Cube64-DX - Ameliored GC controller to N64 adapter.

Is it possible to use a 18 pin DIP socket? The ebay seller sent me 20 18 pin instead of 18 20 pin.

 

I don't see why you couldn't. Might have to adapt the instructions a bit to your socket from what is up on the diagrams but using a socket was merely of convenience rather than a requirement from what I understand of the instructions posted.

I'm going to wire all of the parts onto veroboard myself and stick it inside one of these:



Just gotta find a socket for a GameCube controller to stick in the front. Ordered the parts I need to build a JDM programmer today so hopefully within about 2 weeks I'll be in business.

Problem is that finals are coming up and this will make a tempting procrastination target...

Damn you DarthCloud!

 

Any chance someone could make a list of the parts from digikey.ca?
Do not want to buy the wrong supplies.

 

You can but my numbering for the second half of the socket will be wrong so be carefully in wiring.

 

is this crystal fine

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=X985-ND




I cannot read the part number of yours on the pic.

 

Should be fin,e same spec as the one I'm using but it's a bit bigger.

This is the crystal I used, they are a bit smaller:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/D...ge_link=hp_go_button&KeyWords=x439-nd&x=0&y=0

 

Cool thanks .



Would it be possible to port the code easily to use a ps2 controller on the n64?

 

You would need to write another library to handle playstation controller protocol or use an existing one. Should be easy enough.

But it's for sure not something I will be interested to do. I don't like the idea to cross brand X company accessory to Y company system.

 

okay thank you.

 

I don't mind it but the problem here is that the PS2 controller design is nothing like the N64's controller design. You'd quickly find some games are so well optimized for the format (Zelda: OoT springs to mind) that you find yourself tossing the controller down and switching quickly.

I showed this project to a friend and his main reaction was "but using a GameCube controller would just be weird". The fact that the N64 analog stick is mostly garbage (particularly now without new parts being regularly available) didn't cross his mind.

 

Yeais but with the button remapping function in addition to the 4 button layouts you can save make it easy to create a working layout for most games. For OOT just use the same layout they used for OOT Master Quest on GC.

 

Can you explain this a bit better?

 

you can see on the first picture in the tutorial that numbering (when looking from the bottom) begin to 1 on the top-right side to 10 on the bottom-right and then 11 on the bottom-left to 20 on the top-left.

With 18 pin socket you got instead (still looking at the bottom of the socket) 1 on the top-right side to 9 on the bottom-right and then 10 on the bottom-left to 18 on the top-left.

So you will need to put the resistor directly below the two cap at the bottom between pin 9 and 10. But if you follow the schematic and make sure each component get plug on the right pin of the PIC you will be fine.

But that should be obvious, no??

 

This is my first time messing with this stuff. I'm just winging it really. Thanks for explaining.

 

Quick q about n64 saves and this . I just bought a n64 and it is in transit to me to play with this project. Can I stick a memory card in controller port 3 or 4 controller and use this on port 1 and 2 and save games to memory cards in 3 and 4?

Or can I add a switch with diodes and switch flip a switch to save to an original controller memory card and switch back to play?

 

Maybe some games might support saving using a memory card in another slot but I'm pretty sure 99% of games using controller pak require it to be in controller #1, you can add a manual switch.

In fact I'm currently working to add a switch to the design that will be controlled by the microcontroller.

With a button combo you will be able to put the adapter in a special passthrough mode. In this mode all command send by n64 will be forwarded to the real controller except the button status command, so everything related to accessory will be send to the n64 controller, but you will still be able to use the GC controller buttons.

I'm using an external switch because I don't have enough cpu cycle to implement the switching within the microcontroller. Once I move to a faster one I'm planning to do it without using another chip so the adapter stay simple.

 

will I need diodes or just a switch to change controllers at present?

 

I don't see why you would need diodes. Just toggle between the two data line with a SPDT switch

 

Okay sounds good.

 

Hey guys, I need your input and suggestion.

Like you probably saw I'm planning to add quite a lot of new feature into the adapter.

Micah original needed only two special key combo to operate the original design.

The way combo work is that when you pressed completely the Analog L & R button but without pressing the end digital button the adapter will check for the key combos.

If you press Start you enter the button remapping mode if you press Z you reset the button mapping.

With those combo it's almost impossible to enter them by accident in normal gameplay.

I started to map the multi button layout control to the direction pad. In most games the pad is useless so this will not ever create problem, but some games might use the d-pad and if those game require to use Z & L simultaneously (Z because most people will map the Z button to the GC L button) the layout change combos could be entered by accident.

But I don't recall any games that might require simultaneous use of D-pad, Z and R, so maybe I'm too paranoid on this hypothetical issue.

What function will need user input:

Button remapping (use AL+AR+Start, will not change)
Button layout reset (use AL+AR+Z, might change)
Put adapter in empty slot mode
Put adapter in rumble pak mode (default mode)
Put adapter in accessory passthought mode
Put adapter in internal memory pak mode
Select button layout #1
Select button layout #2
Select button layout #3
Select button layout #4
Select internal memory pak bank #1
Select internal memory pak bank #2
Select internal memory pak bank #3
Select internal memory pak bank #4

My current idea:

Button remap mode will still use AL+AR+Start combo to be initiated, then in this mode the adapter wait for the user to press first the destination button followed by the button to map on it. When you enter this mode button pressed are not forwarded to the n64 btw (Gameplay not affected).

After that the other combo will be the advance config mode. You press AL+AR+Z to enter the advance config mode. Just like in the remapping mode when you enter this mode, buttons pressed are not forwarded to the n64 and don't affect gameplay.

In this mode (adv. config) if you press D-pad Up you enter the "Select button layout" submode.
D-pad Left you enter "Select adapter mode" submode.
D-pad Right you enter "Select internal memory bank" submode.
D-pad Down will reset the current active button layout.
Any other button will exit the adv. config mode.

In "Select button layout" submode pressing one of the d-pad direction select one of the button layout.

In "Select adapter mode" submode pressing d-pad Up put the adapter in empty slot mode, Left in rumple pak mode, Right in internal memory mode and Down in accessory passthrough mode.

In "Select internal memory bank" submode pressing one of the d-pad direction select one of the memory pak bank.


Off course I'm going to do a Cheat Sheet so anyone can print it to remember all the combos


I guess with this solution I have something that cannot in anyway be pressed by accident in gameplay.

What you think about it, Is I'm making thing too complicated? Any better sugesstion?

Thank all!!