BlueRetroHW VS PicoMemcard

I still play my PS2, but I used a esp32 to make a Bluetooth adapter for it so I can use my 8bitdo controller. https://github.com/darthcloud/BlueRetro

Controllers - Not really a mod per se, but I'm going to build a BlueRetro adapter for the Dreamcast. I'm using the internal adapter on my GameCube and it's the coolest mod I've done. I'm also using the "core" and dongle on my PS2 and it also works great (minus pressure sensitive buttons). I know I'll need one Dreamcast controller connected to use a VMU, but being able to cheaply use modern controllers on retro consoles while maintaining virtually all functionality is just so cool to me (though I'm aware some people will see this as blasphemous).

Referencing this schematic from BlueRetro, connect the 5V from player 1's extension cable to the 5V pin on the ESP32. Player 1's DATA line (labeled IO19) in the schematic, should be connected to the pin labeled 19 on the ESP32. (The labels from BlueRetro align with the pin labels on the actual ESP32 -- at least the one I bought from Mouser does). Connect the combined GND line for Player 1 to any of the GND pins on the ESP32. Leave the remaining lines (3V3 and the Pin 5 if it exists) disconnected.

Refer to this schematic on how to connect the wires of each extension cable to the ESP32 module. The main signals are IO19 (player 1), IO5 (player 2), IO26 (player 3), and IO27 (player 4). For each player, only the IO lines will be connected to the ESP32. Additionally, only one single 5V line (from player 1) will supply power to the ESP32, and likewise for the combined GND(x2)/SHIELD from player 1. The GND(x2)/SHIELD wires for the remaining players can also be connected to the ESP32, however there are only a total of three GND pins on the ESP32. So if you are using the no-solder approach, just leave the one for player 4 disconnected (it's only purpose is to provide GND for the ESP32, which is taken care of by player 1 already, with redundancy from players 2 and 3 if you connect those to the remaining GND spots). Connecting the extra GND(x2)/SHIELD just keeps the wires from being a big mess (we are already leaving the 3V3 and pin 5 lines disconnected).

What a coincidence, I'm working on a similar project myself. After a bit of code cleanup I will be pushing to github, but in the meantime I recommend taking a look at PicoMemcard. The Playstation 1 and 2 use the same communication protocol for both the controller and memory card.

1 pico for the PlayStation to use as a PicoMemcard a custom memcard for the PSX, which allow to boot freepsxboot, an exploit to load backup cd

Regardless of jokes, even for only 8MB PS2 memory card emulation the PicoMemcard author (https://github.com/dangiu/PicoMemcard) claims the Pi Pico is not enough without extra components! :)

Also, they won't admit it publicly, but competing open source projects like PicoMemcard are probably what pushed them to find more competitive pricing solutions.

If you're savvy you can make one. https://github.com/dangiu/PicoMemcard

The creator is dangiu from https://github.com/dangiu/PicoMemcard. check em out 😁

This is very easy DIY project created my dangiu on github called PicoMemcard. I followed his instructions for RPI 2040 and it just works! The best part you can read and write memory card images to it directly via USB! That means easy backups and easy imports of saves from emulators etc.