Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!texbell!attctc!bobc
From: bobc@attctc.Dallas.TX.US (Bob Calbridge)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Mac<->Nintendo PowerGlove Interface?
Message-ID: <11077@attctc.Dallas.TX.US>
Date: 21 Jan 90 00:22:44 GMT
References: <1611@ndmath.UUCP> <11531@thorin.cs.unc.edu> <1108@carroll1.cc.edu>
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 32

In article <1108@carroll1.cc.edu>, dnewton@carroll1.cc.edu (Dave Newton the Late) writes:
> In article <11531@thorin.cs.unc.edu> jge@jason.cs.unc.edu (John Eyles) writes:
> >I've heard that Nintendo "peripherals" use a proprietary data encryption
> >scheme, which you can't get the spec on unless you sell your soul to Nintendo.
> >The power-glove would transmit such encoded signals, so I think the interface
> >you are proposing would be virtually impossible (without the cooperation of
> >Nintendo).
> 
>    I think the encoding you're talking about is contained within the 
> cartridges themselves, attempting to prevent unauthorized third-party game
> developers.
>    If the PowerGlove transmits "encoded" signals, it shouldn't really matter,
> as every control on the glove would need a unique signature.  So all you'd
> need to do is hook a data-catcher to the glove's outputs and watch.

Not being an expert on these sort of things, I'll still throw my two cents
in.  Suppose the encryption method had to do with combiations of glove 
movements.  I'm not familiar with what you can do with the glove but I'll
use an example that may not have any real relation to the facts but may 
illustrate the point.  Suppose you bend finger 1 and finger 3.  This combined
with a quick twisting motion produces a unique signal.  Adding finger 2 or
replacing finger 1 or 3 with finger 2 may not produce an exactly predictable
signal.  Prior movements may add to the encryption.  Only a special chip on
the game cartridge could enterpret this and occasionally send a reset signal
to start the encryption over again.
 
Merely speculation though.
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