Any hardware that interfaces USB/BT controllers to a DB15 port?

[keenerb]

I'd love to use a modern gamepad with vintage games. Anyone know of a project that would let me connect something like an 8bitdo bluetooth controller, or wired USB game controller to a DB15 gameport?

A raspberry pi seems like it would be ideal, using the GPIO pins, but then it occurs to me that joysticks use potentiometers or variable voltage to determine position; maybe the GPIO pins can't output that properly?

 

[Chuck(G)]

There are plenty of MCUs with very capable DACs. The issue isn't voltage per se, but resistance. So external circuitry.

 

[Plasma]

There's USB4VC

Once you add the Pi and protocol card it's a bit pricey. But it can do a lot.

 

[keenerb]

There's USB4VC

Once you add the Pi and protocol card it's a bit pricey. But it can do a lot.

Thanks a bunch. I'll check that out!

 

[Chuck(G)]

For what it's worth, a Pi Zero could certainly do the job--I suspect there are even cheaper (e.g. Blue Pill) solutions that could handle the issue of 5V logic.

 

[mark0x01]

Something like the MCP4531 i2c to Digital POT would make the analog end simple.
A usb PIC might be another microprocessor option to do the USB.