Bliss-Box - 4 Play

[tthurman]

I saw this in a post by ronaldlw, search, and didn't see anything posted it here, so thought I would share.

While it may seem a little high at first, once you think about it, really it's not that much for a project with such lofty goals.

It could be the ultimate adapter!

[DazzleHP]

I'm all for these "mega-dapters" but i've seen a few of these kickstarter type deals come and go before. They always seem to just disappear. I guess "niche" is a dicey market. I wish the guy all the best though!

[ClassicGMR]

Wow... the BlissBox project has been around for a while now. I'm kind of surprised he took it to Kickstarter though the exposure there might get him some sales I guess.

[Adultery]

I personally loathe most old controllers, unless it's the only way like with n64 most of those are uncomfortable and can be replaced with something modern.

/my 2c

[tthurman]

Wow... the BlissBox project has been around for a while now. I'm kind of surprised he took it to Kickstarter though the exposure there might get him some sales I guess.

I need to get out more

I personally loathe most old controllers

Me too, I'm quite happy with my XBox 360 controllers, but admittedly I have no interested emulating consoles. We'll mostly none

[hansolo77]

I'd be perfectly happy with just a USB plug on an official controller. I haven't bought any yet, but I know they make Sega Genesis, Nindendo/Master System, SNES, and N64 controllers. I just need to save up to get some. I'd really like to find an Atari set (joystick AND paddle) so I get my dad to play with me. He refuses to try and learn how to play with a thumb (even though that's how they ALL are) when he learned with a joystick.

[Draco1962]

I can't help it but the name lends itself to all sorts of possibilities, mostly pr0n-related. There is probably a "movie" of the same name somewhere...

[DazzleHP]

I can't help it but the name lends itself to all sorts of possibilities, mostly pr0n-related. There is probably a "movie" of the same name somewhere...

No doubt! And you can get even more if you change just one word each time, to suggest but two: Bliss box 4-way, Dirt box 4-play

Ok, second one might be a bit British, but to those who are - am i right?!

[tthurman]

Man, this one took a turn

[ClassicGMR]

I'd be perfectly happy with just a USB plug on an official controller. I haven't bought any yet, but I know they make Sega Genesis, Nindendo/Master System, SNES, and N64 controllers. I just need to save up to get some. I'd really like to find an Atari set (joystick AND paddle) so I get my dad to play with me. He refuses to try and learn how to play with a thumb (even though that's how they ALL are) when he learned with a joystick.

I bought a pair of these. Plug n Play and use the actual hardware. They work so nicely.

I also bought his Intellivision adapter so I could play AD&D Treasure of Tarmin the right way!

EDIT: Seems he has updated the Intellivision adapter to cover Genesis and Master System as well as ColecoVision/Intellivision(which it already did).

[tthurman]

Wow... the BlissBox project has been around for a while now. I'm kind of surprised he took it to Kickstarter though the exposure there might get him some sales I guess.

Thanks for posting this link. I've done some reading over there, and while I realize there is always two sides to every story, sometimes things are just as they are presented. it does appear he was very misled, and quite possibly deceived according to this post. Knowing how this community works in general, it's not hard to imgaine how many donated time and effort to the cause, in additon to that of the designer. Sad to see someone yanked around like this, and I hope all the best for him.

I'm sure this explains why it is on KS.

[Special-T]

4-Play Review
Background Information

I just wanted to provide a little background information about why I'm doing this review. I originally purchased four Bliss-Boxes several years ago at $100 a piece to allow my wife and I as well as our children play games together. These were the first four Bliss-Boxes that were ever made which is why they look a little rough around the edges. I recently found out about the Kickstarter campaign and contacted the developer to ask if I could demo the hand built proto-type he showed off in his video. He accepted my request and sent me the prototype to test out and post a review about. So, I hope you enjoy the review.

What is a Bliss-Box and 4-Play?

Bliss-Box was the original PC to USB Adapter that was made to connect a variety of video game controllers to your computer. These were boxes custom built to order and made by hand in a garage. He even had to mold plastic sometimes if a suitable connector wasn’t readily available. Here is an example of one of the original Bliss-Boxes I bought several years ago. The only limitation was you had to buy 1 Bliss-Box per controller being used, so if you were playing a 4 player N64 game, you would be required to have 4 Bliss-Boxes. The image below is one of the Bliss-Boxes I bought several years ago. It’s a little rough around the edges but it gets the job done.

