Hi,
To make PC conversion of SEGA Racing Cabinets easy, I started making PCBs based on SailorSat, BigPanik and njz3's work and code. The goal is to have something Plug and Play, and user friendly from a Hardware perspective, doing no harm to our beloved cabinets.
These PCBs are made to replace the original stack cage. The connectors are the same as on the cage's Filterboard.
All the other original boards, including FFB boards, are kept.
PC <-> Cabinet communication is performed by an Arduino MEGA2560 with njz3 software. Thus, its name : MEGA Adapter
It allows
Multi-game with FFB or
stack replacement with OG FFB
Here is what it looks like:
M3 MEGA Adapter v2.0 for SEGA Model 3 Cabinets, like Daytona USA 2, Scud Race, Sega Rally 2... (v2.1 now available)
M2 MEGA Adapter v1.0 for SEGA Model 2 Cabinet i.e. Daytona USA
(this one is still in testing process) Now available!
M2A MEGA Adapter v1.0 for SEGA Model 2A-CRX Cabinets, like Sega Rally Championship... (v2.0 now available)
M2B.C MEGA Adapter v1.0 for SEGA Model 2B and 2C-CRX Cabinets, like Sega Touring Car, Indy 500... (v2.0 now available)
M1 MEGA Adapter v1.0 Neo for Virtua Racing Cabinets (see page 2 for details):
F355 MEGA Adapter v1.0 for a few SEGA Naomi/Hikaru Cabinets: F355 Challenge 1&2, NASCAR Arcade (v2.0 now available)
SSF MEGA Adapter for Sega Strike Fighter Cabinets (see page 3 for details)
:
One of the pros of this conversion method with njz3's code, is that you can either play:
-
ALL PC emulated games with
emulated Force FeedBack, or
- PC emulated games
made for your cabinet with
ORIGINAL FFB (SailorSat and BigPanik's "M2PAC" mode, aka "RAW" Mode).
This second option allows your PC to behave like an original stack FFB-wise (Game/Motorboard/Driveboard/EPROM have to match in that case). It makes a big difference in a game like Sega Rally 2.
The Mega Adapter talks to
BackForceFeeder installed on the PC (also developped by njz3).
My PCBs provide a few optional features, depending on the model and version:
- A Video Sync converter from RGBHV to RGBS, to send a VGA signal to the RGBS input of a CRT (the PC Video H frequency has to be tweaked to match CRT's)
- Bandicoot & njz3's
VideoAmp compatibility to have a Plug and Play solution to display PC on CRT, with amplification, protection and correct 15/24/31khz frequency
- noise reduction on potentiometer signals (steering, accel and brake)
-
MultiFFB (= Multi EPROM for Model 1/2/3 Driveboards) remote control if your driveboard is difficult to reach at the back of your cabinet
- possibilty to add Buttons and Lamps, or to bypass them (if you want to put a 4 View Panel on your 2 View wired Cabinet, or to change your shifter)
- UART output to drive Aganyte's PWM boards
- Delo's
H4+Sequential and
Evo H4+H6+Sequential Shifters support (RJ45 connector)
All the details on the french official threads : M3 MEGA Adapter, M2 MEGA Adapters, F355 MEGA Adapter.
Compatible Cabinets:
M3 Mega Adapter: Le Mans 24, Dirt Devils, Emergency Call Ambulance, Scud Race / Sega Super GT, Sega Rally Championship 2, Daytona USA 2, Harley-Davidson and L.A. Riders (without FFB)
M2 Mega Adapter: Daytona USA
M2A Mega Adapter: Sega Rally, Manx TT Superbike (without FFB), Motor Raid (without FFB)
M2B.C Mega Adapter: Indy 500, Sega Touring Car, OverRev, Super GT 24
M1 Mega Adapter: Virtua Racing
F355 Mega Adapter : F355 Challenge 1&2, Nascar Arcade, 18 Wheeler
Installation video of a M3MA v1.0 in a Scud Race cab, and test on Sega Rally 2 (english subtitles available):
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuKd-Kokih0
Examples of wiring: Minimal connections if using a LCD monitor, and if using a VideoAmp for CRT display:
Thanks for reading me!