Intellivision? I used to play at a friend's house and swore up and down that it would not respond to my button presses. Maybe I was right.
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@caver01 yes intellivision has quirks with the controllers that takes some use to. You cant press a key and the disc at the same time since it can trigger another key or direction. The key pad is an issue because of the issues if you hit two of them at the same time which is easy to do it usually triggers a direction
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I haven't tried anything else than iPac but I can confirm that they get the job done.
I had to hardcode my inputs to the retroarch.cfg file in the /ALL folder (I only use retroarch based emulators), but after this, everything just works, and key inputs is not something I think about at all.
Also, the build quality is very good. If I was to build another arcade, I would get another iPac. That's for sure.
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After working with the individual controller USB encoder boards more last night, I discovered I need to configure them within retroarch (TAB key) to make MAME games work. In other words, I expected to do a emulation station configure game pad input and then proceed. I was worried about powering the controller encoder boards (LED lights on buttons and joystick) with the pi but it seems fine so far. I've been running retropie on a pi3 for over a year. I've just now got into moving toward a cabinet. My plan is a cocktail cab and mainly run old classics on it. However, I could see myself wanting to add side by side controls on one side of the cabinet for fighter games. You guys are over my head but I sure appreciate all the replies. I may be back if/when problems arise. For now I am going to proceed with the individual USB encoders for the 2 player controls and make sure I can configure them for the games I have.
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Oh and I assume the "control block" I see mentioned by some would not be needed if an IPAC is used?
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@caver01 i also should mention, the biggest reason why the intellivision is hard to get used to. Most games arent designed for you to tap up down left right. They are designed to have you "roll" around the disk from one position to another. Auto racing wont work at all tapping left and right. The whole top half of the disc determines the position of the steering wheel. So pressing up is straight and as you roll right or left it determines how far you are turning the steering wheel. This design really takes a lot of getting used to.
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