Where Are the Joysticks For Retro Gaming?

Doctor O writes "With all those nice emulators for classic gaming around (such as MAME, VICE or Stella) I want to establish monthly retro gaming evenings with some friends. The problem is I can't find any good joysticks for that purpose. There's a new version of the legendary Competition Pro, but judging from the many one-star reviews on Amazon, it's terrible. I found the USB version of the classic Atari Joystick, but it doesn't seem to be available and would have prohibitive shipping costs to Germany anyway. So, Slashdot to the rescue — where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"

Comments

I hear ya....

[cormandy]

How timely, as I have been asking the same question... I used to have an Apple //c, and although I have indulged in retro Apple // gaming on various emulators over the years, it was never quite the same without using a traditional Apple analogue joystick. I have since decided to tackle this obvious problem with some electronics hackery. I recently (as in last week) purchased an original Apple // analogue joystick at auction on eBay, and I plan on building an Apple-joystick-port-to-USB-human-interface-device adapter circuit using a microcontroller such as the Microchip PIC. Should be straight forward, and if I am successful I will publish a how-to online, with schematics, parts list, microcontroller source code and Gerber data for the PCBs. Wish me luck!

Re:I hear ya....

[uvajed_ekil]

I recently (as in last week) purchased an original Apple // analogue joystick at auction on eBay, and I plan on building an Apple-joystick-port-to-USB-human-interface-device adapter circuit using a microcontroller such as the Microchip PIC. Should be straight forward, and if I am successful I will publish a how-to online, with schematics, parts list, microcontroller source code and Gerber data for the PCBs. Wish me luck!

Luck? I am wishing you a girlfriend.

Re:I hear ya....

[TheRaven64]

That's nice of you, but can you wait until after he's published the schematics? Girlfriends tend to have a terrible impact on geek productivity...

Re:I hear ya....

[MerlinTheGreen]

Devices based on V-USB (software only USB implementation for AVR microcontrollers) are probably worth a look because designs you can copy are so numerous.

This is one of the most versatile. I doesn't support the Apple IIc yet but the BBC joysticks had a similar capability so the only difference is likely to be in the adapter lead:

http://denki.world3.net/retro_v2.html

Perhaps you don't want to make your own circuit board. If so, I had a quick look at the retro's schematic and reckon you should be able to get the retro firmware running on an off the shelf board such as the one adafruit sell.

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=16&products_id=174

I've got one of these and its a great little board. I built a temperature logger using one and I got it running (hardware and software) in about four hours. That said I did spend another three building the programmer!

Finally there a gallery of lots of HID devices made using cheap AVR controllers:

http://www.obdev.at/products/vusb/prjhid.html

Re:I hear ya....

[Eudial]

You should have shipped with one. Look in your pants.

Re:I hear ya....

[AmiMoJo]

Note: I am the creator of the Retro Adapter.

As it happens I have just had a delivery of them from China where SeeedStudio partially assemble them. I was doing all the assembly myself but it was eating all my free time up so I asked them to do it. They are really good when it comes to supporting Open Source projects. They also did the PCBs and were very helpful.

I have some kits available or fully assembled ones. The biggest issue is getting the connectors for old systems like the NES and Sega Saturn. I have some Saturn connectors but NES ones are damn expensive... As such I generally recommend people modify their controller (in a way that doesn't prevent it working on the original system) but even that is a bit tricky for NES pads due to the weird wire they use.

Hopefully /. will generate some interest as so far there hasn't been much input on the code side. People have been helpful sending me controllers to support though.

Oh, and on the BBC from, I have just about finished converting a BBC Master Compact into a USB keyboard for a friend. It has a Retro Adapter built in too and a little amplifier so that the internal speaker can be connected to the PC line out. I have not had time to do a web page for it yet though, but it is all open source.

