Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Gunstar Hero on October 17, 2004, 08:16:39 pm

Title: Atari Trak-Ball for PC/MAME?
Post by: Gunstar Hero on October 17, 2004, 08:16:39 pm

Hey, I have an Atari CX-80 Trak-Ball controller. Any idea if it can be used with a PC or MAME? Preferably without hacking it, although I'm open to suggestions either way!

I know just plugging it into the gameport is a no go.  :-\

Title: Re:Atari Trak-Ball for PC/MAME?
Post by: NoOne=NBA= on October 17, 2004, 11:47:51 pm

It is possible to connect them, but you HAVE to hack them to do it.

If you do a search for Atari 2600 trackball, it should come up with the how-to on it.

Someone here used a Wico Command Control trackball (which is the same as the Atari one, except for the case), and got the mouse hack and everything inside the factory case.

Title: Re:Atari Trak-Ball for PC/MAME?
Post by: Bgnome on October 18, 2004, 12:02:43 am

the only atari interfaces i know of are for digital joysticks.  i got a wico command control trackball off of ebay for cheap and hacked a usb optical mouse into it:
(http://www.arcadecontrols.com/files/Uploads/trackball_hacked.jpg)
(http://www.arcadecontrols.com/files/Uploads/trackball.JPG)

edit: found a pinout for an atari mouse: http://www.blackdown.org/hwb/connector/userinput/atarimousejoy.html
not quite sure i understand what is going on, but it looks like maybe you can hack a mouse inline, assuming you have a matching plug for the atari interface, without having to touch the trackball electronics..

Title: Re:Atari Trak-Ball for PC/MAME?
Post by: Tiger-Heli on October 18, 2004, 07:32:42 am

Does this help?

(About 2/3rds down the page)

http://www.cheeptech.com/cuhack.html

Title: Re:Atari Trak-Ball for PC/MAME?
Post by: Gunstar Hero on October 18, 2004, 11:47:11 am

Awesome. Thanks for all the ideas!