(Kupid 2.0 Announced) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) PS1 RPG Maker Text Input Device

Well, you can set the cursor move speed in RPGM1, so I guess you just set it to the fastest speed?

Thanks; I'll have to try that out.

For every keystroke, every letter typed in, the cursor has to move, potentially, several spaces up, down, left, or right. I can try to optimize the algorithm to take the shortest path possible, but it would still be a concern if the cursor moves to slow.

What happens if you hold down one of the d-pad buttons for a while? How fast does the cursor move if you don't let up on it? I'd imagine that however fast it goes in that circumstance, that's how fast it would move using this device.

another thing to consider is that the RPGM1 will split words when it gets to the end of the line. There is no word wrap. so you have to plan and organize your dialog while you're typing it, while it's being put on-screen.

That shouldn't pose a problem for me as far as design consideration goes, but whoever uses this would need to keep that in mind as they're typing.

After I build the prototype, though, I could try to alter the algorithm to take into account the length of the text entry area and automatically word-wrap.

In theory - it would keep track of how many characters have been typed, and see if the word being typed currently will be cut-off. If it would be, then it could wait for the person to finish typing the word, then automatically delete the word, advance to the next line, and re-type the word for you. Presuming that it uses a mono-space font, otherwise it could get a bit tricky. Maybe I could implement a word-wrap switch so the person using it could turn the feature on/off.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I don't even now if this is going to work, yet.

[Valkysas]

Re: (I'm Making it!) PS1 RPG Maker Text Input Device

What happens if you hold down one of the d-pad buttons for a while?

It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure the cursor just keeps moving.

How fast does the cursor move if you don't let up on it?

depends on the cursor speed set in the menu. it can go pretty damn fast.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) PS1 RPG Maker Text Input Device

It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure the cursor just keeps moving.

depends on the cursor speed set in the menu. it can go pretty damn fast.

That's a good sign. If the cursor moves fast enough, then this device might be able to enter text almost instantaneously.

The MC's clock will be at 4MHz, like I said, so as long as the translation part of the program isn't too complex, then it would be able to press those buttons quite fast.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I'd definately recommend trying out RPGM1's text entry before you get too far into this project.

If I had to guess, if you can't make it scroll through the choices faster than what it does normally, you'd be inputting letters at a rate of about 2 per second with that keyboard thing of yours.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I'd definately recommend trying out RPGM1's text entry before you get too far into this project.

If I had to guess, if you can't make it scroll through the choices faster than what it does normally, you'd be inputting letters at a rate of about 2 per second with that keyboard thing of yours.

At this point, I'm going to try making it, no matter what. So, whether it's 2 per second or 20, I'm going to build it.

[Ixzion]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I think this is a great idea and I look forward to how much work you can get done.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I think this is a great idea and I look forward to how much work you can get done.

Thanks!

A little update: I just got my copy of RPG Maker and have done a little testing.

Having now seen the text-input screens, I have managed to figure out the algorithm. It should be as simple as finding the differences between the X/Y position of the current cursor location and the X/Y of desired location - with a little bit extra to try and take the shortest path possible.

The cursor moves pretty fast when the speed is set for maximum, so it does give me hope that the text input speed will be adequate. Of course, the micro-controller will be able to press the d-pad buttons a lot faster than a human can, provided that the algorithm doesn't slow it down in between key presses.

In a nutshell - when you press a key on the keyboard, a signal is sent to the Picaxe which tells it which key was pressed. The Picaxe then converts the pressed key into an set of X/Y coordinates (for example: "z" would be converted to "11/2"). The Picaxe then subtracts the destination coordinates from the current position to get the number left/right & up/down pulses to send (ex: @ 1/6 - Z 11/2 = 10 Right 4 Up). After the pulses are sent, it would then send the pulse for the "X" button, entering the letter into the text box. Once the letter has been entered, it would be ready for the next key-stroke.

Ideally, that would all take place in a matter of milliseconds, allowing for a reasonable typing speed. I won't know how fast it'll work until the prototype gets built, though.

Also, it uses a mono-space font, so it should be possible for me to develop the word-wrap feature too (after the prototype is built and I can be sure that it works).

Now I just need to get an old PS1 controller, take it apart, apply my trusty multimeter in select locations, strip some wires, acquire and program the micro-controller, and do a little soldering.

I can get started as soon as the supplies I've ordered get here - so the prototype should be completed in around a week or two (I didn't have any 18Xs lying around, otherwise it would probably be done by now).