The 4-Play is commercialized version of the Bliss-Box with the added bonus of being able to connect and use 4 controllers at once. This is basically like having 4 Bliss-Boxes in one small adapter.The smaller compact size was accomplished by using HMDI input (controller connects to the 4-play via an HDMI cable) instead of having an adapter for each controller mounted on the box. It’s a much smarter design. Please note the image below is of the proto-type (case & circuit board) that I’m doing this review on. This product is still subject to change in color and design.

Here is a closer look at the circuit board

For being a proto-type, everything appears to be very professionally done and manufactured with quality products. I saw a few comments on some of the forums advising that the 4-Play looks cheap and appears to be made in china. After holding and testing the 4-Play, I have to disagree. It feels like a solid product. It’s not too heavy but it feels sturdy to the point where if I happened to drop it on my tile floor, I don’t think it would break.

What kind of controller ports does the 4-Play support?

• PC-FX
• SNES
• Wii Remote Expansion Port (Nunchuck, Classic Controller, etc.)
• NES

• Game Cube
• Saturn
• Nintendo 64
• Turbo grafix 16

• Dream cast
• PC engine (6 button turbo gafix 16)
• Pippin
• PlayStation (1 and 2)

• Vectrex
• DB9 (Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Atari 2600, etc.)
• Jaguar
• DH15 (Atari 5200, Neo Geo, etc.)

Please note that the Virtual Boy port is also supported by the 4-Play, however I did not receive that cable so I was unable to show a picture of it.

The cables and connectors are very solid and indistinguishable from those found on the actual consoles. If you are a completest and require 4 or each type of controller you are looking at 68 total cables (4 players x 17 cables). If you are concerned how much space this will take up in your home, then I have some good news for you. All 68 cables and 4-Play adapter can easily fit in a small shoe box.

How well does this device work on the computer and was it easy to use?

I was very impressed with how easy the product was to use. You literally just plug your controller into HDMI cable adapter which plugs into the 4-Play, then plug the 4-Play into a USB port on your computer and that’s it. You have afully functional game pad. You will still need to set the input selections in an emulator just like you would with any other gamepad. See the below example of how to do this.

• In Kega Fusion, select “Options” then “Set Config”
• Navigate to the “Controllers” tab and change port 1 from “Keyboard” to “Bliss-Box”
• Click the “Define” button to input the controls (↑↓←→ A B C X Y Z Mode & Start)
• Click on the “Apply” & “OK” buttons

That’s it, you are good to go! Each emulator has its own method of selecting inputs so the set up will be slightly different based on the emulator you are using.

Please see the video below for a demonstration of me using the 4-Play with an emulator. In the video, you will see me showing off the auto-pausing functionality, hot swapping controllers, as well as verifying the updater and that fact that it supports multi-player without any special requirements. I apologize about the quality of the video, this was the first review I’ve ever done. I realize the TV is hard to see, but you can still see the characters moving on screen when I’m using the controllers.

What controllers did you test?

After the video was done, I tested out all the controllers listed below just to see how well it handled different official and third party controllers. I was impressed because they all worked perfectly. I didn’t have issues with any of the controllers seen in the image below.

• NES
• Super Nintendo (Official & third party version)
• Nintendo 64
• GameCube (Original and Wavebrid version)
• PlayStation 2 (Original and Street Fighter version)
• Sega Genesis (Official 3 button, Official 6 button, 3 other third party versions)
• Sega Saturn
• Sega Dreamcast (Official US, Official PAL, & third party version)
• Neo Geo
• PC-FX
• Also pictured are the original 4 original Bliss-Boxes that I purchased, just so you can see how much the product has evolved

Pros:

• Very small compact size compared to the original
• Allows 4 controllers to be connected at once
• It’s ready to use right out of the box, no special software required with the exception of firmware updates
• Auto-pause if controller is disconnected
• Hot swapping capabilities
• Easily upgradable via firmware update
• Future proof /expandable (all that is required is a new cable and a firmware update)
• Each port is independently upgradable so they can run different firmware’s if needed
• Price - at $125 for the full package and all the cables this is a steal compared to the $400 it would cost to buy 4 Bliss-Boxes
• Supports complex features like
-- PS2's pressure sensitive buttons
-- Force Feedback
-- Communication with Dreamcast LCD screen (currently, no emulators support this… yet)

