Adapting a Dreamcast to an arcade cabinet/Switching controls.

[Warborg]

Well, looks like I am getting a complete Dreamcast setup for free tomorrow (controllers, VMUs, etc). I have a friend that no longer uses it, hasn't even fired it up in a year, so he's giving me the whole shooting match (donating it for the "arcade project"). On top of that, I have 2 Topmax Enforcer sticks that I am going to hack for arcade controls. I am going to attempt to put it in the arcade cab along with a PC so I'll need to have the control panel hooked up to both the arcade PC and the DC with a method to switch between them...

What methods have people used to switch between them (such as a parallel switchbox), and what have your successes and failures been? Is it possible to simply simultaneously wire both controller boards (the one from the Enforcer and the one from the Gravis Gamepad Pro USB) to the arcade stick/buttons and then only have one powered up at a time to acheive this effect?

Any input would be great... Everytime I think I've figured out what I want to do, this beat of a project grows...  

P.S.  I am well aware of the problems you had, SNAAAAKE...  

[tom61]

You can't just leave multiple controls hooked to the control panel without troubles, it sometimes causes keys to be ignored, ghost keypresses, etc. If you wire up both players, separate the ground between the two, as some controllers' grounds cause problems with each other. (probably the cause of the slowness Snake experienced)

[madk]

You could mod a cheap dc pad and then use a dc->usb converter.  I'm sure those are out there somewhere.  If not you could do it with a psx pad because I know there are psx->usb and psx->dc converters.  The only set back would be that you would have to manually switch the cables.  I'm sure it'd be possible to rig some sort of switch box out of this.

-madk

[SirPoonga]

if you are not going to use a switchbox, you might have to make a front door to your cabinet and manual switch.  either way you are going to have to do something as the DC is a CD based system.

[Warborg]

if you are not going to use a switchbox, you might have to make a front door to your cabinet and manual switch.  either way you are going to have to do something as the DC is a CD based system.

Yeah, already planned on having some sort of drawer or door that can open for access, I just wanted to find a way to switch controls back and forth without switching the cable back and forth...

[Dave_K.]

I run a DC cab with a control panel fitted with molex connectors.  It takes 2 seconds to pop the cp open, and switch the connectors around.  And as SirPoogona mentioned, you have to at least open up the coin door to swap CD's anyway, so switching the connectors around from inside there is just as easy.  

I really don't see the need to run both connected at the same time (granted its a bad idea anyway).

-Dave

[Warborg]

Yeah, I know hooking them up together sounded sketchy to begin with, but was wondering if anyone was able to cheat like that and get it to work...  

Yeah, it wouldn't be terrible to change the connections, but I'd like to be able to just switch it over.  On top of that, my daughters will be playing it as well, so I'd like to make it easy for them to switch it over as well for when I'm not home.

On a sidenote, looks like I might be able to get a full Showcase cabinet (minus electronics and screen) for $100...  Is this a decent deal?

[Thorn]

I think $100.00 is a good deal for a showcase cab. It would cost you more than that just to buy wood to construct one. In case you didn't know, when hacking a Dreamcast pad (very easy to do) make sure to get the 6 button MadCatz pad buttons 5 and 6 will be the trigger controls.

[Warborg]

Actually, I am hacking 2 TopMax Enforcer sticks, which are 6-button, no trigger arcade-style sticks, with a nice and large circuit board that will be very easy to solder...  

[SNAAAKE]

stay away....stay away..the thing won't work and thats that

Just hack psx pad and get USB and DREAMCAST converter.
Its easier then you think.I love my setup and so far no problem ever.

[Warborg]

Ok Snaaake, like I said, I know your opinion on it...  But there are other people that have success with it, and logically it should work just fine, so I am going to try some method of switching...  If it doesn't work, oh well, I'll re-wire it.  If it DOES work however, I'll be back to rub your nose in it...    (j/k)

[SNAAAKE]

Sure man...but did you not hear what tom61 had to say?PSX to anything else might work but psx/dreamcast setup wont do and its not easy to do all the work then rewire.
Try 15 pin switch box..might work..

Just my thoughts

[Warborg]

Yeah, I saw his post on it, and the point of his was that I can't have them all simultaneously wired together, and would have to use some form of switching them back and forth.  Basically he said I couldn't use a cheater method of hooking them up...