MiSTer FPGA Forum

This is kind of a two part question...

I know SNAC is for native controllers for their respective systems, but is there the equivalent for arcade cores where I can create a arcade/fightstick that is serial native and bypasses the USB and the Linux layer altogther?

It is my understanding that the SNES needs a SNES adapter and official controller, and Genesis needs it's own adapter with Genesis core etc., but can official controllers through SNAC be used with arcade cores?

Sadly no.
Unless the specific core is rewritten and in the SNES case all "SNES controller part" code from the SNES core is implemented AND then the rest of the core is adapted to work with the SNES controller code.

And if you want a NES controller instead it´s the same thing all NES controller code must be implemented and so on.

The closest you get is with BlisSTer or LLCoolJoy.
LLCoolJoy from what i remember is opensource and somewhere in the middle between SNAC and blisster.
Too bad it seems to be waporware and was going to come out 1-1,5 year ago but after that post saying it will be out in 2 months (or something like that) nothing.

BlisSTer does not work with SNAC enabled but uses LLAPI instead which do need cores with LLAPI (=Low latency api) in them.
BUT blisster do work like a regular USBhub if LLAPI is not on/missing from the core and blissters "adapter cables" with a hdmi port on the blisster end and then SNES/NES/ETC port on the other is very nice and works very good.
And you can use any controller on any core IF that core have LLAPI the low latency mode will work so you can use a ps2 controller on NES core or a NES controller on segacd (could be missing some buttons but it will work).


AS for SNAC and controllers/cores.
You must use the right controller for the core so no SNES controller on anything else then the SNES core and so on.
Thin of it like when the mister loads the core it basicly becomes the console and the SNAC pins goes directly to the FPGA and will work EXACTLY as it would work on a real consol.
So if a controller does not work on a real console it will not work on a mister core with SNAC enabled.

The plus with this is that less common stuff like lightguns/rare controllers/and so on will most likely work on the mister with SNAC on.
The minus you have to have a "real" controller for that system.

There is an LLAPI version of Pac-man, but that's the only arcade core to get the upgrade.