Hacked Dreamcast Controls - Other Fighting Games

[topdawgg]

Hey guys I am pretty new to everything and was wondering where I can get some information of how to hack a Dreamcast control to run Marvel vs. Capcom 2?  Is it better to purchase the actual arcade controls from ebay and then just wire those for the cabinent? 

I have no idea how to hack a control, soldering isnt very difficult... but I dont want to fry anything ethier   I was thinking of making a cab that would run mame on a pc for all fighting games other than mvcp2 and run dreamcast for mvcp2. 

Is my thinking correct?  In order to do this I would need two seperate control panels... basically one set for the cpu and one set for dreamcast's hacked controls?  What would be easiest for this set up?  Running to a PC monitor or running to a standard tv?  If I ran to a standard tv I could use the S video out for my PC and the audi/video controls for the dreamcast.  Finally, should I opt out and buy the NAOMI version of mvcp2 or stick with dreamcast?

Thanks for the input

[Goz]

Depends how many other Dreamcast games you'd want to play. The reason I say this is there are two basic ways for you to go with arcade controls and Dreamcast. One is it hack DC controllers or buy some pre hacked controllers (recommended) or buy an Xarcade BYO kit and Dreamcast adapter. The Xarcade method gives you both analog and digital controls where as the hacked DC pads will typically only get ya the D-Pad and the buttons / triggers.

If just Marvel vs Capcom 2 and not planing on putting any other console in the cab then contact Haruman on the board and buy a pair of hacked controllers for $30 this will get you 2 DC pads with wired leads ready to connect to arcade controls and still allow you to use the Dreamcast VMU's. If you go Xarcade which will run ya about $80 you can buy additional adapters for Xbox, PS2, Gamecube for $20 each and simply add the console and the adapter and bam you have a common contol panel for multiple consoles.

The other piece is video. If you are using a TV in your cab then that should be clear. If using a computer monitor then $15 will get you a VGA adapter (much better picture). If you wanted to go multiple consoles you can get a KVM that support audio and some RCA adapters and you can switch between systems very easily.

You can do this the complicated way, the easy way, and the adaptable way....

I have both a NAOMI system and a cab with the Dreamcast. While the NAOMI is authentic and gives you some bragging rights, the Dreamcast I have in the cab is incredible. 90% of the NAOMI games have been ported to Dreamcast so you can play the same games at 1/10th or less of the cost.

NAOMI Marvel vs Capcom 2 the cart alone would run $225 - $300 depending on current market and then you'd still need the rest of the NAOMI system lets just say thats another $300 - $800 depending on how far you want to go with NAOMI.

Hop this helps,

-Goz

[topdawgg]

Damn thanks for the reply that does help alot.  I was thinking of only going with Sega dreamcast in the cab and keeping my mame machine.  The problem I have is that I absolutely HATE the x arcade controls.  They look like crap.  I guess I could purchase one and re-do the looks of the control panel ...

I would like to play other games on the dreamcast, but what your stating is that the analog controls would not work on a hacked version of the pads?  So any game that uses the analog controls I could not play... I think this is fine as long as mvcp2 will play.  Although the common control panel is quite nice for other systems.  How would I get mame to work & dreamcast in the same cab?  I really dont want to build two cab's anymore lol.  But if it would be easier and simpler to build two cabs and use the x-arcade control in the second cab... maybe I should just do that?

What do you think?

[monkeybomb]

I have both a NAOMI system and a cab with the Dreamcast. While the NAOMI is authentic and gives you some bragging rights, the Dreamcast I have in the cab is incredible. 90% of the NAOMI games have been ported to Dreamcast so you can play the same games at 1/10th or less of the cost.

Wow!
You have a unique perspective on comparing games.  Having them side by side how close are the naomi fighting games on both ports?

Note to self:  Kill Gozur and raid that insane pad.

[Goz]

Damn thanks for the reply that does help alot.  I was thinking of only going with Sega dreamcast in the cab and keeping my mame machine.  The problem I have is that I absolutely HATE the x arcade controls.  They look like crap.  I guess I could purchase one and re-do the looks of the control panel ...

I would like to play other games on the dreamcast, but what your stating is that the analog controls would not work on a hacked version of the pads?  So any game that uses the analog controls I could not play... I think this is fine as long as mvcp2 will play.  Although the common control panel is quite nice for other systems.  How would I get mame to work & dreamcast in the same cab?  I really dont want to build two cab's anymore lol.  But if it would be easier and simpler to build two cabs and use the x-arcade control in the second cab... maybe I should just do that?

What do you think?

