New Prototype GCN GBA Link Cable Emulation Demo

[tueidj]

Did you miss the part where I said there is no possibility to make it work?

[The_Master_E]

Oh well. Think raphnet or somebody unofficial could get a working adapter, or is GBA to Dolphin connection all just a pipe dream? At least for the foreseeable future?

[mbc07]

* facepalm *

The official adapter is compatible only with GameCube controllers, from its USB interface you can't get anything else besides the status of buttons/axis. That's it, there's no way that a custom driver or anything like that could make GBA-Link cable work because the adapter doesn't provide the required communication interface. Got it? A possibility would be writing a new firmware for the adapter, from scratch, involving reverse engineering and things like that, very unlikely to happen. Also, if Nintendo used ROM to store the current firmware or even worse, if the firmware is built in the main IC from the adapter, uploading a custom firmware to the adapter would be almost impossible too...

[Soupa Face]

(03-17-2015, 04:43 AM)Jhonn Wrote: * facepalm *

The official adapter is compatible only with GameCube controllers, from its USB interface you can't get anything else besides the status of buttons/axis. That's it, there's no way that a custom driver or anything like that could make GBA-Link cable work because the adapter doesn't provide the required communication interface. Got it? A possibility would be writing a new firmware for the adapter, from scratch, involving reverse engineering and things like that, very unlikely to happen. Also, if Nintendo used ROM to store the current firmware or even worse, if the firmware is built in the main IC from the adapter, uploading a custom firmware to the adapter would be almost impossible too...

While no details are given on the kickstarter page, those bliss-box guys are trying to get their new 4-PLAY adapter funded. The reason I bring up their newest adapter is because they claim that through use their adapter's developer api, developers could potentially get Dolphin to communicate with an actual GameBoy Advance, through an actual GBA link cable, through their adapter.

Here's the snippet from their kickstarter page that caught my attention:

Quote:[...]developers could use this API to see exactly which controllers are currently connected to the 4-Play for display on the screen or automatic custom remapping. They could natively support saving to the controller's memory card, and even write images to the Dreamcast controller's LCD screen. Support for the GameCube's Gameboy Advanced Link could be added. The possibilities are endless.[...]

While I think this sounds pretty cool, even if that is possible with their adapter I don't expect any Dolphin devs to care unless the adatper becomes crazy popular which seems pretty unlikely considering how much they still have left to go with their hefty $75,000 (USD) funding goal.  

[tueidj]

I think Raph (the guy who makes the Raphnet adapters) would be a better option, he's been open to adding extra features in the past (like allowing homebrew wii programs to get the full GC pad status when using a GC<->Classic controller adapter, instead of just the low resolution CC stick values).

Edit: it might even support it already, I just noticed it supports the GC keyboard which uses very different commands from the GC controller.

[Soupa Face]

(03-17-2015, 09:25 AM)tueidj Wrote: I think Raph (the guy who makes the Raphnet adapters) would be a better option, he's been open to adding extra features in the past (like allowing homebrew wii programs to get the full GC pad status when using a GC<->Classic controller adapter, instead of just the low resolution CC stick values).

Edit: it might even support it already, I just noticed it supports the GC keyboard which uses very different commands from the GC controller.

The second I saw that there was another usb n64 adapter in the wild (other than adaptoid) that could support n64 rumblepacks I jumped on the opportunity and bought a couple from Ralph.

I don't mean to speak poorly of the man's products because from what I've experienced he makes some all-around quality products, but after having a consistent issue with the n64 rumble packs I've hoped either he would update the firmware of that adapter or someone else would make an adapter that works better with n64 rumble packs out of the box. According to the blissbox forums their current bliss box adapter is looking like the most advanced dare-I-say most accurate usb adapter to come out and this 4-PLAY adapter just adds onto that with a few more features.

My point being that after seeing that the current ralphnet-tech gamecube usb adapter firmware is the same as it was since I originally bought it late last spring, I'm now more interested in bliss-boxes' new adapter. I mean just look at their controller functionality compatibility list!