Controller Ideas -- Retro-to-USB Retro-To-Modern

[racketboy]

I tried sending this note to Jemsic first, but somehow the email in his profile got set to mine...

How hard/expensive would it be to convert older controllers like the NES, Genesis, Saturn, and such and turn them into either USB controllers or to something like an XBox 360 or Gamecube controller?

Or making adapters for that matter....?

What are your thoughts?


To get things started, here's a tutorial on converting a Saturn controller to USB, but I don't know much about this stuff:
http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/usbsatpad/

[Mozgus]

I'd be up for doing an NES one if it's easy enough.

[risk]

nes to usb/xbox/ps2 is hard to do

[arion]

as for using a saturn pad with a pc i just bought this

http://midwestgames.stores.yahoo.net/segsatdreama.html

it also works for Dc pads and psx but i never use the psx one

[metaleggman]

Well, for Saturn controllers, you could always get a nVidia NV1. Got the connectors built-in.

As for doing something like this, going to USB is easy as there are a plethora of adaptors. I don't think it is too easy to make them work for the 360 as the Sega Saturn pad that someone modded was quite complicated.

[Pullmyfinger]

Using the method from the first link is fairly easy and inexpensive, the most expensive part would be the controller, but the rest is just simple rewiring

[baphomet_irl]

Well, for Saturn controllers, you could always get a nVidia NV1. Got the connectors built-in.

As for doing something like this, going to USB is easy as there are a plethora of adaptors. I don't think it is too easy to make them work for the 360 as the Sega Saturn pad that someone modded was quite complicated.

is the NV1 the one that used quadrangulart polygons?

[metaleggman]

Well, for Saturn controllers, you could always get a nVidia NV1. Got the connectors built-in.

As for doing something like this, going to USB is easy as there are a plethora of adaptors. I don't think it is too easy to make them work for the 360 as the Sega Saturn pad that someone modded was quite complicated.

is the NV1 the one that used quadrangulart polygons?

Yep. And that's why it failed.

[Gentlegamer]

I tried sending this note to Jemsic first, but somehow the email in his profile got set to mine...

How hard/expensive would it be to convert older controllers like the NES, Genesis, Saturn, and such and turn them into either USB controllers or to something like an XBox 360 or Gamecube controller?

Or making adapters for that matter....?

What are your thoughts?


To get things started, here's a tutorial on converting a Saturn controller to USB, but I don't know much about this stuff:
http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/usbsatpad/

http://www.retrousb.com/

They have pre-modded classic controllers to USB, kits for do-it-yourself, and inline adapters for USB. Apparently, they are taking preorders for inline adapters that will work with the Wii so NES and SNES pads can be used with classic games on the Virtual Console.