keyboard-encoder + dreamc keyboard adapter = free hack?

[tommycoins98]

hi folks, i want to know if its possible to use a keyboard encoder(like ipac,hagstrom etcc..)and put in the dreamcast console throught a dreamcast keyboard adapter, i think so this its a good idea save problems to hack a dreamcast controlers,
and the another solution for the steering wheels for the dreamcast in this case use the mouse adapter for dreamcast to put the optipac and me4 by hagstrom,and make a  use a arcade controls,
and this its a much better idea  and cheap than, the mgdc cost much, and you can play many games, its a litle complicade and the only advantage its so use pot for the pedals, but if you want to use pot in your dreamcast buy a cheap dreamcast stheering wheels and hack to your arcade controls,please post opinions ,pros,const and links


does anyone has been use this method?


thanks for all  

                                        atte(tommycoins98)

[SNAAAKE]

I AM DOIN OTHER WAY AROUND..its cheaper and easier.

first hack psx pad then get USB and DREAMCAST converters..cheap and easy..work 200% perfect...

[Dave_K.]

I think I looked into this a  while ago and found the dreamcast keyboard doesn't invoke all the dreamcast controls.  Some keys match to some buttons, but things like the DPAD wasn't mapped.  If you have a dreamcast keyboard you may want to check this out first.

-Dave

[tom61]

Only two adapters that I know let you use a keyboard as Dreamcast keyboard are: Total Control 2 and Smart Joy 2.

I have a Smart Joy 2 and plan to use like you are talking about.

[CthulhuLuke]

Yeah, I agree with Snake, your easiest choice would be to just hack 2 playstation controllers since they are extremely simple.  You can buy the 2 playstation pads to one usb adapters for like 20 bucks off of ebay, and you can buy those psx to dreamcast adapters for like 14 a piece, which actually saves you a little bit of money because an I-pac would cost more than the 2 playstation pads to usb adapter.
  The only problem with the dreamcast keyboard hack, would be A: Dave_K's right about how the DPAD isn't mapped, so you're kinda screwed, B: you're better off just getting psx to dc convertors.
    -good luck
       -CthulhuLuke

[tom61]

The problem with hacking a PSX pad is that the analog is hard to hack(I've never found a good guide w/photographs of how to do it). The Smart Joy 2 lets you use the numeric keypad to simulate the analog joystick. Without the analog joystick you won't be able to play all Dreamcast games.

[SNAAAKE]

tom61,
you are right..not all dreamcast games..such as world series baseball and stuff...the games that you must use analog..otherwise great!

[ophtho3]

Tom61, do you actually have the Smart Joy 2 up and running ? I am willing to live with my JAMMA harness hacked to my MadCatz Dreamcast controllers, but if I can get analog joystick simulation as well with the Smart Joy 2 then I'd be willing to rip it all apart and go with that.  

Second, lets say you want to do two players on the Dreamcast with the SmartJoy2 and still have MAME functionality. Whats the best way to make this work ?  My thought would be to have a JPAC on the main JAMMA harness going directly to the PC for MAME, then with two breakouts of the JAMMA harness that would be sent to two other IPACs. Each IPAC would be custom programmed to put out the codes needed for the SmartJoy2 and wallah, you have controller #1 and controller #2. Thus, this would be essentially the same as I am doing now, except instead of going to two MadCatz dreamcast controllers, it would go to two ipacs and two smartJoy2.  Kindof expensive, but I think all of us will go to whatever lengths needed to get the sim right.  

The other option I have looked at is to use my current dreamcast controller hack with a hall effect joystick hack as shown. No clue whether it works or not.  Also, no clue exactly where to attach it to on the dreamcast controller PCB (corresponding to pins 9,10,11 as shown on the diagram) arcadecollecting.com/info/Hall/Hall_Effect_to_8Way/hack.htm

Again the key question is can the SmartJoy2 actually simulate the analog stick or not, and if so, how good a job does it do ? Finally how does this compare to the other hack shown ?

[tom61]

I don't have the Smart Joy 2 currently wired to an arcade panel, but I have tested it out using the keyboard.

I tried it with Skies of Arcadia, which has no keyboard support, with the Smart Joy 2 in 'keyboard to joystick' mode I was able to pilot the ship (which requires the analog stick), and view the ship at different angles (which means digital was working as well).

I have a scan of the keyboard mappings that someone sent me, I'll se if I can find them. He was using the Total Control 2 with a Power Ramp joystick for games, and it was working great for him, so I set after finding it or its clone the Smart Joy 2. Found it on Baysoftgames.com under the name 'Dreamcast to Playstation' adapter.

The only caveat is that the analog is always simulated to be pressed fully, which means your character will always be running. I don't know of any games for Dreamcast that you really need true analog other than perhaps racing games (in which case a Steering Wheel would be advisable).

If I remember right, the mappings of the SJ2 are fairly close to the MAME Player 1 defaults. You may be able to use the J-Pac for player 1 controller, and split off player 2 to an I-Pac.

As far as the Hall-Effect hack, I can't say as I've never done it, and no one I know of has done it to the Dreamcast controller for the thumbstick (A few have done it to the analog triggers, but haven't posted detailed pictures).

[SNAAAKE]

analog hack is possible..but you must tap all the steps together..means you gotta convert to digital buttons unless you have some analog buttons(never heard of analog buttons).but its possible to hack the L R buttons for dreamcast but it will be digital only..

[ophtho3]

Thanks Tom61 for clarifying this, and for suggesting the power ramp idea. I forgot I had 3 of those lying around. Too bad you can't buy them anymore, they were a cheap and good solution for MAME for a couple of years for me.  This will be a far cheaper solution (for me at least) than going the IPAC route. So it will be Arcade controls hacked to PowerRamp controller to Smart Joy 2 to Dreamcast, with separate powerramps for player1 and player 2. Everything is in the mail, I'll let you know how it works out.