Both buttons together - Does it work on hardware?

[MAC-42]

I have no way to test this on actual 7800 hardware as yet, so I thought I'd throw this out there to see if anyone has any idea. (Or to see if it's been done already and I'm just not aware of it.)

 

I've long wondered if a game could be programmed to respond to pressing both controller buttons to activate a "third function" of sorts. Using NES Zelda as an example, the B button activates your selectable weapon, A activates your sword and Start brings up your inventory. In this example, the 7800 lacks a third button, but I wondered if a game could be programmed to act on a simultaneous button press. In this case, the 7800 left button would activate the selectable weapon, the right button the sword, and both buttons together would bring up the inventory. Using 7800basic, I was able to get a third function out of such a setup--in my case, a simple background color change to test it out. I would think that this should work on hardware, but does anyone know? Or can anyone try? Or has this been done already?

 

Of course, I guess the next question is how practical this is from a user-interface perspective. Would it be too easy to trigger this by accident in a Zelda-like game? I haven't played Zelda properly in years so I'm drawing a blank on how much button overlap there might be.

 

Anyway. Just some questions. If this is workable, maybe someone can make use of this idea.

[PacManPlus]

I guess a way to do it is to 'AND' the two buttons together before checking each one individually:

 

LDA INPT4A ; GET THE LEFT BUTTON (INPT4A = $09)

AND INPT4B ; GET THE RIGHT BUTTON (INPT4B = $08)

AND #$80 ; MASK IT

BNE BOTHBTN ; BOTH BUTTONS ARE PRESSED

 

; NOW CHECK EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY.

Edited April 17, 2014 by PacManPlus

[Rybags]

Pressing both buttons at once on the joypad is probably not the most practical thing.

 

For an inventory select type function, something like holding the second button then using a stick direction is probably more practical.

[Trebor]

Interesting idea MAC-42, and man, Bob, that is real quick with the code for it...Sweet!

 

But I think I agree with Rybags that a simultaneous button press is not the most practical thing. Especially considering how finicky the controllers can be overall for some (many?)

 

Aces of Aces employs a method of one press to a button fires guns, and a double click serves as a different function.

 

Along similar to Rybags' thoughts perhaps holding down a button severs one function and once or rapid fire serves another.

 

In the case of a "Zelda-type" game, I think the most practical and best method to ensure you don't waste a 'special' or secondary item would be:

 

Left Button - One quick press or rapid pressing = Use Sword/Main weapon.

Left Button - Held Down = Bring up Inventory Screen.

 

Right Button = Use special/secondary item.

 

Also, within the inventory screen a selection is made by pressing the right button, and you exit the inventory screen with the left button.

Or/And...Have an option to look to the second control port for additional input. If it's just the one additional function (Inventory Screen), any input (Up, Down, Left, Right, Left Button, Right Button) can register that function.

It then provides the player the ability to choose what works best for them.

[Bakasama]

Well, I suppose you can just program a game to use the C button on a Genesis pad and modify the A button on that pad to get three button controller for the 7800.

[MAC-42]

Bob, thanks for the code example. Gosh, gang, he just cranks that stuff out of his head like it's English. No wonder he's so good!

 

Pressing both buttons at once on the joypad is probably not the most practical thing.

 

For an inventory select type function, something like holding the second button then using a stick direction is probably more practical.

Well, I guess I have an excuse to play Zelda this weekend now, to see how it works out. But the practicality of it was my main concern, too. I know that there have been times where I'll clear out a room full of bats by firing sword and boomerang at the same time over and over again; this would inevitably lead to problems, though the solution is to not bombard a room like that. Nevertheless, I had worried about this very point. But your solution here is very interesting indeed. Gives me something to chew on....

 

 

Interesting idea MAC-42, and man, Bob, that is real quick with the code for it...Sweet!

 

But I think I agree with Rybags that a simultaneous button press is not the most practical thing. Especially considering how finicky the controllers can be overall for some (many?)

 

Aces of Aces employs a method of one press to a button fires guns, and a double click serves as a different function.

 

Along similar to Rybags' thoughts perhaps holding down a button severs one function and once or rapid fire serves another.

 

In the case of a "Zelda-type" game, I think the most practical and best method to ensure you don't waste a 'special' or secondary item would be:

 

Left Button - One quick press or rapid pressing = Use Sword/Main weapon.

Left Button - Held Down = Bring up Inventory Screen.

 

Right Button = Use special/secondary item.

 

Also, within the inventory screen a selection is made by pressing the right button, and you exit the inventory screen with the left button.

Or/And...Have an option to look to the second control port for additional input. If it's just the one additional function (Inventory Screen), any input (Up, Down, Left, Right, Left Button, Right Button) can register that function.

It then provides the player the ability to choose what works best for them.

 

Thanks, Trebor. It was just something I'd been aimlessly noodling around with for months. My assembly skill is...well, fifth-rate coders point at me and laugh as I pass. 7800basic has finally given me a way to try these ideas out.

 

The second controller port is another option, yes. Hadn't thought about that. A particular weakness of mine is trying to build up complexity when the bleedin' obvious answer is staring me in the face. There are some other good ideas in your post, too. Nice stuff to putter around with.

 

Thanks for your thoughts, folks!

[MAC-42]

Well, I suppose you can just program a game to use the C button on a Genesis pad and modify the A button on that pad to get three button controller for the 7800.

 

Is this possible? I thought it was only possible to get two buttons out of the Genesis pad. (I was going to throw together a little unit this weekend to do just that, in fact.) That'd be super-cool to do. Can you point me in the direction of directions?