Now need to destroy another N64 game cart to start again with the GameCube controller wiring!
Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Compare the first attempt to this one - this one is far neater wiring, no straggling wires, etc. The wiring of the cable from the console system to the master controller as you see is short now, the pin allocation is also far more logical than before.
Now need to destroy another N64 game cart to start again with the GameCube controller wiring!
Now need to destroy another N64 game cart to start again with the GameCube controller wiring!
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Had a couple of the cable wires come loose and touch the chip; also I think there may have been a problem with the old controller, fortunately I have a replacement GameCube controller so wiring that up. Taking the wiring in stages this time, small steps and lots of testing.
So far, got the wires connecting the GameCube controller to the master controller (via the N64 game cart traces), and relocated the main joystick - behaving itself perfectly - the joystick was the main issue before after all. Tomorrow, going to wire up some buttons and test them on the master controller; then the shoulder analogue trigger, etc. The reason for doing this in small steps this time is to test each part works, and if not, I know where the issues lie - for example, one issue I got before was when the rumble motor was activated the system crashed; doing things slowly means I can find the issues and resolve as progressing; by the time all the GameCube controller is wired up and working, well, it's finished and working! Problem though, is as things are stripped to their core and basics, if something actually doesn't work and can't be easily fixed, it could be a major problem...
The master controller is in two parts, as you're probably aware, the front section with all the buttons, joystick holes, shoulder analogue and digital controls, rumble motor, cable from the master controller to the main console unit. The back section contains the controller for the console concerned interfacing between the master controller and the main console unit and will contain the joysticks or if no joysticks, then a blank raised section to go to the front of the master controller. I'm going to have to have the two pieces in two sections, similar in size, and not a great deal of shape; although I can probably make the backing section rounded to look nicer (vacuum forming).
So far, got the wires connecting the GameCube controller to the master controller (via the N64 game cart traces), and relocated the main joystick - behaving itself perfectly - the joystick was the main issue before after all. Tomorrow, going to wire up some buttons and test them on the master controller; then the shoulder analogue trigger, etc. The reason for doing this in small steps this time is to test each part works, and if not, I know where the issues lie - for example, one issue I got before was when the rumble motor was activated the system crashed; doing things slowly means I can find the issues and resolve as progressing; by the time all the GameCube controller is wired up and working, well, it's finished and working! Problem though, is as things are stripped to their core and basics, if something actually doesn't work and can't be easily fixed, it could be a major problem...
The master controller is in two parts, as you're probably aware, the front section with all the buttons, joystick holes, shoulder analogue and digital controls, rumble motor, cable from the master controller to the main console unit. The back section contains the controller for the console concerned interfacing between the master controller and the main console unit and will contain the joysticks or if no joysticks, then a blank raised section to go to the front of the master controller. I'm going to have to have the two pieces in two sections, similar in size, and not a great deal of shape; although I can probably make the backing section rounded to look nicer (vacuum forming).
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
YAY!
It's stable! Means project has "the green light" and my theories worked!
Connected the N64 game cart traces through 2mm perspex, after grinding the plastic in the slot right down as much as could. Hot glued the controller in place on the perspex and wired up the wires with short and quite thickish wires from the controller through the N64 port and to the console via the 6 feet cable. The main joystick is relocated, and just connected up the A and B buttons so far, enough to go to the GameCube setup menu and change the calender and date - the part the joystick was haywire before - now stable.
The pic shows the above in situ.
After finishing the GameCube controller wiring and sorting out the joysticks, i'll be at the stage of making the GameCube and GBA video; i'll also give a quick tour of the controller, which will be covered more in detail in its own video clip.
It's stable! Means project has "the green light" and my theories worked!
Connected the N64 game cart traces through 2mm perspex, after grinding the plastic in the slot right down as much as could. Hot glued the controller in place on the perspex and wired up the wires with short and quite thickish wires from the controller through the N64 port and to the console via the 6 feet cable. The main joystick is relocated, and just connected up the A and B buttons so far, enough to go to the GameCube setup menu and change the calender and date - the part the joystick was haywire before - now stable.
