Difference between revisions of "Analog Joysticks"

From CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia!
Jump to: navigation, search
(→‎CPC+ Games with Analog Joystick Support)
m (→‎Analog PC Joysticks)
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 6: Line 6:
  
 
* [[Connector:Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)|Analog Joystick Port Pin-Outs]]
 
* [[Connector:Analogue joystick (CPC Plus only)|Analog Joystick Port Pin-Outs]]
−
 
−
For info on reading the analog inputs, see [[Arnold V Specs Revised]] (though still unknown which of the eight ADC0..ADC7 inputs are mapped to the four X1,Y1,X2,Y2 pins...?)
 
  
 
The buttons are accessed same ways as for Digital Joysticks (ie. as part of the keyboard matrix).
 
The buttons are accessed same ways as for Digital Joysticks (ie. as part of the keyboard matrix).
  
−
== Analog CPC+ Joysticks ==
+
The analog inputs are read from memory mapped ASIC registers:
 +
  6808h  ADC0  Analogue Joystick 1, X-Axis (00h=Left=0 ohm, 3Fh=Right=138K ohm)
 +
  6809h  ADC1  Analogue Joystick 1, Y-Axis (00h=Up  =0 ohm, 3Fh=Down =138K ohm)
 +
  680Ah  ADC2  Analogue Joystick 2, X-Axis (00h=Left=0 ohm, 3Fh=Right=138K ohm)
 +
  680Bh  ADC3  Analogue Joystick 2, Y-Axis (00h=Up  =0 ohm, 3Fh=Down =138K ohm)
 +
  680Ch  ADC4  Unused, wired to +5V (twice the maximum of 2.5V)  (returns 3Fh)
 +
  680Dh  ADC5  Unused, wired to GND (equivalent to 0 ohm)        (returns 00h)
 +
  680Eh  ADC6  Unused, wired to +5V (twice the maximum of 2.5V)  (returns 3Fh)
 +
  680Fh  ADC7  Unused, wired to GND (equivalent to 0 ohm)        (returns 00h)
 +
To read that registers: Unlock the ASIC, and then map its register to memory at 4000h..7FFFh.
  
−
Every PC analog joystick can be used with the CPC Plus
+
Values measured by Octoate:
 +
  ADC input at 00h..01h  =  0 Ohm    (left/up)
 +
  ADC input at 1Fh..20h  =  50 kOhm  (center) (that is, the center of ADC values, not of the resistor values)
 +
  ADC input at 3Eh..3Fh  =  138 kOhm  (right/down)
  
−
== CPC+ Games with Analog Joystick Support ==
+
== Analog CPC+ Joysticks ==
  
−
[[Tennis Cup 2 ( Cartridge )]] allows player 2 to use analog port.
+
Analogue joysticks confirmed to be compatible with the CPC+:
 +
* [[Amstrad Analogue Joystick AJ-5]]
 +
* [[Sinclair SPJ-1|Amstrad's Sinclair SPJ-1]]
  
−
'''MacDeath comment :'''
+
Arnold 5 Diagnostic cart test results -
  
−
''I tested it with a Trust Predator Lite PC analog joystick (4 button,  15pin socket).
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Manufacturer !! Model !! Fire Common !! Resistor !! Centre X !! Centre Y !! X Axis min !! X Axis max !! Y Axis min !! Y Axis max !! Ref !! Notes
 +
|-
 +
| Quickshot || QS-6219 || Pin 4 || TBC || &1a-&27 || &1c-2b || &00-&0f || &2c-&33 || &00-&12 || &31-&35 || dthrone || Ranges correspond to x and y axis adjust sliders
 +
|}
  
−
''Seems to actually work a little.''
+
== Analog PC Joysticks ==
  
−
''Yet I found out that it was impossible to go to directions Down and Right (yet Up and Left  worked), Posible cause of failure are  : ''
+
Analog PC Joysticks have a very similar 15pin connector. But with some differences, which cause compatibility problems. Statistically, many people reported the analog PC joysticks '''do work''' with analog CPC+ software. Many other people reported it won't work - though it's quite possibly that they simply made some fundamental mistakes (like trying to use "digital" 15pin joysticks as "analog" joystick, or that they didn't even had proper CPC+ software for testing).
  
