Console controller sockets

[bitblitt]

Does anybody know where I can find the hardware sockets for all the various console controllers?  Currently, I plug my PS2 controllers into a PS2 to USB adapter.  I've noticed that my USB controllers get an ID (controller #1, controller #2, etc...) depending on the order the USB controller was connected.  However, my controllers that require an adapter have the ID assigned when the adapter is connected, whether or not the controller is also connected to the adapter.  Therefore, as long as I leave the adapter connected, I know which console socket is controller #1 and which is #2 no matter what order I connect the controller to the adapter. 

I would like to add a plate to my cab that I can connect the native controllers to, with the adapters internal to the cab.  Because the IDs are set to the adapters, I can connect and disconnect the controllers from the plate whenever I want without having to worry about reconfiguring my emulators to work with a different controller.

I planned on milling a metal plate, surface mounting the sockets to a board, attaching the board to the plate, and finally mounting the plate to the front of my control panel.  The problem is I can't find the sockets for PS2, Nintendo, Sega, etc...  I don't want to have to buy adapters just to rip them apart for their sockets and jury rig something together.  Does anybody know where I can find sockets for all the various console controllers?

[horseboy]

I have thought about this for a similar project. The easiest way would definitely be to get a bunch of controller extension cords and hack them up.

[ChadTower]

Buy dead consoles and get them there.  That may be the best bet for some.

[SavannahLion]

Each console would have different resources.

The Atari 2600, 7800, 5200 and SEGA Genesis, Master System and some Commodores all used standard two row 9-pin or 15-pin D-subs. They are readily available almost anywhere.

Try eBay for non-working NES, SNES, PS1, PS2 and Xbox consoles. With the exception of the PS2, I've picked up non-working units for under $5 each. Luck might be on your side with other consoles as I've seen Saturns, Dreamcasts and the like, but they tend to go for a bit more than I want to pay. I notice that craigslist seems to have a lot of non-working consoles for sale.

Extension cords are a viable alternative. Especially for consoles like the N64.

For the latest consoles. Forgo the plug entirely and go wireless. Don't think emulation is up to par just yet. But stock up on Wavebirds, Wiimotes, PS3, and 360 controllers when they start to come down. Third party controllers for the PS2 is already bottoming out. I'm still kicking myself for not snagging four matching brand new silver Wavebirds for $20 total.

Lastly, try flea markets. Console games are rare on that scene, but I spot a few once in a while and most are usually poor or non-working condition anyways.

Give it some time and keep your eyes peeled.

[patrickmaher]

I'm going to be making a project like this. I decided to do the same as horseboy said, use extension cords.

I was able to find NES ports, there is a link in this post http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54389.msg540556#msg540556.
I soldered an NES port onto the Retrozone NES RetroKit and it works great.

I will just use extension cords for other consoles since I wasn't able to easily find the ports for other consoles.

[bitblitt]

I found the Retrozone kits a while back too.  The problem is that the kits are USB.  Windows installs and enables the drivers in the order they are plugged in and detected.  First of all, you won't have a port specifically for player 1, 2, 3, etc...  The port you plug it into is irrelevant.  The first controller plugged in will be player 1.  Also, lets say you connect an NES controller first.  Your NES emulator is configured to use the first game controller for player 1, so you're ok.  Now, you plug in a Colecovision controller without disconnecting the NES controller first.  Your only Colecovision controller is now game controller 2.  Assuming you configured your Colecovision emulator to use game controller #1 for player 1, you effectively have to use your NES controller for player 1.  To fix the problem, you need to disconnect both controllers, then reconnect the Colecovision controller so its game controller #1.

Or, to get around this problem, leave the USB adapters connected all the time and connected to designated ports with the real controller socket.  Then connect the controllers to the socket as you need them.  Your drivers are always loaded, and assuming Windows enables the drivers in the same order on startup, you can label each port, i.e. player 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Connect everything how you want it, restart Windows to get the new controller IDs, then configure each emulator with the respective game controller.  You're bound to have game controllers with high IDs like 8 and 9, so I hope the emulators support a large number of controllers.  If not, I'm back to just using the Retrozone USB adapters and having to remember to always disconnect the controllers after each use.

I'm trying to avoid tearing apart adapters because I'm worried that it might look a bit jury rigged, but I don't think I have a choice.  I have to do it to connect the adapter to the socket anyways.  I know that the PS2 adapters I have will need to have the sockets desoldered to mount them how I want them.

[patrickmaher]

I think that you are thinking of the Retrozone NES RetroPad, which is an NES controller that has a USB connector instead of the original NES connector.

What I did was purchased their NES RetroKit and then soldered an original NES port onto the controller side and the supplied USB cable onto the USB side. What I ended up with was basically something like your PS2 to USB adapter, but for nintendo instead. I can plug the Retrokit into a USB port and then plug and unplug an original NES controller into the NES port. The difference would be that the PS2 to USB adapter you have probably has 2 PS2 ports going into 1 USB port, where my NES Retrokit only has 1 NES port going to 1 USB port.

This is the Retrokit page: http://www.retrousb.com/kits.html


I see that they now make an NES RetroPort, which is basically the same thing that I created using the Retrokit. They also have a USB FourScore which is cost effective if you plan to use 4 NES controllers.
http://www.retrousb.com/usb.html



I have not been able to do any tests yet but you may still have USB ID problems when you restart the computer as mentioned in these threads.
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=61627.0
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62585.0

From what I have read that would only happen on identical Console to USB adapters. In the case of Retrozone it may be a problem if you have more than one of the same Retrokits, their NES and SNES appear to use the same Retrokit. I have not yet had a chance to test this with the 2 NES Retrokits I have.

[SavannahLion]

From what I have read that would only happen on identical Console to USB adapters. In the case of Retrozone it may be a problem if you have more than one of the same Retrokits, their NES and SNES appear to use the same Retrokit.

That would make sense. The NES uses a 4021 IC for the serial communication. The SNES pad uses a dual version of the 4021 (not sure what the IC is).  I've never really wanted to chop up either of my NES or SNES controllers, but I've read that you can tie two NES controllers together to work with the SNES and modify the SNES controller to work with the NES.

[bitblitt]

Thats what I'm going to have to do, but I don't want to have to buy an NES, SNES, Sega, PS1, Atari, Intellivision, and Colecovision just to gut them and remove the connectors.  Thats why I was asking if anybody knew where I could buy these connectors elsewhere.  It looks like I don't have much of a choice though.

[ChadTower]

It's not hard to find dead consoles. 

[SavannahLion]

It's hard to type a response without sounding pretentious. So I guess I'll just dive right in.

You don't need to gut any Atari or Sega (Genesis/Master System), they use either a standard 9 pin D-Sub or plug. Readily available almost everywhere. Other consoles used the same standard connectors but you didn't list them.

I checked eBay for broken NES, SNES, PSX consoles and I found several for less than a $10 But-It-Now price. One auction had 2xN64, SNES and 4xGameboys. Another sported 2xPSX's (both of which is repairable). I just did a few minutes of searching.