Dreamcast Question 1: Homemade splitter?

[enemyace]

I'm trying to figure out how to interface my DC to arcade controls.

Could I make a splitter out of extension cables that would enable me to connect a hacked gamepad and a normal gamepad to the same port? I'd like to do this because I'm probably going to have the keyboard and mouse hooked up all the time as well for FPS's, and don't want to be constantly switching plugs if I want to play a console type game with the pad.

Thx,
EA

[tom61]

I wouldn't make a splitter, the Dreamcast is quite picky what you plug into it, and you could blow out the controller ports.

Why don't you just plug in the keyboard and mouse to ports 3 and 4, and the joys into 1 and 2? Most software lets you do this.

[enemyace]

I probably will just keep the hacked pads connected to ports 1 & 2 all the time, and swap out 3 & 4 with the other two pads and keyboard/mouse when the need arises. If I set up a game to use the controllers on 3 or 4, would that be saved for the next time I play it? That way, all my consolish games would default to port 3 & 4 and I wouldn't have to mess with settings each time.

[tom61]

I'm not quite sure what you mean... Most apps and games that support the keyboard and mouse don't care what ports they're plugged into. (some homebrew does, but almost all comercial apps don't care)

[enemyace]

What I mean is this:

Say I want to play a game that relies on analog, such as NFL 2K2 or driving game. My setup would still have the hacked pads plugged into 1 & 2 even though I wouldn't be using them, and I would use 3 & 4 for the regular unhacked pads.

What I want to know is if I used port 3 with a gamepad in a certain game, will I have to set it up again next time I play that game, or will it remember that I have Player 1 set up to use port 3?

Basically, ports 1 & 2 will always be connected to the hacked pads. 3 & 4 will be swapped between either original pads or keyboard/mouse depending on the game.

[menaz]

I might be confused with madden. But if you have a controller hooked up to port 3 and push start from there, then you will play the game from that port. Then I believe in one of the screens it lets you choose which player you want to be, regardless of the port your controller is hooked up to. I am going to have to check tomorrow, but I am pretty sure I am right. Lets say youre playing a game like resident evil or something, then the game plays from whatever port the controller you are using is in.