−
*''this PC analog joystick is of a slightly more recent generation (yet still using 15pin plug) and the standard in PC may have changed (Analog joysticks needed their own drivers to work on old windows PC).''
+
* '''Button Common Pin''' - In PCs, the button-common-pin can be at Pin4 or Pin5, on the CPC+ it must be Pin4 (or Pin12 for 3rd-4th button; if any). If necessary, rewire that pins.
  
−
*''4 button joystick, while Amstrad would support only 2 button (yet 2 analogue joystick as impliyed in connector pin-out).''
+
* '''Reversed Supply Voltages''' - Compared with PC Gameports, the +5V and GND are connected vice-versa in the CPC+. This is no problem for the potentiometers (both PC and CPC+ use Pin1 as pot-common). However, it is a problem if the joystick contains '''additional electronics''' (auto-fire circuits, electrolyte capacitors, circuits inside of ''digital'' joysticks/gamepads that do emulate analog signals, etc.) These won't work (and may get damaged by the reversed voltages). If necessary, remove any such electronics before connected the joystick to the CPC+.
  
−
* ''incompatibility between PC analogue joysticks and the actually unreleased Amstrad GX4000/Plus analogue joystick standard.''
+
* '''Resistor Values''' - In PCs, the A/D conversion is done by software timings, meaning the PCs could handle joysticks with different potentiometer types (anything from 10 kiloohm to many megaohm should work). The CPC+ does the A/D conversion by hardware, this requires less CPU load, but it also means that it requires fixed potentiometer types (circa '''138k'''Ω).
 +
** Analog PC joysticks are reportedly most commonly using '''100k''', '''120k''', or '''150k'''Ω pots. These types should be more or less compatible with the CPC+ (100K/120K won't reach the ADC=3Fh max value, for example, resolution might be only ADC=00h..30h. And 150K would be clipped to ADC=3Fh for anything above 138kΩ).
 +
** To handle those different pot types, CPC+ software should include calibration options.
 +
** There are also some PC joysticks with incompatible pot types like '''300k'''Ω - these won't work (since values above 138k will be clipped).
  
 +
== CPC+ Software with Analog Joystick Support ==
  
−
''Tests have to be done with an older 2 button PC analog joystick, and further researchs on the matter.''
+
* [[FutureOS]] - (Plus version)
−
 
+
* [[Tennis Cup 2 ( Cartridge )]] - allows to use Analog Joystick (as digital joystick replacement in two-player mode, selectable in options menu - the game merely emulates digital inputs, it doesn't actually support analog input)
−
''As while CPC era Joystick were less subject to exotic settings, more modern era joystick often had to feature their own drivers on PC (Win95+ era) as manufacturers often included more buttons or Autofires, having to rely on non standards Pin-out setting.''
+
* RP11 Arnold V diagnostic ROM cartridge - allows to display the eight ADC inputs in numeric form
−
 
+
−
''The same case appears when you try to use a Sega Genesis/Megadrive controller on a CPC, as those have more buttons than the mundane Atari standards.''
+
−
 
+
−
''Yet if you manage to find an old 2 button PC analog Joystick, and actually own a GX4000/Plus with the Tennis Cup 2 Cartridge, it's worth giving it a try for the fun of it.''
+
−
 
+
−
Also if you manage to get your hands on such Joystick actually working well on GX4000/Plus, tell us.
+
−
 
+
−
== CPC+ Software with Analog Joystick Support ==
+
  
−
*[[FutureOS]] (Plus version)
 
  
−
[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Peripherals]][[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:Stub]]
+
[[Category:CPC Plus]]
 +
[[Category:FutureOS]]
 +
[[Category:Games Programming]]
 +
[[Category:Input Device]]
 +
[[Category:Peripherals]]

Latest revision as of 19:27, 14 June 2018

The CPC+ and GX4000 contain an analog joystick port (additionally to the normal Digital Joystick port).

Technical

The connector is similar as PC/Soundblaster joystick ports, for details on the pin-outs (and differences between CPC and PC joysticks), see:

The buttons are accessed same ways as for Digital Joysticks (ie. as part of the keyboard matrix).

