Playstation interface

[Crowquill]

I have this crazy theory about a universal controller standard between all the consoles. With adapters, Playstation has come the closest to this. Based on this, I thought it would be good to use PS controllers to interface the control panel. I've been searching around and haven't seen anyone doing this so far.

I'm planning on wiring my controls to a playstation controller circuit board. I have a PS-to-USB adapter. I could then also use it with PS-to-[other console] adapters (I currently have adapters for XBox, GameCube, and Dreamcast and many other systems are available).

I've been using a Pelican Real Arcade stick (PS only version) with the RadioShack PS-to-USB adapter (catalog# 26-304) for about a year now on my Mac.  It's worked flawlessly. The surprising part is that it's fully compatible with MacOS X. My options for Mac compatibility are limited anyway. This combination has also worked great under XP on a friend's system.

I'm trying to make the most out of the project and justify it to my wife, so being able to connect up and play a variety of consoles with it would be a great addition.

If anyone's tried this their experiences would be helpful. If not, I'll make sure I spend a bit more time as I document that part of my project page I will be creating.

Comments...Suggestions?

Sorry it got long. I was trying to be as specific as possible.

--andrew--

[subzero23]

How much was the PS-to-USb adatper?

[Crowquill]

$10.49. It's a pretty cheap interface since I already have old PS digital controllers laying around. I would need to get a second adapter for the second player though. There are USB adapters that have more than one PS controller port but I haven't found any with OS X compatibility. With windows, there are adapters that have up to 4 controller ports. I bought one off of ebay for somewhere around $30 with shipping. It was made by Mayflash. Didn't work with macs though. I figured I might use the extra two controller ports and some PS extension cables to add controller ports to the front of the cabinet. It'd be tight, but we might be able to huddle 4 people around the cabinet to play 4-player games if the two extra players used controllers.

Here's the online catalog listing for the Radio Shack adapter:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=26-304

--andrew--

[Gradius]

PSX controls are heaven because there are adaptors for every machine. I have made all my CPs using psx pad hacks (you can get digital pads for 5 euros!). The hack is easy and the performance is perfect! You have 10 buttons per pad. I have four psx-pc adaptors (smartjoy, the best), and two psx-dreamcast adaptors. Actually I don't have a PSX or PS2, but if I had one, I could use my Arcade CPs with PC, Dreamcast, PSX, PS2, etc. Adaptors rox! They work perfect with PC and Dreamcast, no delay, ghosting, blocking, etc. BTW, now I've bought two Dreamcast-PC adaptors, because I love DC pads for racing games in my PC.

[Dave_K.]

This should probably have been posted in the console section...as its been discussed plenty of times before.  Yes PS2 pad hacks are correct path for ultimate compatibility.  But one word of advice, digital PSX pads don't interface with all PS2 games.  Some games require a Dual Shock analog stick, or it just won't work.  The best stick to hack are the PSOne sticks as its a dual shock with analog, and uses digitial buttons.  Search the console forum as there are instructions on how to hack these without soldering!
 

[Crowquill]

I searched a short while back and didn't remember finding anything. I don't know if I'd looked in the console section since I was mainly thinking about interfacing the computer for MAME. I guess that would make sense wouldn't it.

One thing I was wondering was if anyone had set up buttons to control MAME. So far it's starting to look like I might have to hack a USB gamepad for MAME control (tab, esc, etc)

--andrew--

[Gunstar Hero]

I was doing the Real Arcade to Adaptor to PC for awhile... worked well for everything but fighters.

My adaptors were old and sucky tho. I'm sure with a better adaptor it'll work well.

[Dave_K.]

One thing I was wondering was if anyone had set up buttons to control MAME. So far it's starting to look like I might have to hack a USB gamepad for MAME control (tab, esc, etc)

--andrew--

I don't see the problem. Using the PSX->USB converter, you can assign buttons in mame just like a gamepad (or any other joystick).  This includes replacing the "user interface butons" like tab, esc, ...

[Gunstar Hero]

As far as MAME is concerned, the PSX stick w/adaptor IS a USB stick. You can use it for everything you could use a keyboard for in setting up MAME.

[Crowquill]

Even if I use a Dual Shock, that leaves me with 12 buttons to program for each player. If I set up each player to have a joystick and six buttons as well as coin and start that leaves me with 4 buttons each. Right now I'm trying to figure out what buttons I need to control the front end. With MacMAME the front-end is built-in, so my options are a bit more limited. What buttons (keys) are typically left to control the front-end and control MAME itself?

--andrew--