Completely Dumb 32 User Quezzies

[Daedalus]

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.

[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
 

[abbub]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

Xamiche wrote:
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?

Well, I've tried it on my normal Amiga 500, and it indeed needs to be 'encouraged', that is, click a couple of times on all the buttons before it works. But still, it doesn't really works nice. I think it delivers a somewhat different signal on the same lines.

I've been using a Genesis (Megadrive) controller on my A2000 without any issues.  Are you using the 6 button, 2nd generation pad on your A500 or something?  (The one I have is from a G1...its the three button version.)  Pretty much plug and play.  Very responsive with platform/shooters, too.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Ehm, wait, I can't remember. I did have a 6 button megadrive/snes combi joypad. Maybe I used it with that. Ah well...

[DrDekker]

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?

[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.  :-)

[rkauer]

 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

[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.