The pic shows the above in situ.
After finishing the GameCube controller wiring and sorting out the joysticks, i'll be at the stage of making the GameCube and GBA video; i'll also give a quick tour of the controller, which will be covered more in detail in its own video clip.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Horray! It works! *announces like a mad scientist*
Tested all the controls on Bomberman Generation and everything works. Got concerned when at one point whenever the rumble was working the system froze, then realised I had a loose wire on the GameCube controller, fixed it, all works perfectly.
Toying with the idea of using a couple of small rumble motors instead of a larger one, as it would mean I could make the controller shaped.
Anyway, this is great news, the master controller is working now with the GameCube, so will work for the other systems too. Here is a pinout of how I wired the interface N64 port - you can see all the groundings used now, to reduce interference on the lines - works.
If I hadn't done my old Multi system a couple of years or so ago would not have had the inspiration to do the controller in a cart idea and as it took me two attempts to get the Multi system working originally, I knew the problems getting this principle to work this time, and have incorporated the changes, to make a properly fully functional system.
Here is the pinout:
And the underside of the controller cart (only bottom is made at the moment) with the N64 game traces through.
You may have noticed in the pinout, there is no provision for "Z" or left 2nd shoulder button or right 2nd shoulder button. The reason for the lack of "Z" is the same as for Start and Select - the keypad will have these features. If I need to include a separate button at the back, and the 2nd set of shoulder buttons (eg Playstation), they can be incorporated into that controller's cart casing - I think only the Playstation uses them anyway.
Tested all the controls on Bomberman Generation and everything works. Got concerned when at one point whenever the rumble was working the system froze, then realised I had a loose wire on the GameCube controller, fixed it, all works perfectly.
Toying with the idea of using a couple of small rumble motors instead of a larger one, as it would mean I could make the controller shaped.
Anyway, this is great news, the master controller is working now with the GameCube, so will work for the other systems too. Here is a pinout of how I wired the interface N64 port - you can see all the groundings used now, to reduce interference on the lines - works.
If I hadn't done my old Multi system a couple of years or so ago would not have had the inspiration to do the controller in a cart idea and as it took me two attempts to get the Multi system working originally, I knew the problems getting this principle to work this time, and have incorporated the changes, to make a properly fully functional system.
Here is the pinout:
And the underside of the controller cart (only bottom is made at the moment) with the N64 game traces through.
You may have noticed in the pinout, there is no provision for "Z" or left 2nd shoulder button or right 2nd shoulder button. The reason for the lack of "Z" is the same as for Start and Select - the keypad will have these features. If I need to include a separate button at the back, and the 2nd set of shoulder buttons (eg Playstation), they can be incorporated into that controller's cart casing - I think only the Playstation uses them anyway.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Defined the shape of the controller. The longest edge (along the top) is 18cms, so not big; about 4cms wider than a GameCube controller.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Made the video clips, will be working on the video tomorrow, it will be uploaded either tomorrow or Friday!
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
And here is the video clip!
It shows the GameCube, the GameBoy Advance Player, a quick taster of the master controller and also showing the master controller working fully.
It shows the GameCube, the GameBoy Advance Player, a quick taster of the master controller and also showing the master controller working fully.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
(Technically the 5th system as the GameBoy Advance was incorporated into the GameCube, the Player was authentic hardware after all)
6th system: Amiga CD32
This console was brought into market September 1993 and Commodore filed for bankruptcy in Aprl 1994, so the system didn't exactly have a long time out. It is a 32 bit CD based system, and in innards are in effect an Amiga 1200 computer with a CD drive slapped in. Most of the games are old style DOS type games from what I have seen, which is good to play some old school games.
Anyway, the console is opened, boards removed (I had some pics but seem to have lost them), CD removed entirely, the drive board that was attached my metal to the drive unit was cut off, board exposed.
The motherboard can't be trimmed however this isn't an issue.
One big pain is that the drive door presses onto the CD holder wherely magnets keep the CD held in place; the central spindle is just a smooth "dome". This is a pain as they could have easily put in a normal CD plastic holder to have done the job; I guess they thought kids would prefer to throw the CD in the bay and close the door, rather than putting it in properly. I'm looking into modding this to be better for my purposes.
