OLD CHANGE HISTORY

2/28/99

• Between Dann (of the detachable wheel fame) and I, we had most of Wally's World archived.  I now have a mirror of Wally's World - Build Your Own Wheels and Pedals site online.  Also, I found out that Wally's World is expected to return at a new site, Simracing - Wally's Page, soon.  Wally's World was the site for wheel/pedal construction before it went offline.  Thanks Dann!
• Twisty Grip is considering making and selling the N64 controller adapters for PCs.  This probably won't happen unless sufficient interest is shown.  Let them know if you're interested in purchasing such a contraption either on the message board, or email them directly.  I encourage the message board so we can see how much interest there is and perhaps start a dialogue.
• Finally updated the changes page to reflect recent changes.
• Updated the parallel/serial section of the Inputs page with Steffen's How to make a joystick adapter for the PC parallel port.
• A bit of minor site tweaking.
• The link to SNESKEY is working again.

• Nintendo 64 controllers are coming to a PC near you :)  A few weeks ago, I sent Stephan Hans an email asking him how he'd been progressing on interfacing a N64 controller to a PC.  He replied that he'd put it on hold for a bit, but was interested in picking it up again.  A few weeks of electrical and software magic later, and ... voila :)  See more details on it on the Alternatives page, and of course, the full project on Stephan Hans' Nintendo 64 page.  Way to go everyone! :)
• Removed Console Adapters from the Alternatives page.  My link to Benji York's SNESKEY page seems to be bad - anyone with a good URL?
• Updated the ATM VGA2PAL section on the Final Assembly page.  Yes, they do offer an NTSC version as well.  Just specify that when you order.
• Updated the Inputs page with more details on the EPIC.  A pricey but very very powerful interface card you can base your project around.  A must read.  Thanks Johnxt!
• Updated the Other Project's page with James' Basement Bar (From the 2/16 update)  33 online now!
• Put in the updates to Dann's Almost Instantly Detachable Steering Wheel project.  Take a look :)

Began to fall asleep at keyboard.  More later...

• Dann has sent me some updates to his Almost Instantly Detachable Steering Wheel project that I'll be putting up soon.  He also sent me his capture of Wally's World's web site, and I intend to have a mirror of that up soon.  Wally's World, if you haven't heard of it, was the *biggest* build-your-own-steering-wheel contraption site ever.  It unfortunately was taken down, but I don't think the owner would mind my mirroring it here...  Dann's also got a couple of other projects in the works, so all I can say is Go Dann Go! :)
• Someone sent me an email that they'd interfaced arcade controls using 6 resistors and a couple of potentiometers instead of a game pad - they will be sending me something to share soon I hope.
• Johnxt sent me a link to R&R Electronics, who sells a product called the EPIC.  It is a controller interface that appears to be the interface of choice for the build-your-own-flight-simulator-cockpit crew.  The EPIC appears to be to the Hagstrom encoder what the encoder is to the keyboard hack - i.e. many levels of sophistication and capability higher.  More when I have a chance to digest the site and post it . . .  Thanks Johnxt!
• James sent me his web page (James' Basement Bar) with his MAME cabinet.  I must say it looks pretty sharp :)  It will be finding it's way to the Other Projects page when I do my real update.  Thanks James!
• If you haven't been to the Directpad Pro site lately, run don't walk and check out what's new!  They've added many interfaces - Dual button Atari/Sega Master system, Saturn, and most importantly ... Playstation with support for the Dual Shock controllers!  Check it out :)
• Another pre-made custom joystick for sale!  Skrogman makes and sells The Ultimate MAME Joystick.  He's presently not taking sales as the project is being re-designed, but should take orders again in a few months.  You can see what it looks like on the Twin Galaxies page for now until he has his own web page.
• Randy passed on to me an email he got from Hagstrom regarding their line of keyboard encoders...  Randy was wanting to use his USB interface for a variety of reasons, and wanted to know if Hagstrom had a USB version.  Their response?  "Coming, March '99." Thanks Randy!
• Matt runs a web site called build your own arcade-style controls for consoles and pcs which has a variety of projects on it.  The big one is an arcade joystick interfaced to your Sony Playstation or Saturn.  Check out the Frankenstick! :)  Thanks for the note Matt!
• Something BIG may be coming very soon!  Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies, but I'll post the details as soon as I'm allowed.  Stay tuned . . .

