boxpressed Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I'm thinking about buying a modded Genesis or SNES controller for my Vectrex but can't decide which one. I like the feel of the Genesis controller better, but it uses the Start button as Button 1, which may affect gameplay for a few games. The SNES controller maps all 4 Vectrex buttons to the standard action buttons. Here's a link to the Genesis page: http://shop.recycledgamer.com/products/modded-sega-genesis-controller-for-vectrex Can anyone recommend either one of these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxpressed Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 I just ordered the SNES controller in order to have all four buttons as action buttons. It will be nice to sit more than 18" from the Vectrex to play! I'll report back when it arrives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Nice! I need to pick one of these up. I love the Vectrex but can't stand the controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck D. Head Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I have used both versions. They both are great, but the SNES version feels more natural to me. You are going to love it, Chuck builds good stuff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.golden.ax Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I hate to miss out on all this business. People have been after me to do these for years. This guys prices are high. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiv Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 When you get it would you be willing to show the workmanship inside? No need to really. Go to his site. Link above, just then go to the SNES controller page.. He has a video showing the complete process for the SNES controller. Just watched that vid.. Wow, that's a lot of steps.. desiv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the.golden.ax Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 When you get it would you be willing to show the workmanship inside? No need to really. Go to his site. Link above, just then go to the SNES controller page.. He has a video showing the complete process for the SNES controller. Just watched that vid.. Wow, that's a lot of steps.. desiv Yeah, I beat you to that post with my edit. The price is clearly due to the creation of a new board when really that is a waste IMHO. You are paying for that. Why wouldn't you want to save $20 - $25 bucks and use the same perfectly good board? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxpressed Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share Posted May 4, 2012 The price was in the upper range of what I was willing to pay, but I know this will be a high-quality product. I think it's going to make a big difference in how much Vectrex I play. I'm always so worried about damaging the original controller or stretching out the cord. I'd think that these would fly off the shelves for $25-$30, especially if Ax could put a matching Vectrex skin on them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliptitude Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I bought Recycledgamer's SNES pad a few months ago. Although I use it all the time I've actually had a problem that the buttons are not as responsive as they should be. The compact layout of the SNES pad makes it great for a majority of Vectrex games, and the orientation of the corresponding buttons is acceptable. Not the ultimate Vectrex controller, but pretty darn good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRaider Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I'm considering one of their joysticks, but the one I like is a bit too HomeBrew for my taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Chuck Van Pelt, huh? Well, his controllers are too expensive, but I wonder if he'll give me psychiatric advice for ten cents. Anyway... I've modified controllers to make them Vectrex compatible, but you really have to be careful which ones you select. Hint: the PS Arcade stick designed for the Playstation isn't an ideal candidate. Red Octane's old arcade stick is better, but heavy, and as IGN mentioned in its review, the plexiglass edges are jagged enough to cut your wrists in what could be the nerdiest suicide ever. A little sandpaper fixes the problem, but it's worth mentioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRaider Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Would you be willing to be commissioned to mod a joystick for my Vectrex? I have one in mind that I would like to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I haven't done it for a while to be honest. Not sure if you'd want to pick me for the job. Out of curiosity, though, which joystick are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRaider Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I have a PS1 ASCII I wouldn't mind converting or one of my Saturn ASCII sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moijk Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I have a modfied asciistick and megadrive controller. works very well. i could probably have got them to a fraction of the price. but i saw no other offer and it is at least well made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxpressed Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 I bought Recycledgamer's SNES pad a few months ago. Although I use it all the time I've actually had a problem that the buttons are not as responsive as they should be. The compact layout of the SNES pad makes it great for a majority of Vectrex games, and the orientation of the corresponding buttons is acceptable. Not the ultimate Vectrex controller, but pretty darn good. My SNES pad arrived today. I had only enough time to test it with MineStorm, but it is just as responsive as the original controller. Took about a week from the time I placed my order to when it arrived. As I think I mentioned, I think it's going to revolutionize my Vectrex playing. I can sit farther back from the screen and not worry about breaking the controller now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecycledGamer Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Hi everyone, Chuck here - the maker of the RecycledGamer modified controllers for Vectrex. Rick Weis was kind enough to point me over to this discussion. I definitely appreciate getting feedback on my controllers. I'm a huge Vectrex nut and love making these controllers as a hobby so it's nice to hear commentary, both positive and negative. Hearing from users is the only way I can make them better. I'm working on getting the prices down and have lowered them quite a bit since I started making modded controllers for Vectrex. I charge what I do because I use only the best condition donors and completely disassemble, clean and reassemble them. The labor for each controller is substantial. The SNES controller is my most popular and each one requires a SNES controller donor, a Genesis controller donor for the cord/connector, and a few dollars in