Blues76 Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 Hi, Has anyone tried this? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-XE-XEGS-7800-2600-Controller-Control-Pad-Gamepad-Joystick-with-Thumb-Stick-/264805385894?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 No. Looks OK though. Though the curious part would be the feel and durability of the buttons and stick - likely they use the carbon pads that just mush against the 2 adjacent contacts to close the switch. So generally no microswitch or bubble type switch to wear out but often need something else to provide springiness and feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 9 hours ago, Rybags said: No. Looks OK though. Though the curious part would be the feel and durability of the buttons and stick - likely they use the carbon pads that just mush against the 2 adjacent contacts to close the switch. So generally no microswitch or bubble type switch to wear out but often need something else to provide springiness and feel. I’m looking for a gamepad because my kid (5 years old) seems to do better with gamepad that the atari joystick Maybe the Sega one will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 I'm curious about all those buttons. I see two regular buttons for sure, marked I & II. Then there's the pastel colored buttons; one on the left and the four on the right. I can't tell if those are real buttons or images on the label. Either way, when it comes to the 2600 and the 8-bit computers, I thought they could only have a single button, so all those others would be a waste, right? Do I remember that incorrectly? Could we have multiple buttons on an Atari joystick/controller on the 2600 or the 8-bits? When I look at the seller's other items, I see all different kinds of controllers, all made from the same basic controller, but with different system labels. I'm pretty sure that controller only has two buttons, but I still thought we could only have one on the 2600/8-bit/XEGS. I think the 7800 allows two or possibly more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 5 minutes ago, bfollowell said: I'm curious about all those buttons. I see two regular buttons for sure, marked I & II. Then there's the pastel colored buttons; one on the left and the four on the right. I can't tell if those are real buttons or images on the label. Either way, when it comes to the 2600 and the 8-bit computers, I thought they could only have a single button, so all those others would be a waste, right? Do I remember that incorrectly? Could we have multiple buttons on an Atari joystick/controller on the 2600 or the 8-bits? When I look at the seller's other items, I see all different kinds of controllers, all made from the same basic controller, but with different system labels. I'm pretty sure that controller only has two buttons, but I still thought we could only have one on the 2600/8-bit/XEGS. I think the 7800 allows two or possibly more. I think is compatible with atari 8 bit computers, 2600, and 7800 (I’m not sure if all 7800 games, but then I don’t know much about the 7800). Atari 8bit computers can use more than one button (see a thread about it) but most (all?) games used only one button. If you read the thread, it may even be possible (if I’m right) to use three buttons. Now, For this controller I posted, assuming that it works, all I care is one button and the pad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 46 minutes ago, Blues76 said: I think is compatible with atari 8 bit computers, 2600, and 7800 (I’m not sure if all 7800 games, but then I don’t know much about the 7800). Atari 8bit computers can use more than one button (see a thread about it) but most (all?) games used only one button. If you read the thread, it may even be possible (if I’m right) to use three buttons. Now, For this controller I posted, assuming that it works, all I care is one button and the pad. You're probably right. My memory is probably just jaded by remembering nothing but single-button controllers back in the day and no memories of games using more than a single-button control scheme. Anything that did use more than one button, typically used the keyboard in addition to the controller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivop Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Blues76 said: I’m looking for a gamepad because my kid (5 years old) seems to do better with gamepad that the atari joystick After play way too much on emulation, with a gamepad, I'm also better at games with a gamepad than with the Atari joystick. Luckily I have SNES2JOY for playing on real hardware Edited November 22, 2020 by ivop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGB1718 Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 6 minutes ago, ivop said: After play way too much on emulation, with a gamepad Me too, just can't handle the old joystick these days, I use a Buffalo USB joypad, so much easier, it's handy as I can use it under Altirra and on my 800 and 130XE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 (edited) 54 minutes ago, ivop said: After play way too much on emulation, with a gamepad, I'm also better at games with a gamepad than with the Atari joystick. Luckily I have SNES2JOY for playing on real hardware Is anyone selling your design? Which gamepad are you using? The SNES Gamepad Edited November 22, 2020 by Blues76 correction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivop Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Blues76 said: Is anyone selling your design? No, not as far as I know. But the design is open for everybody to build and/or sell and not even send me a thank you https://github.com/ivop/snes2joy Everything is there. Gerbers, 3D files for the enclosure, schematic, firmware, source code, step by step build instructions, etc... I'm just not up to building tens of them. That's boring Even doing a DIY kit with parts and PCB only is a lot of work. Maybe I could do a PCB only run, but everybody can order ten pieces of this PCB for $10 in China and sell the other nine on AtariAge Quote Which gamepad are you using? At first I used an original SNES controller. I have two of them, but one already broke, so to save the last original one, I no longer use it. Currently I use a Chinese clone. Takes some time to get the "stiffness" out of it, but it's not too bad. Edited November 22, 2020 by ivop 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 I found this thread (since I'm sure this is a question that gets