DIY mahjong controller?

[Kujako]

Confirmed that everything works with hardware dip 3 set with UniBIOS. So looks like even on hardware that supports such mahjong controllers you need a JP or universal BIOS. Now that I have a known working controller I’ll dig into designing a PCB for the Famicom controller and see if I can figure out an adapter so it will work on a 1C via supergun.

 

[Kujako]

I may need to first build an adapter based on what @pierpa86 is doing. This is too much of a hassle to test with... I'll need to be able to quickly determine if my design is working as expected without needing to tear apart my "big red".

 

[d00mdrew]

Following this, cause Jong.

Also, I have some spare button caps (the small ones) if you eventually need them and this spicy MVS conversion of Final Romance 2

 

[Kujako]

Following this, cause Jong.

Also, I have some spare button caps (the small ones) if you eventually need them and this spicy MVS conversion of Final Romance 2

Didn't know anyone did a MVS conversion. Think I have FR2 on NGC, but not sure how to go about testing the mahjong controller on AES or NGC systems.. I do have a SD Loader modded unit around here in one of the piles, wonder if there's homebrew that could test it (or if I could develop such).

My current effort is going to be making an adapter, pulling the missing pins from the side connector on a MV1C (or 1B) and seeing if I can inject that into the DB15 port of a supergun using a DB15 male to female breakout board.

 

[pierpa86]

Didn't know anyone did a MVS conversion. Think I have FR2 on NGC, but not sure how to go about testing the mahjong controller on AES or NGC systems.. I do have a SD Loader modded unit around here in one of the piles, wonder if there's homebrew that could test it (or if I could develop such).

My current effort is going to be making an adapter, pulling the missing pins from the side connector on a MV1C (or 1B) and seeing if I can inject that into the DB15 port of a supergun using a DB15 male to female breakout board.

Its a poor conversion without cdda audio track.

 

[Kujako]

Its a poor conversion without cdda audio track.

That tracks, still might pick up a copy if I stumble upon one.

For the mahjong controller, this is where I'm at.

Digging through my stuff piles I have a couple simple prototype boards and a DB15 pass through & breakout PCB. Thinking I can pull GND and VCC from the supergun DB15 (pin 1 and 8 respectively) to feed the 74LS06 that I'll have on a daughter board. Then I just need three wires running to CN1 on the MV1C/1B.

 

[Kujako]

Not my cleanest work, but should do for a prototype. Still need to check for shorts etc but I think this will work.

 

[Kujako]

Found one wiring mistake so far, hooked it all up and at least there's no magic smoke coming out.

But it looks like I have something wrong, H through N register correctly, but A to G and PON, CHI, KAN, ROW, REACH are reversed...

 

[Kujako]

Reversed the order of the three wires going to the MV1C CN1 and I think it's all up and running!

(still no idea what the AES/MVS switch on this weird controller does)

 

[Fluffy]

(still no idea what the AES/MVS switch on this weird controller does)

Does it connect OUT3 to Select?

 

[Kujako]

Does it connect OUT3 to Select?

Not that I could tell, but I'll keep seeing if I can probe around on it.

 

[Kujako]

Does it connect OUT3 to Select?

Confirmed via multimeter, when in AES mode OUT3 is bound to SELECT. Nifty.

 

[Kujako]

Confirmed this setup works with a MV1B, not that there was much doubt but hadn't tested to be sure.

(ignore the mess)

 

[rastansaga1987]

Looks like an awesome project. I still lament getting rid of my Neo Geo mahjong controller, and for way too cheap. They're prohibitively expensive now.

 

[Kujako]

Looks like an awesome project. I still lament getting rid of my Neo Geo mahjong controller, and for way too cheap. They're prohibitively expensive now.

Yeah, I think the original mahjong controllers are going for around $1,200 USD. I think if I had one I would have gotten frustrated with it not working with a supergun, @pierpa86 was able to point me in the right direction to build the above adapter to pull in the three missing pins. Now I'm just struggling to remember how to use kicad to build out the PCB for the famicom controller.

 

[Fluffy]

I think the difficult bit will be drawing the footprints for the buttons.

 

[Kujako]

I think the difficult bit will be drawing the footprints for the buttons.

Well they're just exposed traces for the carbon pads to contact. EasyEDA has a good template for it, but I'm still struggling with KiCAD. It's just been too long since I last used it and I don't remember anything. May have to do a refresher tutorial when I have time...