PC --> Serial Object --> Atari VCS ???

[lost_child]

My apologies up front - my question may be extremely stupid.

I have written set of accessibility software tools that help a player to control several actions in a game with minimal input. So far these tools have been limited to pc games and emulation. I'd like to expand to be able to control game consoles, but I'm not a hardware guy and don't have the slightest idea of where I would even start if I wanted to build my own setup. However, I thought I might be able to do something with the serial object:

Would it be possible to control an Atari VCS using a female/female serial cord connecting my PC to my VCS?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/2235412540_e6c9592667.jpg

If this would be possible, how should the "messages" be sent? I was looking at some pinouts for the joystick and thought a message of "1" for UP "2" for DOWN, etc.... but nothing is ever that simple.

http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/JoystickAtari2600_pinout.shtml

If this (or something similar) isn't possible, maybe I'll need to commission someone to build a hardware adapter to intercept and translate the signal(?)

...

[edit]

This is an answer I received on an an Atari Hardware forum:

Its not as simple as connecting them together with a cable. The serial lines from a PC swing between positive and negative voltages. The joystick inputs are from 0 to 5v so they need some level conversion. If you want the system to be compatible with the existing games you'll need 5 outputs on the RS232 - one for each direction and fire. However, there aren't five usable outputs on RS232 so you'll be better off with a microcontroller that understands your serial commands and converts them into stick movements.

[lost_child]

Further discussion suggests that something similar may be possible if there was a way to communicate via the parallel port.

Can MMF2 do this now? If not, is it something that might be supported in the future?

[nivram]

This can't be done. As far as future support for this, CT has their hands full with other things right now.

Marv

[Shawn]

I have no idea about any of this as it's way beyond my comprehension level, but if there WAS a way to do this, someone would have to code an extension most likely that would allow the communication between MMF2 and the hardware.

But don't take my word for it as I honestly don't really know. I'm just making a guess.

[lost_child]

http://www.clickteam.info/extensions/extview.php?id=138

I just found this extension for MMF that is supposed to communicate via the parallel port.

It seems like I've seen old extensions updated and uploaded to the forums before. How hard is it to convert one of these older extensions to work with MMF2?

I guess if I have to, I still have my old copy of MMF around here somewhere that I can reinstall.