Nintendo DS - wanting to use PSone screen for top DS screen.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:50 pm

When I finish my Nintendo 64 Advance project, I have two possible projects I would like to address: a GP2x with bigger screen (I am waiting for better tv-out resolution ideally), better controls and sound, etc; and if I can, a Nintendo DS mod too. It I can get the DS to output to a PSone screen (like with the GBA), I would probably make another dual system!

I know the DS outputs in digital signals to the LCD so it is unlikely to be a pinout to take RGB from a chip to a screen, so will need a tv-out adaptor. I have been looking on Google and can't see a pinout for the DS, (although I can easily trace the connections I need for the controls from my multimeter) and the only tv-out options for the DS were crude, prototype and from a company who went out of business a while back anyway.

I don't want a tv tuner (these are available for the DS), I just want to output the top screen onto a PSone screen ideally and mount this in a case, with the original touchscreen (lower screen) underneath it - the top screen tends to be the game screen and the lower touchscreen tends to be for "enhancements" to the game.

I don't know if this is possible, anyone know if it is, and if it is, what I need and where to get a good tv-out adapter for a DS? I would prefer it to be PAL, but I could buy another PSone, or similar, screen on NTSC if I need to. My DS is the old one, not the DS lite (although again, if I can do what I want with a lite, I might get one).

I like some of the DS games, I just find the controls could be better, bigger and a bigger screen would make the games more involving (hence also why I did the GBA mods).

I am expecting this not to be possible, but if anyone know differently, I would be grateful to hear!

nc · Post by nc » Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:59 pm

I have no first hand knowledge , however , this could be helpful:

http://home.comcast.net/~olimar/DS/jumbotron/

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:47 pm

nc - Excellent, this would be ideal, except it looks like you need to have specialist knowledge to make this and there aren't many details to work from on the site, to put it mildly. If something like this was available for sale, it would be most interesting.

At least it proves the concept is possible, if nothing else.

Post by **Skyone** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:00 pm

I highly recommend you contact him (Neal Tew) then.

Also, there is some info on the bottom of that page. Finally, those pictures are pretty good - you can get some great info out of them.

benol · Post by **benol** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:28 pm

List of games you will render almost completely unable to play:
Brain Age
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Tetris DS (touch mode)
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Wario: Master of Disguise
Pokemon Ranger (but I doubt you're going to play that)
Elite Beat Agents
Flash Focus
Any other touchscreen only game or sideways DS game.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:37 pm

Ummm, benol, he only wants to replace the top screen.

CTFan

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:05 pm

Maybe the DS outputs RGB like the PSP does, the PSone screen could take that (couldn't it?).
If its not that easy to use a PSone screen, I'd recommend that you just dump the idea of using the PSone screen. Then, just do the same thing as the Jumbotron DS, but with smaller screens. You could still play all games even if the screens need to be the same size or if the touchscreen is used.

benol · Post by **benol** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:17 pm

CronoTriggerfan wrote:Ummm, benol, he only wants to replace the top screen.

CTFan

I know. It will make these games very hard to play, or make the DS too hard to hold to play these games.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:29 am

benol wrote:
CronoTriggerfan wrote:Ummm, benol, he only wants to replace the top screen.

CTFan
I know. It will make these games very hard to play, or make the DS too hard to hold to play these games.

Oh, I see where you're going. Well, perhaps if he doesn't use a PSOne screen, opts for a slightly smaller LCD, and goes really all-out and buys a touch screen of the same size and resolution; it'd be doable, seeing as they're both digital inputs. Now THAT would be cool!

CTFan

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:55 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I am not keen on games using touchscreen (apart from Zoo), so the idea was to us the bottom original touchscreen for the "enhancements" eg on Mario to select the power-ups; and the top screen as a PSone screen.

It doesn't look like I can do this, the guy mentioned earlier in this post only made one setup, said he won't sell it unless anyone offers over $600 (assuming it is still for sale), no e-mail offered anyway. Not paying this! Yes, pic of the DS mobo is interesting but he only details what one of the connections does (vsync) and not the others. Needs specialist kit, I can't do this.

Pity, as using the DS screen gives eyestrain and the controls are really uncomfortable to use after a short time; it would have been nice to have solved these issues!

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:42 pm

I'm sure he'll share the solder points (as you're not attaching a bigger touch screen, which makes it less revolutionary)

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:29 pm

He explained part of it on his site, I'm sure he would go into more detail if you asked. His email is at the bottom of his webpage.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:31 pm

Hadn't realised his e-mail was at the bottom of the page, it was discreet!

I have e-mailed him asking for assistance with the solder points/pinouts and cost of making the electronics part up for me if he wants to; let's hope the e-mail address is still valid and he responds positively. If he does, I will let you guys know.

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:16 pm

nc wrote:I have no first hand knowledge , however , this could be helpful:

http://home.comcast.net/~olimar/DS/jumbotron/

Lol I was actually in the irc box that guy first revealed it. (nesdev) I thought it was soooo awesome. It's hard though. It needed an fpga.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:35 pm

Gave up on the idea, no idea how to do it and the guy never replied to my e-mail.