New USB controller adapter

[garbanzo]

I got a Bliss-Box 4-Play in the mail yesterday, and I have spent a lot of time playing with it. So far I have tested it with NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Dreamcast, PS1, and PS2. Everything has worked flawlessly. I really appreciate the hot-swap capability. Once you have a controller registered on one of the four ports, you can change it out at any time and it continues to work without issue (Windows 8). That means I can set a controller up with RetroArch, and no matter what core I choose and what controller I have plugged in, it just works. I haven't tried it on other systems yet, but I have a Raspberry Pi and a MacBook, so I will be testing it on those systems as well. I don't anticipate any issues. As far as build quality, I was surprisingly pleased. The cables are very sturdy, and I have no concerns about their longevity. The Dreamcast dongle doesn't fit as tightly as I would like, but all the rest are nice and snug, and I think they will all stand up to considerable abuse. The hub itself is solid, with clean seams and tight ports. Honestly I was expecting a cheaper product considering this is a self-funded project on the part of a retro gaming enthusiast, but this thing is very well built. The final design has four reset buttons, one for each port, which lets you re-initiate any attached controller in case your OS decides to get confused. The buttons are clean and flush with the case, and don't detract from the overall design. I had very high hopes for this device, and so far, it has exceeded my expectations. It's easy to use, it works instantly without any setup or drivers, and I'll say it again: the hot-swap feature is fantastic. I run LaunchBox as my frontend with RetroArch as my primary emulator, and I can go from one system to the next without having to wait for Windows to catch up with me. I waited many months for this device to finally arrive at my door, and I can say without a doubt that it was worth the wait!

[Jason Carr]

Very cool. I might have to pick one up for myself. Have you tested the various controllers with LaunchBox/Big Box? Any issues there?

[garbanzo]

Honestly I haven't tested anything within LB, I do all of my gaming with my PC connected to a TV so I just use my mouse to navigate. But I'll try it out this weekend and report back. I fully expect it will work just fine :)

[Jason Carr]

Sounds great, thanks. :)

[CADScott]

That looks amazing, very interested in getting one of those! Where did you get yours from, and if you don't mind me asking, approximately how much was it?

[garbanzo]

I bought it from here: http://skunx7.wix.com/bliss-box They are $120 right now (I paid $100 through the "early bird special"). The cost is high because it is a self-funded, low-production item with a lot of custom bits. But when you consider how much you would pay for that many individual USB adapters that don't work half the time, I think it's worth it :)

[CADScott]

That actually seems a pretty reasonable cost considering all the cable adapters it comes with! From their site it lists: 4 - Gamecube Cables 2 - n64 Cables 2 - Dream Cast 2 - NES Cables 2 - Super Nintendo Cables 2 - retro db9 atari/sega style 2 - Saturn 2 - Play Station(1,2) Cables That would be an awesome way to play all these classic systems, and it covers pretty much every popular console system that is emulated today.