My Dreamcast Controller Hack

[Mat]

I know this has been done before but I figured I post my particular version of it anyway.

I started with a MadCatz six-button controller. I cut a base for it out of 1/4" plywood. Then I cut a length of 7/16" dowel into four pieces and glued them to the base for the PCB mounting feet. I used Titebond II glue and put weights on top of the dowel pieces while the glue set. The rest of it is pretty much like everybody else's.

So far I've used it in one of my arcade cabs and it works great.

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[dsheinem]

what is this supposed to be or do?

[Mat]

what is this supposed to be or do?

It allows me to use a joystick and buttons to play Dreamcast games instead of the controller. I put it inside an arcade cabinet so I can play Dreamcast games on it. I could also use it to make a homemade fightstick. The wires from the joystick and buttons attach to the silver screw terminals on the front. It's basically the Dreamcast equivalent of the "I" on a NAOMI I/O board.

[SoltanGris]

Nice set up, like the bus. I have a crappy 3rd party controller I've been thinking of using for something like this.

[mjmjr25]

Cool, but not groundbreaking and a pretty common mod. I'd much rather see it mounted to your control panel and functioning off your sticks.

Did you retain VMU support?

Any pics of the actual wiring - all we get is the backside of PCB...

[dsheinem]

what is this supposed to be or do?

It allows me to use a joystick and buttons to play Dreamcast games instead of the controller. I put it inside an arcade cabinet so I can play Dreamcast games on it. I could also use it to make a homemade fightstick. The wires from the joystick and buttons attach to the silver screw terminals on the front. It's basically the Dreamcast equivalent of the "I" on a NAOMI I/O board.

ah ok. don't like the agetec sticks?

[Mat]

Cool, but not groundbreaking and a pretty common mod. I'd much rather see it mounted to your control panel and functioning off your sticks.

Did you retain VMU support?

Any pics of the actual wiring - all we get is the backside of PCB...

Like I said, I know it's been done before, I just wanted to show the particular way I did it. The first pic is of it mounted in the cab. It's out of the cab at the moment so i can't get a wider pic showing the CP and everything. As for the wiring, there's not much to it; just individual wires soldered to the PCB on one side and screwed into the terminal on the other.

Edit: Yep, VMUs still work. I cut the dowels to the right length so that the plastic peice that supports the VMUs sits flush on the base.

[Mat]

ah ok. don't like the agetec sticks?

I've never used one but I've heard they're good sticks. I did this cause it only cost me about $10 including the pad. Anyways, if I had an Agetec stick I'd wanna keep it the way it is rather than pulling it apart to hack into my arcade cab.

[CRTGAMER]

I like it! Even though the analog stick is not converted, this should work fine for any DPad controlled Dreamcast game. Anyone notice the additional step that was done compared to most "jumper the wires" mods to the controller PCB pad buttons? The lug strip allows an easy hookup to any custom Arcade Stick or custom Button (Dreamcast Atari Anniversary Asteroids!) Panel. I would have gutted a PS1/PS2 controller since there are so many available console and PC adapters for it. Great job, especially the foresight of adding that lug strip.

I went a different route instead of the "Lug Strip" with my modded Zaxxon Panel. I used an IDE Connector to select between internal PCBs of PS1 controller, PC PS/2 Keyboard and Atari 2600 Joystick.

[Mat]

I like it! Even though the analog stick is not converted, this should work fine for any DPad controlled Dreamcast game. Anyone notice the additional step that was done compared to most "jumper the wires" mods to the controller PCB pad buttons? The lug strip allows an easy hookup to any custom Arcade Stick or custom Button (Dreamcast Atari Anniversary Asteroids!) Panel. I would have gutted a PS1/PS2 controller since there are so many available console and PC adapters for it. Great job, especially the foresight of adding that lug strip.

I went a different route instead of the "Lug Strip" with my modded Zaxxon Panel. I used an IDE Connector to select between internal PCBs of PS1 controller, PC PS/2 Keyboard and Atari 2600 Joystick.

Thanks. Yea I didn't bother with the analog stuff cause I use this strictly for shmups and fighters. For anything else I prefer the standard controller. The whole point of mounting the PCB to a base and using a terminal block was to keep the wires from getting tugged on and possibly failing. This way I can move it around from project to project and never have to worry about that.

Nice Zaxxon panel btw. I wouldn't post that pic over on KLOV though, they might form a lynch mob, lol.