Not sure where I heard it, but...

[kattanFAN]

Could one convert a Saturn controller to a PC controller? I know USB is not an option, but what about a db25 parallel port?

If so, I might take my Saturn controller extention cable and rewire it to a db25.

I want to mod the extention cable so I could still use the controller on my Saturn, but also use my Virtua Stick for arcade games.

[Blaine]

Could one convert a Saturn controller to a PC controller? I know USB is not an option, but what about a db25 parallel port?

If so, I might take my Saturn controller extention cable and rewire it to a db25.

I want to mod the extention cable so I could still use the controller on my Saturn, but also use my Virtua Stick for arcade games.

Why is USB not an option? Our friend Lawrence has detailed instructions on just such an operation:

http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/usbsatpad/

The problem with running it into the Parallel port is you'll have to have some software listening on your PC to that port that will decode the data stream.

If such a program exists then, that's a good start, if it doesn't then you'll have to hack it out yourself.

Honestly? Here are your choices from hardest to easiest:

Hardest:
Converting it to Parallel or Serial

Hard:
Making a Saturn to USB adapter

Easy:
Using the link I gave you to transplant a USB encoder into your Sat pad.

Easiest:
Buy a USB Saturn pad from your import dealer of choice (Sega does make them, LikSang and PlayAsia are out of stock right now)-
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=...oducts_id=6377&

Poke around on the Internet and you'll find some.

[kattanFAN]

Actually, I have checked out Lawrence's technique, but I don't know if it's for me. The technique seems to require a USB pad that resembles the button layout for the Saturn controller.

If I was more experienced, I might be able to make a Saturn to USB adapter. Athought if I make a Saturn to db25 adapter, then I could try to find a db25 to USB adapter.

And the reason I suggested db25 was because I heard that the Saturn, like other controllers (i.e. Genesis, SNES) could be wired a certain way to a db25 male.

And yes, I know of the products on such sites like LikSang. I just wanted a DIY solution, like my Xbox-to-USB adapter.

[Blaine]

Lawrences technique doesn't require a similar layout, only a similar amount of buttons. You're transplanting the encoder chip only. So it could have as many buttons or more, but not less (probably not less).

As for the Sat to 25 pin, You can't simply rewire it, it won't work.

I did some digging around, the closest solution is a guy who worked a Saturn to Xbox360 mod.

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?sho...1&#entry3546461

However, my same caveat from my first post applies. This solution will be hard.

You'll need a microcontroller, and most likely, a microcontroller programmer.

The PIC he uses seems like it's a $4 chip (although you can almost certainly get a free sample from a variety of sites, I've done it with more expensive chips.).

BUT  a programmer isn't a cheap piece of hardware. I looked quickly and found one for $200.

http://www.tech-tools.com/16f690.htm

I don't know a lot about microcontrollers so i'm taking the sites word for it that it will program the chip this guy used.

I also know there are a lot of other more cost effective chips out there such as the Amtel series.

http://www.ladyada.net/techproj/Atmex/index.html

But, then you'd have to wind up writing your own code for the controller.

So, if you're hellbent on Saturn to PC, then from everything I can gather you're going to need:

1) A programed microcontroller
   a) Ask really nicely of someone who has access to a writer.
   B) drop a couple hundred dollars on the setup.
   c) learn to program for a microcontroller and whip up your own solution

2) A solution for getting the data decoded on your pc
   a) spend some time to decipher the Xbox360 mod and run it as USB
   B) write a program, or find drivers, that will listen to your paralell port.

Unless there's a magic bullet I'm not aware of, this is your entire DIY solution.

You could always buy a Saturn to PSX adapter and then hook it up to a PSX to USB adapter. Not elegant, but a whole lot less hassle then anything else you'd be up against.

Hell, if you want, you could probably find an old PC gamepad and perform the same operation Lawrence did with a gameport PC controller. You could then use those drivers to get your computer to recognize it (the PC would never know the difference).

But at the end of the day, your Saturn pad is encoded data. It has to be decoded before it's recoded. Nature of the beast. So there's no simple way to make a Saturn to PC adapter.

[Guest]

there were those programs called SNESKey and Direct Pad Pro.

SNESKey worked through dos (but had a windows 9x version) and converted pad inputs via the parallel port to keyboard commands, and directpad pro was a proper windows joystick driver (like xbcd)

they both worked with the same sorts of pads - saturn, snes, megadrive, nes, playstation, etc. even n64 pads, too.

after some digging around, i found this:

http://www.aldostools.com/dpad.html

has what i believe to be the newest 6.0 version, which includes an extra driver for XP/2000 support.

tbh it doesn't look that tricky to do, and you only really need to work with the number of pins the pad connector has (saturn has 9?) rather than soldering a bunch of wires or programming pics or whatever