parts. Incidentally, thanks to all of the Pacific Northwest folks who have been collecting donor controllers for me! Such a great community of collectors up here. Gliptitude mentioned that the buttons are not as responsive as he would like. This is a known issue I have where the button contacts on my boards sometimes oxidize because they don't have enough tin on them - especially of they don't get used much. What AX said is true about the existing boards being perfectly good and I have, indeed, already changed my manufacturing to simply modify the existing board by adding on a small daughterboard instead of making a whole new board myself. On the SNES controllers this means that the buttons use the original carbon button contacts and the Genesis controllers are split between gold and carbon contacts depending on when and where they were manufactured. The labor to do this, however, is actually substantially more than just making my own boards. Reliability on these new controllers is much higher. Glibtitude - PM me your address and I will ship you out one of the SNES Vectrex controllers that uses the existing board. If you like it better, just ship back the old one so I can use it for a donor. This goes for anyone else having issues with one of my controllers - contact me and we'll work something out. If any of you will be at CGE this year, I will be introducing several different types of arcade sticks modded for Vectrex. I have some Sega and a few other types on my site now, but I was able to secure several lots of new old-stock controllers that I will be selling in Vegas. One of sticks I will have is the Sega Saturn Virtua Stick - there was a warehouse find and I will have a bunch of those, new in box, modded with special RecycledGamer labeling. The Virtua stick is quickly becoming my favorite controller for Vectrex. That and the Interact Pro-Shock sticks. Thanks again for the feedback. Feed free to toss out any questions you have and I will monitor this thread. Chuck PS: You will have to talk to my sister Lucy for psychiatric advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Eklipse Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I have been trying to contact Chuck for numerous times but he seems to ignore me, although I'm serious with buying a Sega Genesis converted conroller and a Lightpen, because it's the only place I can buy those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliptitude Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Gliptitude mentioned that the buttons are not as responsive as he would like. This is a known issue I have where the button contacts on my boards sometimes oxidize because they don't have enough tin on them - especially of they don't get used much. What AX said is true about the existing boards being perfectly good and I have, indeed, already changed my manufacturing to simply modify the existing board by adding on a small daughterboard instead of making a whole new board myself. On the SNES controllers this means that the buttons use the original carbon button contacts and the Genesis controllers are split between gold and carbon contacts depending on when and where they were manufactured. The labor to do this, however, is actually substantially more than just making my own boards. Reliability on these new controllers is much higher. Glibtitude - PM me your address and I will ship you out one of the SNES Vectrex controllers that uses the existing board. If you like it better, just ship back the old one so I can use it for a donor. This goes for anyone else having issues with one of my controllers - contact me and we'll work something out. PM'd my address to you last night. Look forward to your response! I didn't mean to bad-mouth your product, it is still quite useful and I use it all the time. Just that it could be a bit more responsive . I love that you are doing this stuff and that the Vectrex community has a guy like you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecycledGamer Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 PM'd my address to you last night. Look forward to your response! I didn't mean to bad-mouth your product, it is still quite useful and I use it all the time. Just that it could be a bit more responsive . I love that you are doing this stuff and that the Vectrex community has a guy like you! No problem at all! Like I said, I love getting feedback and making my controllers better if I can. I will respond to your PM momentarily. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamchevy Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Anyone know what happened to the recycled gamer site? I went to purchase a modified controller for the vectrex and it looks like the site is down or gone? I really hope not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiLic0ne t0aD Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I wondered the same thing.. he seems to be MIA. Thought he was just restocking since the gaming expos but have noticed the website being down now is not a good sign. Looking for a Lightpen myself, although I'm sure I could just build one since the instructions are out there. Might want to think about getting a VecAdapt, since you can use just about any Genesis controller (unmodded); options of rapid fire and a button swap feature too.. They are still available on eBay or directly, via his website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Don't think Recycled Gamer has made new controllers in a few years. I was able to get a lot of money for my Vectrex/SNES controller and reproduction light pen as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50TBRD Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I purchased a light pen last year from Chuck. There are a lot of people getting high prices on ebay for items that you can purchase brand new for much less. Chuck may return. He's the only one I know of who offered a SNES controller for the Vectrex and there was never an SNES adapter. If he doesn't return I hope that he makes his board designs available so people can use a service to get their own boards printed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LS650 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I recently acquired a Vectrex, and I love it. However... I have only one stock controller. It works well, but I'd like to pick up a second controller, both for 2-player games and as a backup for the single controller I have now. It looks like Recycled Gamer is no longer making his SNES conversions. Is there anyone else folks can recommend for making Vectrex controllers? If I look on eBay, stock controllers are hard to find and command a premium price. I would be okay with a converted Genesis or SNES gamepad. I also notice that there is a guy in Australia making the VecAdapt, a blackbox converter: plug one end into the Vectrex port and plug a Sega Genesis pad into the other end. That might be alright... can anyone who has one recommend it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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