asked a lot) @ivop Thanks... Maybe I can convinced my wife to do it... Otherwise, I have a friend already. I guess I could do it but I know very little about electronics but given what you said, maybe this is something I could do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asaki Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 5 hours ago, Blues76 said: I’m looking for a gamepad because my kid (5 years old) seems to do better with gamepad that the atari joystick Maybe the Sega one will work. I don't know anything about two-button controllers, but for your common one-button joystick games, Sega pads work just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 4 hours ago, bfollowell said: I'm curious about all those buttons. I see two regular buttons for sure, marked I & II. Then there's the pastel colored buttons; one on the left and the four on the right. I can't tell if those are real buttons or images on the label. Either way, when it comes to the 2600 and the 8-bit computers, I thought they could only have a single button, so all those others would be a waste, right? Do I remember that incorrectly? Could we have multiple buttons on an Atari joystick/controller on the 2600 or the 8-bits? The pastel stuff is just on the label. I assume these are repurposed NES joypads, probably NES compatible joypads. If they're wired for the 7800 like the ProLine Joysticks or CX-78 joypads, 8-bits will take either button as "fire" being pressed. Individual buttons should be readable via the paddle input functions as they map to pin 5 and 9 on both VCS and 8-bits. I don't think there is a way to read the the two middle buttons and I doubt they're even connected for the Atari version. The NES apparently uses a serial protocol to read its controller, so there is no direct button-to-pin connection. 8-bits can read a second button of Sega Controllers, too, and someone has posted on AA regarding reading the Start and third button but did not report success so far. To use both Sega buttons on a 7800 a modification or interface is required, the most famous probably being the Edladdin Seagull. The Sega stick switches between reading buttons B/C and buttons Start/A by selecting pin 8 low or high. The "standard" on the Atari is low so buttons B/C will work. AFAIK the rather recently released Scramble uses this to allow separate bomb/missile firing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivop Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 55 minutes ago, slx said: The NES apparently uses a serial protocol to read its controller, so there is no direct button-to-pin connection. Yes. It's the same protocol the SNES uses. You could wire the SNES2JOY as a NES2JOY if you want to: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathy Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 Hello slx 2 hours ago, slx said: I assume these are repurposed NES joypads, probably NES compatible joypads. This is what the seller mentions in his ad: Quote Not an NES mod Sincerely Mathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 17 hours ago, Mathy said: Hello slx This is what the seller mentions in his ad: Sincerely Mathy You're or course right. I missed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 @Blues76 Theres always this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08227NQ3Z/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_wt.UFbFYCS2VX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Works perfectly on 2600 but there is a small mod required to use the paddle controller on 8bit machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinadan67 Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Mr Robot said: there is a small mod required to use the paddle controller on 8bit machines. Interesting, i bought that controller but returned it because the paddle did not work with my 800XL. Do you have a link to the required mod? Edited November 23, 2020 by Dinadan67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 It's very similar to the pads sold here by @DanthWader several years ago, although the quality of the PCB on the Ebay auction looks a lot cheaper. I can say the one I really enjoyed the one I got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Dinadan67 said: Interesting, i bought that controller but returned it because the paddle did not work with my 800XL. Do you have a link to the required mod? Atari paddles come as a set of two but this controller only has one. Paddles are not labelled paddle 1 and paddle 2 they are labelled Left and Right. By convention it seems Atari VCS programmers used Left as the primary paddle and Atari 400/800 programmers used Right as the primary paddle. So it's not that the paddle didn't work, it's that you were controlling player two's paddle. The small mod is to swap around two wires on the PCB, labelled L-VR and R-VR. You could install a switch if you want to go high end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinadan67 Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Thanks for the info, maybe i will order another one and do the mod! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZuluGula Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 On 11/22/2020 at 11:44 AM, Blues76 said: Is anyone selling your design? @Mq. has something similar available (S)NESctrl https://atarionline.pl/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5671 It's about $25 plus shipping from Poland. You can use with wired controllers or with wireless adapter and use many modern Bluetooth gamepads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 On 11/23/2020 at 12:48 PM, ZuluGula said: @Mq. has something similar available (S)NESctrl https://atarionline.pl/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5671 It's about $25 plus shipping from Poland. You can use with wired controllers or with wireless adapter and use many modern Bluetooth gamepads. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blues76 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 7 minutes ago, Blues76 said: Thank you! @ZuluGula I translated the page. I could not find an email. I try to subscribe to AtariOnline.PL to see if that way I can send the message. Do you know the contact for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZuluGula Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 @Mq.is a member here, just click his nickname to send him a message. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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