Kade + original controllers

[Slippyblade]

I've looked around here and over at the Kade forums for a while now and haven't found a satisfactory answer.  I want to use original controllers with an emulation box.  I'm really liking the Kade concept and would like to use it for this project.  I understand I could hack up the internals of an original controller at the pad level and interface that with the Kade but I don't want to damage original hardware.  Is there a way for Kade to decode the controller signals and output keyboard signals?

I'd love to eventually just build a patch panel with ports for the original controllers to plug into with Kade (probably multiples) converting signals and outputting keycodes to the box.

Is this feasible with the current Kade or even with the Kade+?

[Howard_Casto]

The short answer is "Nope".  Only the very oldest of gamepads use direct communication, like a 2600 joystick and even they have special needs for things like analog controls ect. 

From the Nes era and beyond, gamepads started using serializer chips (Nintendo) multiplexers (Sega) and eventually full-on serial protocols to communicate with consoles. 

Usb adaptors for most retro controllers can be found for a little as 10 bucks a pop. 

[sharpfork]

We are working on a significant update to Bruno's retropad adapter: http://www.brunofreitas.com/node/41

We have a few other projects we are working on and life has been busy.  We have had fully functional prototypes since last summer and the functionality you are looking for is nothing less than pure awesomeness.  I'm a Product Owner kind of guy so I'd love to know what you want need it to do.  What kind of I/O are you looking for as far as arcade and console?  What kind of emulation "brains" do you want supported.

[Slippyblade]

Worse case scenario I plan to hack a wireless 360 controller and then just wire ALL the retro controllers up in parallel to it.  Then setup the emulators to use the proper inputs from the 360 hack...  Make sense?

[johnm]

If you dont mind building your own then check out http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html

[Generic Eric]

If you dont mind building your own then check out http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html,.

You have a comma that breaks the link

http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html

[ark_ader]

If you dont mind building your own then check out http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html,.

You have a comma that breaks the link

http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html

Thanks for fixing that link mate,  by adding a period to it.  . Works wonders now.

[Slippyblade]

Question for anybody that has used either the RetroPad or the Retro Adapter.  From reading the website it seems like both devices appear to the OS as a standard USB gamepad.  That's great as that can be config'd in any emulator.  Here's the million dollar question though...  Can the actual controllers be hot-swapped from the device?  or can the DB9/DB15 adapters be multiplexed on each other so that all controllers be left plugged in?

[sharpfork]

I'm pretty sure you'd need to use a dbp switch box for Bruno's retropad.  The adapter plugged in lets the device know how to deal with input.
like this:

[northerngames]

I've looked around here and over at the Kade forums for a while now and haven't found a satisfactory answer.  I want to use original controllers with an emulation box.  I'm really liking the Kade concept and would like to use it for this project.  I understand I could hack up the internals of an original controller at the pad level and interface that with the Kade but I don't want to damage original hardware.  Is there a way for Kade to decode the controller signals and output keyboard signals?

I'd love to eventually just build a patch panel with ports for the original controllers to plug into with Kade (probably multiples) converting signals and outputting keycodes to the box.

Is this feasible with the current Kade or even with the Kade+?

what controller do you want to use and what do you want to use it on?

if your serious, hard up for it and getting desperate I am sure I could wire something up