Zerosquare Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Here's my latest hardware project : an adapter to use the analog Atari 2600 paddles (the "Pong" ones, not the driving controllers). Each adapter supports two paddles. It should be useful for Breakout or Warlords-style games I tried to make it small and simple, and use cheap and easy-to-find parts. Here's what it looks like. As you can see, it's possible to make it fit into the connector shells. And here is the schematic : Parts list : - One 4538 (or HEF4538, CD4538, etc. not 74HC4538/74HCT4538) IC - Two 10 nF ceramic X7R capacitors (6.3 V voltage or higher) - Two 22 k, 5%, 1/4 W resistors - One 100 nF ceramic X7R capacitor (6.3 V voltage or higher) - One 9-pin male SubD connector + plastic shell - One 15-pin high-density male SubD connector + plastic shell The software routines to use the adapter are almost ready ; they still need a bit of tweaking, but they mostly work. I'll post them here as soon as they're done, as well as additional information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredifredo Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 bravo Zerosquare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sh3-rg Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Here's my latest hardware project : an adapter to use the analog Atari 2600 paddles Hmm, we should make a little game to support this, I will speak with Morden this evening - thanks, Zerosquare. kZa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocket Posted August 16, 2009 Report Share Posted August 16, 2009 Excellent ! You can count on Fadest's game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest promethea Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Good stuff! Now, if I only had a 2600 paddle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zerosquare Posted August 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Thanks Beware : upon checking, it seems that the 74HC4538 and 74HCT4538 ICs are not 100% compatible with the standard 4538. I think it could be fixed in software, but that would require an additional setting. In the meantime, I recommend against using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari_fan Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Very nice! Well done. If I understand correctly no *existing* Jaguar game will be able to make use of this adaptor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zerosquare Posted August 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 That's correct. It is designed to be used in future homebrew games. On the other hand, including support for it in existing games may be possible if : - the source code has been recovered - there is sufficient CPU time available to run the extra code - someone takes the time to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atari_fan Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 That's correct. It is designed to be used in future homebrew games. On the other hand, including support for it in existing games may be possible if : - the source code has been recovered - there is sufficient CPU time available to run the extra code - someone takes the time to do it Thank you for explaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrant Posted October 1, 2009 Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 Hmm... can someone explain what the expected output of this circuit is? I'm guessing it doesn't use the official atari way to read analog inputs (a bank switched advanced controller type returning the output of an adc digitally), right? My electronics skills are... limited at best, but it looks like it's just producing a variable frequency squarewave on the up and down buttons, right? essentially a PWM signal that relies on the Jag to decode? Wouldn't that mean you'd have to poll the controller ports incredibly frequently, and with a regularity that would be tricky to achieve? or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zerosquare Posted October 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2009 No, you're right. The idea is to trigger the circuit once per frame, and measure the width of the output pulse, which is proportional to the paddle resistance. So it's based on fixed-frequency PWM. Yes, it does mean that you need to poll the controller port frequently and regularly, but you can use one of Jerry's timer interrupts to do that, and the code needed is pretty short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonner242 Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 This is AWESOME! I can see a great new game or 2 on the way...Breakout 3000? Warlords 2000? Maybe a paddle version of space Inv+ I think a Outrunish game would rock...with alittle paddle wheel! I'll be down with this upon release! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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