Nintendo Controller to PC Mame Machine questions....

[Wyluli]

I am interested in hooking up old school console controllers to my mame machine.  I'd like to start off with the regular ol' Nintendo controller.  So, I started searching the website and googling the WWW for information.  What I learned is that the NES controller can be hooked up to a computer (via USB or Parallel Port). 
For USB it looks like the easiest\cheapest thing for me to do is purchase the kit from Retrozone for $17. 

For those electronic geniuses this website may be of interest on how to make your own USB nes controller: 
http://www.zero-soft.com/HW/USB_NES_old

However, it looks like hacking a pad and hooking it up to the parallel port is cheaper and easy to do.  (website for those interested: http://www.heggeseth.com/controller.asp)
I'm interested in going this route but have a question.  It seems that the parallel port may not provide the power needed for the controller.  I need to know how you would provide power to the controller.  The more specific you can be the better.

Also, will the controller work with Mame/MameWah?  I use MameWah as the frontend for all my emulators. 

Thanks.

[Tahnok]

I am interested in hooking up old school console controllers to my mame machine.  I'd like to start off with the regular ol' Nintendo controller.  So, I started searching the website and googling the WWW for information.  What I learned is that the NES controller can be hooked up to a computer (via USB or Parallel Port). 
For USB it looks like the easiest\cheapest thing for me to do is purchase the kit from Retrozone for $17. 

For those electronic geniuses this website may be of interest on how to make your own USB nes controller: 
http://www.zero-soft.com/HW/USB_NES_old

However, it looks like hacking a pad and hooking it up to the parallel port is cheaper and easy to do.  (website for those interested: http://www.heggeseth.com/controller.asp)
I'm interested in going this route but have a question.  It seems that the parallel port may not provide the power needed for the controller.  I need to know how you would provide power to the controller.  The more specific you can be the better.

Also, will the controller work with Mame/MameWah?  I use MameWah as the frontend for all my emulators. 

Thanks.

I can't believe I've never seen that article before. Good reading.

Anyway, I highly suggest just going with a retrozone kit. The parallel port version is a pain to get working correctly. It requires a very specific setup that may not work on all PCs. USB is much easier and will save you some headaches down the way.

[spiffyshoes]

Awsome! They have an article on converting the NES Zapper to USB also.  I wish retrozone would come out with those chips.

[Wyluli]

LOL, Ok.  Thanks for the input on the parallel port version.

Glad you enjoyed the article on USB. 

I should probably mention that I am using VirtuaNES as my NES emulator.  Anyone had any problems getting the NES USB controller to work with this emulator?

Thanks again.

[Tahnok]

Awsome! They have an article on converting the NES Zapper to USB also.  I wish retrozone would come out with those chips.

Yeah, I was excited too. Then I read it and realized that they didn't actually convert it the correct way. They use accelerometers to figure out which direction the gun is being moved. It's about like that crappy Act-Labs gun that came out a while ago that was supposed to work on any monitor.

[blackzc]

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Adapter-Cable-Controller-PC-MAC-MICROSOFT-XBOX_W0QQitemZ8290312951QQihZ020QQcategoryZ41015QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (adapter)

http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbcd.html (drivers for xbox controller)


I know you said old school controllers, but i love this setup. the adapters are 5$, it never crashes and analog works perfectly. there are some decent 3rd party xbox contollers that are a reasonable size.

[Tahnok]

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Adapter-Cable-Controller-PC-MAC-MICROSOFT-XBOX_W0QQitemZ8290312951QQihZ020QQcategoryZ41015QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (adapter)

http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbcd.html (drivers for xbox controller)


I know you said old school controllers, but i love this setup. the adapters are 5$, it never crashes and analog works perfectly. there are some decent 3rd party xbox contollers that are a reasonable size.

I've played NES emus with xbox controllers, and I can tell you it just isn't the same. They're playable, yes, but they don't have that square, mushy, wrist pain-inducing feel.

[patrickmaher]

I recently purchased the Retrozone NES RetroKit and some NES controllers on ebay. I noticed Retrozone said "...or build real NES ports onto your computer.". So I went on a search for NES ports and found these for 99 cents. I think a NES extension cord would have worked also but these are probably cheaper. I just got all the parts the other day and will try to set it up soon.

My plan now is to build a box and mount the original console controller ports for all the emulated consoles onto the front of the box. Inside the box the ports will convert to USB and probably plug into a USB hub so only one USB cable has to come out of the back of the box going to the computer. Possibly the box will be big enough to store all the controllers inside.

It looks like there are premade solutions for some of the other consoles like SNES. Anyone try the Super SmartJoy? I saw someone comment on a different site that certain buttons can't be pressed at the same time when using the Super SmartJoy. Anyone know if this is true?

edit: fixed links

[Tahnok]

I recently purchased the Retrozone NES RetroKit and some NES controllers on ebay. I noticed Retrozone said "...or build real NES ports onto your computer.". So I went on a search for NES ports and found these for 99 cents. I think a NES extension cord would have worked also but these are probably cheaper. I just got all the parts the other day and will try to set it up soon.

My plan now is to build a box and mount the original console controller ports for all the emulated consoles onto the front of the box. Inside the box the ports will convert to USB and probably plug into a USB hub so only one USB cable has to come out of the back of the box going to the computer. Possibly the box will be big enough to store all the controllers inside.

It looks like there are premade solutions for some of the other consoles like SNES. Anyone try the Super SmartJoy? I saw someone comment on a different site that certain buttons can't be pressed at the same time when using the Super SmartJoy. Anyone know if this is true?

edit: fixed links

Pretty cool site. I didn't realize anyone was selling replacement parts for a decent price.

I was thinking though that the easiest solution would be to pick-up a four-score and the four-score retrozone kit. It's almost the same price as two single controller adaptors, and it only uses one USB plug.

[horseboy]

I was thinking though that the easiest solution would be to pick-up a four-score and the four-score retrozone kit. It's almost the same price as two single controller adaptors, and it only uses one USB plug.

Actually, there is no Four-Score kit. It is a pre made Four-Score sub device. So that is the only thing that you would need. The site also says that the kits don't work with the Four-Score.

[Tahnok]

Yeah, I noticed that right after I posted. It just brings down the price more.