[Lausen]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

You are my hero for seeing this project through. If it has a decent typing speed I'd be willing to pay for one. I look forward to the updates.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

You are my hero for seeing this project through. If it has a decent typing speed I'd be willing to pay for one. I look forward to the updates.

Update:

I just took apart an old PS2 controller, to do some preliminary testing. It's looking good so far. I can trigger button presses with my multimeter and have started mapping the PCB tracks. The final product will use a PS1 controller, but since I don't have one at the moment, I'll be doing my proof-of-concept on the PS2. Those connections I'll have to solder to are freaking tiny. O_O

Once I finish mapping the tracks, I'll hook up an 08M and write a program to see whether or not I can get the Picaxe to trigger the button presses - this will also let me see how quickly the micro-controller will be able to move the RPG Maker cursor to enter letters.

My main concern is voltage/power issues with the keyboard. I don't know if a PS\2 keyboard will be able to run on the voltage supplied by the PS1/PS2/PS3/PC. The controller itself runs on 3.3 volts, while PS\2 keyboards run at 5V. If that doesn't work, I could try using a regulator to bump up the voltage. I also don't know the amperage of the PS controller, but hopefully it will be able to support the keyboard and the extra electronics I'll be fitting it with. If not, then I could just use a cheap $5 5V wall-wart that will plug into the controller to supply the necessary power.

So, all told, I don't think that there are going to be any problems too big to not be able to find a work-around. The main issue is just the speed at which text can be typed into RPG Maker. My preliminary tests with the 08M will shed some light on that, but I won't know what the speed will be in practice until the prototype is complete.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I'm with Lausen. RPG Maker for the PS1 is the only working RPG Maker that I own right now and I love the software, unfortunately, I refuse to deal with the tedium of typing on-screen due to time constraints. If you get this to work at a reasonable speed I will also buy it as soon as I can.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

Update: Okay - I finished mapping the traces, more or less, and soldered wires to the appropriate places. A couple hours, and several burns later, I got it hooked up to a BS2 for some testing.

Unfortunately, the button presses were ludicrously erratic. I would activate the left d-pad button, and triangle would be pressed. If I left a loop of left d-pad pressing running, any and every button on the controller would be randomly triggered - it was quite interesting watching it cycle through every part of RPG Maker, at times I thought it had become sentient and started to make a game.

Obviously this was not the desired result. The PS2 controller is just too advanced and finicky. So I'm going to have to get a PS1 controller, which is what I always intended to use anyway, and do my testing on that.

Despite the problems, I did at least learn that it is possible to use a micro-controller to trigger button presses, and that it can get it going fairly fast - though that still doesn't tell me how quickly letters can be entered with the micro-controller processing keystrokes too. But this has still left me optimistic.

Hopefully I'll acquire a PS1 controller tomorrow so I can start really getting work done on this.

After doing some reading, I think that getting everything connected in the PS1 controller will be a lot easier than it was for the PS2. The PS2 controller is a lot more advanced, so Sony was packing in a good deal more electronics into the same small space than the PS1 had, making everything smaller and harder to work with. That's why I had so much trouble soldering, the connections were very tiny. But with the PS1 controller, it should be a much simpler matter since I can just drill through and/or solder directly to the PCB, which has larger tracks than the PS2 controller.

To sum up: The basic proof-of-concept work is done. Now I need to get a PS1 controller, and do more advanced testing. Once that testing is complete, I will be able to start building the prototype. The Picaxes and mini-din connectors are already on the way, and I should have them by Thursday. If everything goes well, I'll have enough materials to make 5 RPG Maker PS\2 Keyboard Controller Adapters.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

Update: I just posted a video of the malfunctioning prototype on my blog. Link in sig.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

If you can get this to work, i will most definitely be buying one. The text input thing was the ONLY thing that kept me from finishing Dragons Legacy in RPGMaker1.

[Pagerron]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

I must say that this is a very cool thread. If you're actually able to get this working well for RPG Maker 1, it would be awesome.

Today I just got a seven dollar USB keyboard to replace the one I was using for an RPG Maker 3 game. Having it makes creation oh so much easier.

Your video link was funny. Glad you learned some things in the process.

[Thutmose]

Re: (I'm Making it!) Keyboard for PS1 RPG Maker

Thanks for your interest and comments, everyone.

I just won an ebay auction for 50 PS1 controllers at a pretty low price (They're untested, but even if only 10 of them work, I will have made a good investment). This will increase my profit margin and should ensure that I have enough controllers to last me pretty much forever.