USB NES CONTROLLERS HERE

[WorldOfWario]

www.sealiecomputing.com/retrozone

check it out they have usb nes controllers!  im getting 2 for emulators!  they even have a place you can just buy the parts, maybe this could work in a cabinet?  i was about to make a parallel port controller but that icky power wiring stopped that.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

That is REALLY neat!   Now, where were these guys about a year ago when i needed them!!!!???!!! LOL

Nice job there that one is. Its neat to see people doing stuff like that. It goes to show that the emulation scene on PC's is still going STRONG and probably always will be (good lord willing heheh)

groovy~

[LoRDDeVO]

Did you check out the Faq Page??? It links to a place called BLack Chopper that has a multiunit box for genesis, nes, Snes, atari, and all the DB9 stuff.  The box is 60.00 and the adaptors (nes, genesis,etc) are $15.00 not bad me thinks?

[allroy1975]

$25 seems like a lot when you can hack a couple into a parallel port for a few bucks.  

Geez..they're charging $20 just for the diodes and stuff to do it yourself.  

I've got a couple SNES controllers going into my Console emulation PC.  They're awesome...and it cost maybe $20 for 2 of them...controllers included.

If it had been hard to do, I could see spending that much for it..but ..if I can do it....

Allroy

[SirPeale]

Heh...now I'm curious.  I always wondered how difficult it would be to turn a console pad into a USB device.  It looks like its' just a couple of parts.  What those parts are, and where they hook up is another matter entirely.

[DarkKobold]

You guys are missing the boat here - It isn't a couple parts and BOOM! you have a USB device. USB is WAY more complex  than that. You notice in the picture that big black thing - it is a microcontroller, most likely a PIC16C765. What you are paying for from this guy, and others, is the code that communicates between the controller and the computer. To use USB, you need to have support that sends information, such as what type of device is being used, what information will be sent, what to do with information that is recieved, etc.

His devices are cool, but not that complex.

That Black Chopper site is neat, but also overpriced. 15 dollars per cord is quite a bit.

Anyway, everyone has ignored/forgotten Hemphacker's and my project. I also offered up the idea of a console converter -> keyboard encoder, but there was zero interest.  

I just find it suprising that people want to pay 50 bucks to use only two controllers.

[allroy1975]

but why is it so much better to have USB?  the parallel port ones I have work perfect.  and those were "a couple of parts and BOOM" ..it's not USB..but it works.  And works flawlessly.

don't computers still come with Parallel ports?  

maybe it's just me..but like mine...

Allroy

[Iori]

A great way to implement this would be to pull the gamepad connectors out of the original NES, mount them somewhere on the face of a cab and wire them to the usb cables that then connect to the pc inside.  Then when you want to use an nes or snes pad you just plug it in like you would to your system and can play with the controller in your cab!    Now that would rock and I imagine that with the wiring kit it wouldn't be that much of a change to just wire the kit up to the console connectors rather than the gamepads.  Something I just might have to think about doing if I can figure out how.

[Stingray]

I've got the same thing on the drawing board for mine, but I intend to have four or five connecters on theoutside of the cab for various console controllers.

-S

[SirPeale]

I just find it suprising that people want to pay 50 bucks to use only two controllers.

I dunno...it's the idea of being able to use an acutal NES controller to play the games.  Parallel port hacks are okay I guess, but a pain because you have to plug them into the back, and the wiring can be messy (unless you really neaten it up).  With this, you can just plug it right into the front USB port.  A perfect solution for my Emulation Station.  I've got two USB gamepads, but they just don't feel right.

[XtraSmiley]

but why is it so much better to have USB?  the parallel port ones I have work perfect.  and those were "a couple of parts and BOOM" ..it's not USB..but it works.  And works flawlessly.

don't computers still come with Parallel ports?  

maybe it's just me..but like mine...

Allroy

Well, starting this year the PP will not be included on new Mobos until they are slowly phased out over the next 2-3 years.  USB is the immmediate future, so unless you don't plan on upgrading your computer, it maybe the only way to go.

[DarkKobold]

Peale: I understand the desire to work with old controllers, hence my project idea.

Is anyone interested in a multi-console adapter that would encode for keyboard input?