In-game Player Input Switching

[mikhasw]

I think MAMEHub would benefit a lot from the ability to switch player inputs in game. I've seen 4 player Marvel Vs. Capcom (a hacked ROM which only runs on MAME 0.64, I believe) requested a lot in the lobby and I think input switching is a good way to simulate that experience. Also, of course this would apply to other team fighting games like the King of Fighters series and would allow shuffling of players and spectators in other games so that you wouldn't have to rehost the game to change players.

The way I've been thinking of implementing it is by assigning buttons to take over specific player controls. So, every player would have a "switch input to player 1" button and a "switch input to player 2" button, up to player 6 which would be assigned to, say, keys 1-6. So, in the example of MvC, p1 and p3 might agree to be one time, while p2 and p4 might be the other. When p1 tags out his character or his character dies, p3 would press 1 (AKA the "switch input to p1" button) and begin playing and p2 and p4 would do the same.

There's probably a better way for this to be done, but I can't think of one. Anyone have any ideas?

[zambr123]

Sounds very messey, a bit of a headache actually trying to think of a mechanism that would work for this, given the fact that there are so many variables such as how would the game know who's on who's side?

You would also need a HUD display listing all people connected, and would need to clearly indicate which 2 players are currently in-play. Where would you put this so not to obstruct the play area?

So yeah, a bit of a headache all round.

PS: would be awesome for winner stays on mini tournaments something like this, but again, simple things like how would you indicate who the winner is or when a win has taken place, will prove to be impossible (unless of course you had an observer assigned as a referee to record these things).

[mikhasw]

Well this will need to be done eventually in one form or another. The other option I can think of is to have another window pop up when a game starts which lists the usernames of the players and which position they're in (p1, p2, p3...). The host can then switch the users to different player positions in that window. This wouldn't allow for on-the-fly switching, so something like 4 player MvC wouldn't work with this setup.

I'm not sure a display of which players are in which positions is even necessary though. You'll obviously have to agree on some rules before you start, like winner stays, or switch after every 3 matches or whatever, and communicate to each other when you're switching. It will be obvious when you're playing, because you'll be able to control something, and it will be obvious when you're not playing. I don't see a need for any more information than that.

how would the game know who's on who's side?

It wouldn't. Only the players would know and they'd have to keep on top of when switches are made so they can press the appropriate control switch button at the right time.