Saturn/SNES to PSX/Supergun adapter in the works

[mojo]

Hi.

I am working on a Sega Saturn and SNES gamepad to Playstation 1/2 and Supergun converter. Basically you will be able to plug in a Saturn or SNES pad and use them on your PSX or Supergun (and NeoGeo) with no lag. It is an open source project, very easy to build and I will also be offering ready-made units.

The main thread over at SRK is here: http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=209357

The prototype is nearly done. It supports multiple button mappings, and I need help to decide on which ones to use. There is a default mapping and you can select an alternative one by holding down a button when you plug the pad in. The mappings I have so far can be seen here:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key= ... E&hl=en_GB

As you can see there are quite a few slots open, so please feel free to contribute. If there is a game you want to match button mapping to then let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Oh, and I need a good name for it

[Elixir]

I think $30 is a bit much considering you have lagless PS2 to 360 and PS2 to PS3 inpin converters (see the Hardware forum). Anyone already with a PS2 Saturn pad can upgrade and use it with one of those inpins.

The Supergun idea is neat, but not everyone has one with NeoGeo outputs. For example, mine requires DIN13. If you could make a Saturn -> DIN13 converter, I'd definitely buy it. My current converter is PS2 -> VGA -> DIN13 and I'm using a PS2 Saturn pad with it. It's working well, but it's not ideal.

[Ganelon]

Is it possible for you to offer PS-to-DB15 converters (where the PS end is compatible with PS2 controllers)? I'm not sure why so many folks want to use an SS pad when they can use a PS HRAP. Also, do you have the exact pinout for the DB15 end available?

I would definitely be interested in purchasing 2 PS-to-DB15 converters as long as you can guarantee 0-frame (or maybe at most 1-frame) lag. Having multiple button configurations without rewiring the Jamma harness is awesome.

[mojo]

I think $30 is a bit much considering you have lagless PS2 to 360 and PS2 to PS3 inpin converters (see the Hardware forum). Anyone already with a PS2 Saturn pad can upgrade and use it with one of those inpins.

Someone asked me to do it, so I did. I'm just a hobbyist, not in this for profit (should probably have been a bit clearer about that). Obviously I can't compete with people churning out 100,000 adapters at a time.

The Supergun idea is neat, but not everyone has one with NeoGeo outputs. For example, mine requires DIN13. If you could make a Saturn -> DIN13 converter, I'd definitely buy it. My current converter is PS2 -> VGA -> DIN13 and I'm using a PS2 Saturn pad with it. It's working well, but it's not ideal.

Sure, that's no problem to do. It's simply a case of changing the DB15 for a DIN13 connector. The signals are the same, just a different connection.

[mojo]

Is it possible for you to offer PS-to-DB15 converters (where the PS end is compatible with PS2 controllers)? I'm not sure why so many folks want to use an SS pad when they can use a PS HRAP. Also, do you have the exact pinout for the DB15 end available?

I am planning to offer that too. It will use the same hardware.

I would definitely be interested in purchasing 2 PS-to-DB15 converters as long as you can guarantee 0-frame (or maybe at most 1-frame) lag. Having multiple button configurations without rewiring the Jamma harness is awesome.

When connected to a Supergun there is at most 50us of lag between reading the Saturn pad and sending the signal to the game. That's 0.00005 seconds, or 20,000 updates per second. 1 frame is 0.016 seconds (60Hz) so you can see that the maximum lag is 0.003 frames. That is about 1000x better than a standard XBOX 360 pad.

That's the maximum we are talking about, usually it is significantly lower.

SNES pads are a little worse, but still basically 0. When connected to a Playstation the Saturn pad readings are instantaneous so the amount of lag is exactly the same as a standard Playstation pad or arcade stick, so again basically 0.

[Ganelon]

That's great news. Please make let everyone know when these adapters are available.