Universal PCB - Arcade stick controller for most consoles

[toodles]

I figured there might be some interest in this from the other Tech Support readers.
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?p=3898091

Version 1.3 released! Currently tested and supported systems:
-PC USB
-PSX
-PS2 (Tested extensively, works great)
-PS3 (Needs more testing, but VF5 and the dashboard work)
-NeoGeo
-SNES
-Sega Saturn (via Innovation converter, not tested on real console yet)

Coded and believed to work, but not tested:
-NES
-Sega Genesis (3 button)
-Sega MasterSystem
-TurboGrafx-16 (2 and 6 button)
-Atari Jaguar
-3DO
-FM-Towns
-X68000 (2 button)
-Most old DB-9 controller systems from the 80's like Commodore 64's.

Imagine you buy a new Sega Saturn, and you've never had one before. You do already have a fighting stick with the UPCB in it that you play all the time on other systems. In order to use your stick on the new Saturn, you would need 1. A Saturn plug, either from an extension cable or a sacrificed or dead controller. 2. A DB-15 plug and hood. Total cost to play the stick on the new system, somewhere between $1 and $5. That's the goal of project, to support as many systems extremely cheaply.

Months down the road, a new game system, the XCube3, comes out and you want to play your stick on it. The XCube3 wasn't even out when your UPCB was made, so you think you're stuck. But, as soon as the controller protocol is supported in UPCB, here's what you have to do: 1. Plug the stick into your PC with the same cable you use to play PC games and mame. 2. Run a program that updates the UPCB 3. Make a cable just like above. UPCB can be updated anytime without even needing to open the stick, and with the same cable you've already got.

 

[Murray]

Sweet, the update functionality is a nice surprise.

I got my shipment confirmation for the PICs a couple days ago, so now I'm just waiting for you to put the bare PCBs on sale.

 

[werejag]

sweet.

we need blank pcbs

 

[toodles]

Yeah, the shipment of the kit parts is taken forever. If I dont get some sort of notice that they're shipped by tomorrow, I'll go ahead and put the bare pcb's up for sale. I really wanted to have a kit available tho.

 

[toodles]

Kits and PCBs are up for sale. Check it out.

 

[Murray]

Hmm, only 5 boards / 9 kits at $18 / $36? Limited production run + price may rule it out for me right now. It's not that I think it's unreasonable (it's definitely not), just bad timing for me to make an $80 purchase. I expect the units you have will go very quickly.

I may start looking into implementing it on a more basic proto board, also. It won't be as neat but would cost about 1/4 the price for the PCB.

 

[toodles]

I may start looking into implementing it on a more basic proto board, also. It won't be as neat but would cost about 1/4 the price for the PCB.

No sarcasm at all, I'd LOVE to see that. It's how I made the first one I had. I wish I had the ability to make a larger production run of PCB's, but Im already quite a bit in the hole for the little I currently do have made. I do feel good about the price of the kit parts, but I would like to see the PCB price go down, but I don't think that will happen until a couple of people make sticks with it and others start seeing what all it can do.

 

[werejag]

is there a pcb file for me to etch my own? i must have missed it

 

[toodles]

is there a pcb file for me to etch my own? i must have missed it

No there's not, but the full schematic is there to make your own.

Ack, I'd shoot myself before trying to etch the one I got made. Too many vias, hella small, and close to pads. Uck.

And just so I'm clear, the kit does come with the PCB. $80 would be two full kits.

 

[werejag]

well might as well doom support for these