If it uses an Atari connector, that means it's a digital controller, and therefore it's not directly compatible with a PC gameport, which is designed to take analog inputs. I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere has created an adapter of some sort, using some DACs.

You can find some info here: http://www.retroconnection.de/

There are some programs to connect them via parallel port, I used one of them to play Crusader: No remorse with a SNES gamepad.

Zup wrote:

There are some programs to connect them via parallel port, I used one of them to play Crusader: No remorse with a SNES gamepad.

This is probably a better solution, as it'll allow you to use all of the buttons.

Zup wrote:

There are some programs to connect them via parallel port, I used one of them to play Crusader: No remorse with a SNES gamepad.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Does that game specifically support parallel connections for joysticks, or did it just work without any configuration?

Nope.

Check this page: http://arcadecontrols.com/Mirrors/www.csc.tnt … ch.edu/~jbyork/

Sneskey is (was) a TSR program that converted the parallel port inputs into keystrokes. I loaded it (with a suitable ini file) before starting Crusader: no remorse. In that link you can download the driver and documentation; the documentation describes the circuits used to connect the gamepads/joysticks to parallel port. Keep in mind that you should not cut the gamepad cable, it is far better getting an extension cord (so you can also use your old joystick with SNES).

There are few games that can use sneskey adapters directly (without using any TSR), mostly those that were programmed using Allegro. Also, I remember that some old versions of MAME for DOS could use those adapters directly (sorry, I don't remember what ones, but probably some in the range of 0.30 to 0.37). The Linux kernel also has some modules to use parallel port joysticks, so you could use them in ANY linux game.

Also, there are a number of drivers for Windows, namely PPJoy, DirectPad Pro, PSXPad, NTPad... the systems supported and the controllers supported may vary.

Zup wrote:

Sneskey is (was) a TSR program that converted the parallel port inputs into keystrokes. I loaded it (with a suitable ini file) before starting Crusader: no remorse. In that link you can download the driver and documentation; the documentation describes the circuits used to connect the gamepads/joysticks to parallel port. Keep in mind that you should not cut the gamepad cable, it is far better getting an extension cord (so you can also use your old joystick with SNES).

A TSR key mapper and an ini file for each game sounds very workable for my needs.

Thanks very much for your help!

Zup wrote:

Nope. […]
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Nope.

Check this page: http://arcadecontrols.com/Mirrors/www.csc.tnt … ch.edu/~jbyork/

Sneskey is (was) a TSR program that converted the parallel port inputs into keystrokes. I loaded it (with a suitable ini file) before starting Crusader: no remorse. In that link you can download the driver and documentation; the documentation describes the circuits used to connect the gamepads/joysticks to parallel port. Keep in mind that you should not cut the gamepad cable, it is far better getting an extension cord (so you can also use your old joystick with SNES).

There are few games that can use sneskey adapters directly (without using any TSR), mostly those that were programmed using Allegro. Also, I remember that some old versions of MAME could use those adapters directly (sorry, I don't remember what ones, but probably some in the range of 0.30 to 0.37). The Linux kernel also has some modules to use parallel port joysticks, so you could use them in ANY linux game.

Also, there are a number of drivers for Windows, namely PPJoy, DirectPad Pro, PSXPad, NTPad... the systems supported and the controllers supported may vary.

If I ever get around to digging my 486 out of storage or building a new 486 box, I may just have to give SNESkey a try. I've used a few gameport pads before, and I find that they can be somewhat annoying with their calibration issues and lack of buttons.

The Battlestation 2 controller actually has a DB25 connection on the back that was apparently meant as a pin-out for connecting to Jamma arcade boards.

I'm wondering what would happen if I just ran a cable from this to the LPT1 port on my PC and ran SNESKey.

I've ordered a cable with two DB25 connectors on it, and plan to give this a try.

Hopefully, there isn't any current on any of these lines that will damage anything. The BS2 seems to put out current on the Atari and SNES ports that causes some mild issues when I use it with adapters to connect to other consoles (like SNES -> PS2 and Atari -> Odyssey 2).

I don't think that port is ready to connect directly to a PC. I think that a cable was sold to connect that thing to a JAMMA connector, and the 25 pin connector was made to make things easier for the user. Don't connect it to a parallel port, it could destroy it.

Note that your joystick needed TWO connections to the consoles, so you should make the adapter for TWO players. On Sneskey, that means connecting:

- SNES and NES: Pins 10 (player 1), 12 (player 2), 3, 2, 7 to 9 and any from 18 to 25. If that doesn't work, try using the four score adapter.
- Sega Megadrive/Genesis, Sega Mastersystem and Amiga (Atari 2600) connections only support one joystick at a time, so half of your controls won't work.

Also, I forgot to mention that those drivers will only work in real parallel port (=non USB). Most USB to parallel adapters aren't bi-directional so they may or may not work (or maybe they could work partially).

For modern computers, you could buy a (very) cheap USB digital gamepad, disassemble and reconfigure it so it works as a digital joystick to USB adapter.

Zup wrote:

Note that your joystick needed TWO connections to the consoles, so you should make the adapter for TWO players. On Sneskey, that […]
Show full quote

Note that your joystick needed TWO connections to the consoles, so you should make the adapter for TWO players. On Sneskey, that means connecting:

- SNES and NES: Pins 10 (player 1), 12 (player 2), 3, 2, 7 to 9 and any from 18 to 25. If that doesn't work, try using the four score adapter.
- Sega Megadrive/Genesis, Sega Mastersystem and Amiga (Atari 2600) connections only support one joystick at a time, so half of your controls won't work.

Also, I forgot to mention that those drivers will only work in real parallel port (=non USB). Most USB to parallel adapters aren't bi-directional so they may or may not work (or maybe they could work partially).

I don't think they require a bi-directional parallel port. The NES and SNES controllers are serial devices that receive strobe and clock inputs (2 pins) from the console and send data (1 pin) to the console. A standard parallel port has 12 output-only pins and 5 input-only pins, and the driver supports 5 NES or SNES controllers, each controller using one input pin.

Atari and Genesis devices are parallel devices, but ironically only one controller is supported on a standard parallel port. This is because one Atari controller will use all five input lines and the Genesis needs to use an output line as an input because it needs a sixth line.

Does anyone know if the driver requires a 286 or 386?