Main > Main Forum
How To Hack A Dreamcast Controller?
fjl:
I've been searching the net and this site on how to hack a Dreamcast controller. But none mention how to hack the left and right trigger buttons. They seem to work in analog mode or something so I wouldn't know how to make them into a digital imput like the rest of the buttons. I opened up the controller and saw that the button is just a magnet that when, pushed gets closer an IC soldered to the board. Logically this should mean that the magnet triggers something inside the IC chip like a potentiometer to change resistance. So I used my ohm meter and pressed the trigger button. Tested all the contacts on the IC and the resistance never changes on any of them. It doesnt seem to work like a potentiometer.
So then how does this thing work? How do I change it to a digital input and connect it to my CP buttons?
NickG:
a guide. from this page.
waveryder:
Just done this myself on my betty cab. Be careful when you are soldering to the HED's test em with a multi meter before you plug em in. The solder points are tiny and if you spill any solder on pin 2 of HED5 you can blow the Dreamcasts I/O controller.
ArcadeNerd:
I've hacked a bunch of DC controllers and here it the picture that I found most helpful as far as solder points go. It comes from Talking Octupus' MAME cabinet page and I guess the picture is from another site I never found.
Sweet DC controller solder point picture
Talking Octopus MAME cabinet
Like the picture says, solder to the top left lead of the sensor and this has worked every time for me!
HaRuMaN:
I still offer Dreamcast controller hacks, if you're not comfortable with soldering.