You maybe have a wire occasionally pressing on the bootsel button. If so, it'll connect as USB storage when it's plugged in. Amazing little things though aren't they.
Uhm Lee... the Pico has those GPIO holes/pins, right? - Do you know what else has GPIO pins? - Yeah, your gorgeous Raspberry PI 400 does. - I have seen quite a few home-baked mini bar-top arcade machines based on PI3s and PI4s running RetroPie, where the creator just wired the arcade joystick and buttons directly into the PIs GPIO pins. - So, here's a thought, why not just wire a couple of DB-9s directly into the GPIOs of your PI 400? - RetroPie does support it. And I mean unlike a TheC64 or a TheA500-Mini, since the PI 400 have those pins, just sitting there... might as well use them and free up a USB port or two, right? - To be honest, there may be a reason why not to do this, which I am unaware of. But in my mind, using USB converters, seems like just adding an extra unnecessary link to a chain.
Hey Carsten! Back before I did youtube I made a bartop arcade cabinet for my great nephews out of scraps and parts laying around. There was never a video, but I did blog the whole thing (its on my website - Beetoncade). Because I was saving money I did exactly as you described and wired the controls to the GPIO pins. There are some restrictions, for two players there are not enough inputs for 8 buttons and start and select each. And you have to install a special "driver" in retropie (this has probably changed). But its a very sensible approach and has very low latency. Nowadays we can use pi picos for arcade encoders, and they are much much better at this. And super cheap.
@@MoreFunMakingIt Yeah, those mini bar-top arcades I've seen, were all one player only (and extra players via USB). But then again 24 available GPIO pins may not be enough for dual player arcade machines, but it would maybe be enough for a couple of DB9s with buttons to spare. - I used an Arduino Mega 2560 with Alan Chatham's UnoJoy-code off GitHub (works with Uno, Mini Pro, and Leonardo too) on my full sized Arcade/Jukebox machine (a bit of a mashup project). But I do have 2 unused Picos in my stash, maybe I should consider retiring the Mega for higher speed/better latency.
I know you can do that with an Arduino. Not sure about a Pico. The problem would be the Pico would only be recognised as a single controller which might cause problems in software. Then again they're so cheap why not one for each set of controls 😄
It's probably possible, but the software would need to see 2 different devices attached. Might be a lot more hassle doing it that way than just hooking up a second pico. They're cheap enough! 😂
Hello is there something that does the same thing but with USB controllers? I'm trying to make a USB to Bluetooth adapter and jam it all into an original Xbox duke controller. I set up a pico with Bluetooth but I'm stuck on how to make the USB connection work. Could I just make an adapter for the micro USB on the pico to fit my controller? And if that does jive correctly, where could I find the proper codes to set that up?
Heh. I spent far too long making an adapter to allow me to use a Megadrive / Genesis controller safely (And with access to all those lovely extra buttons) with the Atari / Commodore / Amiga, based around a pair of opto-isolators and a Arduino Pro mini. Works well but I will need to move it from breadboard to a proper PCB some time.
The pi image in using for amiga is Pimiga. But I just realised that footage was from pc as it has the bezels. Oops! It does play exactly the same on both though.
You maybe have a wire occasionally pressing on the bootsel button. If so, it'll connect as USB storage when it's plugged in. Amazing little things though aren't they.
Aha! That's a great shout! Thank you 😁
Welcome 🙂
Thoroughly enjoyed this, humerus, ingenuity, creative and entertaining. Thanks as always MFMI ❤👏
Thank you Jonathan 😁
I need the other way round converter: USB > Atari jack
Awesome! I just built it. It really works, thanks! And so cheap, hahaha.
Brilliant!
Uhm Lee... the Pico has those GPIO holes/pins, right? - Do you know what else has GPIO pins? - Yeah, your gorgeous Raspberry PI 400 does.
- I have seen quite a few home-baked mini bar-top arcade machines based on PI3s and PI4s running RetroPie, where the creator just wired the arcade joystick and buttons directly into the PIs GPIO pins.
- So, here's a thought, why not just wire a couple of DB-9s directly into the GPIOs of your PI 400? - RetroPie does support it. And I mean unlike a TheC64 or a TheA500-Mini, since the PI 400 have those pins, just sitting there... might as well use them and free up a USB port or two, right?
- To be honest, there may be a reason why not to do this, which I am unaware of. But in my mind, using USB converters, seems like just adding an extra unnecessary link to a chain.
