From: Goodwin, Greg (GoodwinG_at_aafes.com)
Date: Mon Jan 12 2004 - 05:57:26 PST
Just wanted to say welcome back to Gatch! I think the last time we approached this idea it was something like 1999 or 2000. Anyway, awesome!
I too would love Mame on the Newton, in particular, Galaga and Dig Dug. If I had that, I would no longer need my Game Boy Advance (the Namco Museum). Naturally all the other rom images that could be played would be equally fun.
As far as the controller goes, multiple options need to be considered.
1) On screen - Perhaps the worst, but available to all.
2) Keyboard - both Newton regular and the Palm foldout support (Perhaps the most common and workable)
3) Hacks. While I agree that a joystick would be nice, it will not be available for all, so the other two options need to be there. At least number 2, and at least the regular Newton keyboard.
I say this be grudgingly since the Palm keyboard works on my Newton but not the regular keyboard these days. Go fig.
Anyway, for those interested out there, how about an enterprising suggestion:
A Newton Joypad Attachment:
It would involve in it's simplest form....
Velco Strap with plastic patch attached (that could fit over the bottom of the Newton 2000 covering over the face where it says "MessagePad 2000"
A standard mini-din Apple serial cable.
A smaller velco strap (To hold the serial cable in place around the area of the Newton where it says ""Newton"
And then on the plastic patch on the velco strap that covers the "MessagePad 2000" part have...
A mylar underlay for a controller and rubberized buttons. Both of these, more than likely, scavaged off existing controllers.
This would be the most simplistic form of a attachable joypad for playing Mame, making the Newton more Game Boy like.
For those really serious, I'm sure those rubberized keys could be added to the Newton full time (pasting it on, drilling a hole to run wires on the inside to the Newton serial leads, or modifying the case for the buttons themselves and have the mylar underlay and all inside of the Newton.
All this said... or of course there is the classic idea...
Have the onscreen buttons, and then make an overlay so you can add rubberized buttons to the screen to hit those buttons.
I would probably go with the second idea personally. :)
Greg Goodwin / Doctor Clu
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