4-player adapter? // MultiPlay MX4 Expansion

[mr_lou]

Has anyone made a 4-player joystick adapter for standard CPC?

Or, a 2-player adapter for the expansion port (like the C64 has) + a Y-splitter for the joystick port, also resulting in 4 joystick inputs?

[Bryce]

Has anyone made a 4-player joystick adapter for standard CPC?

Or, a 2-player adapter for the expansion port (like the C64 has) + a Y-splitter for the joystick port, also resulting in 4 joystick inputs?

How exactly would a 4 player adapter work when the CPC only has a port, hardware and firmware for two joysticks?

Bryce.

[mr_lou]

How exactly would a 4 player adapter work when the CPC only has a port, hardware and firmware for two joysticks?

If the C64 can do it, surely the CPC can too.

Some kind of board connected to the expansion port, giving 2 additional joystick ports.
Would require a set of RSX commands to use them from BASIC.

Amstrad CPC version of this: 4 Player Interface - C64-Wiki

[arnoldemu]

@ToTO: Your ideas are needed here

[Carnivius]

I thought there was a video review of Gauntlet that said the CPC had trouble enough doing 2 joysticks?

[mr_lou]

I thought there was a video review of Gauntlet that said the CPC had trouble enough doing 2 joysticks?

I heard that too, but I also recall TFM saying something about it only being because the Y-splitter wasn't made correctly.
@TFM are you there?

[arnoldemu]

I thought there was a video review of Gauntlet that said the CPC had trouble enough doing 2 joysticks?

Yes CPC does have problems unless you have a splitter with diodes. PLUS will be fine because it has the diodes.

[Carnivius]

Oh cool.  Where can I get a splitter for 464/6128 with diodes?

[arnoldemu]

From other thread:

Using CPC+ hardware sprites from BASIC?

Your best choice is to have specific hardware that connects into the expansion port to enable 4 joysticks.
The reading of this would be independent of the keyboard so no clash would happen.

[mr_lou]

Your best choice is to have specific hardware that connects into the expansion port to enable 4 joysticks.
The reading of this would be independent of the keyboard so no clash would happen.

We gotta have that!
And we also gotta have Y-splitters with diodes.

Next time I'll meet up with my mates for a retro-gaming-day, will be August 15th. So far we've only had multiplayer games running on the C64 and Amiga. It's about time the CPC joins in. 

[Bryce]

Oh cool.  Where can I get a splitter for 464/6128 with diodes?

Eh... I know a great place full of CPC information, let's see if they have anything on it: Joystick Splitter - CPCWiki

Bryce.

[Carnivius]

Eh... I know a great place full of CPC information, let's see if they have anything on it: Joystick Splitter - CPCWiki

Bryce.

but...but...that's instructions about how to make one.  And I have no skills or tools.

[KaosOverride]

Recoding Caprice for the RPI to get 2 joy support, the idea of enabling 3 or 4 joysticks seems easy as the keyboard matrix is 10 select lines and 8 outputs. Coding the second joystick is the same as a thirth or fourth...

The joystick is just one of the select lines.The second joystick is other of the keyboard select lines. So there are other 8 lines for other 8 joysticks.

The hack will look dirty and ugly, but you need to take 2 selects from keyboard to feed the double Y splitter. Diodes apart, your splitter needs the 4 direction bits, fires and common 1 common 2 from the CPC joystick port, and common 3 and 4 from 2 wires from inside the CPC.

As a 4 player game let you freely redefine all keys, should work.

[TotO]

@TotO: Your ideas are needed here

I have shown a prototype board named MultiPlay at the ReSeT #20.
We have played to Megablaster and a simple but adictive four players tron game from Axelay, named QuadRaster!

The Multiplay prototype add 2 controllers connectors on the expansion port.
(CPC/GX or SMS/MD using two sliding switches)

[mr_lou]

I have shown a prototype board named MultiPlay at the ReSeT #20.
We have played to Megablaster and a simple but adictive four players tron game from Axelay, named QuadRaster!

The Multiplay prototype add 2 controllers connectors on the expansion port.
(CPC/GX or SMS/MD using two sliding switches)

Awesome! Where can we order one? 

[TotO]

Awesome! Where can we order one? 

The board is not finalised, but will not cost more than 10€ if released.
I should try to merge it with the PlayCity... (in this case I will make an upgrade plan)

[mr_lou]

The board is not finalised, but will not cost more than 10€ if released.
I should try to merge it with the PlayCity... (in this case I will make an upgrade plan)

....."if released"?...
Sorry for sounding blunt, but why create it if not for release?

Well, I'd definitely buy one, although I'd prefer a standalone version, ie. not merged with PlayCity.

[Bryce]

So I assume your board doesn't use the spare Keyboard lines like KaosOverride just described?

@mr_lou: Have you any idea how many expansions I've designed and built for the CPC and other systems but never released them? This happens very often.

Bryce.

[TotO]

....."if released"?...
Sorry for sounding blunt, but why create it if not for release?

It is a prototype for testing and see the real interrest abou it.
As I said, I should improve it before for merging features... (or release it like that, or both)
Too much boards for so few slots.

So I assume your board doesn't use the spare Keyboard lines like KaosOverride just described?

It is true. Because the spare line is sadly not wired on PLUS.
I have made a try on the expansion port, using two buffers like done on videogames systems.

[MacDeath]

yes, saw it working...

can't wait for a 3-4 players Rampage game... with no keyboard clashes...

[CraigsBar]

I want one lol. Either with or without play city suits me.

[mr_lou]

@mr_lou: Have you any idea how many expansions I've designed and built for the CPC and other systems but never released them? This happens very often.

Well shame on you! 

It is a prototype for testing and see the real interrest about it.

Well send it here, I'll test. 
I want to make a 4-player game. I'm the ideal betatester. I have both CPC464, CPC6128 and CPCBryce+ (heavily expanded 464+ by Bryce)

[MacDeath]

Yeah, when it is time to get free cards by being a betatester, there are many volunteers, but when it is time to deliver productions to use those cards.... oops...



the card works well, it just needs games. 

[mr_lou]

Yeah, when it is time to get free cards by being a betatester, there are many volunteers, but when it is time to deliver productions to use those cards.... oops...



the card works well, it just needs games. 

I will pay a good price for a complete board.
I also sometimes send money to developers just to support them, and would do it in this case too if I see any sign of it actually being produced.
But for testing something that might not be the finished product, yes that ought to be free.

As for producing games, I have enough experience to know not to promise anything, but I'm hooked on this idea, and we are working on the graphics as I'm writing this.

[mr_lou]

First of all though, I'm interested in having the hardware developers agree on a standard, so that future games only need to focus on one 4-player adapter.