Playstation to Dreamcast converter...

Allo · Post by **Allo** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:11 am

First off, I would like to say ARGH!

Why? Because, all the Playstation to Dreamcast converters do not allow button remapping! I am a big fan of many fighting games, particularly the Street Fighter series. Typically, I like to use R1 as fierce punch and R2 as fierce kick, but unfortunately, all the available converters out there essentially map R1 and R2 as the same button (the right shoulder button on the DC) and CANNOT BE CHANGED! This is extremely annoying, because this is the configuration I use to play other Street Fighter games on my PS2, and I find I cannot adapt to using the punch button as L1/L2!

Also, as most Street Fighter fans are aware, 3 punch/kick buttons are frequently required for super moves, Gen's style change, air recovery, etc. I typically use the L1 button as 3 punches and the L2 button as 3 kicks. However, as mentioned before, both L buttons and both R buttons have the same function! It's really frustrating knowing that there are two more buttons on the Playstation controller than the Dreamcast controller, and that these two extra buttons CANNOT be used to substitute for 3 punches and 3 kicks!

I would VERY MUCH like to have someone fabricate a reprogrammable/remappable Playstation to Dreamcast converter. However, I understand that this is an extremely difficult task, and would be outside the realms of the people in this hacking forum. However, it should be easier to take an existing Playstation to Dreamcast controller converter and rewire it to give the added function of 3 punches/kicks to the two buttons that haven't already been assigned.

This is the proposed configuration that I would like:

* L1 (PS) functions as L (DC)
* L2 (PS) functions as combination of X, Y and L (DC)
* R1 (PS) functions as R (DC)
* R2 (PS) functions as combination of A, B and R (DC)

Does anyone out there have enough hacking knowledge to be able to rewire an existing converter to the configuration I've mentioned above?

paul4990 · Post by **paul4990** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:29 am

i think you would need to reprogram the chip

ask lala, or tinky-winky

Post by **gannon** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 2:34 pm

you'd need to build your own converter using a pic (or other uC, but pics are cheap)

Allo · Post by **Allo** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:24 am

Hmm, sounds like you're right. The converter wouldn't have wires inside to convert the buttons on the controller from PS to DC, but rather a chip. This would present a really big problem, huh?

How would I get in contact with these two famous chip modders? I've tried searching the member list, but there are no members with the name "lala" or "tinky-winky".

Oh, and what's a pic?

Post by **Gamelver** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:16 pm

apparantly, according to google, Lala and Tinky-winky were....Teletubbies

.

*sigh*, paul

......

Post by **marshallh** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:58 pm

By a pic, gannon is referring to a PIC microntroller. It's essentially a small computer in chip form with integrated memory and cpu. You can buy them in different sizes and different speeds and memory capacities. You can grab a few for free as samples from http://samples.microchip.com
The most common one is the PIC16F628, which has 2K memory and runs at 4 MHz. I prefer to use this over the older PIC16F84.
You'll need to learn PIC assembly (not hard, the instruction set is RISC only 30 something opcodes) and get/build a programmer for it, so you can transfer the code to the chip. Finally, you have to build the circuit itself. I'm not sure what interface either controller uses, but they're most likely serial interfaces, so you need some de-serializers or else find out what speed the data is transferred at. An oscilloscope would be helpful for that.
So, possible but you'll need some prior experience before tackling that. My first project was a spinning clock with a column of LEDs that wrote text int he air by means of persistence of vision. Get yourself acquainted with the PIC and its assembly language (not hard) and then read up on the transfer protocols for the playstation/dreamcast controllers.

edit: wow, that's a ton of info. Hope you understand it

Allo · Post by **Allo** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 7:14 am

Yeesh, sounds too complicated for me. It will probably take me ages to learn the Assembly language and then ages again to locate information regarding Playstation and Dreamcast controllers.

All I wanted to do was play the DC version of Street Fighter with a PS2 controller. Sounds too difficult. Oh well - if anyone ever accomplishes a project like this, please let me know!

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:51 pm

you can program for PICs in plain old C. much easier. i might be able to do this, with the help of others. i also dont have time.

edit: ive been thinking about this in the last 10 minutes. it really wouldnt be that hard. both controllers are probably documented well. you could probably find a description of the protocol that both use. programming a pic in C for this thing should not be that difficult. i almost feel like trying

anyways... here
http://mc.pp.se/dc/maplewire.html

paul4990 · Post by **paul4990** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:28 pm

DCemu might be of useful info

ask dipsy or po though

Dark Savant0 · Post by **Dark Savant0** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:57 pm

There were only two "Bleempods" ever made. Bleempods are basically playstation controls that work on the dreamcast with all the buttons and both sticks. This is done due to the fact that the dreamcast can support up to 2 joysticks and can have 2 more buttons (dunno how they did select and the analog button).

They were, however, prototypes made by BLEEM! LLC. As such, all information about them is closed source. And no, the creator Rand Linden will not tell you how to do it. I believe he signed a non-disclosure agreement with Sony when they bought him out (and paid his massive debt).

It is possible to make such a controller, but it would be a lot of work. You will not be able to make it unless you are part of an actual company with a console hardware orientation. There is not enough of a demand for anyone to be coaxed into doing so, so no luck there either.

There was a ps2 controller that could be remapped on the fly, but it does not work with the converters.

I would highly advise you to just stop al your research and just buy a fighter pad from fatheadpi (DCEMU forums). He has some on him right now, and recommends them for fighting games. In any case, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it will be impossible for you, probably a mere teenager, and at best a hardware hacker, to make a proper PS>DC converter.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic.

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:08 pm

Why don't you solder wires from the buttons and remap them the manual way? Like this.