Dual port RAM, Rpi based cart.

[CPUWIZ]

Kind of cool.

 

https://hackaday.com/2018/07/26/dual-port-memory-and-raspberry-pi-team-up-for-retro-console-multicart/

[Omega-TI]

Yes, it's kind of cool to select and switch games using a cellphone instead of turning on and off the 5200 every time, like one does with the Atarimax. With that said, sometimes the simple approach works best, adding more stuff to the mix can complicate things if you are not the only one who uses the unit.

 

If this becomes a purchasable product in the future, I'll still stick with the Atarimax because I don't need anymore wall-warts and cables, besides, I want to keep things simple enough for company to use, and I already have a solution that works for me.

[MrMaddog]

I wish someone would use modern technology to make a better 5200 controller...

 

Seriously, I like to see something like a arcade joystick intergrated with the trackball controller and round fire buttons.

[Omega-TI]

I wish someone would use modern technology to make a better 5200 controller...

 

Seriously, I like to see something like a arcade joystick intergrated with the trackball controller and round fire buttons.

 

You know, now days with 3D printing technology someone COULD! Once someone makes the case, it could use standardized parts from China. Take the cord from your old 5200 controller, plug all the parts together and viola, new super joystick. I guess the only question I would need to research is... is there a self-centering analog joystick available?

[+DrVenkman]

 

You know, now days with 3D printing technology someone COULD! Once someone makes the case, it could use standardized parts from China. Take the cord from your old 5200 controller, plug all the parts together and viola, new super joystick. I guess the only question I would need to research is... is there a self-centering analog joystick available?

Sure. The thumb sticks in all the modern console controllers are analog sticks in essence. It would be relative child’s play to build the same kind of thing with a “classic size” stick, though it might be expensive to get production started up. Alternatively you could use an existing analog thumb stick wired into an Arduino to produce the right range out outputs to feed to the 5200.

 

I’d have to sacrifice one of my vintage controller cords, but doing the latter is one of my “ sometime this fall” projects.

[smbaker]

Four new pcboards arrived today:

 

* Revision 2 of the pi-powered multicart

* Handheld analog controller using the sparkfun analog thumbstick, with a adc and digital pot for the conversion (same approach as the Ben Heck video)

* Masterplay clone w/ integrated keypad

* PC Joystick adapter w/ integrated keypad

 

I have a trip coming up, so I probably won't be able to build up these and video them for a couple weeks.

 

As far as the cable, that's easily solved, there are $9 joystick extension cables available for sale online, and they plug into the front of the 5200 nicely. You could cut one end off, or the approach I used is to mount a DB15 onto my controller, and just plug the extension cable into that. Haven't built my handheld controller yet, so I don't know how aesthetic and ergonomic having a plug on the back of the controller is going to turn out.

 

As a preview, here's a layout of the handheld controller. I set it up so that it can be built with the stick on either the left or the right. The opposite side will get the fire buttons

 

 

Of course, I haven't built it yet, so I don't know how well it's going to handle, nor do I know if my choice of microcontroller and digital pot are going to work out.

 

If someone wanted to make a real digital arcade stick and real fire button controller, then it would be electrically trivial to do this with a masterplay clone. The key would be making a nice case for it. I've thought about doing this -- the analog thumbpads, while cool and preserving the analog capability, are really only necessary for a handful of games.

Edited July 31, 2018 by smbaker