Testing the Playstation to USB Controller Adapter
You can find these adapters on eBay (usually direct from Hong Kong) for less than $8 including shipping. It was so cheap, I decided to buy one and test it out. On to the tests!
The Test System:
- MSI AM2 Motherboard
- AMD Athlon X2 Processor
- Windows XP SP3 (32bit)
- PCSX2 Playground v1.0.0395 VM
- ePSXe v1.7.0
If you're reading this article you're probably a ePSEe or PCSX2 user looking for an easy way to get a controller working with the emulator. You'll be happy to know this cheap little device allows you to use two Playstation controllers at once, as advertised. I was even able to use my Red Octane Guitar. HOWEVER, it did not like every controller I tested, and the driver CD they shipped with the unit didn't help. All of these controllers were first tested on my Playstation 2 console before I tested them under an emulator.
(The test equipment pile)Hardware Compatibility
So which controllers worked and which didn't?
- Sony PS2 Dualshock 2 (SCPH-10010) FAIL
- Sony PSX (SCPH1080) PASS
- Verge Micro PS2 (VGP2MCONT) PASS
- Red Octane Guitar (PSLGH) PASS
- Madcatz Wireless PS2 (8246) FAIL
I should note that while the guitar worked, Rock Band doesn't run properly under PCSX2. Perhaps with some tweaking I can get the emulator to see it as a guitar and get the blank menu options to appear, but I don't have the time.
Tip: Things seem to work the best if you plug the USB cable in first, then both controllers, then start the emulator.
Other Uses:
I also found that a Playstation controller with this USB adapter works great for the following other emulators:
- Stella v2.3.5 (Atari)
- Project 64 v1.3 (N64)
- FCE Ultra v0.5 (NES)
- Snes9X v1.41-1 (SNES)
- Gens v2.14 (Genesis)
http://www.epsxe.com
http://www.pcsx2.net
http://www.ngemu.com
