Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: alfonzotan on July 09, 2012, 06:45:56 pm
-
I stumbled across this on Amazon last week. It's a two-port Atari 2600 (and related) controller to USB adapter:
http://www.amazon.com/Atari-PC-USB-Cable-RETROLINK-2600/dp/B007ZS35CU/ref=sr_1_11?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1341873193&sr=1-11 (http://www.amazon.com/Atari-PC-USB-Cable-RETROLINK-2600/dp/B007ZS35CU/ref=sr_1_11?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1341873193&sr=1-11)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-X7QpUUiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Not sure how long this product has been around. There are several vendors on eBay and Amazon offering it. I couldn't find a website for the manufacturer (Retrolink). But it was cheap ($8 + shipping, or just under $13 shipped from the Amazon vendor), so I took a gamble.
Initial results were not encouraging. The Asrock board in my cabinet didn't recognize the adapter, either in XP (showed up as a USB device requiring a driver) or in OS X. No drivers or documentation were included (not even the box seen in the photo), and no website could be found. I was about to toss it, then figured I might as well try it on a different computer. Plugged it into my main machine (Gigabyte i7 board), and it popped right up. Worked in Stella with no configuration at all. So I scrounged up an old USB PCI card, installed that in the cab, and bang: Atari goodness.
The Retrolink adapter (assuming your motherboard recognizes it) works out of the box with Stella, no configuration required. My 30-year-old Atari joystick plays perfectly. Ditto for the (also) 30-year-old Colecovision controller, although that emulator does have to be configured in Preferences (Mugrat) before playing. I still need to dig out a set of Atari paddles and see how it works with those.
So: Assuming it works with your mobo, we have a new champ as far as cheap hookups for Atari 9-pin controllers. At $13 shipped, it's just over a third of the cost of a Stelladaptor, and about $10 (shipped) cheaper a single Legacy Engineer USB knockoff stick. :applaud:
-
Hm, neat little device. Does it support the paddles also, or just (digital) joysticks?
-
I still need to dig out a set of Atari paddles and see how it works with those.
Don't forget to check the driving controller, too.
we have a new champ as far as cheap hookups for Atari 9-pin controllers. At $13 shipped, it's just over a third of the cost of a Stelladaptor
The retrolink has 2 ports, instead of the Stelladaptor (http://www.atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=267)'s one.
(http://www.atariage.com/store/images/products/detail_267_Stelladaptor_detail.jpg)
For a two player joystick setup it's around 1/6th the price.
Scott
-
Update: it does not appear to work with Stella + paddles (certainly does not work "out of the box").
I don't have a driving controller to test with.
-
Do they work with Sega Master System/Genesis controllers (including 6 button)?
-
Do they work with Sega Master System/Genesis controllers (including 6 button)?
Dunno, don't have any.
-
Do they work with Sega Master System/Genesis controllers (including 6 button)?
Looks like the same company makes a Genesis version, but for all I know it's the same product just using blue plastic instead of red... ;D
http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-PC-USB-Cable-RETROLINK-Sega/dp/B0080RAT42/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_01_t_lh (http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-PC-USB-Cable-RETROLINK-Sega/dp/B0080RAT42/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_01_t_lh)