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Custom Homebrew Controller

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MayDay

Entry posted by MayDay ·

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So my plans for evil Atari world domination have hit a small hitch.

 

I have several Atari controllers laying around and decided at some point to create a controller with six or more inputs that could be utilized for one player homebrew games. I think I remember seeing this mentioned in one or more places, but to the best of my knowledge, no one has actually tried it yet.

 

Then, I cleared a few of the cobwebs out of my head, and realized it would be much simpler to take advantage of an already existing controller (enter Sega Genesis which is already compatible) with more than the five inputs and combine it with a cord from an Atari controller to plug into the second port.

 

So... using 2 player Ice Hockey as my test, I have a Genesis controller that plugs into both ports and controls the D-pad and the B and C buttons (six inputs instead of five).

 

I have literally cut and tested all nine colored wires from the Genesis controller, but none seem to control the A button or the start button.

 

Here's the list I've come up with:

 

Sega Genesis controller:

(from controller out)

Black = some sort of power or verification- controller goes dead without this cord.

Blue = B button (player 0 fire button)

White = C button (which I used as player 1 fire button)

Yellow = right

Green = ?? (didn't seem to have any effect)

Gray = not really sure... doesn't control the buttons, but buttons won't work without it.

Red = down

Brown = up

Orange = left

 

Attached Atari cord for port 2:

Black = power

Orange = fire

White = up

Blue = down

Brown = right

Green = left

 

I bought this Genesis controller strictly to test on, anyone have any idea why I can't get the A button and start button to work? Anyone else actually made a controller like this? If we can come up with something good, we should make a standard so that all homebrewers could take advantage of the custom controller if they like. It works right now, but hopefully you guys can make it better. Thoughts, anyone?

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SpiceWare

Per this Genesis Joystick Pinout, the buttons are multiplexed and the SELECT line is used to control which buttons are read. If SELECT=+5 then you get to read B on pin 6 and C on pin 9. If SELECT=GND then you get to read A on pin 6 and START on pin 9.

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supercat

Normal color coding is brown/red/orange/yellow/green/blue/violet/grey/white/black

 

Curious there's no violet wire.

 

Wire up/down/left/right to brown/red/orange/yellow

Wire green to +5.

The ground wire should be connected to ground. Based on numbering, that would be grey, but black would also be a logical choice.

Connect pin 7 ("Select") to Paddle 1, along with a 22K resistor to +5 and a 0.1uF cap to ground.

Connect pin 6 to Paddle 2 through a 1K resistor.

Connect pin 9 to the fire button input.

 

That should yield a controller which will be compatible with the normal one on most games (use "C" for fire), but which could be programmed to read all the buttons.

 

It would be possible to wire things so as not to require the resistors and capacitor, but at the expense of compatibility.

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MayDay
Normal color coding is brown/red/orange/yellow/green/blue/violet/grey/white/black

 

Curious there's no violet wire.

 

Wire up/down/left/right to brown/red/orange/yellow

Wire green to +5.

The ground wire should be connected to ground. Based on numbering, that would be grey, but black would also be a logical choice.

Connect pin 7 ("Select") to Paddle 1, along with a 22K resistor to +5 and a 0.1uF cap to ground.

Connect pin 6 to Paddle 2 through a 1K resistor.

Connect pin 9 to the fire button input.

 

That should yield a controller which will be compatible with the normal one on most games (use "C" for fire), but which could be programmed to read all the buttons.

 

It would be possible to wire things so as not to require the resistors and capacitor, but at the expense of compatibility.

 

Has someone done this before? Your answer is so specific that I would guess you have either watched someone do this or have firsthand experience yourself. This is starting to get out of my ability level, I just thought I'd have some fun soldering around on a Saturday and see what I could come up with. I didn't realize the same pins would have to end up being read different ways.

 

So, I have a few questions: 1. Can an unmodified Genesis controller still be made to read at least the D-pad and two buttons? If so, I think that should be the standard for homebrews needing another button since it would be the most available option for the highest number of people. 2. If not, should supercat's suggestion be a standard? Do we need to have a standard? Does having another button ruin the integrity of the 2600, or are we just exploring it's full potential that way?

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SpiceWare
Can an unmodified Genesis controller still be made to read at least the D-pad and two buttons?

Yep, 2 buttons on unmodified SMS, Genesis and Amiga CD32 joysticks can be read.

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