Vectrexer Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) I have seen a lot of adapters to convert a controller/joystick for use on one system to use on a completely different system. Such as the PSX to Vectrex adapter. I have also seen USB adapters to allow the use of an original controller/joystick on a PC in order to have a better experience in an emulator. But I have not yet noticed an adapter to allow a smartphone/table (Android, iPhone, etc) to act as a replacement controller. Effectively turing the smartphone/table into a controller you can connect to an old/new console. Has anyone seen a adapter to connect a USB / Dock / Lightning port to an console port of a classic console? (Vectrex, Atari, Intellivision, SNES, Sega,etc) Would be nice to use a tablet or a smartphone as a replacement controller. While not a joystick, there could still be some upsides. Such as an virtual controller app that would allow the following: Remapping of the controls. Repositioning of the controls. Emulation of analog controls in the smartphone/tablet with corresponding analog output to the console. Such as a the analog joystick in the Vectrex and other systems. Emulation of keypad controls in the smartphone/tablet with corresponding output to the console. Such as a the keypad in the Intellivision and other systems. Macros for use during game play. Skins and other graphics to replicate to the look and feel of the original controller in the app on smartphone/tablet. In addition simply replacing the controller, I could see the adapter taking things further for those systems that have some two-way I/O capability possibility. Obviously some code would be needed on both the console and the smartphone/tablet app to allow for this interface to work. I can see many older systems supporting this idea. Even the Vectrex. The following features and more might be supported. Allow the smartphone/tablet to act as a rumble controller giving the player physical feedback. Emulation of other non-standard keypads, joysticks, and other controllers, etc. that are hard to obtain due to rarity or price. Allow the smartphone/tablet to provide audible feedback. Effectively turning the external device into another sound interface for the console. Beeps. full range sounds. Music. Voice synthesis, etc Allow the smartphone/tablet/other device act as a secondary display for the console to a limited degree. Obviously this would vary by system and communication speed on the console port. Other generalized I/O allowing other things to be accomplished not mentioned above . What do you all think? What have you already seen? . Edited June 28, 2014 by Vectrexer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiddlepaddle Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I don't like using a touchscreen for control. It would also add a layer of complexity I wouldn't want to fool with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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