If you want *good* - arcade controllers

[sznupi]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_controller#In_the_home
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namco_Arcade_Stick
etc. (there are also resources to build them)

Generally quite close to classic joysticks, only much better. They are slightly on the expensive side, but OTOH will be, most likely, the only link with you for your great-great-great-great-grandchildren / etc.

Re:If you want *good* - arcade controllers

[Mprx]

2nding this. I have an XBox 360 Mad Catz SFIV Fightstick modded with real Seimitsu arcade parts and it works great. It's tough and responsive and it works on Linux. Best controller I've used.

I followed these instructions: http://pineconeattack.com/2009/08/06/how-to-mod-the-madcatz-fight-stick-with-seimitsu-parts/

In the US and Japan you can buy a Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE with Seimitsu parts already included, but with import taxes it would have been too expensive for me. Or if you prefer you can use Sanwa parts, the other popular brand.

Re:USB Digital Joysticks Suck

[cgenman]

Weren't Joust and Gyruss purely digital inputs? I'm trying to think of any non-trackball / non-wheel / non-paddle stick-based arcade games that used analog controls from a retro time-period, and the only one I'm coming up with is Afterburner.

Re:Retro NES USB Controller

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't be silly. If he had wanted a joystick he would have asked a simple unambiguous question such as: "where are the suitable USB joysticks for retro gaming?"

Use ORIGINAL joysticks!

[Per Wigren]

The best joysticks for retrogaming are of course the original ones with a Retro Adapter.

It has support for most original joysticks and gamepads: C64/Amiga, Atari 8-bit computers and consoles, Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis/Megadrive, Saturn, Neo Geo, MSX, BBC Micro, PCE/TGFX, NES, SNES, N64, PSX, PS2, 3DO, CD32, PC Gameport, you name it.

Re:Prohibitive shipping costs?

[Dr. Hok]

The linked USB device costs $16.99 One shipping option to (I picked Bayern) Germany was 16.95. So you get a retro joystick for under $35. They also have another shipping option that runs $28 so you'd be looking at $45. Still not what most people would consider prohibitive.

Plus import tax (14% IIRC) plus VAT (19%) plus "customs handling fee" (20%).

That's what I had to pay (on top of both the price and shipping) when I bought stuff at thinkgeek and had it shipped to Germany. So this $17 joystick would cost you $52, over 3 times the price. OTOH, $35 might be under the limit, so you might get along without paying taxes at all.

Re:Retro NES USB Controller

[Doctor O]

OP here. I have seen the stick you offer (and many like it) on Amazon, but those a) usually are analog (digital sticks are much easier to operate) and b) can only be used standing on a desk etc., not hand-held. I'm going to connect the 'puter to my plasma and want to go for the "living room style" gaming. Even the old Quickshots were shitty in this respect because you'd need a book or something to put them on.

And you're spot on - I want a stick, not a pad. At 35, I'm in the pre-pad gaming generation and despise pads to the very day. No matter how much I practice, I just don't get the level of control of a nice, handy digital joystick.

Re:Retro NES USB Controller

[Moryath]

You want X-Arcade sticks.

Actual arcade hardware. USB connector, or the option to stick in modular controllers for PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox360... you name it. Lifetime warranty and EASY user servicing, too. Shoot them an email if any component fails, they'll mail you the replacement part, you stick it in yourself, easy as can be.

I bought a pair years ago, been upgrading them (very cheaply) as new systems came out. Love them and highly recommend them.

Re:Retro NES USB Controller

[Moryath]

Almost forgot: some people will say "yeah but those are expensive." My response: I've had over a decade of use on my pair, and they are still working flawlessly today. Just imagine the number of crap sticks (like those cheaply made piece of crap "Street Fighter IV Fighting Sticks" that wandered out from Crapcom for 360 and PS3, and ONLY work on their respective consoles) you'd buy over the years keeping up.

Pay a little more up-front to have something high-quality, that has a lifetime warranty on parts, that you can easily repair yourself without voiding the warranty, and that is cheaply upgradable to work when you update your console. It's well worth it.