First post, by Volo
- Rank
- Member
Dear Sirs,
Having not found a decent way to connect the joystick to my beloved MS-DOS laptop, I had to create a special Pad-to-PS/2 adapter. It turned out so good, that I find no shame in offering it to the public. Feel free to see the demo here:
The device is being sold for US$ 35.00 a piece (17.12.2022 price updated).
Optional native 5-pin wire for AT motherboards is US 5.00
Shipping is: US$7.00 for snail mail
US$8.00 par avion.
I've created this post to discuss the device, fix it's bugs, demonstrate it's features, and ask whether you'd actually need it. Consider this an official development thread.
The device acts as PS/2 keyboard. It may act as a pass-though for a real keyboard or (if it does not detect real PS/2 keyboard) act on it's own. Every 7ms (twice per frame) it checks for gamepad button-presses and converts those to keyboard key-presses. Since I use Atmega32u4 micro-controller, it may act as both PS/2 or USB keyboard (though, PS/2 seems to be less quirky with pre-2000 setups).
So, in a single device you get:
- SNES Gamepad to PS/2,
- Genesis 3- and 6-Button Gamepad to PS/2,
- Master System pad or MSX/Atari joystick to PS/2,
- SNES Gamepad to USB,
- Genesis Gamepad to USB,
- Master System pad or Atari joystick to USB,
- PS/2 Keyboard to USB, and
- NTT Data Keypad Super Famicom controller is now supported.
Default key assignment is quite comfortable, it fits 70% of gamer's needs and allows quite casually get through Norton Commander menus. Makes your PC feel like a jailbroken console 😀
If you don't like default bindings (i.e. 70% is not good enough) - you may customize those:
1. Press Scroll Lock (you may even do it in-game, as my device hijacks Scroll Lock LED),
2. Press keyboard key you wish to assign,
3. Press Gamepad key you wish to assign to,
4. Rinse and repeat for all buttons,
5. Press Scroll Lock again to save the setting.
6. GAMING TIME!
Customized key settings may be saved to energy-independent memory. There are 6 preset slots, which you can cycle using this button combination:
At the moment the device is sold by contacting me via email
Payment methods are: PayPal, EU domestic bank transfer (SEPA), US domestic bank transfer (ABA), UK, AU, NZ domestic bank transfers, Wise or banking card.
The banking card is done though Paysend and shall require mobile phone number.
I really wish this project to succeed. 😘
Edit 2020-05-12: Added Master System pad and Atari joystick support.
Edit 2020-05-27: Renamed thread into "official thread".
Edit 2021-09-16: Updated with shipping info. Added instruction manual.
Edit 2022-12-17: Updated pricing die to inflation.
Want to play MS-DOS keyboard-only games with a gamepad? Feel free to purchase Volo's Pad-to-PS/2 by writing me an e-mail: