Using an Arduino on Sega Genesis for various controller inputs?

[sonicdude10]

I have this crazy brainfart of an idea. I've seen something called the NESbot on the net being used to play TAS "movie" files on a real NES and even one on an N64. I had this crazy idea to create one for the Sega Genesis. But I wanted it to go further than just being a timed button masher robot. My idea would be to implement the movie file playback for TAS on real Genesis hardware as well as having USB input for using your own USB controller. I thought the design could go like this: the Arduino outputs to both controller 1 and 2. Input comes from my 14 button USB controller since it has enough buttons on it to fully emulate 2 of the 6 button Genesis controllers. I have mine set up like this using the Fusion 3.64 emulator. Left side is controller 1 and right side is controller 2. This would allow playing 2 player games with a single player. Any ideas on this? Anyone want to take a stab at it? If someone does, I'd happily buy it from them. I just need it to convert a USb controller to the 2 Genesis controller ports and be able to play back TAS movies if that's possible. Let me know if there's any interest.

[PCB_Master]

I have been toying with idea myself. I got the Arduino to read a controller, now to get it to act as one. I can give you my code to look at if you wish.

[sonicdude10]

Thanks but I would hzve no use for it right now. I don't have an Arduino much less the know how to program one. I will be messing with them in the future and will call upon you then.

[Trenton_net]

Wouldn't something like this be impossible in a practical sense? Because some games include random events, so even if you put in automated controller inputs, some of those inputs would only be exact for one "instance" of the game which may never come again. I think the reason emulators make it possible is because you can replay everything, even the CPU states and such.

[PCB_Master]

Trenton, I don't think the finished device would really serve any real purpose, apart from "look it plays itself wow that's neat" standpoint. It is an interesting challenge however, and could serve some practical uses, such as mapping a button sequence to one button, an advanced turbo button if you will.

[sonicdude10]

Wouldn't something like this be impossible in a practical sense? Because some games include random events, so even if you put in automated controller inputs, some of those inputs would only be exact for one "instance" of the game which may never come again. I think the reason emulators make it possible is because you can replay everything, even the CPU states and such.

Many games do but there are plenty where everything is mapped out and is easy to anticipate the next move. The Sonic games are a good example of this. Most Genesis TAS emulators don't use save states for mivie files. They simply play over the game from reset and the commands line up every time. The same thing happens on a console with the button script. Go look on YouTube for something called the NES BOT to see what I mean. That's where I got this crazy idea from.