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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: ee0jsp on June 08, 2003, 08:40:01 pm

Title: N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: ee0jsp on June 08, 2003, 08:40:01 pm
Hi everyone

I want to connect an n64 controller to my pc. I bought a Boom n64 and psx controller adaptor but it's been really buggy so I've decided to try another way...

I plan to remove the chip from the n64 controller, along with the cable, and instead connect a 15-strand cable to the pins for each button, then wire the other end into an ipac (I've done this before for other controllers and it works fantastically).

Obviously the analogue joystick is gonna be the pain-in-the-arse if I do this, and I was wondering if it was possible to connect the joystick to an optipac?

if so, is this the case for all console analogue joysticks?

Thanks for the help

James
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: rampy on June 08, 2003, 08:49:30 pm
The optipac is an interface for optical controls... i.e. spinners, trackballs, etc etc...  it won't work with analog controls, sorry.

you could hypothetically wire it to your PC's gameport (maybe depending on ohmage of the analog pots)

*shrug*

rampy
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: Beley on June 09, 2003, 01:01:16 am
The n64 analog stick is optical, imagin a 1/4 of a mouse optical wheel on each axis.

You could hook it up and it might even act like a mouse with a limited range(ie a mouse stuck in a box).  would be pain to tryto calibrate though
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: u_rebelscum on June 09, 2003, 01:52:09 am
The n64 analog stick is optical, imagin a 1/4 of a mouse optical wheel on each axis.

You could hook it up and it might even act like a mouse with a limited range(ie a mouse stuck in a box).  would be pain to tryto calibrate though

Right.  The N64 analog stick is the only one to do this, AFAIK, so no other console control pad can hook up to an optipac.  Of course, windows and mame will think the N64 analog stick is a mouse.  

And most important, as Beley mentioned, calibration will be a serious pain, since the box he mentioned might be too small, too big, wander off center, or (worst case) not a box but more like a circle.  Once the size is correct (and the shape a square), however, mame can recalibrate the edges with a quick 360 roll of the stick on all the edges.
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: ee0jsp on June 09, 2003, 05:59:23 am
does anyone know of a better way to interface an n64 joystick then?
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: rampy on June 09, 2003, 11:52:28 am
The n64 analog stick is optical, imagin a 1/4 of a mouse optical wheel on each axis.

You could hook it up and it might even act like a mouse with a limited range(ie a mouse stuck in a box).  would be pain to tryto calibrate though

I stand corrected =)  Mea Culpa.  good luck with your project...

Rampy
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: RetroBorg on June 09, 2003, 01:29:15 pm
I bought a Boom N64 and it works great, what problems have you had and what OS are you using.
Title: Re:N64 analogue joystick --> optipac?
Post by: ee0jsp on June 10, 2003, 03:15:46 pm
My controller doesn't work with the boom converter.

apparently, due to the complexity of the n64 controller, not all work with all apaptors.

*sigh*

I'm gonna buy another joypad tomorrow and see if that works.