Yes the X-arcades look like shite. However the insides is more what I was reffering to. Check this . This is a kit for the guts only. Use this and the $20 adapter abd you have both analog and digital via a mode switch. You dont have both at the same time, but I dont think there are that many that require both during a single game play. Xbox games now thats another story. But if you get the $60 kit I referrence above you will have both analog and digital and again if you want to add another console to the cab it is just another $20 adapter. Oh and it does PC gaming too (obviously) with no adapter. I am going this route with a console cab I am making (Dreamcast, Xbox, Gamecube, and MAME) The cab has a NAOMI hi res monitor. I have it set so I can switch between systems and which control adapter by using a KVM and a DATA (serial) switch.

Hope this helps.... If you need more info just ping me. If I ramble in the thread let me know and I'll try to make things clearererererrrrrrr.

-Goz

[Goz]

I have both a NAOMI system and a cab with the Dreamcast. While the NAOMI is authentic and gives you some bragging rights, the Dreamcast I have in the cab is incredible. 90% of the NAOMI games have been ported to Dreamcast so you can play the same games at 1/10th or less of the cost.

Wow!
You have a unique perspective on comparing games.  Having them side by side how close are the naomi fighting games on both ports?

Note to self:  Kill Gozur and raid that insane pad.

I have Marvel vs Capcom2 and a bunch of others.... and The ports (Dreamcast) are actually dead ringers for the NAOMI version with the exception of additional modes in the Dreamcast version. Another thing to consider is that you can pause any Dreamcast game via pressing start. I know it sounds obvious; but it is something I truly appreciate especially having the wife I do... always wants some loving and attention right in the middle of a heated game (or to just nag).

-Goz

[topdawgg]

That link didnt work Goz... damn i wish i would have known that before I decided screw it and forked over the money for the two player x-arcade controls.  I would rather have built one for the waya I want it to look then getting the xarcade controls.  Well they do have the 30 day money back guarantee... maybe i should use that.  Maybe I can get it really easy and just make a new CP.

How hard is it to use and get the adapter configured on your own?  I really shouldnt be doing both projects at the same time... got mame and mamewah configured and ready to go ... just got to get the CP to work.

[Franco]

Is my thinking correct? In order to do this I would need two seperate control panels... basically one set for the cpu and one set for dreamcast's hacked controls? What would be easiest for this set up?

Im in the process of making a new CP and I too want to be able to hook up the arcade controls to a DC also. To do this I am going to hack two pads and add 15-Way D Sub connectors to the wires. I am also going to add D Sub connectors to my IPAC. Then I will add the opposite gender D Sub connectors to the arcade controls themselves so that if I do want to switch between MAME/DC all I have to do is plug the other D Sub connector into the controls.

Hope this makes sense, this pic may clear it up a bit. Bow down before my incredible Paint skills! (jk)

[pmc]

Hope this makes sense, this pic may clear it up a bit. Bow down before my incredible Paint skills! (jk) 

Your pic isn't coming up. Maybe imgreactor.com is down.

Your description is similar to what I did except that I used a ribbon cable. Just remember that if you use a 15-pin cable, you'll only have room for 14 controls (one pin is reserved for ground). A control panel with 2 sticks, 6-buttons for each player, and "start-1" and "start-2" will use 23 pins assuming you plan to combine controller grounds. Your 15-pin cable won't be enough unless you use two of them. That's why so many people use LPT or IDE cables.

- pmc

[Franco]

Added a pic to the other post. Yeah I am going to have to use a male + fem 15 way for each player but that is ok. I may use some ribbon cable though, thanks for the tip!

[Marky_1979]

I have a similar problem I want to run mame and my hacked dc controls off the same arcade control panel.

I have a hagstrom encoder for the mame controlsand they run from the encoder to a breakboard sorry if thats not the right name for them via a cable and i also have a spare breakboard what would be the best way to get them both running together? or switchable etc.

Hope this makes semnse as am pretty confused at moment as to what I can do

[TalkingOctopus]

I have the same setup as you.  I've attached a ps2, pc and dc to my arcade controls.  I try to describe it on detail on my site:  You might want to check it out.

http://webpages.charter.net/rbecker5/plans.html#dc

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Marky_1979]

PM sent 

[Franco]

Yes the X-arcades look like shite. However the insides is more what I was reffering to. Check this . This is a kit for the guts only. Use this and the $20 adapter abd you have both analog and digital via a mode switch. You dont have both at the same time, but I dont think there are that many that require both during a single game play. Xbox games now thats another story. But if you get the $60 kit I referrence above you will have both analog and digital and again if you want to add another console to the cab it is just another $20 adapter. Oh and it does PC gaming too (obviously) with no adapter. I am going this route with a console cab I am making (Dreamcast, Xbox, Gamecube, and MAME) The cab has a NAOMI hi res monitor. I have it set so I can switch between systems and which control adapter by using a KVM and a DATA (serial) switch.

Hope this helps.... If you need more info just ping me. If I ramble in the thread let me know and I'll try to make things clearererererrrrrrr.

-Goz

I like the idea of having analogue controls too. I take it then that the X-arcade joysticks are both analogue and digital then? I should know really as I used to have one!