Neo Geo 'ABC' button mapping- Can someone explain?

[seastalker]

I played Neo Geo in 90s arcades...

I've emulated Neo Geo since the late 90s...

I have a Neo Geo X usb controller, the newer Neo Geo CD style pads with KOF characters, and custom arcade sticks...

...Yet there is a Neo Geo mystery that has escaped this dum-dum for years...

In MiSTer or otherwise, I still don't comprehend when I'm prompted to map a button to 'ABC'. I always skip that mapping in ignorance. What the heck is ABC mapping for and why?!?

Does that mean a button will be mapped as a 'hotkey' for simultaneous pressing A, B, and C? I'm familiar with button mashing fighting games, but I can't imagine that reason [nor effectiveness). What games could this possibly be used for?

[Retro-Nerd]

Yes, very useful e.g. when you want to enter the Universe Bios menu (ABC), or with ABC+start the Universe Bios cheat menu.

[aberu]

Yes, it maps to pressing all 3 buttons simultaneously.

http://unibios.free.fr/howitworks.html

[seastalker]

Ah, so it's mostly (exclusively?) used for the Uni-bios then. I thought I was missing out on some killer-combo move in fighters. Still, looking at the link, it indeed looks useful. I have to study up - I also always set to the latest (4.0) bios (unless playing Neo Geo CD) but the page may also be handy if there are specific use cases to use an older version. Does everyone just use the latest versions (4.0 and 3.3 for CD)?

[pac]

Hm, if entering the UniBios easier was the sole intention - why not have a shortcut for ABC-Start?

[PistolsAtDawn]

Ah, so it's mostly (exclusively?) used for the Uni-bios then. I thought I was missing out on some killer-combo move in fighters. Still, looking at the link, it indeed looks useful. I have to study up - I also always set to the latest (4.0) bios (unless playing Neo Geo CD) but the page may also be handy if there are specific use cases to use an older version. Does everyone just use the latest versions (4.0 and 3.3 for CD)?

Ha! I don’t play many fighting games, but I also assumed it was for that.

[aberu]

Hm, if entering the UniBios easier was the sole intention - why not have a shortcut for ABC-Start?

I just bring up the in-game menu with select + start and then hold the ABC button I've set over the Soft Reboot System option, it reboots into the UNIBIOS settings. Then I set my options and open the osd to save.

[neogeo81]

Hm, if entering the UniBios easier was the sole intention - why not have a shortcut for ABC-Start?

Because ABC-Start does not enter the unibios. ABC-Start brings up the in-game menu.

[dickhardpill]

I’ve only ever had to hit ABC to enter the unibios menu. Was this recently updated?

To enter the cheat menu (if available) I hit start + coin (IIRC)

[pac]

Hm, if entering the UniBios easier was the sole intention - why not have a shortcut for ABC-Start?

Because ABC-Start does not enter the unibios. ABC-Start brings up the in-game menu.

I stand corrected, sure, it's ABC, no clue how I mixed that up. Case closed from my end.