One other thing, as normal, the system works when the drive door is lowered, however there is no tact switch as per usual, or levers; no, this system has to be different there too - after lots of looking, saw a plastic piece on the middle of the console, the left side of the drive door; when lowered, it cuts the contact between two LED diodes (probably IR ones) - so just put a piece of card or whatever in the gap and the system thinks a disc is present - easy! Here is the gap - in the console, its to the left of the reset button:
Here is a pic of the system, gutted, but working fine; just tested it.
Going to make my own CD holder section rather than using the supplied one as it is an awkward shape.
6th system: Amiga CD32
This console was brought into market September 1993 and Commodore filed for bankruptcy in Aprl 1994, so the system didn't exactly have a long time out. It is a 32 bit CD based system, and in innards are in effect an Amiga 1200 computer with a CD drive slapped in. Most of the games are old style DOS type games from what I have seen, which is good to play some old school games.
Anyway, the console is opened, boards removed (I had some pics but seem to have lost them), CD removed entirely, the drive board that was attached my metal to the drive unit was cut off, board exposed.
The motherboard can't be trimmed however this isn't an issue.
One big pain is that the drive door presses onto the CD holder wherely magnets keep the CD held in place; the central spindle is just a smooth "dome". This is a pain as they could have easily put in a normal CD plastic holder to have done the job; I guess they thought kids would prefer to throw the CD in the bay and close the door, rather than putting it in properly. I'm looking into modding this to be better for my purposes.
One other thing, as normal, the system works when the drive door is lowered, however there is no tact switch as per usual, or levers; no, this system has to be different there too - after lots of looking, saw a plastic piece on the middle of the console, the left side of the drive door; when lowered, it cuts the contact between two LED diodes (probably IR ones) - so just put a piece of card or whatever in the gap and the system thinks a disc is present - easy! Here is the gap - in the console, its to the left of the reset button:
Here is a pic of the system, gutted, but working fine; just tested it.
Going to make my own CD holder section rather than using the supplied one as it is an awkward shape.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Realised that I need a controller cable with 9 wires not 8; this isn't a problem, just need to change one of the existing ground connections to the 9th wire. Will do that soon. Also, i'll have to use a different connector port than the Playstation one, probably like the old Atari one; 9 pin.
Made a top for the Amiga drive unit, all nice and level. Used some beads as exactly the right height, and two tubes of plastic to support against the laser part.
I am putting the Amiga CD32 alongside the GameCube for the following reasons: 1) you notice the bare Amiga drive only takes half the space under the top piece - that means there is plenty of space for the GameBoy Player relocation cables, 2) The Amiga barely gets warm, so idea to be mounted above the fans of the GameCube, especially as the Amiga motherboard is quite large.
Also, been experimenting with motors from CD drives, the MadCatz Playstation controller, DreamCast drive unit and Playstation drive unit - different sizes - will use one or two for the rumble motors on the master controller.
Made a top for the Amiga drive unit, all nice and level. Used some beads as exactly the right height, and two tubes of plastic to support against the laser part.
I am putting the Amiga CD32 alongside the GameCube for the following reasons: 1) you notice the bare Amiga drive only takes half the space under the top piece - that means there is plenty of space for the GameBoy Player relocation cables, 2) The Amiga barely gets warm, so idea to be mounted above the fans of the GameCube, especially as the Amiga motherboard is quite large.
Also, been experimenting with motors from CD drives, the MadCatz Playstation controller, DreamCast drive unit and Playstation drive unit - different sizes - will use one or two for the rumble motors on the master controller.
I am the Bacman
Re: Bacteria's project: Alpha Omega
Ok, made good progress on the CD top section - as you see in the pic, it is flush now with the GameCube one, and with the hole cut through for the GBA game cart too. There is about 3mm or so clearance for the Amiga drive unit.
At least you can start to see this taking shape now!
At least you can start to see this taking shape now!
I am the Bacman