I think the Virtual Boy controller is the best controller ever.
I mean, there are good controllers out there, but the VB one is superb.
I Would like to play it on the PC.
Is there an adapter? has anyone thought about this?

JoePassive wrote:
I think the Virtual Boy controller is the best controller ever.
I mean, there are good controllers out there, but the VB one is superb.
I Would like to play it on the PC.
Is there an adapter? has anyone thought about this?

http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/virtualboy_usb/index_en.php

That is interesting !
I always think of strike vector while playing red alarm. I wonder how that would work with a VB controller.

This is actually my very adapter that he features here on his page (by which I mean I commissioned him to design and make it). He made it for me a couple years ago and he does great work! I provided the controller port that I pulled from a “for parts” broken VB unit and he did the rest. The controller can be used with no power pack, but as a fun novelty it even has an alternate button mapping that you can enable by sliding the power switch on the controller (though you must have the power connectors on the back of the controller shorted which I do via dummy batteries in a battery pack).

If you really want one then he might make one for you. It wasn’t super cheap but it wasn’t absurd and I wanted to be able to use my VB controllers with Mednafen. It works great and it looks like a professional product!

mellott124 wrote:

JoePassive wrote:
I think the Virtual Boy controller is the best controller ever.
I mean, there are good controllers out there, but the VB one is superb.
I Would like to play it on the PC.
Is there an adapter? has anyone thought about this?

http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/virtualboy_usb/index_en.php

I did a Power Glove to USB converter years ago that could be updated for this: http://www.mellottsvrpage.com/index.php/power-glove-linkbox-usb/

This design is also very very similar to the USB link cable adapter.

Is this something people are interested in? I could do a spin on a board to support this. I’d need to design the connector like I did for the link cable.

It would be great to be able to use the actual VB Controller when testing code on the emulator! I’d take a couple.

we are talking about a completed connector that would be plug-n-play for the end-user, correct? because I would love a couple of these myself.

KR155E wrote:
It would be great to be able to use the actual VB Controller when testing code on the emulator! I’d take a couple.

Good idea. I would take one too.

I’d take one too if it didn’t require donor parts. Particularly with the emergence of 2-player games. Are it saying you think your could fabricate the connector? Personally, I’m more interested in the other VB projects you have going on since you have so much on your plate, but that’s easy for me to say.

mellott124 wrote:
Is this something people are interested in? I could do a spin on a board to support this. I’d need to design the connector like I did for the link cable.

astro187 wrote:
I’d take one too if it didn’t require donor parts. Particularly with the emergence of 2-player games. Are it saying you think your could fabricate the connector? Personally, I’m more interested in the other VB projects you have going on since you have so much on your plate, but that’s easy for me to say.

mellott124 wrote:
Is this something people are interested in? I could do a spin on a board to support this. I’d need to design the connector like I did for the link cable.

All custom parts. I’ll prototype with a donor part but anything shipping will be custom. Not enough supply of the donor connectors otherwise.

Lester Knight wrote:
we are talking about a completed connector that would be plug-n-play for the end-user, correct? because I would love a couple of these myself.

Yes, complete in housing with connector. Same style as the link cable connectors.

I’d be in on this Day One!

I’d love one of these for when I emulate to capture footage or just mess around without having to stick my face in the system. No doubt Kevin’s craftsmanship will be top notch.

I made a USB VB controller using one of the retroUSB kits: http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=44 . This was a long time ago when VB controllers were cheap though, so I simply ripped the cable out, put that board inside the case, and hard-wired a USB cable.

If mellott124 (or anyone) was to make a mating connector, that’d obviously be ideal, so you wouldn’t need to kill a functioning VB controller to make a USB one.

DogP

Well, that was easier than I thought. Here’s a small form factor USB adapter for the VB controller. I just played Hyper Fighting in Mednafen using my VB controller and the adapter.

I’m using all COTS parts here. I couldn’t have my own MCU boards fabricated/assembled for cheaper than I could buy them on Amazon. I’m also using VB repair parts for the connector. At this point there isn’t enough interest to warrant the several months design work and iterations on a 3D printed connector for this adapter. I have 12 of the connector parts from eBay. If interest goes beyond that then I’ll consider designing the connector like I did for the link cable.

I’ll be designing the adapter housing for this in the next week or two. Should have assembled VB controller USB adapters about mid to end of December. Also ordered a nice red and black USB cable to go along with the adapter to give it that VB feel.

If people are interested, let me know. I’ll send a private email out to those that already expressed interest.

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Sign me up, Kevin! I am stoked for this!

I’d definitely be interested in this!

i want this so bad !!! this was my thread i’m so happy to see good replies

[UHATEIT]

why would you want to play the VB on your PC? Just play your VB on your VB!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by UHATEIT.

UHATEIT wrote:
why would you want to play the VB on your PC? Just play your VB on your VB!

To me I see it as not everyone can afford some of the games or has a Flash Boy to play them. This is also makes it easier for people to use emulation to capture clear footage of games without needing a bunch of equipment.