• Many requests for more information on connecting your computer to a tv/arcade monitor.  I'll be digging for information on this as best I can, but it's a tad scarce.  One solution added to the Final Assembly page is the VGA2PRO product by ATM that converts VGA output to PAL (not NTSC unfortunately).  Also added a small bit to the scan converters section.
• Added links to 4 technical documents on converting VGA to TV on the Final Assembly page.  It looks like the Matrox MGA cards combined with a converter cable are the way to go?  OPINIONS WANTED.
• EXPERIMENTING!  New updates will look like this - bigger font & bolded - to help you distinguish what's truly new on the various pages.  When the next update happens, old news will go back to normal appearance.  Please give me feedback if this makes it easier, or if it's harder on the eyes or just generally noxious.  I'm not too thrilled with the look so suggestions are wanted.
• Added CyberJedi's Cyber Sidewinder Arcade Stick to the stand-alone controller projects.  Looks sharp! :)If you have problems navigating his site, turn off java & javascript until he can tweak some problems.
• Also added Jay Wilkinson's Joystick Project, The Real Arcade Machine (Italian), to the stand-alone controller projects as well.  Jay's is a work in progress still.  The R.A.M. site is extremely detailed - I'd love to see a translation.  The pictures are outstanding.
• NINTENDO 64 controller adapter!  OK - sorry to be a tease - it's for the Macintosh only.  Check out the JoyPort by Kernel Productions.
• Couple of questions on creating your own marquee and side art for your arcade cabinet.  I am also wanting to do this.  Any hints from anyone?
• LOOKING FOR HELP!  One thing my site lacks is a spiffy logo :)  I'm looking for a talented and cheap (as in free :) ) volunteer to come up with a logo for my web site.  Something relatively small in size for bandwidth, but a bit of tasteful color would be nice.  Anyone care to give it a try?  All you'll get is my gratitude and credit somewhere on the site, but when I say grateful I mean really grateful. :)

• Finished revamping the Links page.  Added a "drivers and software" section to it.  Overall page should be easier to navigate now.  32arcade cabinet and stand-alone controller projects linked to now.  Got one that's not up there?  Let me know about it! :)
• Tweaked the Reviews page a bit.  Added a new comparison of the Happ Ultimate vs. Universal joystick.  Also added two good reviews of the Pounder (Does *anyone* have any information where their web site has gone to?)
• Updated the Inputs page with another keyboard encoder option from Hagstrom - the LP24 seems to be mid-level positioned between the KE18 and the KE24.  He also details how his planned matrix using the LP24 will virtually eliminate the possibiilty of ghosting on his layout.  Thanks John!
• Gave a few folks credit for information they pointed me to that I had neglected before.  I really do appreciate the feedback everyone gives me - please keep it coming! :)
• Added a new ready-to-buy vendor to the Alternatives page.  Hutt sells not only fully customizable stand-alone arcade controls, but also fully sized arcade MAME cabinets, with trackballs and spinners and more :)
• HotRod coming soon!  The HotRod site has some news about their product - they're progressing full speed ahead on their release date, after extensive beta testing of their prototypes.  Having some difficulty with one of their original choices for joystick parts vendors, they've gone to one of the Happ models and are reporting great results!  (This is, of course, the advantage of beta testing before releasing a product live...)  Also, due to popular demand, they will be releasing an enhanced version of their product dubbed the "SE" - check out the details at their web site, photos are now online! :)
• MORE TO COME!  Sleepiness wins, no more updates for the night.  I sitll have 33 emails waiting for my attention regarding the FAQ.  Coming soon, more examples of other people's projects to put links up to, N64 controller adapters (Mac only, sorry :) ), *maybe* some more on using real arcade monitors, and on my sister web site, pix and info on my now *7* arcade cabinets - one of which is going to be my home built arcade machine one day darnit!

• Fixed some bad links.  Thanks for the reports.  Let me know if you see any more!
• Added a new joystick interface card from PDPI called the Lightning 4 to the Inputs page - Thanks "Just Michael" :).
• Here's a first ever teaser on BYOAC ...  Dann has sent me a write up on his project to interface a steering wheel - detachable - to your own arcade cabinet.  Picture your arcade cabinet running all your games, and then pulling a steering wheel out of the coin door, hooking it up, and racing your brains out!  It's going to take me a bit to convert his Word doc to .html.  COMING SOON!
• Bah - who needs sleep.  Here it is - Dann's Steering Wheel Project added to the Controls page! :) <<<--- LOOK HERE!

• Tweaked the Alternatives page to hopefully make it easier to navigate and see updates (3 currently).  Also updates to the look and feel of the Cabinets, Controls, Inputs, and Final Assembly pages.  Let me know if it helps or hinders :)
• Dave Dribin has sent me a link to a *great* explanation he wrote up of the keyboard ghosting problem.  His well supported conclusion?  Use diodes! :)  Thanks Dave!