I was wondering if anyone had done this without the use of a bought USB adapter. I was hoping it could be done using the parallel, serial, PS/2, or, Game port. Even if you only have some scarce information on the subject, please post! Things that would be helpful: Schematic(s) of a 3DO controller Pin Out label/diagram(s) IC function information Suggestions Thanks. ray:
Why would you want to connect one of the worse joypads known to man to a PC when there are better controllers out there? Here is the pin outs for the controller http://web.archive.org/web/20060312193918/kaele.com/~kashima/games/3do-e.html It's very similar to the SNES controller in terms of how it encodes the button data so it should be easy to write a driver for it.
Awesome post Jamtex! I don't know how I couldn't find this information in my many searches, but that's why I reached out to the community. :icon_bigg As far as the controller being crappy, I know that there are better ones out there, in fact I have a few. but I was hoping to get the full experience going with the 3DO Emulator + Joypad. :shrug: Thanks for the tip Barc0de
Tommygun, unfortunately, with current Microsoft OS it is unthinkable to have any input device that doesn't adhere to the DX API - applications won't like it either if it's not. My post was more of a complaint regarding my inability to code properly and a nod to the classic days of the IBM PC =) good luck with your project though, let us know the results
You can almost certainly do it with DirectPad Pro - which is a driver that allows you to make up parallel port -> gamepad adaptors and read them through DirectX. Many moons ago I made a bunch of Jaguar adaptors like this and it worked perfectly The main site has long removed the details but fortunately those nice chaps at arcadecontrols have mirrored it: http://arcadecontrols.com/Mirrors/www.ziplabel.com/dpadpro/index.html By reading through the pinout data it may be possible to find a pad that encodes the data in a compatible way - they provide schematics for N64 PlayStation Saturn Atari/SMS TurboGraFX Genesis Jaguar SNES NES VirtualBoy so one of them will probably work! It's not exactly the same as a SNES pad though - you could just substitute one of those and you'd probably not be far off. Stone
I remember the website and it did have a lot of really useful information and circuits on it. In the upper memory blocks?
btw, regarding your avatar Tommy, Killing Time is an awesome game! had a blast playing through it on the PC. Very haunting
Thank you everyone! I have actually tried to use PPJoy on the "snes with Dpad pro" setting, however the logic interface is a bit unstable and I'm looking into a way to correct it. I'm sure that it can be done, but I'm not sure if I can do it without using a logic IC or two. :-/ The 3DO's controller contains an unidentified (I just can't get my hands on the datasheet) IC that runs on CMOS, so it's a little more tricky than a standard TTL IC. The other chip inside is a Quadruple Analog/Digital, Switch/Multiplexer/Demultiplexer High-Performance Silicon-Gate CMOS. As far as I know, that chip is solely responsible for the daisy-chaining features. I will analyze the waveform diagram that I have, and try to match the controller up with the computer, even if I have to write a new driver for it. 0.o I will Post my progress as it happens. In the meantime, your suggestions are always welcome. Thanks Barc0de. I'm a serious fanatic of the game for the 3DO, as well as the ported PC version. If you get the chance, try the 3DO version. You will be astonished at the major difference in the versions. (you might even get hooked on it) :-D
It appears the 3DO controllers use a 4021 just like NES controllers, I don't have a controller now to be sure though. I also don't think a multiplexer would be used for daisy chaining, according to Kashima's page, daisy chaining is exactly that--daisy chaining the shift registers. The multiplexer is probably used for a couple of discrete functions. Perhaps since Kashima named the strobe signal P/S instead of LOAD or something common of jam inputs, it's not actually a 4021 but rather a synchronous loading shift register. If you've got the chip names, post 'em! At the very least you could decode 3DO pads and encode them as SNES with a circuit for various devices.
The Primary IC is labeled TC11L003AF-1224 (Definetly for button logic) The Secondary IC is labeled 74HC4066A (Probably for Audio control) The reason I think that the secondary IC is for audio control, is because it exists in the controller with the headphone jack, but it doesn't exist in the controller without a headphone jack. (I figured it out after taking the controllers apart) (and after doing some testing with my logic probe) At least it seems reasonable enough... :-S
http://web.archive.org/web/20060312193948/kaele.com/~kashima/games/3do_tr.pdf You can easily make a 3DO controller using 4 seperate ICs, 2 4021s, 1 7404 (invertor) and a 7432 (or gate) add more 4021s and you can make more.
Ah, the TC11L003 is a custom mask ASIC, so even a datasheet won't help I also have a feeling the discrete Capcom controller isn't the same as a standard one. Huh? A 4066 isn't necessary for audio because there's nothing to switch. Maybe it's to multiplex buttons.
I will try to create an interface using Kashima's output data. I will also look very closely at the D-Pad Pro interface's for other controllers. If all else fails, I'm buying a USB adapter! :crying: :noooo: :lol:
Just use a 3DO Blaster ;-) Oh, good luck finding one, though! Eh... plus it won't work in a modern PC! OK, maybe not!
Thanks! Same to you ;-) That said, it sounds like your PC is so old it might well have an ISA slot! If this is the case, try and find a 3DO Blaster. They are pretty rare now, though!
LOL Actually, I'm running a P4 @ 2GHz, but I do have a few older systems laying around, so I could do that. if anyone sees a 3DO blaster, please let me know.
