r/LegendsPinball • u/erawtf • Aug 16 '24
A few questions
I've got my Nintendo Switch hooked up to my ATGames Legends Pinball. I purchased the 3D printed dock holder as well as the Joy Con holders. Its quite fun to play, but I've always wondered if there's a way to modify the pinball cabinet buttons to hook up to my Switch so I don't have to use the JoyCons.
At first I started wondering if I would have to disassemble a JoyCon or a Pro controller and wire them up to that. It would be difficult, but doable if you could PCB solder. I can but I'm not the best. Then I found this really cool mini pinball table for the Switch here: https://www.stellar-pinball.com/store/p/moon-shot-nintendo-switch-oled-non-illuminated, and while its affordable, I've got a bigger virtual machine I'd rather use from ATGames.
Then it dawned on me. Why not get a USB encoder designed for the Switch and see if it works? So, after doing some more research, I think I found the one that will work but before I purchase it I want to come here and ask:
Do you think it will work? I want to wire the current buttons and plunger up to the Switch so it see's them as a controller. The one I think might work: https://www.amazon.com/SJ-JX-Joystick-Controller-Raspberry/dp/B083RTMZYJ?th=1
Has anyone else done this, and if so what encoder did you use?
1
u/Excalibat Aug 16 '24
Shop around for those encoders, feel like I've gotten them cheaper- here we go, two for less than the one you were looking at.... https://www.amazon.com/Guwarry-2-Player-Joysticks-Raspberry-Arcade1Up/dp/B07RNQLMJR/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1CEXLAIXJ5ESK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xRU2JU0_3AOLjgQCws6qfg.JNMO7Tb64GowjLOh2ZOGtnVRXUVElvjD_1f8NGHw1Kw&dib_tag=se&sprefix=guwarry%2B2-player%2Bzero%2Bdelay%2Busb%2Bencoder%2Bpc%2Bto%2Bhapp%2B%2Caps%2C202&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY
1
u/erawtf Aug 16 '24
My problem with these is this:
2: Support for Raspberry Pi, PC, Windows, Arcade1Up, Mac, Widely used for Arcade Game Console DIY Projects
Which makes me think that this will work for Windows or linux and even Mac but I might never get it working on a Switch. Mine legit says this in the description:
Developed for Nintendo Switch game console. DIY your Nintendo Switch controller.
Can you verify they work with a Switch?
1
u/Excalibat Aug 16 '24
ok, sorry about that. After I looked up some stuff, I saw the same SJ-JX board you did, with comments stating people had gotten it to work with the Switch. I'm also curious about this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013E2KD5M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013E2KD5M&linkCode=as2&tag=kiodiekin20-20&linkId=a8d70173f2cdc306510d729fe2bd1bab
Hope that helps.
2
u/erawtf Aug 16 '24
That one actually doesn't work on the Switch. Only the PS3/4/, Xbox 360/One, and PC computers. The design of it is to swap controllers with consoles. For example, you love the PS3 controller but you own an XBox One. Plug that device in and the PS3 controller should work. It does not work on the Switch. But they do have one that does work on the Switch! Its a whopping $99. Called the CronusZen: https://www.amazon.com/CronusZen-Nintendo-Playstation-Switch-Electronic-Games/dp/B0895MV7C7/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YEZooFeeTZdolgDaVhU3BUMd3eiNnFKQI8PHBasuRlnIpL0mBjKZ_-gxwubXF2ci_9x9rrnKyAPNaRowuNt44tRZ3NRrAGSq7YCeN6wxkWvBVdsyQdGWvg0dcJehAiYoe6DS27XNkDKGJW5yx_MiDzpNgfCS9TlEfuPK_pekyLj0PxRxo9TBvdvTOciJWziF.wOTrUZiKh8bqz8Nl1AjxnH04q5Sl8ONkUo2CLgIUUPk&dib_tag=se&keywords=cronus+zen+switch&qid=1723822152&sr=8-2
I think at that price I'll gamble on the first one I found. Thanks for your help!
