Bacteria's multi-console system project : UNITY

Been working on covering the system with the black aluminium effect finish vinyl covering; I must say it looks impressive. Working also on integrating that covering into the game cart slot to make it look integrated.

Have more to do, as my modding time is basically about an hour a quarter each morning, means it will take to tomorrow to finish that process, so should be able to post a couple of photos tomorrow or certainly at the weekend.

I had originally thought about making the sides of the console enclosure with sloping sides or rounded edges however that would have made covering the unit with the vinyl trickier, and in reality, have no benefit.

One issue I do have and have spent time trying to resolve, is although I managed to make do with one 25 core cable (ie a parallel port PC cable) for the master controller, it isn't enough as I then decided to expand the system abilities to work for whatever else I wanted to add to the system - ie GameCube and PlayStation 2. That means I need 36 core, and that cable would be far too inflexible and likely to drag the controller when being used. I looked at various options and the best I seem to have come up with will be to use 2 cables of 18 core each, probably unshielded cable to keep the cables as flexible as can. I will have to buy some cable in the coming weeks and see if it will work correctly or not; I will be using a wire or two in each cable as ground to minimalise interference. Only way to know if all is fine is to try it.

As far therefore as the master controller is concerned, I will have to remake either an existing controller as a host, eg an Xbox original (the larger controller version) or make my own controller from scratch, not decided that yet. I want to get the N64 console in a cartridge finished and wired up, and the interface on the base unit as well as most of the base unit itself finished first - then i'll make a video and post it on YouTube showing project development to date.

 

Is wood a good idea for housing though? I'd worry for something to heat up with dust and bang. It'd need some lining of some sort to be a bit safer.

It's incredible work though, love to see this finished.

 

Wood is totally fine, retro systems do not get more than warm in most cases i'm working with here and some don't even get warm, it's only if you want to include Xbox original or later that heat can be an issue. I'm using 3mm MDF, which is not only quite rigid (I can easily install posts here and there to make the unit solid if need to) but also easy to cut with a few deep cuts with a craft knife.

I pre-prepared the sections before for TurboGrafx, N64, Jaguar, Megadrive; however intend to extend the system to include the other systems from the previous Project Unity system, ie Atari 7800, NES, Colecovision, Amstrad GX4000; plus GameCube, PlayStation 2. Yes, i'll be gutting the Project Unity system for boards, as the Colecovision and Atari 7800 boards are the rare RGB versions I got from France. I'll not integrate Intellivision though as that's a pain due to the keypad and 16 way controller - the effort and compromises are not worth the effort. May include DreamCast and Saturn however not a fan of these systems and the Saturn board failed when the Project Unity system was being transported to my new home.

This system is going to be far superior to Project Unity, and be pretty much as complete in abilities, and look far far nicer - and be considerably easier to repair if needed.

As i've expanded the system from where this project was going to be originally, will add several months to the project however that will be in making the system complete - this time around, i'll be making each console cartridge in turn to make the multi-system finished, not a complete project made up in stages as an all-in-one box as before.

Trying to think of a suitable name for this project - ideas?

 

Update again. Covered the N64 "cartridge" section in the black aluminium finish vinyl covering, also the cart slot. Last pic shows the top on, which needs covering too and also a decal - just there at the moment for illustration.

Next job will be to wire up the JAMMA board and replace the parallel port used previously (doesn't have enough connections anymore).

The vinyl comes out nicely, it isn't perfect as a finish however pretty good and considerably easier than making a good paint job look better.

 

Nice, that vinyl looks pretty sweet.

 

Installed the JAMMA trace board into the console cartridge section and screwed it into place. Wired up half of the trace board, will do rest tomorrow.

The reason I did the original Project Unity with the cartridges to insert into the master controller was then I only had a maximum of 9 wires going between the console and the controller. Problem I have is I need 41 wires from controller to console now as I decided to make things more integrated to have the controller as part of the base system. I got away with up to 25 connections originally however then had the bright idea (!) to also include the PS2 and GameCube too; which increases the requirements up to 41 connections. I also need the cables shielded and very flexible. Only viable option I probably have is to get my 5m of cable made up of 4 sets of wires of 10 or 12 core each. Not ideal but not a lot of options. I could probably get that down a few wires if had to, maybe. Looking at options.

 

I will have photos tomorrow, promise!

Finished wiring up the JAMMA trace board, finished modding the JAMMA port, secured it to the other section (need to wire it up at that end though), and removed the SCART port from the upscaler SCART>HDMI converter as I need to wire directly to the board.

On the subject of the controller and the controller cable, frankly having 2 or 3 reasonably thick wires would be inconvenient to use the controller, so what I did before with using a parallel cable (25 core) makes sense. What this means is I can use the existing Master Controller for all games apart form GameCube and PlayStation 2 - i'll just have to use the original game controllers for that. The Master Controller will however work for all the other systems. Making the GameCube and PlayStation into cartridges will make sense though to incorporate into this project as will benefit from the upscaling, just means i'll need to include the game ports for those two systems for their own controllers.

Loads of work to do yet however it's coming along nicely.

 

I'm having a hard time trying to work out what the end design will look like? Need more pics for sure lol. This is an interesting project though.

 

It's got 2 sections, made up of 3 parts..

