Atari 2600 15-Pin Controller Ports - REV. 2

[Junie]

My new Atari 2600 15-Pin controller ports and controllers has been updated, REV. 2

 

In the new version I have added the Left Difficulty and Right Difficulty switches, and have the Booster Grip buttons added to the controllers. Also I updated how the wiring is done on the connectors to add room for the new switches and to make the wiring overall better.

 

The only switches left on the Atari that is not connected to the controller ports is the Power ON/OFF switch and the Channel switch-- neither of which is of any use on the controllers, so they will never be added.

 

The pinout for the 15-pin controller ports have changed as well, there was no way around it. So if you did the original 15-Pin REV. 1 you will have to do some wiring updates to your system and controllers for the new version REV. 2

 

I haven't updated the instructions yet at my website, 15-Pin Instructions, I will when I get the time-- It takes quite a while to take the and edit the pictures and write everything out

 

Also I am in the process of getting everything set to actually manufactuor the 15-Pin system and controllers for sell.

 

The Atari 2600 system will be the 4 Switch model that will have a laminated overlay on the switch area (That says Power On/Off, TV Type, etc.- It will cover the entire area until the sides) and included will be:

 

- Power supply

- Standard or Cable RF switch box

- (2) 9-pin to 15-Pin adapters (So you can use your other Atari 2600 controllers)

- User Manual

 

The 15-Pin NES brand controllers will use micro-switches, instead of the standard PCB switches. The controllers can also be painted 9 different colors, and will have a new laminated overlay where the current NES one is (It is the area that tells you what buttons are what,etc.)

 

On the laminated Laser Color printed overlays that will be on the system and controllers they will show what each button is, and include my logo, a custom background, and a name.. I am thinking of using Ultimate 15 VCS or something.

 

I know the name Atari is owned by Infogames, but is VCS, 2600, or any other "names" also owned by Infogames?

 

If anyone thinks they have a better name for my custom system than Ultimate 15 VCS post it here

 

I am also debating rather or not to include Custom Cooler fan inside the Atari 2600. The fan blows thru the speaker area holes in the case (In the multiple ridge area on the Atari). It will switch On and Off with the Power ON/OFF switch.

 

The fan will help keep the Atari cool during use, especially game marathons I'm not sure if it is really needed, but it may help make the Atari live longer than normal-- which is still unknown, they are still going

 

Anyone have any questions or suggestions for my custom system/controllers?

 

I plan to start selling these sometime in the next month or two.

 

I also would like to point out I am not going to try and market this as a "new" system or anything like that. It is simply a heavily modified Atari 2600.

 

I will make sure that included in the User Manual and with the information to sell them that it is clearly stated that this is not a new system and simply a heavily modified Atari 2600.

 

Here is the controller port/controller pinout so you can see what is all here:

 

15-PIN JOYSTICK PINOUT REV. 2

 

pin # Joystick

1 Up

2 Down

3 Left

4 Right

5 Booster Grip #1

6 Fire(button)

7 +5

8 Ground(-)

9 Booster Grip #2

10 TV Type (SPST Switch)

11 Game Select (Momentary Switch)

12 Game Reset (Momentary Switch)

13 Left Difficulty (SPST Switch)

14 Right Difficulty (SPST Switch)

15 NC

 

 

Of course any other standard controller will work with this as well, including Paddles, Driving Controllers, Keypads, Video Touch Pad, etc.-- You just have to plug them into the standard 9-Pin controller ports, or wait until I release new updated controllers of them as well

 

[ 02-17-2002: Message edited by: Junie ]

[liquid_sky]

Sounds very cool.. do you have any photos?

 

If you do sell, whats the price range?

[Junie]

quote:

---

Originally posted by liquid_sky:

Sounds very cool.. do you have any photos?

 

If you do sell, whats the price range?

---

 

The only pictures I have right now are in my REV. 1 instructions at my website, here is a link to them http://jove.prohosting.com/~junies/atari/15pin/

 

I am still trying to work out a price, because so many sites sell Atari 2600's at different prices it may vary whenever a site runs out of Atari 2600 4 Switches.

 

The best I have found so far has been $40 for a 4 Switch system, but they only have 2 of them.

 

I will also do the upgrades to anyone's system who ships it to me. Shipping will cost about $14 here in the US to me and back (both ways), and that is cheaper than a $40 system plus shipping to me and then to who buys one.

 

It will cost somewhere around $40 - $60 for the parts with a small mark-up (profit), plus the cost of the Atari system and of course shipping.

 

If anyone actually has a small stockpile of Atari 2600 4 Switches (Woodgrain or Black, doesn't matter) or standard NES controllers or knows who does please let me know.

 

[ 02-17-2002: Message edited by: Junie ]

[Albert]

This sounds pretty interesting, I like the idea of using a joypad controller on the 2600. Sounds like a lot of work to modify each 2600 and the NES controllers, though. Would be nice if there was some way to use controllers from other systems without having to make any changes to the controller itself. For instance, it would be cool to use the extra buttons on a Sega Genesis controller for the select, reset, and difficulty switches. Those are 9-pin already, although I assume that some work would need to be done on the 2600 end to use those extra signals (I have no idea what the differences are electrically between Genesis and 2600 controllers, especially as it pertains to those extra buttons on the Genesis pads). Being able to use unmodified Genesis controllers would allow you to use all the third-party sticks and pads that came out.

