Kickstarter - USB hub for every console controller

ased on the Bliss box designs

upto 16 different adapters available to connect to any controller you can imagine

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/54 ... trollers-0



Disclosure: I'm not benefitting anything from posting this, its not an advert, just a " you might be interested in this" , whilst I have pledged on it, this isn't gaining me anything other than maybe with more people seeing it, it will get fully funded

 

$35 for a box and 4 cables of your choice seems pretty cheap, all things considered.

 

Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say! Haha kidding. This does seem pretty decent. I might have to support it.

 

The adapter cables all terminate to HDMI plugs. That seems unnecessarily confusing for the novice.

 

Makes sense really, HDMI has a lot of pins, cheap to get the plugs/connectors. One thing against it is that it doesn't have a locking mechanism so it might be easy to fall out.

 

Very cool. Might have buy myself one of these

 

The wording isn't very good. You can't say "Connect any console controller to a computer" (or, as per your title, for every console controller) when it doesn't support EVERY controller. You later retract the statement and say almost any controller - so which is it?

Hmm... surely all that's needed is a firmware update AND the cable with the correct port?

It's great that you've listed all the port types. What is and isn't supported on that port, though?

NES port - great! So I can use my Zapper? With an LCD screen? Looks like that's one common controller not supported. How about the Power Pad?

DB9 is for "Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Atari 2600, etc." - again, not very helpful. What happens if I plug an Amiga 500 joystick into it? How about a ZX Spectrum joystick? Sure, it's a device for CONSOLE controllers and those aren't consoles, but it's possible to mate them with it. Again, you need to consider this and at least a list of known to work controllers is needed. Known not to work would be nice, too.

Unless you're some kind of wizard, I don't see that "all that's needed is a firmware update" to get my Zapper working on my Android phone. Haha, could you imagine that, anyway? Likewise for most lightguns. You have to consider that a controller isn't JUST the pad that comes with the console. I know you've mentioned a filter for an LCD, but you have to consider there are many sizes of screen, right down to a phone. And you have to be clear that it won't work up front - we know it won't, but 10 year old Jimmy Smith probably won't.

It may not be such a problem at this stage, but if I saw this in a shop and it claimed to support EVERY controller, then I found out certain ones didn't work and there wasn't even a cable for some, I'd be very unhappy. I know that 95% of users are probably looking to get their common Nintendo/Sega/Sony/Microsoft controllers working on PC, but you still have to have a get-out clause.

That being said (and really, that's just constructive criticism to get your marketing up to scratch and avoid the pitfalls of unhappy customers - plus with such a high goal, you want everything to be spot on from the start), it's an interesting project and I'm very tempted by the mega pack!

[EDIT]

Just noticed you said you're not involved. Guess I should pass them feedback!

Moved to general gaming - it's not about modifying yourself.

 

Doesn't work with Coleco Tristar or Adventurevision controller? Odyssey 2 controllers? (the detatchable kind not hard wired) 3DO? CDi? What about GBA with Gamecube cable, is that working with Gamecube controller adapter?

 

I should also add - what about those consoles that support more than 4 players? Can two be used on the same system simultaneously? Games like Saturn Bomberman and Guardian Heroes made full use of the Saturn multi-tap, for example.

I've invited the creator to join the forum and hopefully answer any questions that may arise.

 

Hello all, I was asked by a mod to drop by and field a few questions.

No its very necessary, yes confusing, and not novice at all. We need a cable that support 20 pins or more. DH15 is clumsy and large, the Display port was thought of too late ( my preference) and HDMI was chosen because of its small foot print and that it is very durable. It was a factory choice that I agreed to after many other options. I agree it's a bit confusing but really it's just a universal interface port to support all controller printouts. In many ways the choice of the cable is hardly anything to worry about. -- Ahh, sorry Sonny_Jim you nailed it for me but I'll leave my answer here. No it's not easy to fall out, they hold really well.

Reto your questions seem to come off of very hateful, I don't care what you ask but when something does not makes sense or is confusing asking is better then assuming. Yes you are right the title claims every but titles are meant to attract not explain. I have no excuse.

Is this sarcasm or something? Best is to answer it directly, yes that is all.

You need to be more specific, what list? Well maybe if you click the link that said "or a very detailed list of what is currently supported, see our full Compatibility List." it would have helped. "Is this all", no of course not. This list is always growing. What is on this list has been tested, what is not on this list is unknown.

No, if you read it correctly, it says future products. We are in the present not the future? I don't have a power pad, it has never came up before. My guess is is would work yes.

I guess this was answered.

Making the zapper works by adding a device on the the existing gun, it said very clearly in the KS that it is for future product. This KS is for the 4-play, nothing to do with a gun.

