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Author Topic: Dreamcast Controller hack  (Read 2894 times)

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DreamWeb

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Dreamcast Controller hack
« on: March 15, 2005, 10:40:59 pm »
Hey guys.  I'm looking to get my Dreamcast working inside my cab.  IF anyone has pre-hacked dreamcast controllers available for sale.. drop me a line.

I'm in Canada (GTA)

david

albert_c

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2005, 10:51:34 pm »
Make sure you get a third party mad catz.  People tell me that the first party pads have trigger lag.. ;)

TalkingOctopus

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2005, 11:41:37 pm »
Make sure you get a third party mad catz.

testicle187

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2005, 12:40:48 am »
The Mad Catz controllers he is referring to are much better than the Sega pads.  They have a better feeling d-pad and 6 buttons in a decent fighter setup.  Only real problem with them is the Z and C buttons they add are only usable on some games.  Hacking the hall-effect switches on Sega pads to get 6 buttons is a better route as they are used on all games.  Just my 2 cents.

TalkingOctopus

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2005, 12:53:47 am »
The Mad Catz controllers he is referring to are much better than the Sega pads.

albert_c

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2005, 01:04:08 am »
No.

First party Sega Dreamcast Pads have analog trigger buttons.  When you hack the controller PCB and interface it with arcade controls the trigger buttons will have input lag.

Madcatz PCB is all digital so there will not be any input lag with the trigger buttons.

Another thing.  Most game stores like ebgames has original Dreamcast controllers for 1.99 but third party controllers for like 6.99 Could it have something to do with this?

Albert

albert_c

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2005, 01:06:54 am »
Oh yeah, Madcatz controllers are garbage but you'll need an all digital PCB for arcade controls. 

albert_c

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2005, 02:19:41 am »

Dave_K.

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2005, 03:00:34 am »
This is the first time I've herd of a lag hacking the hed sensor too.  Do you have a pointer to where you found this out?

SNAAKE

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2005, 09:05:00 am »
This is the first time I've herd of a lag hacking the hed sensor too.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2005, 09:14:30 am by SNAAKE »

Dave_K.

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2005, 12:28:15 pm »
Thanks for the confirmation snaake.   Glad I did use madcatz for my hacks then as I also play a lot of fighters and would be pretty pissed if there was even the smallest amount of lag causing some move/combo to not come out correctly.

DreamWeb

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2005, 02:00:20 am »
Still looking for someone selling a hacked pad (or two)!  Anyone?

albert_c

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2005, 12:06:16 pm »
Make a post at www.shoryuken.com on the hardware section.  Someone there will probably do it.    :police:

Albert

SNAAKE

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2005, 09:46:15 am »
Still looking for someone selling a hacked pad (or two)!
« Last Edit: March 24, 2005, 09:57:14 am by SNAAKE »

math0ne

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #15 on: March 24, 2005, 01:14:16 pm »
Where in canada are you located?

DreamWeb

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #16 on: March 24, 2005, 03:00:34 pm »
I'm in Toronto.

DreamWeb

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #17 on: March 24, 2005, 03:03:47 pm »
Hey guys.. out of curiousity..

I do have one of these.  Would this be an easier hack?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41054&item=8179781728&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

d.

Dave_K.

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #18 on: March 24, 2005, 03:48:44 pm »
Hey guys.. out of curiousity..

I do have one of these.  Would this be an easier hack?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41054&item=8179781728&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

d.


Well you'd need to open it up and find out if it has multiple grounds or not.  And then see if there are easy spots to solder to (or do you need to scratch off the black stuff on the button contacts...

pmc

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Re: Dreamcast Controller hack
« Reply #19 on: March 25, 2005, 10:19:36 pm »
If it has a common ground, it'll probably be easy to hack. I have had good luck re-assembling pads that turn out to have multiple grounds (and it's suprising how many do that). If you are careful, you can experiment and then back-out if it doesn't go well. Then again, for $5, it's cool even if you go horribly awry.

Test each ground with a multimeter and ensure that each ground for each button is the same (and close does not cut it as I found out). If it looks like there's one ground, then wire it up and try it.