 

One advantage to not having to modify the controllers is that should anything happen to a controller you can easily replace it. I imagine NES and Genesis controllers are easy to come by these days. Of course, this wouldn't give you the nice microswitches you're putting in. Keep in mind that some people might not like those since they're a bit noisy (Epyx 500XJ comes to mind).

 

I look forward to seeing the updated pages when you're all done. Please keep us posted!

 

..Al

[Junie]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Albert:

This sounds pretty interesting, I like the idea of using a joypad controller on the 2600. Sounds like a lot of work to modify each 2600 and the NES controllers, though. Would be nice if there was some way to use controllers from other systems without having to make any changes to the controller itself. For instance, it would be cool to use the extra buttons on a Sega Genesis controller for the select, reset, and difficulty switches. Those are 9-pin already, although I assume that some work would need to be done on the 2600 end to use those extra signals (I have no idea what the differences are electrically between Genesis and 2600 controllers, especially as it pertains to those extra buttons on the Genesis pads). Being able to use unmodified Genesis controllers would allow you to use all the third-party sticks and pads that came out.

 

One advantage to not having to modify the controllers is that should anything happen to a controller you can easily replace it. I imagine NES and Genesis controllers are easy to come by these days. Of course, this wouldn't give you the nice microswitches you're putting in. Keep in mind that some people might not like those since they're a bit noisy (Epyx 500XJ comes to mind).

 

I look forward to seeing the updated pages when you're all done. Please keep us posted!

 

..Al

---

 

It takes on average somewhere around 2 hours to do the modifications to the Atari 2600 system and the 2 controllers. I am hopeing to greatly reduce the time by making everything in steps and have a small stockpile of the necessary parts ready to be soldered in.

 

I personally own REV. 1 of my 15-Pin controller ports and controllers, to say the least I love using the Joypad controllers. I like the response time and ease of use, not to mention the system switches on the Joypad-- I can restart the game and everything while still sitting in bed

 

Using unmodified controllers would be great, but is impossiable. There are a total of 14-Pin connectors needed to wire everything up, and many of them require a SPST switch the momentary buttons will not work. For example Left Difficulty, Right Difficulty, and TV Type.

 

Getting a replacement 15-Pin controller is easy, either buy them direct from me or build them from my instuctions.

 

I also plan to make brand new 15-Pin controllers in the future. I am still trying to find a material to make them from easily and inexpensively. So far Polyurethne Resin seems to be the best material, but shatters when dropped so I am trying to find a way to fix this or find a better material.

 

Concering the micro-switches and some people don't like the sharp click sound, micro-switches come in two varieties. There are the standard micro-switches which make no sound when pushed, then there are tactile micro-switches. So I can put the micro-switches in that will and will not make any sound.

 

I am not sure rather or not to make it an option for people when they order to specifiy if they want the standard or tactile (sharp click sound) micro-switches. I myself like the sharp click sound of the tactile micro-switches, so I guess I will need to make this an option when ordering.

 

I will keep everyeone updated by posting information here at AtariAge, and if there is any interest shown on the StellaList there as well.

 

Currently the price is estimated at $40 - $60 for the parts and a small profit for me, not counting the Atari 2600 system and shipping. I am still looking at different parts suppliers to see if I can lower the price in time for sales. Being at a lower price will also help make this custom system a bigger success.

 

I'll post some new pictures once I convert my personal Atari 2600 from the REV. 1 into the 15-Pin REV. 2 model.

 

Also I thought I might mention that I plan to also sell my other custom hardware items, and a few hardware items which are hard to find. The current count is around 14 different hardware items. I'll start to offer these as well once I have my custom system ready for sales.

[Junie]

Bump

 

Does anyone else have any feedback or ideas about my questions? Anyone else think this is interesting, doesn't seem to be any interest for it here.

 

Perhaps I should put a few up on eBay to see what everyone else thinks

[jsoper]

Your website makes netscape crash on my sparc at work. Are you trying to do something fancy?

[liquid_sky]

nintendo sucks

 

ok that usually brings people to a topic

 

I really think this sounds interesting..

[Junie]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Soper:

Your website makes netscape crash on my sparc at work. Are you trying to do something fancy?

---

 

Nope, I don't even think there is any Javascript on my main pages. I have been told that my website will make Netscape crash on MAC computers. Are you using a MAC?

 

This is caused by my web host's banner script that they add to my pages.

 

The only way I can fix the problem to find another web host, so if anyone knows of another free host with FTP and CGI-BIN access let me know-- I'll probably change hosts.

[Junie]

quote:

---

Originally posted by liquid_sky:

nintendo sucks

 

ok that usually brings people to a topic

 

I really think this sounds interesting..

---

 

Well thanks for the attempt