Some good news today I guess. Today I received my order from ebay finally after 2/3 weeks or so. Ordered those cheap usb joysticks from the last 2 posts below and have finally got them in my hands right now.
Now what I plan to do with these you might ask. Originally, my plans to make the control panel was to buy an i-PAC2 controller, then have all the buttons connected to the controller. What this does is when a button is pressed, the signal goes to the i-PAC controller, the controller is then connected to a usb or ps/2 keyboard which then tells the computer the input. What the controller does is makes the button pressed think a computer keyboard is being pressed. I hope this was easy to understand. If not just send an email and I will explain in full proper details. Email.
Now, my intentions with this usb joystick from ebay is quite simple. Considering its already a joystick, all it has to do is connect to a computer via usb. I'm going to be ripping these brand spanking new joysticks apart, and replacing the buttons already on it with my own buttons that I purchased from Austin Amusements a while back.
What makes this so much easier is that its all there for me. Pre made! All I'm doing is replacing their buttons with mine, and having the usb plugged straight into the MAME's computer. It'll require a bit of soldering as there were no cables when I opened up the joystick, its input is registered via touchpad from contact like your average playstation controller. So we will have to do some soldering and wiring to have the buttons reach the pcb then have the usb reach the computer. Of course, the i-PAC might be easier because of this. Both Corey and I have experience from electronics class in year 12 getting our cert etc.
What kind of post would this be without pictures? Here ya go!
Alright aligning these pictures was a pain... damn you blogger! This is the best I can do.
Pictures include comparison with an ipod touch, the package itself. The rear taken off from the back. PCB and the touchpad of the control panel, and a closeup of the pcb.
And yes, I also noticed that huge piece of stone right in the corner! Was shocked when I saw this. I'm guessing its to add weight or to prevent a gap between the back cover so it doesn't easily break. Damn chinese ebayers!!!
The development blog of a MAME created by Bono Savatdy and Corey Mudge. What is MAME? MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. It is a built machine designed to emulate games of previous or older gaming platforms such as Atari & SNES for example.
