NIM64 anyone?

stuntpenguin007 · Post by **stuntpenguin007** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:43 pm

I was thinking, kind of like the XIM360 for the xbox 360, that it would be possible to make something similar for the n64.

I've built the cube64 which allows you to use a gamecube controller on your n64. I have a gamecube to gba adapter, so if I made a gba to parallel port adapter, and sent across the right bytes, I should be able to use the computer to act as an n64 controller.

Does anyone know where I can find schematics to build a multiboot cable thing? Or would I be better off buying one?

edit: Found instructions on how to build a gba to subd cable. I just need a parallel cable now... or at least another one I don't mind cracking open.

edit: So say I build this gba to parallel adapter... I'll need some way to send bytes of data specified by me to a certain address. Anyone know any good programs for that?

edit: ok, so I'm trying to make a program that when I get the stuff all hooked up, it will send data out of the parallel port. I'm pretty sure its com4 so....

Code: Select all

<System.Serializable()> Public Class Form1

    Private Sub btnInput_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnInput.Click
        serialParallel.Open()
        'Declare serial input
        Dim sInput As String = serialParallel.ReadLine
        'display input
        Me.lblInput.Text = sInput
    End Sub
End Class

serialParallel being com4, when I press btnInput it should read whatever is on com4 and display it as lblInput. Assuming nothings hooked up to com4 it should return 0. But instead it crashes. I know this won't write to the parallel port like I want, but its my first time working with serial stuff, so I'm just trying to understand it.

edit: maybe ReadLine should be replaced with BytesToRead?

edit: I've got it set up right now, that I could have all the hardware that I theoretically need, set up in about 5 minutes. I'm only going to finish building it first if I can get a program running on my computer to interface with it.

Does anybody know if there are programs out there to send raw data through parallel/serial ports? I'm trying to make my own, but I need to do a little reading first, and it would be nice to know if it actually works before creating a program.

So here is how it should work...

n64 - cube64 - gamecube to gba adapter - gba to parallel adapter - parallel adapter to computer

Then I have a program send data through the serial port to act as an n64 controller

GBA Name Color SUBD CNTR Name
2 SerialOut Red ------------- 10 10 /ACK
3 SerialIn Orange ------------- 14 14 /AUTOLF
5 SerialData Green ------------- 1 1 /STROBE
6 GND Blue ------------- 19 19 GND

Optionally, also connect the following signals (see notes below):

4 SD Brown ------------- 17 36 /SELECT (double speed burst)
RESET (mainboard) -----|>|----- 24 31 /INIT (automatic reset)

That is how the gba to serial adapter is made. I'm pretty sure I don't need to supply power for this. Anyways if someone finds a program to send raw data through the parallel port I would finally be able to test this.

Also if a mod wouldn't mind moving this to the n64 board... this was originally about the gba to serial cable, but now it's more about the n64

I could make a multiboot like file with correct bytes set to act as a start button and upload it via no$gba, but that would also overwrite stuff that I need. is it possible to create a hex file with "Invisible bytes" such as 00000000 - 00000090 is nothing, not just 00 (in hex ff) but nothing... and then continue writing at 000000a0?

more edit: Built the cable. If I'm right, all I need to do now is write or find a program to act as an n64 controller.

edit: just thought of something, Why not just go from n64 - serial without all of the in between? I'm going to have to write a program to emulate the controller anyways.