Can a 49way joystick be converted to 4 or 8 way?

I have four 49way joysticks that I would like to use on real hardware (not a mame setup) and was wondering if there was any hardware that could be built or bought to convert these. I have found hardware to allow USB interfacing of 49way joysticks in multiple modes for mame...but I dont want to use it with a computer but with real jamma pcbs.

I dont think this is possible without some sort of interface to convert the 49-way signal to 4 buttons.

The 49 way joysticks used in games like Blitz, NBA Showtime and Gauntlet Legends used a special interface board that was mounted beneath the control panel and then that was connected to the main PCB. There's a setting in those game programs that allowed you to switch from 49 way to 8 way joysticks and vica-versa. I don't have a picture or the game manuals to look up the exact part number to that board.

i have/had the same dilemma.

unless you want to run your 4/8way stuff on mame, changing the sticks is the only option.

while you can play most if not all 49way games with an 8way (maybe not the oldies, but the new stuff you can) it sucks.

id suggest getting another 4 player cabinet. or be content with swapping sticks all the time.

or rig up some microswitches in conjunction on the 49 ways.