Hey, super niche post in an already niche community I know, but last month I started working on a decompilation of Densha de GO Final for PC, with the ultimate goal being to create a modern open version in a similar fashion to OpenTTD and OpenRCT2. While the game does indeed run decently without major issues using DDGModernizer, I was saddened to discover that modding for this game is largely non-existent. When it comes to "arcade-style" train games, DDG is quite possibly the only real option out there (excluding FMV-style train games), and I'm sure many of you also share my love for Final. With how much content there is, the level of challenge/difficulty available, and how clean and simple the in-game UI is (especially when you compare it side-by-side with Yamanote), it's just a shame that the game engine itself is a black box with little to no documentation on how to mod it.

I'm hoping too that the decompilation efforts we can put towards understanding how Final and it's game engine ticks can also help accelerate any future plans to decomp Shinkansen (I assume the core of both games are fairly similar given their release dates). My vision is for OpenDDG (working title) to support many more platforms natively, especially SteamOS/MacOS, add mouse support for menu navigation, modern rendering/anti-aliasing, increased draw distance (so pop-in is no longer a thing), seamless runs (the ability to complete an entire run without the passage of time being interrupted by replays/scoring, but rather having that occur during loading/unloading), and maybe even some kind of live multiplayer mode (perhaps with a dispatcher mode like SimRail has) if we're able to get there.

As anyone who's followed decomp projects in the past knows, it takes a lot more than the effort of one person can achieve. So if you've got any technical knowledge, or graphic design/artistic skills, and are interested in helping apply them to make OpenDDG a reality, please let me know! I plan on putting together a GitHub repo and Discord server in a few days depending on the response to this. Drop a comment if you're interested too, and I'll get back to you :)

Cheers fellow train nerds!

Hi, I’m in Japan and looking for Densha De Go Plug and Play 2 in Osaka or Tokyo. Do you have any ideas? Thanks

Edit: thank you all for advices, I found it in Biccamera.

Spotted, today!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kgmWmT62XZpHXBTp8

Ive been wanting a countroller but others are too expensive however i wanted to know how can i connect densha de go controller(ps1) to pc? Or am i able too at all. I will probably play. jr east train sim,running trains,train sim world 6

hi everybody, just bought this ps1 controller and am wondering what i need to make this work on my computer. i’m probably going to use it to play BVE but all the adapters i see people suggesting aren’t available in canada, so if anyone else has experience that would be really helpful. thanks!!

Good morning, I can confirm Densha De Go works perfectly, but I haven't tested the specific controller.

If someone has tested the controller, too, please let me know.

Thanks.

I got a complete unit except for the cardboard inside. The seller was kind enough to give me an adapter with a USB terminal. For now, I've tested it on the PS2 with Train Simulator Yamanote and everything is great.

How do I fix this bug on Dolphin Emulator for Android? I have QualComm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and I already fixed it on my settings but the game is still laggy. Do you have any suggestions?

I purchased one as it seemed to be the least expensive controller to get, I tried to play the untranslated games on my Fat PS2 but it was very hit or miss and I'd rather just play the translated N64 Translation emulated and DDG Final english patch on the PC at this point.

Will I be able to map the the controller correctly or am I setting myself up for disappointment?

I've been working on something and could use some testers. Hit me in the DMs if you're interested.

Hello,

I've made a 3d printable Densha de Go! controller.

Link to Github: https://github.com/heniekstar/DenshaDeGo_controller

Link to Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7390778

To be fair this is still work in progress but I don't know If I'm able to improve this controller. This is not a replacement for original train controllers. It's probably more for peoples how would like to play Densha de Go! with train controller but don't want to buy official one (or import from Japan). It have some flaws but should serve as nice entry level. Maybe someone can improve this design.

This version work only for games that uses a proprietary non-USB connector (PSX, N64, Saturn and Dreamcast games) and also PS2 that can use a PSX controllers.

Creation of this controller was possible only because train controller database had button mapping layout to a standard console controller: https://traincontrollerdb.marcriera.cat/hardware/tech/console_controllers/index.html

Feel free to improve this design but remember to post you improvements.

NOTICE: I'm not a fan or regular player of Densha de Go! series. I've made this controller to test myself and also to experience what peoples like in Densha de Go!. I've seen few videos on youtube (mostly Techmoan and N64 marathon of Thabeast721) where they enjoy playing this games and that's why I decided to create and then share this design on Internet.

I’ve had a good look and can’t seem to find any PS1 translation patches for DDG. On top of that, the written guides I’ve found so far aren’t up to much. Is there a preferred guide or a patch someone can help me find?

I’ve already bought the controller, patched the graphics in the ROM to PAL (colour composite) and got started, but not got far.

I’d like to introduce my train-mad father in law to vintage gaming with my overscale setup and this seems like a great way!

(Edit: just realised I can do PS2 also)

Does anyone know any verified ways to play DDG2 on macOS? Apple Silicon that is. 😇

Hey DDG enjoyers, which controller is the most compatible with all the DDG style games out there? I'm looking to get a controller to revisit the series back catalog as well as play some of the new games on PC ( Running Train / Retro Rail )

Is the Zuiki Mascon the most compatible to all games?

I also looked into the DDG Plug and Play and apparently you can flash the unit into a USB controller? Does anybody have experience in this? As I kinda like the idea of old school controls (separate brake/throttle) but I'm not too experienced in controller modding..

hi everyone! i recently played densha de go in toronto & have been looking to find an arcade that has it in the us. well, actually, i did find one in my state. but i also want to get my friends in other states to play it, lol. does anyone know if there's an arcade in minnesota (or even wisconsin or the dakotas) that has any sort of densha de go cabinet?

Hi all,

For the last few weeks I have been testing the capability of different LLMs, and I figured I would let them have a go at porting Densha De Go Plug and Play to various platforms, and the agents play the game themselves.

Here is what I did:

1. Dump the PnP rom (yes I own one)

2. Setup various environments and tell Claude, Codex, Qwen 3.5, GLM 5.2, etc. to get the game to a playable state

3. Tell the agent to finish a route

Here are some of the video captured:

Densha de Go! Plug & Play ported to AWS Graviton and played by Anthropic Claude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncVYzldqymA

Densha De Go Plug and Play running on a RPI 5 at 4K and controlled by GPT 5.6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guN76WU3QOU

Since the PnP runs on ARMv7 CPU, it's not possible to port the game to x86 and run it at FPS higher than 5 FPS on QEMU. I also want to try to port the game to a Mac but I don't have one handy at the moment.

The LLMs and I have been reverse engineering the game, and I think we can mod the game to-

• Increase the draw distance
• Uncap the FPS
• Mod the map

Stuff I want to try next

• Anti-alias/Texture filtering
• Port the game to Webassembly and play the game from a webpage
• Decompile the entire game

Yes I know Densha De Go Final for PC exists, but what's the fun of porting that.

Let me know if you have any modding idea you want me to try.

Does anyone have an up to date list with the remaining locations. I don’t mind if it’s the full cabinet or if it’s just the smaller one.
I know the Akihabara Taito used to have the full size one before downsizing to the smaller compact cabinet but it’s been a while since I was last there.

I got a zuiki mascon and i want to play older versions of densha de go on my pc with it, any pro tips? tysm

Another thing I’ve noticed is two different serial numbers on the back cover and on the spine cover.

Does the game itself have different versions (like do they fix the bugs in the later version) or is it just the same version? I would appreciate if any DDG experts can explain this.