Master System/Megadrive(Genesis) usb control pads?

[xwildzerox666]

Hello,

My MAME cabinet has a bunch of console controls feeding out of it either on adaptors or altered with USB leads that I've gotten in various places. But I've never seen these for a Sega Megadrive/Genesis or Sega Mastersystem. Does anyone know of anyone selling these that they could direct me towards?

[crashwg]

http://www.sealiecomputing.com/retrozone/genesis.html

[JoyMonkey]

Building Genesis joystick ports onto your control panel might be a good idea, since old Atari and most 8-bit computer sticks will also work with the same port.

[xwildzerox666]

Yeah, I remember I used to use a genesis pad on my old Amiga computer.

How would I build that kind of joystick port on? Can you get adaptors for that kind of port?

[versapak]

I thought the Genesis pads plugged into the standard Game/MIDI port on sound cards.

?

[tetsujin]

I thought the Genesis pads plugged into the standard Game/MIDI port on sound cards.

No.  That connector (the old PC gameport) is a 15 pin D-sub connector (female on the host).

Genesis pads (and also Master System pads) are more or less compatible with the Atari 2600 controller connectors: a 9-pin D-sub connector (male on the host) with the controllers containing switches between different pins on the connector and ground.  In the Genesis' case, since it has too many controls in a single gamepad for the 9-pin connector (at least if they want any left over for light guns, etc.) they multiplex some of the lines.

I'd recommend going with the Retrozone kit as crashwg suggested.

[daywane]

or use a microsoft side winder
looks and fells close enough

[versapak]

Genesis pads (and also Master System pads) are more or less compatible with the Atari 2600 controller connectors:

Ooooh yeah, that's right.

I knew the were compatible with some other system. I just couldn't remember what.


I had a Gravis gamepad system for PC, that used the same jack as the Genesis/Atari/Commodore, which is probably at fault for my confusion. I never tried actually plugging the Genesis pads into that thing, but it was always in theback of my mind.

[xwildzerox666]

http://w5.cs.uni-sb.de/~stahl/com/index_uk.html

For readymade stuff - I've found this, which is for an Amiga, which means It'll dothe two button support for a master system pad, but not the third button on a megadrive pad. I'll let you know anything else that turns up.

There's also some 'how to build' stuff on here for those who like that kind of thing.