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$9 'Super Easy' USB Controller hack for MAME
Blanka:
What are the blocks under the analog sticks? 2 potmeters?
Can you hookup this one to those:
http://www.arcadeshop.de/Joysticks-LS-64-Analog-Stick_718.html
dmworking247:
--- Quote from: Blanka on September 16, 2008, 01:29:09 am ---What are the blocks under the analog sticks? 2 potmeters?
Can you hookup this one to those:
http://www.arcadeshop.de/Joysticks-LS-64-Analog-Stick_718.html
--- End quote ---
Yes, two pots and a tiny microswitch (as you'd probably know, the PS2 style analog sticks function as a button when you press them down).
You could hook up one of those analog sticks you linked to, providing the pots have the same resistance range.
After a little more thought, the pots are actually reading zero resistance in their 'home' position, which leads me to believe you can chop off the analog sticks if you wanted to, but you'd need to figure which wires from the ribbon cable need to be joined together to 'pass through'. In other words, I think when the analog sticks are in their home position (reading zero resistance/straight continuity) its closing a circuit, and thus when I chopped the wires, its reading 'fully open') if that makes sense.
I couldn't be bothered experimenting with that level of detail right now hence I just left them connected :)
danny_galaga:
i hacked something very similar to that for a project. then i got ambitious and decided to tidy it up by removing the thumbsticks. killed it dead! so good advice there on leaving them in place!
Franco B:
Nice find!
A quick heads up for you UK byoac'ers or anyone outside of the US, they offer free worldwide shipping too! :)
RandyT:
--- Quote from: dmworking247 on September 16, 2008, 12:20:55 am ---Thats correct. 'Ghosting' is generally only a problem when hacking a keyboard because it uses a matrix of circuits when closed in combination, form a particular key press.
As I understand it, USB controllers like this, and encoders like ipac etc have dedicated circuits for each button so there's no risk of 'pressing A + B = Button C'
--- End quote ---
This is actually not true. Gamepads can (and sometimes do) exhibit ghosting / blocking, just like keyboards. This can be associated with a couple of things.
The first is the use of a matrix for decoding button presses. Using a matrix allows for more buttons to be attached to fewer inputs, so it tends to be used as a cost saving measure.
The other is the USB report structure used by the device, coupled with the way memory is allocated. Granted, this would be a sloppy implementation, but I've seen some doozies that were designed only to look very capable for a very low price, with little regard to actual performance.
That being said, I have had these on the store for ages, pretty much for this purpose. Same setup w/14 inputs, and no analog sticks. I can provide just the board (pre-gutted) as well. Good for a simple control panel for the BIL or something.
RandyT
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