Uzebox Fightstick released - DIY Uzebox & (S)NES compatable joystick

[danboid]

The Uzebox Fightstick is now available!

https://github.com/Uzebox/uzebox/tree/m ... stick/V4.0

It is a 3D printed joystick case designed to house a Sanwa compatible joystick and the Uzebox joystick controller PCB, which is known to work with the Uzebox and clones such the Uzebox Omega. It also works great with the Tang Nano 20K NES and SNES FPGA cores and the DaemonByte SNES to USB adapter.

The Uzebox controller PCB does not currently work with the PAL SNES but maybe thats just my joystick or soldering at fault? I don't have access to a NTSC SNES. I'd appreciate if people could test the Uzebox joystick controllers comparability for me please. This controller may also work with the NES and the Commander X16 but no-one has tested those yet.

I'd also be interested to know if the Uzebox joystick controller works with the MiSTer SNES & NES cores and any other SNES or NES clones that have a suitable SNES or NES compatible joystick input.

Have fun!

https://uzebox.org/wiki/Joystick

https://github.com/Uzebox/uzebox/tree/m ... stick/V4.0

[Memblers]

There is a difference with PAL vs NTSC on the controller ports, PAL has diodes in the console and pull-up resistors in the controller. But there may be another issue with this on SNES, as stated in this link, games could be looking at the controller id, and it's probably not returning the right bits.
viewtopic.php?t=24626

It probably works as is with an NTSC NES, but not a PAL one because, it's the same deal with the diodes added in the console.

[taylor-madeak]

As you pointed out, the game itself would be what is looking at the device ID returned by the controller. If the device ID bits were incorrect, games like SMW would work just fine, but games like the DKC series wouldn't recognize the controller at all (ask me how I know). The device ID being returned by this design is 0b0000, which is the standard controller ID.

I'm a contributor on the PCB design in question and, while the design could use a bit more polish, I've verified that the current revision is electrically correct. If you've used my drop-in replacement PCB design in a SNES controller and that worked on your NTSC or PAL SNES console, then this alternative should also work. It's the same circuit, just in a different form factor.

[danboid]

Thanks for your feedback taylor-madeak and Memblers!

I have edited my original post to note that my issues could've been due to error on my behalf (dry joints) or maybe my choice of joystick.

Memblers link, which I had to find on the wayback machine, indicates I may have had more luck by modifying the joystick inputs on the PAL SNES but I don't think many users are prepared to get a soldering iron to their retro console, even if they're prepared to build a joystick although those that build their own joystick are surely more likely to be willing to mod their console.

I don't feel right recommending any mods I've not tested myself but if someone can test that out for me, great!

[danboid]

taylor-madeak emailed me last night

To at least prove to you that this thing works with NTSC consoles, I went ahead and built out the relevant components on one of the rev 1.5 PCBs you sent me and tested it using the 240p test suite on my SNES console. It passes the basic controller test.

Sounds like good news to me.

Is anyone up for testing this controller on an NES?

[danboid]

There is a difference with PAL vs NTSC on the controller ports, PAL has diodes in the console and pull-up resistors in the controller. But there may be another issue with this on SNES, as stated in this link, games could be looking at the controller id, and it's probably not returning the right bits.
viewtopic.php?t=24626

It probably works as is with an NTSC NES, but not a PAL one because, it's the same deal with the diodes added in the console.

Thanks for the info!

I don't own a SNES to test this mod out with but if I can find a SNES cheap enough to tempt me to buy one I'll give this a go.

[Memblers]

Instead of modifying a console, it might be easier to plug resistors into joystick board terminals, assuming both resistors and a wire can all fit together and make contact in the 5V terminal. 3.6K resistor from CLK to 5V, and another from LAT to 5V. Or, solder them under the connector.

This a type of thing I've wanted to build for a while, but I already have NOS Happ controls that I'm wanting to use, probably doesn't match the hole size and maybe clearance below, for this design. I never made the board for it, but had a schematic that was much like this but with extra silly stuff added on, like 2 female NES sockets being passed through - one allows Zapper (it normally uses wires the controller doesn't), and another for an NES controller with the serial data being OR'd or something with the arcade control outputs, both may be connected and used at the same time.

Also, if you didn't know, the NES B/A buttons on the SNES are mapped to Y/B. Those are above each other in the pictured arrangement, might be awkward for NES. Myself, I would try using it as Y/B/A/X in one row of buttons, but that's just my untested opinion.

[danboid]

Also, if you didn't know, the NES B/A buttons on the SNES are mapped to Y/B. Those are above each other in the pictured arrangement, might be awkward for NES. Myself, I would try using it as Y/B/A/X in one row of buttons, but that's just my untested opinion.

The example button mapping is only a suggestion for Uzebox and SNES users. Users are free to use whatever button layout they prefer.

[danboid]

Instead of modifying a console, it might be easier to plug resistors into joystick board terminals, assuming both resistors and a wire can all fit together and make contact in the 5V terminal. 3.6K resistor from CLK to 5V, and another from LAT to 5V. Or, solder them under the connector.

As I said, I don't own a SNES to test any of this out but I did briefly borrow a PAL SNES to test the joystick with.

If anyone can test either of these suggested fixes I'd be keen to hear the results.