SNES controller mod > NES console

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wyatt
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SNES controller mod > NES console

Post by wyatt »

I'd like to be able to play NES games with a SNES controller, and have the L and R work as additional buttons for Select and Start. Or just replace Select and Start, if they can't both work. Any "easy" way to do this? I can solder in a pinch, that's about it.

It would also be sweet to have the X and A work as A and B, as an optional button layout, in addition to Y and B working as B and A, naturally.

I know the wires of a couple controller extensions could be spliced, but that wouldn't get the unused SNES controller buttons to do what I wish.
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ac_90
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Re: SNES controller mod > NES console

Post by ac_90 »

i'm not familiar with hacks like this so i can't really offer any tips or precautions, but maybe there's a 3rd-party nes controller out there that resembles a snes controller. if you spend some time searching & come across one maybe you can use that as a starting point for your mod & combine the circuit with original hardware? might not work, but just thought i'd mention it as an alternate contribution to what other people will suggest!
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CRTGAMER
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Re: SNES controller mod > NES console

Post by CRTGAMER »

As in most controller conversion mods, You can gut out the NES controller PCB. Connect each button via the traces of the SNES PCB to the contacts of the replacement NES PCB. You need to keep the original SNES PCB for the buttons to have a pad, just isolate each button from the SNES on board controller chip. Sometimes a project box with extension cables needs to be included if both PCBs do not fit inside the controller shell.
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darkcat
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Re: SNES controller mod > NES console

Post by darkcat »

I don't know if the chip set has the same clock set up but it might if not you could get the pin outs for each replace the IC with the one from the Nes controller and then check the pin outs for the console there all online.
On both ground is the brown wire
snes red is data
nes red is clock
nes yellow is data
nes yellow is clock
strobe is orange on both
White is +5V on each.

My guess is the IC should be close enough that they will match up with just droping the nes ic in or wiring it up. I'd check with wiring first? then switch out the ic. trace soldering is a hassle for something easy enough like this. If you have your own EEprom writer you could make your own controller map out for the controller quite easy.
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Ziggy
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Re: SNES controller mod > NES console

Post by Ziggy »

I remember reading some where that the NES and SNES controllers are largely the same (both 7 pin connections). Nintendo just changed the plug for obvious reasons. You could try a simple splice job, just remove the SNES plug and attach a NES plug (I recommend using the plug from a NES extension cable). It might work, although the buttons might not be mapped the way you'd want them to be.
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