Progress Update!

[DarkKobold]

I finally selected a chip for my USB apps. Luckily, MSU has a C compiler available, along with a programming device. Using the same chip we've been using for class, I've been able to light LEDs using a nintendo and super nintendo controller. Doesn't sound like much, but trust me, its a big step.

I have some example code for USB interface, so now its just a bit of hard code time ahead. But, just to let everyone know, I haven't abandoned this project, and its still going ahead. Pictures will follow soon.

[DarkKobold]

I guess this probably confused everyone -

so here is what I'm talkin about

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=11029

[Lilwolf]

Sounds interesting!  I'm excited to see what you come up with!

btw, are you working at a level where you would be able to do any analog -> digital stuff?  Or are you just passing the info through to other drivers?

[HempHacker]

DarkKobold and I are working on this project together now. We've got code that interfaces a SNES controller to the USB. NES will be done shortly, and other controllers will follow. I would appreciate any ideas or comments. Also, to answer the analog question, I haven't done it yet, but it seems just as easy as sending digital buttons, but analog just takes up more bits of data.

[Infrasonic]

about your 15 pin d-sub connector:  I suggest using a female type on the joystick with pin #12 stuffed so that  no one could inadvertantly attempt to hook it up to something that it was not designed for.  Also, use 4 and 5 for positive and negative power

hey, maybe we can negotiate a standard, like ISO9000001 or something.

[metal_slug_az]

 :)This is a great idea.  I have been brainstorming an idea to use a VIA EPIA Nehemiah M10000 1Ghz all in one motherboard to make a emulation console.  I would use this board, a powersupply, and a 50 gig hd to play all my NES, SNES, Neo Geo, and Genesis Roms on my tv.  It has S-video and coaxial digital out.  I think it would be more than powerful enough to play thoes games.  But I really wanted to play each system with its respective controller, except Neo Geo, I would use my joystick for that.  If you guys can get this to work we could make easily swapable controllers for all of our emulators.  Anybody think my idea is feasable?  It would definately free up some space in my entertainment center being able to box up 4 or 5 systems:)

[HempHacker]

That's a good idea about stuffing one of the pins, Infrasonic. Also, metal slug, one of the main goals that DarkKobold had was that he wanted was a system that was easily hot swappable for emulation, so I definately think that's feasable! Any other ideas?

[caykroyd]

I love the idea.  What I plan on doing on my cab is have console controller connectors on the outside, so I can plug in and remove the controllers whenever necessary.  The problem I see is that I would have to change configurations or run into errors each time I change controllers.  I want to avoid that and it sounds like your idea will solve this.  Is that correct?

[DarkKobold]

Thats what we are hoping...  I'd prefer it if whoever used it was completely oblivious to the fact that each interface is extremely different, and just enjoyed using the controllers.

[HempHacker]

Thought I'd mention that NES is working so that the buttons are maped the same as SNES (the only real change is button 'A'). Sega Genesis and Sega Master is in the works.

[slycrel]

  I'd like to make a request for the NES light gun.  I've poked around on the 'net and while most people seem to think it wouldn't work attached to a computer (even with a standard TV), from what I've seen it should.  It sounds like it's basically the same as the NES pad, with an additional input.

  And then, I'd want one of these adapters.  

[HempHacker]

The light gun would require that the game work with it. The game would have to blank the screen and white out all the targets whenever the trigger is pulled. I don't know if any games/emulators do this, I would assume emulators would, if the games were designed to work with an NES light gun. I've thought about it, but I'm not working on it at this moment. I would like to support it if it's possible.

[slycrel]

  Agreed.  I wouldn't want to use it other than with the original nintendo games that the light gun worked with.

  Thanks.

[HempHacker]

What you use it for is your own business. This project is for interfacing old controllers to USB.

[caykroyd]

Any further update on this project?

[HempHacker]

Been out of town alot lately, but Genesis is almost done... Would have been done, if I hadn't been out of town. I'm getting parts in to build up adapters to sell, but the project will be slowly advancing till January, when I'll have more time.

[DarkKobold]

Right now, I'm also at a loss. The coded lab that I was using for my development is no longer accessible to me next semester.  This means I need to start building my electronic kit from the ground up. I ordered a PIC programmer that did not work correctly (The PIC is the chip we are using). I will probably spring for a Warp13 programmer soon. I'm tired of not being able to work on programming for the PIC. (If you like electronics/coding, there is nothing better)

On a side note, someone mentioned a problem with ePSXe, and being able to switch controllers, etc. This raised a few questions in my mind. Would people like to have a keyboard encoder style controller adapter? I already have written my own keyboard encoder! One that changed the inputs from the NES, Genesis, SNES, N64, Atari, etc, to be the same inputs as their keyboard encoder? This is do-able, except for one major factor - Analog controls. It could also work as a joystick, but that only allows for 4 analog controls, via the game port.... I could concieve-ably encode it as mouse input... but someone would need to help me figure out how to fake a joystick as a mouse. (Probably not possible)  However, this encoder would allow for the reading of the digital parts of Pads, and would stop the neccesity for reconfiguring the controllers to work for each system.

I saw this as a great benefit, since one person may want to use a console controller, where the other may want to use the joystick/buttons on the panel. On this option, you wouldn't need 2^x number of options, where x is the number of players on the panel.

This direction would not hinder the USB path, since the USB is done in 2 different stages, decoding the controller, and then sending to the PC. I am still very comitted to this project. I will hopefully regain my ability to program the pic microcontroller, so I can continue development of this project.

I will definately be adding 4 15 pin headers to my cab, so I guess I'd better complete the project, or else I'm going to look very very stupid