Converting NES pads to USB?

[Tahnok]

I am thinking about buying some NES/SNES USB kits from RetroZone but getting 4 of them would cost quite a bit. So now I am trying to come up with an alternative, maybe a keyboard hack. The problem is that I prefer not to modify the pads, I want to mount everything in a box and plug in normal pads. That means that I would need some way of converting the data back to switch presses.

Is there an easy way to decode a TC4021BP serial chip? Here is the data sheet (pdf)

I can't say I know anything about serial, so I'm not even sure that there is such thing as a decoder chip.

Thanks!

[Samstag]

How to interface one or two stock NES controllers:
http://www.geocities.com/hybrid_x/misc/ninja.html

My hacked NES to USB (keyboard hack) project:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,29529.0.html

So yes, you can decode the stock signals but you're still going to need a decent interface to the PC.

[Tahnok]

How to interface one or two stock NES controllers:
http://www.geocities.com/hybrid_x/misc/ninja.html

So yes, you can decode the stock signals but you're still going to need a decent interface to the PC.  Using the PC joystick port is going to put limits on what you can do with them.  Otherwise you're still going to need a keyboard hack or encoder to interface the discreet outputs of that circuit to your PC.

Wow! Does that actually decode the signals back to switches? What do you mean 'a decent interface to the PC', can you hook it up to a keyboard encoder/hack? If it is indeed what I think it is, you have just made my day! Where did this article come from?

*goes to read in more detail*

[spiffyshoes]

If you ask the guys from retrozone will give you a conversion kit for a NES 4-Score Multi Tap for $17 plus shipping so $23 all together.  And if you don't have a 4-Score Multi Tap you can buy one off of ebay for $10-15 including shipping.  Which would essentially act as a USB converter that would allow you to hook up 4 NES pads whithout having to mess up any of the NES pads themselves.  And is cheaper than buying 4 Single Pad Kits.

[Samstag]

How to interface one or two stock NES controllers:
http://www.geocities.com/hybrid_x/misc/ninja.html

So yes, you can decode the stock signals but you're still going to need a decent interface to the PC.

[M3talhead]

Could this NES/USB conversion be applied towards a NES Zapper lightgun?

[Samstag]

Could this NES/USB conversion be applied towards a NES Zapper lightgun?

I found an old thread here:
http://arcadecontrols.com/wwwboard/messages/40154.html

It looks like it can be done with a little extra interfacing, but unfortunately the schematic that was posted is a broken link now.  I think it would basically be a transistor or optocoupler switch circuit that turns the low-level light sensor from the gun into a switch-level output.

[moonpatrol 4 lyfe]

I know an interface that will let you have 5 controllers at once per parallel port (works with SNES and NES)

let me know if you're interested

-Bill

[logik]

I know an interface that will let you have 5 controllers at once per parallel port (works with SNES and NES)

let me know if you're interested

-Bill

I am, post it up!