Hey Carsten! Back before I did youtube I made a bartop arcade cabinet for my great nephews out of scraps and parts laying around. There was never a video, but I did blog the whole thing (its on my website - Beetoncade). Because I was saving money I did exactly as you described and wired the controls to the GPIO pins. There are some restrictions, for two players there are not enough inputs for 8 buttons and start and select each. And you have to install a special "driver" in retropie (this has probably changed). But its a very sensible approach and has very low latency.
Nowadays we can use pi picos for arcade encoders, and they are much much better at this. And super cheap.
@@MoreFunMakingIt Yeah, those mini bar-top arcades I've seen, were all one player only (and extra players via USB).
But then again 24 available GPIO pins may not be enough for dual player arcade machines, but it would maybe be enough for a couple of DB9s with buttons to spare.
- I used an Arduino Mega 2560 with Alan Chatham's UnoJoy-code off GitHub (works with Uno, Mini Pro, and Leonardo too) on my full sized Arcade/Jukebox machine (a bit of a mashup project). But I do have 2 unused Picos in my stash, maybe I should consider retiring the Mega for higher speed/better latency.
This could not have dropped at a better time for me, I just got all the parts to build one of these. Thanks for the pinout warning!
Superb! Shout if I missed anything 😜
So familiar making a not quite as good thing for probably slightly more just because.
This is the way.
Nice build :)
Thanks! 😁
Thank u
Monster monster!
Joystick joystick!
This will be great, if you are be able to connect multiple gamepads to the adapter. Is this possible to do?
I know you can do that with an Arduino. Not sure about a Pico. The problem would be the Pico would only be recognised as a single controller which might cause problems in software.
Then again they're so cheap why not one for each set of controls 😄
@@MoreFunMakingIt , At least, if the software can let you set the same input device for two players, it will be OK.
Can you make 2 joysticks work with 1 Pico? Great Walkthrough!!
It's probably possible, but the software would need to see 2 different devices attached. Might be a lot more hassle doing it that way than just hooking up a second pico. They're cheap enough! 😂
thanks!! i want use my atari´s joysticks with this... maybe if i use pico like keyboard...🤔 Today arrive my Raspi Pico!!!! 🤩
Good luck!
@@MoreFunMakingIt Gracias!!!
I made the instructables one and it works but for some reason it stops working and the led starts flashing no idea whats going on 😢
I actually own the exact red joystick i. The bottom left of ur thumbnail
Not my favourite joystick! 😆
Ive never used it and on german amazon i cant find the stupid adapter
Hello is there something that does the same thing but with USB controllers? I'm trying to make a USB to Bluetooth adapter and jam it all into an original Xbox duke controller. I set up a pico with Bluetooth but I'm stuck on how to make the USB connection work. Could I just make an adapter for the micro USB on the pico to fit my controller? And if that does jive correctly, where could I find the proper codes to set that up?
I wish I could help. It sounds like a really cool project, but sadly way outside my expertise.
Nice!!!
It is possible to do the same with db12 gameport/midi joy connection?
It must be! I don't know how yet, but I might look into that...
It's compatible with light gun too?
No.
Heh. I spent far too long making an adapter to allow me to use a Megadrive / Genesis controller safely (And with access to all those lovely extra buttons) with the Atari / Commodore / Amiga, based around a pair of opto-isolators and a Arduino Pro mini. Works well but I will need to move it from breadboard to a proper PCB some time.
Bet that was loads of fun though!
@@MoreFunMakingIt Yeah, It really was a lot of fun :-)
I wonder if there is a way to disable the usb storage on boot.
Claire pointed out in the pinned comment that I probably have a wire pressing the boot select button on the Pico when it's plugged in 😅
@@MoreFunMakingIt it could be good to find out anyway to stop unwanted program changes.
Could you let me know what emulator package/Pi Image you are using with that sensible soccer footage?
The pi image in using for amiga is Pimiga. But I just realised that footage was from pc as it has the bezels. Oops! It does play exactly the same on both though.
@@MoreFunMakingIt Thanks for that, what is it you are running on the pc? I like the TV bezel, so was looking to use something similar.
@@joerhorton I took the Amiga winuae folder from the Coinops pack.
that monster joysticks one is cheap. i think i paid over £20 for my mayflash db9 to usb converter
The features look really comprehensive too
Blah no cows?
They're on strike
Will NES controller work in window 11 laptop with RS232 db-9 female serial adapter to usb cable ? Plz reply
Sorry. I have no idea. 8 don't have that controller or use this adapter any more.