Cons:

The 4-play has a reset button that is next to the HDMI port. The reset button is hard to find because it’s very well hidden. I had to contact the 4-Play developer to find out where it was located. It’s only used to reset the device if you’re controller isn’t recognized or if you are upgrading the firmware. Once you locate it, it becomes a non-issue. I spoke with the developer about this and they advise it will be more clearly labeled on the final product.

In order for this product to be manufactured / mass produced, the Kickstater campaign has to reach $150,000. If you are reading this review I making the assumption you have or are looking for a USB adapter. If that’s the case, then I strongly recommend this over other products based on its versatility, price, usability (no software), and quality. If you have any questions or need any clarifications about anything in this review, please let me know.

Links:

• Kickstarter
• Bliss-Box / 4-Play Homepage
• High Resolution images from this post can be downloaded here
• Controller Compatibility List
• Button Layout / Configuration

[nullPointer]

Dude, thank you so much for reposting this here! Just as a little background info for everyone, I read this review on another site and asked Special-T if he would mind reposting here, both because I thought it was such a great review, and because I knew there would be some interest here.

Thanks again Special-T and Welcome to the GameEx forums!

[Special-T]

No problem. if you have any questions, please let me know.

[DazzleHP]

Great review Special-T, it certainly made me want one more! I've put it on my list of future indulgences

[Draco1962]

Does seem to be an awesome piece of kit for multiuser simultaneous play!

[RIP-Felix]

Sounds like a great idea (for retro gaming enthusiasts like us). I got one of these a while back and use it for pc use through a GC adapter. Works great but I can't find them anymore, and it has drawbacks. I've seen some newer products, but most only support a couple of systems. I really like the idea of 1 box, 4 players, every system, just buy the adapters you need. I didn't see anything about a Bluetooth adapter. So I guess no PS3 controllers, wii and etc. Otherwise, a neat project.

The following are my concerns for a startup like this: It's highly opinionated, so keep that in mind!

There must be a reason a company like Mayflash hasn't already made this product? I find it hard to believe they haven’t thought of it. Is a device like this too niche and therefore not profitable enough to invest in? Is there patentable IP here? And if so, does this startup really think they can make it to market at a reasonable price point on their own? They will have to generate a lot of interest to turn a profit in that case? I'm wondering why they want to go the direct to market route, instead of licensing to another company already in the market space, like Mayflash? Honestly, I probably price out around $50-$70 for the box, and $5-$9 for each adapter. Overseas manufacturing in bulk could probably get the price down, but without a powerhouse partner in the space that will be very difficult. Unless they're not interested, I feel like a licensing deal might stand a better chance of being successful

[tthurman]

I get where you're coming from.

I really saw the price point a bit higher than that, and while I have no experience with mayflash, the products don't seem overwhelmingly loved.

I'm seeing Star Wars flight yokes go for crazy numbers these days, and so I think if someone could deliver a multi-controller unit such as this that "really" worked, people would spring for it. Granted it is going to be a niche market no matter what.

[hansolo77]

What I'm wondering is, what do you do when you have friends over or something, and you want to play 4-player smash brothers or something. Is he going to include 4 connector cables for each console type? If so, that's going to be a lot of cables. If not, is he planning on charging a fee for each extra cable?

[Special-T]

What I'm wondering is, what do you do when you have friends over or something, and you want to play 4-player smash brothers or something. Is he going to include 4 connector cables for each console type? If so, that's going to be a lot of cables. If not, is he planning on charging a fee for each extra cable?

It depends on the tier that you select when you back his kickstarter. For example the $125 tier give you the 4-play box as well as 4 cables for each controller type (17 different cables equates out to be 68 total cables). Its a lot of cables but they are small and compact all the cables and device can easily fit in a shoe box so it won't take up much space.

As an alternative, you can select a different tier ($40) which will come with the 4-play and four of the same type of cables i.e. SNES or Genesis etc.

[Evilengine]

Here is a new review video: