N64 to PC - Made Simple?

[esteyguy]

Hello,

I am new to all of this and must admit, I'm horrible at microelectronics, circuit boards, and the such. I am curious as to the possibility of soldering an N64 controller to a USB wire (with head attached), as Stephan Hans's incredible project is much too difficult for a fifteen-year-old such as myself.

So I'm going for the easy way.   There are three wires in an N64 controller cable:

Red: power
Black: ground
White: data transfer

Simple enough, right? Well, to make things a bit more confusing, here are the wires found in a standard USB cable:

Red: power
Black: ground
White: data transfer (D-)
Green: data transfer (D+)

So, I solder:

Red - Red
Black - Black
White  
            \   White?
            /
Green

Does this work? If it does...is it this easy? I have tried contacting Stephan himself, and his mailbox is always full, so I am unable to. If anyone could help me, I would greatly appreciate it.

[TheTick]

Not that easy. The USB port is expecting different data than what you would be giving it.

Are you aware they sell adapters so you can connect an N64 controller to your USB port?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=usb+n64+adapter

Check ebay while you're at it.

[esteyguy]

Bummer. Ok, but it is possible to do something this easy, right? Accoring to Stephan Hans's site...

The simplest way (not recommended !) would be just to cut off the connector and solder the wires directly to the interface, but then you can't use the controller any more for your N64 console.

Interface being the circuit board, right? So either way I'll have to make a circuit?

You're right, the adapter is looking more and more attractive.

[TheTick]

I don't know who this stephan guy is, but
1) you either misquoted him
2) he was joking around
3) he doesn't know what he's talking about

Even if you hack a USB game pad, you can't solder the wires from the N64 controllers plug to it... the data has already been encoded.

You may be able to solder wires to the contacts inside the N64 controller, and than solder the other ends to an interface board ripped out of a USB game pad (with the exception of the little analog stick in the middle). This is basicly what I'm doing for the old NES and Genesis controllers.... but no, it is not easy.

Easy is entering your credit card number on a website and waiting for delivery  

[esteyguy]

1. I copy and pasted DIRECTLY from his site.
2. He wasn't joking.
3. He SURE AS HELL knows what hes talking about, he is the father of the N64 - PC interface circuitry project.

http://www.st-hans.de/N64.htm

Search for my quote, you WILL find it.

[TheTick]

I see... but he wasn't talking about hooking it directly to a USB cable. Which is what you were referring to.

You took his quote out of context, which is of course misleading.

Yes, you'd have to build the interface... but it still wouldn't be USB.

(I don't know why that link wasn't opening at work... but that music is annoying... why do people do that)

[_Iz-]

You HAVE to either build or buy a circuit to interface an N64 pad to the PC.

PSX is MUCH easier, you can get one of those working with dual analog, digital pad, all buttons and force feedback EASY! I've done it, just requires some diodes...  (and an external powersupply if you want to use the force feedback).

[eightbit]

Esteyguy- This Stephan guy has a lot of instruction on his site. Based on the questions your asking I don't think you've read much of it. It is more complicated than just cutting and splicing some wires.

I would recomend for you to just go purchase a N64 to PC adapter. Then all you'll have to do is plug it in and load the driver. Unless you already have the tools to solder its going to cost you more to build your own circuit. Its also going to require a large amount of effort on your part to learn how to build your own, nobody is going to spoon feed it to you.

[Magnet_Eye]

You can save yourself the nightmare and buy an adapter.

Look at this usb adapter for N64 controllers. I hear they work very well, and just plug right in.

http://www.wishtech.com