Interface Idea

[mikebaker2003]

I've been looking into building a cabinet for about 2 months now, and I decided that I would build my control panel first (to test my woodworking/patience/resolve).  I was originally going to use an IPac for an interface, then got to thinking that it would be great if I could use my dreamcast as well.  So if someone could tell me if you see any problems with my plan, I'd appreciate it.  

(I have 2 Happ Ultimate Joysticks, 6 "action" buttons each, plus I'll have player 1 and 2 start, coin, mame function keys, etc, I'll probably use a keyboard hack for these)

1)  Hack 2 of these. http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=50007929&loc=108

I've heard they're easy to hack, and you can't beat the price :)

2) Use 2 of these:
http://www.levelsix.com/products/pc/PCMagicBox.shtml
to connect the gamepads to the PC.  I'd also use this:
http://www.levelsix.com/joytokey.shtml
which claims to work with any gamepad attached to the USB port.  It also says it supports mouse emulation, so could I in theory use a dreamcast lightgun?  If anyone knows of a product that will connect 2 Dreamcast gamepads to USB in one device, please let me know, it seems like such a waste to have to use 2 of them.

So unless I'm missing something, it would just be a matter of switching the connectors from the DC to the Magic Boxes whenever I wanted to switch systems, right?

Thanks in advance...

-Mike

[AX]

use the xarcade interface and the dreamcast adapter in your control panel.  I had to build 2 control panels because I didn't want to use the xarcade.  purely for personal preference though nothing wrong with the xarcade.

[tom61]

Everything except the lightgun part should work, mikebaker2003. The only guns actually useable on a PC are the Act-Labs USB guns.

[mikebaker2003]

Thanks Tom.  I wish I could find another Dreamcast to USB adapter though.  AX, while I don't doubt that the X-Arcade stick is a good product, I want to build my own CP.