What are you talking about? This is a 4 player device, 4 players at once. If you used two that adds up to 8?

I would not call this constructive criticism. This is more like brutality You're making up assumptions and taking things like a title way to personal. You need to sit down and smoke a joint. Your invite in email was very inviting, this post was not. There is nothing from this that can be taken as constructive. It is like listening to a girl complaining about her boy friend.

Look you're the mod, you invited me, I'm happy to stick around. The KS was written up by a writer that did make a few mistakes, yes he went for the "wow" factor. I tried to write it up first but everyone told me it was too confusing. I apologize for anything that was unclear in the KS. but all I got out of this was change the title. I think it is best to re ask any questions you have that you feel are not answered.

 

I believe the question was "Can I plug a multitap into this?", not how many players it supports.

 

Thx. No, multi-taps were omitted, the coding would take up too much space on the chip and they would not accomplish anything in the way of a emulators. At least as far as I know no emulator directly reads a multi-tap. They always have you configure each controller with DX or Xinput. If I'm wrong just point me in the right direction. I know some emulators have a 5 player support but we decided to go with 4. You could always use more then one adapter.

 

TBH it would be perfectly possible for you to support multitaps, most of the ones I've looked at (NES/SNES) just use unused clocks on the timing cycle for the other players data. It wouldn't take "too much space on the chip" either.

Unless, you are worried that people are going to be using multitaps rather than buying more hubs and cables ;-)

 

No this device goes back to the Bliss-Box days. That was a single port device. I didn't feel right about doing just one multi-tap so I looked in to it all. There was not enough room on the chip. I started with an 8k and burned that up fast on controller alone, then 16k and that took a few years but burned that up. I now use a 32k and have a bit of room but keeping that open to more important things, I still don't see the need for multi-taps, what is the huge advantage here for a 4 player device? The components on the board don't really add up much so intentionally not adding multi-taps would not save me much.

 

Two advantages:

1. If you already have a multitap for the system, you only require one cable to support 4 joysticks of the same time, meaning you can spend the money on cables of different type.
2. 8 Player Saturn Bomberman ;-)


If you are running out of room already, how can you say "We support any controller with a firmware update"?

 

1, that would be better for a single play device, still seems silly on a 4 player device. So saturn does do 8 player?

You need to get a better idea of what code takes up and being more stringent to design. If for example I had a Saturn adapter then I would basically support anything I could on it. Though this project is about game pads and anything the game pad supports as well as, as many controller I can find. If you plan out your project they are a bit cleaner. Saying I support Saturn and nes game-taps but not sega tg16 ect is not really complete and seems to be shotty IMO. Simply it was planned not to support many device like mice, keyboards, taps. The reason behind that was we already have that stuff in the way of keyboards mice and multiple usb ports. That is never to say that that stuff could be useful, it is just not for this project. To make support for another controller I can easy add to an existing class but in the case with taps, a new class would be crated.

Really though, I don't understand all this third degree, if you guys are calling me out and trying to shake the ground you are fighting a loosing battle. This KS is part of a project that has been around for 7+ years. All of this info can be learned by reading the web page and the KS. Do you really think you are the first to ask?

you say "how can you say "We support any controller with a firmware update"?"...
I said that because that is the case. My reason for not adding multi-taps is a bit deeper and not based only on the size of code, you just acting like a report and take thing out of context.

Who invites someone to there forms to shove a red hot poker up their ass, really

 

While obviously I can't speak for other users on here, I wouldn't take offense to the line of questioning. I would take it as a vigilant gaming community showing interest enough in what you're doing to analyze your project completely. Remember that you're not dealing with a GameFAQs caliber of community. While blunt, the questioning isn't malicious.

 

Yeah, some people here are blunt, but usually are never malicious in nature, just nitpicky, as scams can easily come in this market. So please don't take offense.

I'm actually just interested in this because of the possibility of using an NES controller for the PS3.....

 

Ok fair enough but for a KS you guys do realize you hurting it. I mean fair is fair but your average person only reads 3 and 4 post in, maybe the last. Here they see negativity and they opt out. Now this is great info for a company and full product line. Also, great detective work if a KS is faulty (buyer beware). In this case, everything you brought up is on the web page or on the KS and most of it was lacking of reading. This is a KS for an amazing product. Not my choice of words! Bliss-box is well known for what it is. Just search on it. The KS is to make it affordable. I'll stick around and entering this a bit more, hope it turns a bit toward constructive questioning though.

 

I remember the BlissBox from an older forum, always wanted to purchase one! Looks like this will be a great opportunity to pick one up! The only thing that I see missing that I would be using would be an Original Xbox Adapter (granted I've still got a Mayflash one from back in the day, and honestly the Xbox 360's gamepad was much better and already has a PC adapter).