Bacteria's project: "Project Unity"

[bacteria]

So, both sides done. Spent many hours making these and I don't even know if they will work fine or if the resistance from the NES interface cart will be an issue with wires length, should be fine, keeping the wires short and the middle wires in each of the wire groups is ground (normally).



Pic from the front - the joysticks are central.

[bacteria]

Got d-pad installed.

I do love superglue now, hot glue has it's place, especially if you're likely to need to remove it later if need to do repairs however superglue is a far superior glue for making portables (or similar like this master controller).



Makes sense to wire what's done so far to the NES interface cart (the JAMMA connector), then progress to the action buttons, keypad and also the cable into the system. Lots to do yet.

[bacteria]

Well, discovered last night when was working on the N64 controller section, that the joystick could have probably been static and not rotateable by doing this tip I came up with when experimenting (uploaded to reference section): http://made-by-bacteria.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=1431

In saying that, there is no guarantee it will work on all systems i'm using, so i'll test the theory and check it out over the next weeks. If it is correct, then no issues as the joystick rotation is working fine anyway.


So, a main update:



Master controller fully wired up

Cable - using a 15 wire plus proper shielding braid cable. 5 of the wires plus the braid are all grounded to the main base unit, to reduce interference. Cable is 4m long. Used an RCA jack and superglued the wire inside, also used a cable tie to stop it being pulled, and superglued that into place too. The wires to the JAMMA cart are very short again to reduce interference to a minimum.

Joysticks - version 3 installed, working fine, rotate well and stay in position when being used. Wires are short, about 2" long again to reduce interference. Superglued in place but could remove if needed to.

d-pad - from the plug'n'play - responsive and I think works better/feels better than a normal d-pad. Kept in place by one removable spacer and 2 screws.

Intellivision d-pad - tested but can't properly test until use the Intellivision controller section on it. Unit is easy to remove, kept in place with 2 screws, and pressure.

Keypad - that was from a butchered Atari 7800 Star Raiders add-on, removed the rubber tacts as didn't think they were responsive enough when pressed the buttons, so used clicky buttons with square tops instead. Works well. Keypad used for all systems for "Start", some systems like Colecovision and Intellivision need keypad use for gameplay; and will be handy also for Jaguar. Also, means I can make label inserts to be game specific to show on the N64 "C" buttons what they do in a game which is handy.

Case - was vacuum formed as per previous posts, is strong and sturdy. Holds well.

Shoulder buttons - 3 on each side, two on top on each side are for variable shoulder buttons, one rubber topped tact and other clicky, set so the clicky one can be pressed separately or when the other is depressed enough (mechanics of finger). Means I can also have say the large button for left shoulder, the rubber topped tact on the top shoulder for same, and clicky one for Z in N64, etc.

JAMMA interface cart - that as you may recall was severed into two, and rebuilt. Result works great, and doesn't cling onto the game board like a vice anymore - holds "normally".

NES cart - each one will hold each console system's controller. No ugly joysticks sticking out, and cart holds internal in the master controller; cart slips into place easily and securely, the original NES grips to insert and remove the game from the old NES Toaster console is used to do same from the master controller. There is enough space also by that tab to have a small switch to select for example rumble or memory card feature on N64.

Rumble pack - Only had space for a small one - the smaller one used in a GameCube controller. System has rumble feature!

Redesigned interface pins - Changed the pinout for the 50 pins around, and also included ability for Rumble too. Controller is fully functional.

Easy to disassemble - System held together by screws. Most of the internals are easy to remove, the joysticks and also keypad would need leverage though, however shouldn't need to make any changes to those, can if need to though.

More updates later! (full day of modding today).

[bacteria]

Another update:

So, here is a finished N64 controller in a NES case. All wired up and fine; complete with a memory card / rumble pack dual card.



I've tested it on the main system and it works fine, no tippy-toes in a game (eg Super Mario 64) from the joystick.

Will be making some video clips later regards the master controller, and demo; and uploading it tomorrow or Monday when compiled.

[bacteria]

Had 3 hours tonight for modding work, so got set onto the Saturn!

Worked out the controller (will make a pinout guide), wired to my main system, wired up the controller for the master controller; all worked fine first time. Just played several minutes into "Exhumed" - a rather good Doom type clone game, all good.

PlayStation 2 controller next - the 4th controller section for the master controller.

Been holding back for some good reasons new pics of the master controller and carts made, for video, which i'll make after the PS2 controller is made and wired up, tested ok. Just a matter of days for that hopefully; then a few days for making the video.

Great, pleased got the Saturn controller working great!

[bacteria]

Here's the pinout for the Saturn controller, how it wires to the console daughterboard; and if you just want to wire to the chip and not use the controller, there's the pinout for that too I worked out.

[Drakon]

I'm sure you're well aware that a good number of popular systems now have the ability to load games off of sd cards or usb sticks. Installing this system would free up a lot of space used by cd / dvd drives. Or do you just prefer using discs?

[bacteria]

I prefer to use original games rather than ROM images. Yes, it would make systems thinner etc however it wouldn't be using original hardware only partially; and the "experience" of retro gaming is using original retro games on their original retro hardware. Also, yes, popular systems have ability to run off SD cards or whatever, however this system is also using unpopular systems too. I could run GameCube, Megadrive, SNES, N64, PS2 off that; DreamCast not (the SD loader works really slow apparently on many games); but the other systems i'm using can't (Saturn, NeoGeo, TurboGrafx, Jaguar, NES, Intellivision, Colecovision, Atari 7800, etc).

I'm going for the original games on original hardware approach. Only exception to that will be a bank of plug'n'plays too (the 17th different system) which are there for arcade games that aren't on other systems (1942, Phoenix, etc).

[Drakon]

Original games on the original hardware...but you're using a 161-in-1 MVS multicart! Also your controllers won't be original but I guess that's for the sake of not having a huge mess of wires.

Anyway cd drives really turn me off from a console cds break easily and the disk drives themselves also break very easily. Being able to run a game off of flash or a rom means it'll probably last forever. I figure if I own the cd or dvd of the game then playing it off of a usb is perfectly fine.

This brings me to another question...are you one of those people who prefer the nasty rectangular nes controller over the newer dog bone one just because you grew up with the rectangular one? I've met a lot of people who prefer using the stupid rectangular controller just for that reason, guess I'm not as nostalgic as most people.

[fvgazi]

Original games on the original hardware...but you're using a 161-in-1 MVS multicart! Also your controllers won't be original but I guess that's for the sake of not having a huge mess of wires.

Anyway cd drives really turn me off from a console cds break easily and the disk drives themselves also break very easily. Being able to run a game off of flash or a rom means it'll probably last forever. I figure if I own the cd or dvd of the game then playing it off of a usb is perfectly fine.

This brings me to another question...are you one of those people who prefer the nasty rectangular nes controller over the newer dog bone one just because you grew up with the rectangular one? I've met a lot of people who prefer using the stupid rectangular controller just for that reason, guess I'm not as nostalgic as most people.

161 MVS games would cost thousands of dollars if you were to purchase them individually. I can see how using flash memory would reduce the cost of this project, but if Bacteria already owns the systems and games, he can use what he already owns as opposed to buying more.

As for rectangular NES controllers - they are much more aesthetically pleasing than the ugly dogbone ones, even if dogbone may feel better for most people. I actually prefer the feel of the original to the dogbone.