Re: 49-way joysticks


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Posted by Ray on August 08, 1999 at 14:35:23:

In Reply to: 49-way joysticks posted by Chris on August 06, 1999 at 23:34:37:

: Is it possible to connect a 49-way joystick to a computer? If so how? Please let me know before 8/7 because I can buy 2 cheap!

Anything is possible, although you probably don't want to bother. The 49-way joystick is meant to mimic an analog joystick. Why not just use an analog stick, esp. since MAME accepts analog input for Sinistar adn Blaster (is Arch Rivals emulated yet? That's the only other game I can think of that uses 49-way sticks)

If you really want to use the 49-way stick, here is how it works:

Each axis has 6 LED's and detectors:

+3
+2
+1
0 (center...no LED/detector)
-1
-2
-3

Since there are two directions, you have 49 possible positions (7x7)

Deflecting the joystick interupts the various detectors so the game board knows how far you've pushed the stick. The game then interprets this however it wants (pseudo analog signal)

Two options to interface to a PC:

Write a driver to remap these inputs as key inputs to an analog input (ouch)

Do some PIC programming (with support logic) to make the digital inputs to an analog output that is suitable for the PC game port.


My recommendation: get the analog stick ;-) esp. since games like Afterburner can't be that far off. Of course, what I'm really waiting for is TMek over MAMENET, with dual analog sticks for control, but I'm not holding my breath for that one ;-)

Ray





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