Dreamcast-Talk.com

MoeFoh wrote:I see. So the white part is more of a cover than a traditional connector. Weird.

Yeah, I see it quite often in electronic devices, TV's and printers generally. It's annoying because at first glance it looks like the cable just unplugs, but alas.

If it helps, here is a picture of my cable that I removed.

Does anyone know where to find this adapter still today? Or is there perhaps another recommendation in order to use usb arcade sticks on Dreamcast. Thanks

Hardyhell wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 5:40 am Does anyone know where to find this adapter still today? Or is there perhaps another recommendation in order to use usb arcade sticks on Dreamcast. Thanks

Wingman SD sold out and has been unavailable for several months now (they really missed out on the Christmas season last year). Brook hasn't publicly made any indication of restock.

I didn't fully appreciate the Wingman SD this while it was available and now regret not buying a second. I consider it an essential consumer product for Saturn/Dreamcast fans. Brook published a healthy arcade stick and controller compatibility list, and as an arcade stick company... it's been rigorously tested. USB keyboard functionality is a bonus value as the original keyboards have become quite expensive. The real crowning function is the included storage. A VMU of storage doesn't seem like much, but... when it connects to PC it becomes a convenient transfer medium for downloaded saves. I witness many gamers struggle to cross that gap with DLC and PC game save management.

The only thing directly comparable is USB4MAPLE, but... that's a project you assemble, not a consumer product. Some generic USB converters can be found on Aliexpress, but they're mostly no-name brands with hardly any reviews. If you ask around some forum members may sell assembled USB4MAPLE converters.

OatBob wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 10:03 am The only thing directly comparable is USB4MAPLE, but... that's a project you assemble, not a consumer product.

I don't think usb4maple can be compared to brook, usb4maple has no analogues today.
the adapter from brook is very much behind usb4maple in capabilities, maybe in the future someone will provide similar functionality, but personally I doubt it very much, because usb4maple is a people's project, I developed the basis, and further functionality and support for controllers were offered by users from all over the world, no commercial project is capable of this, the problem with commercial projects is that they do not listen to end consumers.
as for buying usb4maple, the project was conceived both for self-assembly and for commercial purposes, those who cannot assemble this adapter themselves can buy it in the DreamcastLive store, Aliexpress, Ebay

P.S. Today support for seven arcade sticks was added, no commercial project supports its devices the way amateur projects do, you can see the FW update statistics in any commercial project

megavolt85 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 6:09 pm

OatBob wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 10:03 am The only thing directly comparable is USB4MAPLE, but... that's a project you assemble, not a consumer product.

I don't think usb4maple can be compared to brook, usb4maple has no analogues today.
the adapter from brook is very much behind usb4maple in capabilities, maybe in the future someone will provide similar functionality, but personally I doubt it very much, because usb4maple is a people's project, I developed the basis, and further functionality and support for controllers were offered by users from all over the world, no commercial project is capable of this, the problem with commercial projects is that they do not listen to end consumers.
as for buying usb4maple, the project was conceived both for self-assembly and for commercial purposes, those who cannot assemble this adapter themselves can buy it in the DreamcastLive store, Aliexpress, Ebay

P.S. Today support for seven arcade sticks was added, no commercial project supports its devices the way amateur projects do, you can see the FW update statistics in any commercial project

Also, note you can add a Mayflash Bluetooth USB Adapter to usb4maple to get Bluetooth support.

@OatBob thank you for the information. I am in the same situation. Bought only one while it was available.

@megavolt85 thank you for the information. I try to find more information about that adapter. Hope somebody from Europe sells it pre assembled.