The analog inputs are read from memory mapped ASIC registers: 

 6808h  ADC0  Analogue Joystick 1, X-Axis (00h=Left=0 ohm, 3Fh=Right=138K ohm)
 6809h  ADC1  Analogue Joystick 1, Y-Axis (00h=Up  =0 ohm, 3Fh=Down =138K ohm)
 680Ah  ADC2  Analogue Joystick 2, X-Axis (00h=Left=0 ohm, 3Fh=Right=138K ohm)
 680Bh  ADC3  Analogue Joystick 2, Y-Axis (00h=Up  =0 ohm, 3Fh=Down =138K ohm)
 680Ch  ADC4  Unused, wired to +5V (twice the maximum of 2.5V)   (returns 3Fh)
 680Dh  ADC5  Unused, wired to GND (equivalent to 0 ohm)         (returns 00h)
 680Eh  ADC6  Unused, wired to +5V (twice the maximum of 2.5V)   (returns 3Fh)
 680Fh  ADC7  Unused, wired to GND (equivalent to 0 ohm)         (returns 00h)

To read that registers: Unlock the ASIC, and then map its register to memory at 4000h..7FFFh.

Values measured by Octoate: 

 ADC input at 00h..01h  =  0 Ohm     (left/up)
 ADC input at 1Fh..20h  =  50 kOhm   (center) (that is, the center of ADC values, not of the resistor values)
 ADC input at 3Eh..3Fh  =  138 kOhm  (right/down)

Analog CPC+ Joysticks

Analogue joysticks confirmed to be compatible with the CPC+:

Arnold 5 Diagnostic cart test results -

Manufacturer Model Fire Common Resistor Centre X Centre Y X Axis min X Axis max Y Axis min Y Axis max Ref Notes
Quickshot QS-6219 Pin 4 TBC &1a-&27 &1c-2b &00-&0f &2c-&33 &00-&12 &31-&35 dthrone Ranges correspond to x and y axis adjust sliders

Analog PC Joysticks

Analog PC Joysticks have a very similar 15pin connector. But with some differences, which cause compatibility problems. Statistically, many people reported the analog PC joysticks do work with analog CPC+ software. Many other people reported it won't work - though it's quite possibly that they simply made some fundamental mistakes (like trying to use "digital" 15pin joysticks as "analog" joystick, or that they didn't even had proper CPC+ software for testing).

  • Button Common Pin - In PCs, the button-common-pin can be at Pin4 or Pin5, on the CPC+ it must be Pin4 (or Pin12 for 3rd-4th button; if any). If necessary, rewire that pins.
  • Reversed Supply Voltages - Compared with PC Gameports, the +5V and GND are connected vice-versa in the CPC+. This is no problem for the potentiometers (both PC and CPC+ use Pin1 as pot-common). However, it is a problem if the joystick contains additional electronics (auto-fire circuits, electrolyte capacitors, circuits inside of digital joysticks/gamepads that do emulate analog signals, etc.) These won't work (and may get damaged by the reversed voltages). If necessary, remove any such electronics before connected the joystick to the CPC+.
  • Resistor Values - In PCs, the A/D conversion is done by software timings, meaning the PCs could handle joysticks with different potentiometer types (anything from 10 kiloohm to many megaohm should work). The CPC+ does the A/D conversion by hardware, this requires less CPU load, but it also means that it requires fixed potentiometer types (circa 138kΩ).
    • Analog PC joysticks are reportedly most commonly using 100k, 120k, or 150kΩ pots. These types should be more or less compatible with the CPC+ (100K/120K won't reach the ADC=3Fh max value, for example, resolution might be only ADC=00h..30h. And 150K would be clipped to ADC=3Fh for anything above 138kΩ).
    • To handle those different pot types, CPC+ software should include calibration options.
    • There are also some PC joysticks with incompatible pot types like 300kΩ - these won't work (since values above 138k will be clipped).

CPC+ Software with Analog Joystick Support

  • FutureOS - (Plus version)
  • Tennis Cup 2 ( Cartridge ) - allows to use Analog Joystick (as digital joystick replacement in two-player mode, selectable in options menu - the game merely emulates digital inputs, it doesn't actually support analog input)
  • RP11 Arnold V diagnostic ROM cartridge - allows to display the eight ADC inputs in numeric form
Retrieved from "https://gryzor.info/index.php?title=Analog_Joysticks&oldid=101932"