SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Controller USB

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

I'm currently working on a project for a undergrad class, the goal being to set up a SEGA Genesis controller to work with a PC using the Arduino Uno. In addition I also intend to put an accelerometer I got from a Wii Nunchuck so that the Genesis controller will be able to detect tilt/motion controls.

Right Now I have controller plugged in with serial ports 1 through 9 from the genesis's plug connected into the following:
Port 1 From Gen-> Digital 1 On Arduino
Port 2 From Gen-> Digital 2 On Arduino
Port 3 From Gen-> Digital 3 On Arduino
Port 4 From Gen-> Digital 4 On Arduino
Port 5 From Gen-> Power 5V On Arduino
Port 6 From Gen-> Digital 6 On Arduino
Port 7 From Gen-> Digital 7 On Arduino
Port 8 From Gen-> Power GND On Arduino
Port 9 From Gen-> Digital 9 On Arduino

The area in which I need the most help is figuring out the coding. I've never done much programming prior to taking this class, my only experience being a class in Python. Any help, suggestions, or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

2

Analog stick has been removed from the nunchuck to make it easier to fit into the Gen controller.

3

Current Code:

int UP = 0;
int DOWN = 1;
int LEFT = 2;
int RIGHT = 3;
int AB = 4;
int STARTC = 5;
char controller_data[8];

/* SETUP */
void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(UP,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(DOWN,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(datin,INPUT);
}

/* CONTROLLER READ */
void controllerRead()
{
  digitalWrite(UP, LOW);
  digitalWrite(DOWN,LOW);
  digitalWrite(LEFT,LOW);
  digitalWrite(RIGHT,LOW);
  digitalWrite(AB,LOW);
  digitalWrite(STARTC,LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(200);
  digitalWrite(UP,LOW);
  if (digitalRead(datin) == 1)
  {
    controller_data[0] = 'x';
  }
  else
  {
    controller_data[0] = 'o';*/
  }
 
  {
    digitalWrite(UP,HIGH);
    delayMicroseconds(200);
    if (digitalRead(datin) == 1)
    {
      controller_data[i] = 'x';
    }
    else
    {
      controller_data[i] = 'o';
    }
    digitalWrite(DOWN,LOW);
    delayMicroseconds(200);
  }

}*/

/* PROGRAM */
void loop()
{
  controllerRead();
  for (int i = 0; i <= 7; i++){
   Serial.print(controller_data[i]);
   delayMicroseconds(200);
   }
   Serial.println('z');
  delay(10);
}

import processing.serial.;
println(Serial.list());

Serial GENjoy;
String buttons;
Robot VKey;
PImage bg;

void setup() 
{
  size(434,180);
  frameRate(30);
  
  String portName = Serial.list()[4];
  
  GENjoy = new Serial(this, portName, 115200);
  try
  {
    VKey = new Robot();
  }
  catch(AWTException a){}
  GENjoy.buffer(11);
  buttons = "...";
  // The image NES-Controller.jpg has to be in the same map as the .pde / binary
  bg = loadImage("NES-Controller.jpg");
}

void draw()
{
  background(bg);
  fill(255, 255, 0);
  // Check all keys
  for (int i = 0; i <= 7; i++)
  {
    // Is button pressed?
    if (buttons.charAt(i) == 'o')
    {
      // Press the appropiate key
      switch(i)
      {
      case 0:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_A);
        ellipse(363,127,40,40);  // A
        break;
      case 1:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_B);
        ellipse(307,127,40,40);  // B
        break;
      case 2:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_E);
        rect(155, 121, 37, 15);  // Select
        break;
      case 3:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_T);
        rect(211, 121, 37, 15);  // Start
        break;
      case 4:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_U);
        rect(61, 68, 28, 24);    // Up
        break;
      case 5:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_D);
        rect(61, 122, 28, 24);   // Down
        break;
      case 6:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_L);
        rect(36, 93, 24, 28);    // Left
        break;
      case 7:
        VKey.keyPress(KeyEvent.VK_R);
        rect(90, 93, 24, 28);    // Right
        break;
    }}
    // Is the button released?
    if (buttons.charAt(i) == 'x')
    {
      // Release the appropiate key
      switch(i)
      {
      case 0:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_A);
        break;
      case 1:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_B);
        break;
      case 2:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_E);
        break;
      case 3:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_T);
        break;
      case 4:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_U);
        break;
      case 5:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_D);
        break;
      case 6:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_L);
        break;
      case 7:
        VKey.keyRelease(KeyEvent.VK_R);
        break;
      }}}
}

// This event gets activated as soon as the buffer is full
serialEvent(Serial GENjoy)
{
  // Read the buffer into a string
  buttons = GENjoy.readString();
}

The code is edited from the code posted by the user Prodigity on Instructables.

As you may guess I am currently focusing on just getting the Genesis controller to work on the PC before I worry about tackling the motion controls aspect.Any advice on how to fix the code so that it works for what I need would be appreciated.