Each console is being made into a cartridge, 28 x 24 x 3 cm. The console cartridge will insert neatly into a box via JAMMA connections, the box being 28 x 10 x 3 cm. This box is the service box, which connects the input to the console cartridge (ie voltages via regulators), and output to the Master Controller as well as SCART and HDMI output. This service box is mounted onto a base, 38 x 10 x 1 cm which will hold the two units together as one unit, as well as providing a front panel port for the parallel cable to connect to the base unit to the Master Controller.

Each console cartridge will house one console system, controller board and game cart slot. I intend to make several systems interface to this unit, as interchangeable.

It will all be clearer when the stages are complete and I can make a video of the progress to date, which should be 1-2 weeks time roughly.

 

Update.

The N64 console section (made into a cartridge) inserts snugly but easily into the other section (services), in the photo you can see I put in a SCART connection, HDMI (via the upscaler board) plus power, 12v from a GameCube power supply which will feed all consoles. Also in the service box is a heatsinked 7805 for 5v (to power consoles and also the HDMI upscaler unit), a step-down regulator for 8.5v to power most of the systems. There is ample space in there for other regulators if I need them, eg -5v for Colecovision. Will move the regulator outputting 2v for the SCART to know to work in RGB mode into the service section as most of the consoles will need that.

Started the wiring, more to do yet (especially for the controller), then can test all works ok.

 

For the housing yes, for baceria's other project where he used wood directly touching live wires was a dumb idea considering logic ICs could've done the job just fine for powering consoles on/off.

I made cables for an upscale Neo-Geo consolizer that used wood for their casings. Everything was mounted on brass stand offs so nothing came in contact with the wood but beyond that I see no reason why you couldn't use wood for a casing.

 

In the other project the wood was never touching live wires. The only voltage that went into the console base unit was 12v DC, as fed to by an external transformer. 12v DC is hardly an issue! Same with this project too.

No issues using wood for casings, any more than with handheld console portables people use styrene, which is far more prone to damage issues by heat than wood!

 

Finished the wiring for the unit, apart from the controller wiring.

As you see below, the system works; outputting HDMI in upscale to 1080p

I need to connect up the wiring for the controller, to a female parallel port, and also make the base for the unit, then will make a video to upload on progress so far.

This of course was a main step in the system build as it also showed the system worked on elements of the system I had not tested prior to all the wiring.

Yes, that's my old Project Unity system under the other half of the desk, which will be gutted for boards in due course. This new system is so more advanced that the old system was, however of course without that build I would not have had the experience to have made this new system.

Desk is a mess, ignore that!

 

Quite a large update. I had about 4 hours today at home while our windows were being replaced, so did some modding.

Installed the female parallel connector (to go to the master controller), system on/off switch, just need to wire up the parallel port, cover the tops to the service area and N64 console cartridge also the bottom of the base unit; and a basic system logo for the system and it's done. Then, before working on more console systems, i'll remake the master controller, rather than having the cable permanently installed in the controller, going to make it detachable - means reworking it.

Some pics so far - all slots neatly into place, the JAMMA grips enough to work and also release easily too - got it just right.

Still trying to think of a suitable name for the system; to overview, this will include a stack of retro consoles up to N64, which will all use the same master controller; plus GameCube and PlayStation 2 which will have to use their own controllers although will otherwise be integrated in the same way.

Any ideas for the name for the system, before I think of one guys??

 

Not getting any ideas from you guys about the name for the system.

Wanted to steer away from "Unity", thinking of calling the system something like "Many into One" although wanted something a bit punchier, like "Unify" - something to try and define ideally in one appropriate word a system that can change identity even, or unify, a chameleon of systems into one unit.

Ideas?

 

what about something like Chimera the idea being one monster machine composed of many parts?

 

Not heard that word before, had to look it up!

It is a mythological creature made up of many parts however means "something that exists only in the imagination and is not possible in reality", which is not the case as it exists, and works. Other ideas?

Finished the wiring from the base unit to the parallel port for the master controller, so it's ready to test; and then make the new master controller.

 

How about something cheesy like MegaPlay, Super Retro etc

 

"MegaPlay" sounds quite good. No issue with cheesy names, as long as it's punchy and suitable.

MegaPlay has been used for various things I notice (see below) - which means it's a contender as a name however looking more for the "Many Become One" type name (which was a title i'd considered but wanted shortened and punchier) - like "Consolidator" or similar - other ideas?

SEGA related
http://segaretro.org/Mega_Play_(magazine)
http://segaretro.org/Mega_Play
http://www.hooper.fr/forums/retro-16-bits/megadrive-le-mega-play-1010

Other
http://www.megaplay.info/

When i've tested the system (final test), i'll be at the stage of making the tops to the service area and the N64 cart section, so can print a logo which i'll then adapt for the other systems as they get built - hence why looking at system name now - also i'll use the name for the YouTube video i'll be making in the next week or so for progress to date.

On the subject of the master controller - had two thoughts - one is I still have a spare casing from the old master controller, which after all i'd made to be comfortable to hold. I've worked out that I could incorporate the new master controller to work for the GameCube too, probably also PlayStation 2; although still working out the feasibility of that due to the amount of connections extra I would need. I figured it made sense to make my own controller than having to compromise with another, although in saying that, had been looking at using something like an Xbox controller as host before; so deciding. Making the master controller will be the next part of the project after all.

 

Harmony.