Joystick or Game Controller Output Signals...

[rxforspeed]

Hey guys-I've got a few older Nintendo and original Playstation controllers with joysticks and I had a pretty cool idea about intercepting the signals sent from them to use for a completely different purpose than originally intended. I've searched the web for awhile and have only been able to find quality info on the Nintendo "Gamecube" controllers. Does anybody here know anything about the information that could be processed, interpreted, and taken advantage of via one of these prehistoric game controllers? Any info you guys could share or point me to would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[elec_mech]

Adam,

I can't say I've done much with the older controllers, but I have written code using the Playstation 2 controllers, in particular the analog joysticks - although it was for a Basic Stamp 2, not a PIC. It's been awhile, but I found several good articles from Parallax who makes the Basic Stamp and thus the examples, which are written in PBasic, and can very easily be modified to work in PBP. Here's a few links to get you started:

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/cols/nv/vol4/col/nv101.pdf

http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=21&m=112356

http://www.mikroe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8792&highlight=led+ds1820

http://www.lynxmotion.com/images/html/build024.htm

You may very well be able to use these to write code and interface with a Playstation 1 controller. I'm pretty sure I used my PS2 code to interface with a PS1 dual joystick without a problem. Now, the standard Basic Stamp 2 can't handle the wireless controller due mostly, I believe, to a speed issue, but I doubt you'll have a problem using a PIC.

However, you did mention an older NES controller. I inferred you meant pre-Gamecube, so are we talking Nintendo 64, Super NES or the classic 8-bit system? For the 8-bit, I'd look again at Parallax, specifically at their Hydra Game Development System. The inputs to the board look identical to a classic Nintendo controller. I would guess you could find code on their forum.
Here are some links:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/hydra/List/1/ProductID/467/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=33

Super NES Controller for sale:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8978

Lastly, if you need pinouts for various controllers, check out:
http://pinouts.ru/pin_Game.shtml

I hope this helps.

[Dave]

rxforspeed, I have built a couple of wireless interfaces for my wife's entertainment company for interfacing DDR pads to PS2 and the GameCube. Attached is a document I used for the interface for the GameCube.

Dave Purola,
N8NTA

[rxforspeed]

Thanks guys, that info is definately what I needed. I'm sure I'll be able to figure out exactly what I need from the links elec mech posted and the document Dave had posted.

I had actually found that document (the one posted by Dave) by searching yahoo, but that was on a different computer so I don't have the link or website with me on my notebook here at school. Thanks for the help and info, guys-I really appreciate it! Now if I can only find a few free hours of time to actually play with those controllers and thouroughly read all that info...

I am still a bit confused about most of the joysticks I had found. I couldn't find a matching plug on the pin-out site and I have no idea what system they're from (I thought NES or SNES). The one I thought was a PS1 was actually the NES/SNES joystick; I'm not really much of a gamer, so I made a wrongful assumption-my bad. Oh well-I'm sure I'll figure it out and find the pin-out and related info I need from those posted links. Thanks again, guys!

[Dave]

Adam, Here is the connector for the PS2 if you need it...

Dave Purola,
N8NTA

[rxforspeed]

Again, thanks guys! I saw some VERY interesting info in those links, and I've since figured out that the three unidentified joystick controllers are from an original NES, but I bought a PS2 dual-joystick controller just because I found some good info on that (with your help). Once I get a bit of free time to experiement and get those figured out, I'll "upgrade" to the Gamecube controller. Thanks for sharing such valuable info!

[sayzer]

Here is the way aha aha aha...

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3494