Converting a SNES controller to Neo Geo.

smokehouse · Jan 14, 2006

I have this OJ Topfighter joystick and never use it for my SNES.

It’s a really well made joystick and was wondering how hard it would be to rewire it for the Neo Geo. I understand that I will have to get a donor Neo controller for the cable end but does anyone know the pinout or wiring conversion to do this? Is it even possible?

SpamYouToDeath · Jan 14, 2006

Well, I don't know about how much you want to keep, but...

The SNES has a serial controller port. It takes all the button states and smashes them into a chain of bits and sends them. The Neo-Geo has one pin for each button. You'd either have to get some IC to decode the signals before you send them, or wire the buttons and joystick directly to the cable, bypassing that whoseywhatsit up there in the corner.

Verythrax · Jan 14, 2006

smokehouse said:
I have this OJ Topfighter joystick and never use it for my SNES.

It’s a really well made joystick and was wondering how hard it would be to rewire it for the Neo Geo. I understand that I will have to get a donor Neo controller for the cable end but does anyone know the pinout or wiring conversion to do this? Is it even possible?

Get an extension cable. Neostore used to have them. Or a PC db15 socket with cable must work, too.

smokehouse · Jan 14, 2006

Ok, I opened up the controller and it seems each button and direction on the joystick has 2 wires going to it.

I found this diagram here:
http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/neocont.htm

It only shows one pin for each command (A/b/c/d/up/down….). Are the others common or do I only need one of the wires coming from each of the buttons? Second, with this kind of controller could I ignore the 5V power?

Amano Jacu · Jan 14, 2006

smokehouse said:
It only shows one pin for each command (A/b/c/d/up/down….). Are the others common or do I only need one of the wires coming from each of the buttons? Second, with this kind of controller could I ignore the 5V power?

Each button has a pin specific to it, and the other is the common ground. So get an extension cable and use it like you say. You shouldn't need the +5V. If you don't plan on keeping snes compatibility, disconnect all wires to that pcb as it could cause some interference.

smokehouse · Jan 14, 2006

Please forgive my basic questions, I’m not new to doing this kind of stuff but I am new to wiring controllers. How do I find the common on the buttons? Is it the top or bottom lead? Can I meter it or its there a standard with these kind of switches?

Murray · Jan 14, 2006

Use a multimeter to check for continuity first between any two buttons' top contact, then between any two buttons' bottom contact. Whichever one is shorted is the ground.

Xian Xi · Jan 15, 2006

you dont need a donor controller. Ask Nez on DP he has a few controller extension cables, use those instead.

SpamYouToDeath · Jan 15, 2006

Usually, the pin on the "side" (closest to the camera in your pics) is common, then the one closest to that pin (with the other wire) is NO as in "normally open" (closes circuit when pressed), then the last is NC (the opposite). So what you do is chain all of the "side" pins together to ground, then connect the NO to the individual lines.

toodles · Jan 15, 2006

SpamYouToDeath said:
The SNES has a serial controller port. It takes all the button states and smashes them into a chain of bits and sends them. The Neo-Geo has one pin for each button. You'd either have to get some IC to decode the signals before you send them, or wire the buttons and joystick directly to the cable, bypassing that whoseywhatsit up there in the corner.

74XX595 are the ICs I found a while ago that seem to do the serial to parallel conversion needed to 'decode' the serial stream from NES and SNES's best, but I havent had a chance to test them out personally. Also, you'd have to make a small circuit to generate the clock signal.

TerryMathews · Jan 15, 2006

toodles said:
74XX595 are the ICs I found a while ago that seem to do the serial to parallel conversion needed to 'decode' the serial stream from NES and SNES's best, but I havent had a chance to test them out personally. Also, you'd have to make a small circuit to generate the clock signal.

You'd need more than that - the SNES controller is a positive logic design, even after you use that decoder. The Neo is a negative logic design.

In layman's terms, the SNES checks for the presence of a signal to register a button press, the Neo checks for the absence of voltage.

You'll need some sort of relay (10, in fact) to connect the Neo's signal pins to ground when it registers a button press.

It'd be easier, and probably cheaper, to just go with a Neo->PSX adapter.

IMO, you should only be looking at one of two things when you're looking at alternative Neo controllers:

1) Rewire another controller. This works because you're cutting the old connections and replacing the Vcc to the button with ground. Building your own controller would also be in this category since the principal is the same.

2) Use the Neo->PSX controller adapter. These work great, although you'll probably need to rewire out of the box; the button layout is "weird" but is easy to fix. $20/pc or $15.50/pc in quantities of 6+ from Lik-Sang.com.

smokehouse · Jan 15, 2006

So let me get this straight, I can’t do this controller swap? I thought that because this controller isn’t a normal SNES controller that it would work fine. I already ordered this cable here:

http://www.cablesforless.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=321

I was going to cut off the male end and wire the leads directly to the buttons. Can this be done?

SpamYouToDeath · Jan 15, 2006

Yes, but you lose the thingamajig in the corner. With the little LCD screen.

smokehouse · Jan 15, 2006

That’s ok, that thing is a pain anyway. It was used for memorizing moves. You would then hit one of the red buttons to spit out a prerecorded move. Kinda lame if you ask me. I was just going to do a straight wire through and bypass the entire board.

TerryMathews · Jan 15, 2006

smokehouse said:
So let me get this straight, I can’t do this controller swap? I thought that because this controller isn’t a normal SNES controller that it would work fine. I already ordered this cable here:

http://www.cablesforless.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=321

I was going to cut off the male end and wire the leads directly to the buttons. Can this be done?

Yes, it can be done. From my post, it would fall under #1, rewire another controller. You're rewiring that SNES controller.

The post I was replying to had a person talking about building a Neo->SNES adapter. He was just making it sound easier than it was.

Amakusashiro666 · Jan 18, 2006

IF you dont plan to use the lcd screen and program pad crap,then just wire up a 15 pin cord to the micro switches.I have the same stick,and have done so before.The last one I owned though I stripped the buttons out to use on a wood based stick and other things.

smokehouse · Jan 18, 2006

Thanks to everyone for all the help. I wired it tonight and I’m happy to report that everything works great! As a matter of fact it really makes a kick-ass Neo controller. I used a labler to relable the button names and added "NEO GEO MVS GHETTO STICK" at the bottom. :buttrock:

Amakusashiro666 · Jan 19, 2006

If you ever get weak resistance on the buttons on that stick,pop them open and stretch the springs out a bit,just a little bit.that sseems to help them alot with bounce back.That or you can just flat out replace them.

Converting a SNES controller to Neo Geo.

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