Sega Mega Drive controller on CPC 464?

[marioweezer]

Does anyone know if a Sega Mega Drive controller is supposed to work on an Amstrad CPC 464? It fits in the joystick port but the dpad doesn't seem to register all the inputs.

The same controller works fine in my Atari 65XE so I just wondered if it's just incompatible with the CPC 464!

Thanks for your help,

Rob.

[Neil79]

Same question from me applies to the CPC 6128

[Token]

Digital Joystick Related - CPCWiki

[Neil79]

Digital Joystick Related - CPCWiki

The genesis Paddle can be used almost unchanged on an Amstrad.
Directions work well.
Fire buttons A becomes Fire2 on Amstrad, and Select button becomes Fire 1 on Amstrad.
Not always practical, yet usable. Also if the game allows to re-define joystick/controls (not only keyboard) with enough flexibility, and if it can stand with the 2nd button, then it is 100% compatible...really, just "redefine keys" each time you run the programm.
Also the 16bit SEGA paddle is a lot better than the poor and faulty Amstrad Pad, so it remains a nice choice for every gamers, and quite often easy to find.
You may even also get your hands on the rare "Amstrad Megadrive paddle" thx to the Amstrad PC with the megadrive inside (Amstrad Mega-PC ?), a must-have to all of us...

Awesome cheers Token

[marioweezer]

Interesting, thanks for the link Token!

The standard controller didn't work properly for me in the two games I tried earlier (Manic Miner, and Mario Bros) as the dpad wouldn't register correctly. I'll do some more tests tomorrow and try out a couple of other Mega Drive controllers.

[TotO]

The Wiki related article is not OK.
The Megadrive PAD need an adapter with few electronic to work on CPC with 1 or 2 buttons.

Something like that to properly decode the select states : (untested, but I suggest that +5Vcc PSU is missing)

[marioweezer]

Thanks TotO.


Is the above link correct in saying that a Sega Master System controller works fine on a CPC 464 without any modification? Just want to make sure I'm buying a compatible controller that works out of the box!

[TotO]

The SMS will work fine, but only 1 button.
You need to build a simple adapter (swapping 2 wires) to get the 2 buttons working.
A GX4000 controller will work perfectly with 2 buttons w/o any changes.

[marioweezer]

Brilliant, thank you TotO! I'll buy a GX4000 controller as it'll be useful having a second button for games that allow it to be used.

[Gryzor]

Yeah, but comparing a GX pad to a SMD one.... yikes.

[TotO]

The SMS controllers is worst. The D-Pad moves are absolutely not accurate for directions.
(and R-Type work great with the GX4000 one :p)

[dragon]

The Wiki related article is not OK.
The Megadrive PAD need an adapter with few electronic to work on CPC with 1 or 2 buttons.

Something like that to properly decode the select states : (untested, but I suggest that +5Vcc PSU is missing)

When years ago i adapt to the cpc the controller my tecnic was more.... Pedro picapiedra style....

So.

1. I open de controller.
2. I destroy de chip of the controller((I mean that figuratively remove it).
3. I rewire the wires to the buttons i want. And it works perfect until now.

[TotO]

Sure, it's always possible to put a cube into a round hole by using a hammer.

[Neil79]

I tested a Sega megadrive II controller last night and it didn't work!


Completely messed up the Amstrad keyboard, with every movement it typed loads of weird symbols and messed up the keys.

[TotO]

Sure, it's exactly the problem.
It's why, you need to demux the controller signals.

[chinnyhill10]

Careful. I know C64 owners have warned against plugging a Megadrive controller into their machine as the extra buttons create signals that the machine was never intended to handle and it could cause damage.

[TotO]

Yes. On Amiga too. The Commodore hardware is definitively not viable. 

[chinnyhill10]

Yes. On Amiga too. The Commodore hardware is definitively not viable. 

Eeek, thought it was just the C64. Been using Megadrive controllers with my A1200 for years. For Turrican 2 they are vital (2 fire buttons).

[Carnivius]

Never had an issue using Mega Drive pads with my A1200 either.   I seem to recall it was even encouraged back then as well, particularly for Hired Guns so you didn't have 4 people all crammed around the computer.

[TotO]

Sure, you don't... But you are warned.

The Megadrive paddle (worst, the arcade stick) embed extra electronic used mainly for multiplexing controls sent to the system. Problems should be :
- that not use the same signals levels (TTL/CMOS)
- the MD pad pull-up the levels when keys are not pressed
- the IC take too much power from the Amiga CIA and harm it.

In all cases, the best way to use a Megadrive pad on any computer is to build a proper adapter for decoding the controls and protecting lines with diodes.

[Neil79]

There's no issue with using a Megadrive II pad with an Amiga, have done this for years..


This is even officially mentioned on the Amiga boards, however it's not recommended on the Commodore 64 ( Can damage the hardware )


Amstrad however it tends to go tits up 

[TotO]

If "Amiga boards" said... 

[Carnivius]

Amiga Format had information on it back in the day and as I mentioned the game Hired Guns made use of it.  And in fact posted instructions in the manual itself on how to switch the wires about to make use of the buttons.

(french.  I can't find english scans of it).
http://tarantola.alexandre.free.fr/hiredguns/Manuel%20instruction%20page27.jpg
http://tarantola.alexandre.free.fr/hiredguns/Manuel%20instruction%20page28.jpg

[TotO]

Yes, swapping 5 and 7 + dedicated software allow to use properly the Megadrive controller.

Doing that, you send the +5V Amiga line to the +5V Megadrive line to power-up the integrated circuit.
Then, the software switch at the good clock the pin 7 to be GND or VCC to allow to decode the signals.
That mean, you can use A, B, C and START too...


An other way is to build a little DB9/DB9 adapter that made the swap to avoid to hack the controller.

[dragon]

I found this by chance.

MODPC.com - GAMEPAD MEGADRIVE 6 BOTONES (COMPATIBLE ATARI SPECTRUM AMIGA

Anyone know who makes this?

The traduction from spanish is:Game pad copy of megadrive game pad. 8 directions, 6 buttons. select, start, and turbo fire, slow motion.

6 buttons in megadrive
2 buttons with master system.amiga etc...
1 button with spectrum, atari 2600, 2700, atari st.