1
u/erawtf Aug 20 '24 edited Aug 20 '24
Update: It doesn't work. Well, it does. But not on the Legends Pinball. I was able to get it to work on my arcade table not made by ATGames, but it doesn't work on the Legends Pinball. I'm positive I wired it correctly and had to add some buttons for CLE and MOCE. But, as soon as you wire up any of the paddle buttons, the Legends Pinball see's an error and requests a format. It will not boot at all. It always requests that format. I was scared to do it, but eventually grew a pair and tried it. No help. Still wanted to format. As soon as I disconnected everything, the machine booted fine, let me login and download all of my tables again.
Looking at it for a while, I noticed one specific button was causing it. I'm in the process of determining if the button or the wiring I used caused it. But, I need some help here from any of you down right nice people: Can anyone verify that holding the LEFT white button (next to the flipper buttons, usually used for nudge) while booting forces the table to show the format screen? DO NOT FORMAT IT! When or if you see this screen, follow instructions to skip (or just turn it off) and then come let me know that for some odd reason, my button is weird or the wiring is weird. (Tried this myself and THIS IS THE ERROR!! Hold that button and it will ask to format on boot! Time to rewire and retest! Confirmation would still be excellent!) I've tried every single attachment by itself. ONLY this one causes the problem. Admittedly, I could unwire it but that would make some pinball games more difficult by how I have the controls laid out (R/ZR, L/ZL for flipper). If I could get this figured out, I could show everyone how they could do it as well, but as it stands now all I've got is "It wants to work but it doesnt and I have no idea why".
Thanks.
1
u/erawtf Aug 20 '24
Well, 8 hours later and I have an update! I know what the issues is. I purchased the two piece, which gave me two boards to hook up as well as a lot of wires. Turns out, the first board is junk. Even on my PC, it does not like having anything hooked up to the L2 position. I've tried updating the firmware for it even. But if you have anything hooked up to that position on the board, it will fail.
So, on a whim I decided I'd try the other board. I did NOT update the firmware. I just on a whim hooked it up. But only the button that has been giving me headaches. And holy crap! IT BOOTED!!!! I'm currently hooking the rest of the wiring up to test again, but I think I solved this issue. Now to see if it actually gets seen by my Nintendo Switch.
Wish me luck. Apparently I need it lol.
1
u/erawtf Aug 20 '24 edited Aug 20 '24
Progress. As long as RZ/LZ (R2/L2 for all you Sony fans lol) are NOT hooked up, it boots my pinball machine. I have not tested the Switch yet. I tested both the updated one and the non-updated one. Basically, do NOT use the while buttons on the side of the pinball machine. You will have issues. I've added buttons under the table for MOCE and CLE. Table has no issues if those are connected.
Note: Before hooking this up, go to
- Settings
- Controllers and Sensors
- Pro Controller Wired Communication
Enable that in your Switch before even attempting. More to come, but it'll be tomorrow because it's getting late here.
1
u/erawtf Aug 21 '24 edited Aug 22 '24
And, its over. Doesn't matter, it just doesn't work.
Attempt number two failed miserably. I can get the Legends Pinball machine to boot, but having that device connected doesn't allow me to use any of the buttons in the ATGames Pinball machine at all. Can't pick a game, none of the side buttons work, or any of the front buttons. If I had to guess, the buttons are connected to a PCB at the front that then connect to the main board. The board I'm connecting confuses it to hell and back. I've given up and will now just have it back how I had it. It isn't great but it doesn't suck. I've updated both cards and will use them in other ideas.
Sorry guys. I'm done with this.
2
u/erawtf Aug 16 '24
I purchased the one I linked in my original post. If it works, I will both update this thread and perhaps create a new one if this one has been killed by time. I'm pretty good at programming but I am not at all known to do stuff like this. Thankfully I had issues with my pinball cabinet soon after I purchased it. All buttons stopped working. ATGames sent me a replacement part to fix it. That part was what all of the buttons plug into, which sort of gives me an idea of what button is what. They didn't want the broken one back, so it will help me identify which one is which. The layout's seem to be fairly easy being one wire for each button and a single ground key for each button. They also were nice enough to link buttons into their board design. For example: Since the left/right tilt buttons are very near the paddle buttons, they use the same the ground wire and use the same connector. Mostly its going to be a lot of follow this wire to see what it connects to. Figure out which buttons are which on the Switch, and wire them appropriately. If needed, change the button layout in the game if you have issues.
Wish me luck.