USB Controllers on the Saturn - a possibility?

[calmdownmonkey]

Hello there folks,

I'm wondering if anyone has managed to use a USB controller, such as an Xbox360 arcade stick on a Sega Saturn?

I always see people talking about the exact opposite - using Saturn hardware on an Xbox/PC, but I really wouldn't like to go invest in another pair of arcade sticks specifically for the Saturn.

I resurrected my Saturn as I'm heavily into 2D shooters such as Ikaruga, and noticed the Saturn has a huge variety on the go. However, I'm so used to using a stick now for beat 'em ups and shooters that a pad feels a bit fiddly and inaccurate...

It's a long shot, but if anyone has any information at all that would be great :-)

[nickellingworth]

It should be possible to convert a USB signal to work in a Saturn, how you'd do it I don't know though as I'm not sure if the Saturn uses a serial or parallel connection for it's controller, if it's parallel the conversion could be very tricky. And most USB devices require power so you may need a 5v external power supply for what ever hardware you wanted to use.

Due to the complex nature of the conversion and the potential for everything to go very wrong, I would recommend sticking with Saturn hardware.

[mick_aka]

Try looking at the links page on our main site sometime

www.gamesx.com/controldata/usbsatpad/index.shtml

Or indeed buy the properly manufactured SLS USB saturn pads

[nickellingworth]

Wrong way round Mick, what he wants to do is take any usb controller and make a box that converts it to a format that works with the Saturn.

[mick_aka]

Ah I see apologies, really must start reading people's posts

[nickellingworth]

Yes you should.

[calmdownmonkey]

Thanks very much for the help dudes...

It does sound more complicated than I'd be willing to go unfortunately :-( I think I'll stick to Darius Gaiden on my emulator until I see a cheap stick on eBay!

Actually, a thought...

Has anyone tried building their own Saturn stick? Perhaps using a DIY kit, like one of these:
www.norrisarcadesticks.com/
If so, is it a fairly simple task to solder in the guts of a Saturn pad?

[Anthaemia.]

With emulation fast becoming so accurate, you're probably best running Saturn games on the PC and keeping USB devices for this. Besides, why ruin a perfectly good controller (or console, in the worst case scenario) by modifying it when other options are now readily available?

[chizzles]

In theory you could wire the pad up with the internals of a Saturn pad and install a switch for switching between the two encoders.

A Saturn pad's encoder is a fairly simple beast...

You'd have to be pretty damn bad at soldering to ruin the console <_<

[Anthaemia.]

I always wanted to annoy a PlayStation-loving friend by rewiring a Saturn controller for his system, but due to my being "pretty damn bad at soldering" it was never going to be a realistic option. Let's just hope he's not reading this - you know who you are, if so...

[chizzles]

I think the PS2 Saturn controllers work on the PS1, I could be mistaken, though.

[mick_aka]

The PS2 Saturn controllers are USB are they not?!

[chizzles]

Not that I know of, the PC ones are, however.

Sega also manufactured Virtua Sticks and "Neo-Geo" sticks for the Ps2 that just use the standard PS2 controller socket, and most PS2 encoders have a PS1 mode that makes them work on the PS1.

The majority of games don't have USB control drivers built into them anyway, USB based PS2 peripherals don't work with most games.

[calmdownmonkey]

For anyone interested in such things, I've found this:

Universal PCB:
forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=131230

It should be possible to mod a stick to be (almost) universal to any console, besides the cable from the PCB to the console.

Apparently the dude sells them pre-made too.

Not sure exactly how useful this will be yet, but it seems to have some interesting features...