PC Engine autofire with variable resistor?

[aloe]

Hi all.

I'm a fan of shmups, but my hands cramp up while playing them, from holding the fire button in/having to manually tap to shoot. So I'm thinking of building a little box for PC Engine controllers that can do full-autofiring (i.e. it fires repeatedly, I don't have to hold in the fire button), and regular autofire, both with a variable rate of fire (adjustable via a potentiometer or whatever, on the box). I'm alright sourcing parts and am ok at soldering; SMD soldering isn't my idea of a good time, but I can do it if necessary. I could use some advice on the design, though, so if anyone has experience with that side of things, or knows of existing projects like this, it'd be really appreciated. (I did try searching here, but the forum search engine doesn't allow " " as an operator so I get a million hits for "PC" or "engine" instead.)

I'm aware that some shmups, like R-Type, wouldn't be a good fit for full-autofire, since you want to charge and so on, but it's better than nothing.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The commercially released 3rd-party Micomsoft manufactured "XE-1 Pro HE" joystick for the PC Engine has variable autofire via sliding potentiometer switches and includes the cool option for "hands free" full autofiring for both buttons I and II if so desired. An array of two banks of leds indicates gauging the rate of autofire for handy visual reference/status. It originally came with a MSRP of 9,500 yen. It doubles as a cool PCE multi-tap accessory as well (with four additional controller ports located on the right-side portion of the arcade stick base itself) -- how cool is that? Plus you can change the 8-way digital joystick to a 4-way as well with it's built-in elaborate mechanism. The actual arcade stick base itself has a metal plate for a bit heft/stability (but is still lightweight enough to use on your lap or desktop setup). Very well made PCE arcade stick indeed.

The PCE-based world-class arcade stick, the "Hori Fighting Stick PC," has a rare and "out of production" arcade-grade rated Seimitsu LS-33 joystick installed at the factory level and has built-in autofire capability for all six push buttons (or limited to buttons I and II via a switch setting if it needed be) but doesn't offer "hands free" autofiring option though. Hori went the extra mile in-housing all pre-installed arcade components in a hefty two piece all-metal base setup and won't budge/shift during a heated PCE gaming session. This particular PCE arcade stick came with a MSRP of 7,800 yen.

The above two listed world-class PCE arcade sticks are the best ones that money can buy nowadays.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[jd213]

Hi all.

I'm a fan of shmups, but my hands cramp up while playing them, from holding the fire button in/having to manually tap to shoot. So I'm thinking of building a little box for PC Engine controllers that can do full-autofiring (i.e. it fires repeatedly, I don't have to hold in the fire button), and regular autofire, both with a variable rate of fire (adjustable via a potentiometer or whatever, on the box). I'm alright sourcing parts and am ok at soldering; SMD soldering isn't my idea of a good time, but I can do it if necessary. I could use some advice on the design, though, so if anyone has experience with that side of things, or knows of existing projects like this, it'd be really appreciated. (I did try searching here, but the forum search engine doesn't allow " " as an operator so I get a million hits for "PC" or "engine" instead.)

I'm aware that some shmups, like R-Type, wouldn't be a good fit for full-autofire, since you want to charge and so on, but it's better than nothing.

Not sure how easy it would be to build something specifically for PCE controllers, it might need to be something between the button signals and the controller IC. You might be able to figure something out if you look around at autofire circuits based on 555 timers or maybe Aruduino projects. There's also tons of Japanese info out there if you search for 連射回路 and then use Google Translate or whatever

[aloe]

The commercially released 3rd-party Micomsoft manufactured "XE-1 Pro HE" joystick for the PC Engine has variable autofire via sliding potentiometer switches and includes the cool option for "hands free" full autofiring for both buttons I and II if so desired. An array of two banks of leds indicates gauging the rate of autofire for handy visual reference/status. It originally came with a MSRP of 9,500 yen. It doubles as a cool PCE multi-tap accessory as well (with four additional controller ports located on the right-side portion of the arcade stick base itself) -- how cool is that? Plus you can change the 8-way digital joystick to a 4-way as well with it's built-in elaborate mechanism. The actual arcade stick base itself has a metal plate for a bit heft/stability (but is still lightweight enough to use on your lap or desktop setup). Very well made PCE arcade stick indeed.

The PCE-based world-class arcade stick, the "Hori Fighting Stick PC," has a rare and "out of production" arcade-grade rated Seimitsu LS-33 joystick installed at the factory level and has built-in autofire capability for all six push buttons (or limited to buttons I and II via a switch setting if it needed be) but doesn't offer "hands free" autofiring option though. Hori went the extra mile in-housing all pre-installed arcade components in a hefty two piece all-metal base setup and won't budge/shift during a heated PCE gaming session. This particular PCE arcade stick came with a MSRP of 7,800 yen.

The above two listed world-class PCE arcade sticks are the best ones that money can buy nowadays.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Thanks for the advice. Is there a joypad equivalent? Otherwise that first one would be ideal.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The commercially released 3rd-party Micomsoft manufactured "XE-1 Pro HE" joystick for the PC Engine has variable autofire via sliding potentiometer switches and includes the cool option for "hands free" full autofiring for both buttons I and II if so desired. An array of two banks of leds indicates gauging the rate of autofire for handy visual reference/status. It originally came with a MSRP of 9,500 yen. It doubles as a cool PCE multi-tap accessory as well (with four additional controller ports located on the right-side portion of the arcade stick base itself) -- how cool is that? Plus you can change the 8-way digital joystick to a 4-way as well with it's built-in elaborate mechanism. The actual arcade stick base itself has a metal plate for a bit heft/stability (but is still lightweight enough to use on your lap or desktop setup). Very well made PCE arcade stick indeed.

The PCE-based world-class arcade stick, the "Hori Fighting Stick PC," has a rare and "out of production" arcade-grade rated Seimitsu LS-33 joystick installed at the factory level and has built-in autofire capability for all six push buttons (or limited to buttons I and II via a switch setting if it needed be) but doesn't offer "hands free" autofiring option though. Hori went the extra mile in-housing all pre-installed arcade components in a hefty two piece all-metal base setup and won't budge/shift during a heated PCE gaming session. This particular PCE arcade stick came with a MSRP of 7,800 yen.

The above two listed world-class PCE arcade sticks are the best ones that money can buy nowadays.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Thanks for the advice. Is there a joypad equivalent? Otherwise that first one would be ideal.

Unfortunately, Micomsoft did not make a joypad version of the XE-1 Pro HE. So your best bet would be pick up an XE-1 Pro HE arcade stick in either brand new condition or super mint condition.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~