Anyone ever try modding a Vectrex joystick for the 7800?

[godzillajoe]

That was one of my favorite controllers for any system.

 

And you could maybe even make the 3rd and 4th buttons select and reset for those 2600 games that don't let you start by pressing fire.

 

I'm not an electronics whiz so I'm not sure if it's even possible but I figured I'd ask

[+doctorclu]

That was one of my favorite controllers for any system.

 

And you could maybe even make the 3rd and 4th buttons select and reset for those 2600 games that don't let you start by pressing fire.

 

I'm not an electronics whiz so I'm not sure if it's even possible but I figured I'd ask

 

Hmmm... good question. Only SEEN a Vectrex a few times.

[Dauber]

First you'd have to mod the stick so that the joystick itself is directional -- if I remember, buttons 1 and 2 were up and down, 3 and 4 were right and left. (I used to use a Vectrex stick to cheat on The Activision Decathlon all the time!)

 

Man....I'm kicking myself for bequeathing my Vectrex stuff to a long-distance cousin....wonder if he still has it....haven't been in touch with him for about ten years...

[SINGLE TOOTH]

First you'd have to mod the stick so that the joystick itself is directional -- if I remember, buttons 1 and 2 were up and down, 3 and 4 were right and left. (I used to use a Vectrex stick to cheat on The Activision Decathlon all the time!)

 

Man....I'm kicking myself for bequeathing my Vectrex stuff to a long-distance cousin....wonder if he still has it....haven't been in touch with him for about ten years...

 

Call him up.

[PacManPlus]

I think it would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

Vectrex sticks are analog (think 5200) whereas the 7800 sticks are digital. This means you'd have to create a 'Redemption'-like adapter and use that first. Not worth it (IMHO)

 

The four Vectrex fire buttons share the same pins with the up, down, left, right, (and Ground) of the standard atari joysticks (which is why the fire buttons act as directionals when plugged into a 2600). There is no fire button as that pin is the 'Vertical Pot' on the Vectrex.

 

Bob

[SRGilbert]

Besides, aren't Vectrex sticks just about the hardest sticks to find for almost any system (at a reasonable price)?

[Shawn]

Besides, aren't Vectrex sticks just about the hardest sticks to find for almost any system (at a reasonable price)?

 

 

To find extra ones in any type of decent working order, yep they sure are.

 

As for moding one, sure, anything is possible but you won't get the reset and pause buttons like you want without internal modification to the actual 7800 cosole itself.

[Longhorn Engineer]

I think it would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

Vectrex sticks are analog (think 5200) whereas the 7800 sticks are digital. This means you'd have to create a 'Redemption'-like adapter and use that first. Not worth it (IMHO)

 

The four Vectrex fire buttons share the same pins with the up, down, left, right, (and Ground) of the standard atari joysticks (which is why the fire buttons act as directionals when plugged into a 2600). There is no fire button as that pin is the 'Vertical Pot' on the Vectrex.

 

Bob

 

With a bit of hacking you can "trick" a 2600 into thinking an analog stick is really 4 buttons. Should be the same with a 7800 right? If the Vectrex analog stick is anything like the PS2 ones then it should be cake.

[Nabuko78]

No, never. But I made a gamepad for my 7800 that worked really great long ago. I just bought a cheap famicom-SNES-like gamepad, removed the entire circuit with wire and mounted my old Pro-Line Joystick wire with a home made circuitboard, by printing a copper sided board with a dark,smelly liquid *aagh it really stinks!* but it was worthwhile, it fitted in the gamepad although the copper stripes began to torn from the board, somehow. I enjoyed it!

[Nabuko78]

By the way, have you ever though in adding a Pause button in your gamepad or joystick? Cause that's what I'm going to do with my 7800.