Completely Dumb 32 User Quezzies

[Xamiche]

1. You can plug a mouse into the joypad port if the game supports it.

2. The expansion port is for SX-1/SX-32/FMV expansions. Or whatever a developer decides to create for it. I don't know of any expansions besides the SX-series or the FMV. There might be though. Try google.

I've always loved the Amiga CD32. I recently repaired two non-working 32s. Man was I ever stoked. :-D
Some people like to buy the SX32 expansion and turn their CD32s into working Amiga 1200s, though good luck finding an SX32 you don't have to hock a kidney for.

Here's a fun fact...

The CD32 was released in Canada and was planned for release in the United States. However, a deadline was reached for Commodore to pay a patent royalty to Cad Track for their use of their XOR patent. [1] A federal judge ordered an injunction against Commodore preventing them from importing anything into the United States. Commodore had built up CD32 inventory in their Philippine manufacturing facility for the United States launch, but, being unable to sell the consoles, they remained in the Philippines until the debts owed to the owners of the facility were settled. Commodore declared bankruptcy shortly afterwards, and the CD32 was never officially sold in the United States.

Had Commodore been able to sell the CD32 in the US, we might still see Commodore around today. I'm thinking we need to find that federal judge and... :madashell:

[Xamiche]

Ahh...I was referring to the edge connector at the back. I'm not certain what the 'AUX' connector near the joypad ports is for. Maybe Commodore had some plans for it, but went bust before anything was made.  :-?

Edit:
Okay, after some googling I've found that the 'AUX' port is for a keyboard. I'm not sure what type though. An Amiga 2000 keyboard with a mini-din adaptor would probably work.
 

[Xamiche]

Amithony wrote:

Xamiche wrote:

Had Commodore been able to sell the CD32 in the US, we might still see Commodore around today. I'm thinking we need to find that federal judge and... :madashell:

Much as I'd like to believe it, they would have found other ways to do things the wrong way. Im still hanging out for the world beating AAA chipset

I'm forced to agree. But there's nothing wrong with a little harmless scape goating. :-D

[Xamiche]

Amithony wrote:

Xamiche wrote:

I'm forced to agree. But there's nothing wrong with a little harmless scape goating. :-D

I concur. I wonder if we keep emailing them and blogging how bad they are at identifying markets for their platform, if someone will take notice. Also, good to see you sold your ami stuff. I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain. It will sit along side my A4000 when i have the bickies to buy a power supply.

Very nice indeed. :-D

Actually, while there's a live CD32 thread I have a question too? Given that the Amiga CD32 controller and the Super Nintendo controller are pretty much identical, button-wise, has anyone out there hacked a SNES pad to work for the CD32? I could probably work it out but I'm lazy and if someone already has a schematic for the re-wiring of a SNES pad, I'd be grateful.

[Xamiche]

McVenco wrote:

Amithony wrote:

I managed to land a cheap A1200 + monitor + 1000+ disks for $300 ! Talk about bargain.

Cheap? Bargain?

You Ozzies need to get out more :lol:

In the Aussie sun?  :-o Are you crazy??
I'm planning on living past 40. :-D

It's Aussie, not Ozzie. ;-)

[Xamiche]

I dunno about the control pad though... although, are you talking about the compotition pro pads? i think they released a range covering the cd32, snes, and megadrive? the snes and cd32 pads being visually identical?

Nah, I was just referring to the standard CD32 Pad and the standard SNES pad. They have the same button configuration, with the exception of one button.



The original CD32 controllers were a monstrosity in my opinion. Uncomfortable and unwieldy. I love the feel of the old SNES controllers. I'd love to set one up for my CD32. I re-wired a few NES game pads for my Amiga 500 back in the day. It didn't take much to figure which pin did what, but unfortunately I don't actually have a CD32 controller to figure out the pins with. Maybe google will turn up something.

[Xamiche]

Can you still buy them new?

[Xamiche]

I think I might buy one of the standard CD32 pads from AmigaKit. Just so I can have an original. Then I can use it as a model of comparison to rewire a SNES pad.

I've got a few Sega Megadrive pads here. I've heard they can be encouraged to work on a CD32. Anyone here tried that before?

[Xamiche]

Daedalus wrote:
Right, the thing with joypads with more than 7 functions (up, down, left, right, 3 x fire) is that they weren't simply one wire to one switch, thus requiring a more advanced protocol. The SNES and CD32 both fall into this category, and you can be sure their protocols are different. This would mean not only rewiring the small contacts inside, but also transferring over the communications chips from one to the other. A lot more difficult than changing a C64 joystick to a Spectrum one The reason a Megadrive one will (partially) work on a CD32 is that they both retain the old Atari compatibility for the D-pad and one or two of the buttons, and only the remaining buttons need encoding to fit on the remaining pins.

Yeah, I'm going to need a multiplexing chip to do the job for anything above 7 functions. The Sega pad has a 74HC157 inside. I'm hoping this may be adequate for the task of making a CD32 Pad from a Sega Pad. Again, the lack of a model for comparison is what is stopping me. Looks like AmigaKit is the answer for the moment.

Edit:
Hooray for Aminet. :-D
 

[Xamiche]

DrDekker wrote:

Xamiche wrote:
Yeah, I'm going to need a multiplexing chip to do the job for anything above 7 functions. The Sega pad has a 74HC157 inside. I'm hoping this may be adequate for the task of making a CD32 Pad from a Sega Pad. Again, the lack of a model for comparison is what is stopping me. Looks like AmigaKit is the answer for the moment.

Xamiche I've got two of the Honeybee style controllers - but these are called something like 'Competition Pro' (from around 1993).  Sending one to you would probably cost an arm and a leg, but I can send you photos and such if it's of any use to you?

Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it. I have a CD32 joypad schematic now so it's all good. Thank geebus for Aminet. :-D

I can finally mod a SNES controller, like I originally wanted to. I love the SNES pads.  :-)

[Xamiche]

rkauer wrote:
 Look for appe 3.2 on Aminet too!

 It is a very simple hack (just one PIC16F84 and a crystal) to use a "modern" PlayStation joypad instead! :-D

I saw that mod and considered it, but I have no experience with PICs, and to be honest I hate the PS controller. It feels ugly. I just want a SNES controller. They're the best feeling pre-analog joypad I've ever used.