Gamecube Controller on N64

dudasquid · Post by **dudasquid** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:05 am

Hey guys, I found this link a while back - thought it might be handy for anyone making a portable (or just for those who have controllers with loose joysticks)...

Cube64: http://cia.navi.cx/stats/project/navi-misc/cube64

It allows you to connect a Gamecube controller to your N64 and it has built-in rumble pak emulation! It requires you to build some simple hardware and program a PIC.

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:18 am

interesting... good find!!

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:19 am

Coolimatized.

Doofus · Post by **Doofus** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 8:59 pm

So.... Does anyone understand how to use the schematics, or get the firmware working?

*o* · Post by ***o*** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:23 pm

no not really

dudasquid · Post by **dudasquid** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:28 am

Hardware

The hardware schematics are fairly simple once you know how to read them, maybe you can understand it better from the mockup image I made when designing the veroboard layout.

Note: on the above diagram the black dots represent where something is soldered, the large rectangle is the IC-socket, the smaller grey rectangle is the crystal, the blue connection is the resistor and the purple things are the capacitors. You can see where I cut the traces in the veroboard by the white gaps.

I realise that I have left out the decoupling capacitor in the above diagram, it should be placed on the bottom of the board across 3.3v and ground, as close as possible to pins 5 and 14 on the PIC.

Firmware

To get the firmware working you need to build a PIC programmer compatible with the PIC16F84A (I used this one as it's cheap and simple: http://www.semis.demon.co.uk/uJDM/uJDMmain.htm). Then you must compile the provided .ASM file into a .HEX using a compiler such as MPLab or GPUtils...

Once the .HEX is compiled you program it to the PIC and you're done!

It sounds more confusing than it is.

**EDIT**
I also forgot to mention that on my mockup diagram I have not shown what to do with the 5V required for the rumble motor. In my design I have it connected to a 5V wall-wart, and it can be removed whenever the rumble pack is not required. The creator of the 'Cube64' has informed me that you can instead connect it to 6V if that is more convenient (the controller shouldn't break).

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:28 am

In either the notes or the schematics, he mentioned that you can use either 5V or 6V for the motor. I understand the schematics, but the PIC programming is a bit harder for me (because I've never played with PICs).

S q u e e ! · Post by **S q u e e !** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:16 pm

Man, now I wish I had started taking that programming course last year before I started being homeschooled!

Can someone PM me with a fully compiled file? I already know the answer, but I must try!

dudasquid · Post by **dudasquid** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:39 pm

S q u e e ! wrote:Man, now I wish I had started taking that programming course last year before I started being homeschooled! Can someone PM me with a fully compiled file? I already know the answer, but I must try!

PM'd!

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:49 pm

Is there any chance that this device would work with the Wavebird? Now that would be cool.

dudasquid · Post by **dudasquid** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:00 pm

Haven't tested it on a Wavebird myself, but Micah (who created the Cube64) has said that another user tried and couldn't get it to work.

I've also found that the Cube64 will only work with an official Gamecube controller, my TruBlue (third-party) controller doesn't work.

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:25 pm

If anybody's interested, I'd be willing to pay someone for a pre-built Cube64 Mini. I don't feel up to the challenge of making one myself.

EDIT: I wonder if I should post this in the Trading Post.

S q u e e ! · Post by **S q u e e !** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:32 pm

It's not really a challenge, though. All you have to do, is build the PIC programmer, and program the completed .HEX (which I'd be more than happy to post) to the PIC, then solder the components and make a circuit. Not that difficult, except for finding that awesome GC cable extender he used, which I can't seem to find anywhere anymore...

But... I can't make you one, even if it was hard, too many restrictions about trading on the internet by The Mom Unit...

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:44 pm

TMU brings everything down. I'm probably going to try this, just so I'll have a PIC programmer. I was wonderring about the following picture:
http://www.semis.demon.co.uk/uJDM/dbf9cut.bmp
Why do you have to remove and bend certain pins?

BTW, does anybody have a link for a parallel port programmer? I have a couple of serial ports on one computer, but it doesn't work.

EDIT, I found PPWIN, which is a little more complex, but allows for a wider range of chips. I am still looking for something more simple though.

S q u e e ! · Post by **S q u e e !** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:53 pm

nos_slived wrote:TMU brings everything down. I'm probably going to try this, just so I'll have a PIC programmer. I was wonderring about the following picture:
http://www.semis.demon.co.uk/uJDM/dbf9cut.bmp
Why do you have to remove and bend certain pins?

Because, you don't need the pins you are supposed to cut off, and you bend the pins, as they will not fit on VeroBoard the way they are.