Since On-The-Fly remapping has been implemented, I figured it was time for the FGW Converter to get its own thread.
Welcome Sheet: http://www.godlikecontrols.com/download/converterwelcome2.pdf
Q: What is it?
A: The FGWidget converter is a small micro-controller based circuit board that reads the status of a connected PlayStation, Super Nintendo, or Sega Saturn board. Based on the buttons or directions pressed on the controller, matching pins on the converter will either drop to a low output voltage (if the matching button or direction is pressed on the controller), or to a high impedance with pull up resistor state (if the matching button or direction is not pressed on the controller). This output from the converter can be connected directly to a female Neo-Geo connector, or used in conjunction with any common ground controller board. As an example, this board can be used to make your own PSX->NeoGeo converter, or used with an MC Cthulhu board to make your own SNES->PS3 converter, or with a common ground Xbox360 controller board to make your own Saturn->Xbox360 converter.
Q: Wait, I though this controlled LEDs?
A: No, that’s the FGW LED Controller. The ‘FGW’ in the front is short for ‘Fighting Game Widget’, meaning its a small, cheap, Atmel controlled device. From a hardware standpoint, they are very similar, but the code on the two chips is WAY different. So, FGW LED Controller controls LEDs. FGW Converter is for making your own converters.
Q: Is it easy to use?
A: NO! Proper setup of an FGW Converter requires use of a multimeter, soldering iron, and most likely a dremel as well. It only comes in kit form that has to be soldered together. It will require a cord from a sacrificed controller or extension cord, using a multimeter to pin that cord out so you can properly solder it to the board. Using it in a project box will likely require dremelling out spots for the cords and connectors to go. This is a cheap tool meant for experienced tech heads. If you don’t consider the work I’ve listed as fun, I would recommend contacted a tech in the Trading Outlet to bribe them to make the converter you want.
Q: Can it be used with Superguns?
A: Absolutely, it was designed with Superguns in mind.
Q: What’s this about button remapping?
A: FGW Converter just had on the fly button remapping implemented. If you ordered your FGW Converter before 9/7/11, yours will NOT have the remapping code in it. All FGW Converters sold after that date will have the button remapping code in it.
Q: How do I do the button remapping?
A: This can get kind of complicated, so I’m gonna put the nuts and bolts into a spoiler tag.
Spoiler
Here’s the order of the buttons you need to know:
1 - Square
2 - X
3 - Triangle
4 - Circle
5 - R1
6 - R2
7 - L1
8 - L2
You should notice that is the LP, LK, MP, MK, HP, HK, PPP, KKK order of most standard PSX arcade sticks.
To get into button remapping mode, hold down Start and Select on your controller if you are using a PSX or SNES controller, or hold down just Start if you’re using a Saturn controller. You’ll have to it down for about 10 full seconds. You can move the directional pad or stick during this time, and the directions will stop responding once the buttons have been held down long enough. Once that happens, let go of the buttons, and you’re in remapping mode.
Now, your converter is waiting for to tell it what button(s) should activate the Square line, since it’s first on the list. Press all of the buttons you want to activate the X line, and release them all. It’s important that you have them held down at the same time. Once allof your buttons that activate X have been pressed, release them all. That setting will be saved, and it will then wait for you to tell it what button(s) should activate the next line on the list.
Once all 8 of the buttons have been set, the mapping will be permanently saved to the controller and the controller will return to normal operation.
If you do NOT want a button to activate the current line to set, either press and release Select(PSX, SNES), or hold down all eight buttons (Saturn) and release. That will make sure none of your buttons will activate that line.
Q: I have a FGW Converter, but it doesn’t have the button remapping code. How can I get the button remapping code on my converter?
A: Easy option would be to by a new FGW Converter, pop out the older chip from your current one, and pop the new chip in. There’s no option to buy the chip separately, since the chip costs way more than everything else in the kit put together. Next option would be to send me your old chip for me to reprogram it. I’ll reprogram it for free, but you will need to ship it to me, and paypal for shipping. That shipping would be $2 for first class mail in the US. Please PM me to setup.
Q: I have a problem with buttons appearing the ‘Turbo’ on their own, going on and off even though they’re held down.
A: Known compatability problem with FGW Converter kits sold in September, October, and November of 2011. Check the question above to get your chip reprogrammed.
Q: My Kitty based stick or MC Cthulhu based stick doesn’t work on the FGW Converter using a PSX cable.
A:.Known compatability problem with FGW Converter kits sold in September, October, and November of 2011. Check the question above to get your chip reprogrammed.
More QA’s to come.
How to order:
http://www.godlikecontrols.com
