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Best Densha de Go controller?
Topic Started: Jul 2 2015, 06:21 PM (1,329 Views)
avens

I'm looking to get into this series, and for that I'd like to get a controller for it.

After reading this forum for a while it seems like the way to go is to play the PC versions of the games (or emulate them), so I should get a controller that works flawlessly on the PC. Which is the very best, at any budget and no matter the rarity? What is the best that's sensibly priced (for example less than $100) and that's available on eBay as of now?

Also, I'd like a second controller that has the most compatibility on consoles, as I'm sort of a collector. Should it be one for the PS1 or for the PS2? In any case, which one?

Finally, should I just get one good controller for the PS1 or PS2 and use that for the PC as well (so only one controller for the whole series), that with an adapter?

Thanks in advance.
Edited by avens, Jul 2 2015, 06:24 PM.
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keneda2002
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If you want a controller on PC, here is a controller you can buy (works with all the densha pc titles):
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Densha-De-Go-USB-Train-Controller-for-PC-Windows-Rare-Ships-from-Europe-/131532482549?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e9ff267f5

I also sell mine for 120€ without the shipment (I live in France, add 20€ for Europe), mine is more an modern style official controller (works also with all the titles):
http://s14.zetaboards.com/Densha_De_Go_Forums/topic/6754523/1/#new

Paypal his possible, but I also can put this on ebay if you want but I have to check the ebay fees

For console controllers, the best one will be Densha de go Type 2, a little expensive now ~180€ (works with all the densha de go series on ps2 + train simulator yamanote + railfan chicago tokyo ps3, don't work with all the ps1 series)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Densya_de_GO!_controller_type2_JPN.jpg

Or the cheaper solution the densha de go ps1 controller (works with all the ps1 series + densha de go 3 ps2 + densha de go shinkansen ps2 only) ~40€ with the shipment
http://www.genkivideogames.com/images/TCPP20001shots.jpg


It's not possible to use an adaptator to plug the densha ps1/ps2 controllers on pc (i also tried this solution few years ago)

You can contact me if you have any questions.
Edited by keneda2002, Jul 8 2015, 02:46 PM.
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barito

The best Densha De Go! controller is not for sale, unfortunately ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0zvU-dEZCo
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Koren

keneda2002
Jul 8 2015, 02:45 PM
It's not possible to use an adaptator to plug the densha ps1/ps2 controllers on pc (i also tried this solution few years ago)
Bump from hell? As I said, I have been away for some time, a bit too busy with work to check on low-trafic forums :/


Actually, that's not exactly true. I own a PS2 Densha Type 2 controller, and after investigating it, it *does* work on PC... kinda.

For some reason, it's not a totally compliant HID device, though most of it is implemented. For this reason, PCs fail to recognize it. But I had the project a couple years ago to design a free DdG clone (and also probably use emulators when my japanese PS2 fail) so I tried to go a bit further with a friend.

We managed to open a USB connexion to the controller, and it was working. So there's three possible solutions:
- patch the software to directly communicate with the controller (hard if you don't have source code for the software)
- create a specific driver for the controller (though I think I remember it not communicating properly, so I'm not even sure how you would design the driver, I haven't built drivers yet)
- use a USB-to-USB device that can have a proper HID interface for the PC and communicate at low level with the controller

I may investigate the third solution with an arduino of some kind, especially if there's people interested... But I really lack free time these days, so that's not a promise.

But if someone want to investigate, I can confirm that a PC can communicate with a Type 2...



Quick'n dirty proof of concept if someone is interested (should compile right of the bat on Linux using gcc, with libusb-dev installed, but you may need to be root to claim the device)
Code:
 

#include <usb.h>
#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
int err;
struct usb_bus *usb_bus;
struct usb_device *dev;
usb_dev_handle *usb_handle;
usb_init(); usb_find_busses(); usb_find_devices();
for (usb_bus = usb_busses; usb_bus; usb_bus = usb_bus->next) {
for (dev = usb_bus->devices; dev; dev = dev->next) {
if ((dev->descriptor.idVendor == 0x0ae4) &&
(dev->descriptor.idProduct == 0x0004))
goto found;
}
}
printf("Not found!\n");
return;

found:
printf("Found!\n");
usb_handle = usb_open(dev);
if (usb_handle == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr,
"Not able to claim the USB device\n");
return;
}
if ((err = usb_claim_interface(usb_handle, 0)) < 0) {
fprintf(stderr, "Not able to claim the interface: %d\n", err);
return;
}
while(1) {
unsigned char buf[8];
int size, i;
size = usb_interrupt_read(usb_handle, 1, buf, 8, 10000);
printf("Brakes: %02x ", buf[1]);
// 0x79 (0) > 0x8a > 0x94 > 0x9a > 0xa2 > 0xa8 > 0xaf > 0xb2 > 0xb5 > 0xb9
// Not sure if values are hardcoded, or are the result of a
// variable resistor... may change from one device to another
// 0xff between positions

printf("Power: %02x ", buf[2]);
// 0x81 (0) > 0x6d > 0x54 > 0x3f > 0x21 > 0x00 (5)
// 0xff between positions

printf("Pedal: %02x ", buf[3]);
// 0xff (no) > 0x00 (yes)

printf("Dirs: %02x ", buf[4]);
// 0x08 (none), 0x00 to 0x07 clockwise, 0x00 is up
// opposite directions cancel each others (related to PS2 pad behavior?)

printf("Buttons: %02x\n", buf[5]);
}

return;
}
Edited by Koren, May 10 2018, 05:54 PM.
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zipmon

Koren
May 10 2018, 05:23 PM
keneda2002
Jul 8 2015, 02:45 PM
I own a PS2 Densha Type 2 controller, and after investigating it, it *does* work on PC... kinda.

For some reason, it's not a totally compliant HID device, though most of it is implemented. For this reason, PCs fail to recognize it. But I had the project a couple years ago to design a free DdG clone (and also probably use emulators when my japanese PS2 fail) so I tried to go a bit further with a friend.

We managed to open a USB connexion to the controller, and it was working. So there's three possible solutions:
- patch the software to directly communicate with the controller (hard if you don't have source code for the software)
- create a specific driver for the controller (though I think I remember it not communicating properly, so I'm not even sure how you would design the driver, I haven't built drivers yet)
- use a USB-to-USB device that can have a proper HID interface for the PC and communicate at low level with the controller

I may investigate the third solution with an arduino of some kind, especially if there's people interested... But I really lack free time these days, so that's not a promise.
Just wanted to say that this is so cool! As you mentioned when PS2s fail down the line it would be awesome to have a way to get the PS2 controllers hooked up to computers for emulation, so this is super exciting! Will definitely be interested to hear about any progress if you get the time to work on it!
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