Nintendo NES and SNES joystick controller

The SNES pad works exactly the same as the NES controller, except it has two 4021"s inside, and there are sixteen pulses on the CLK line, and sixteen bits of data come out the Data line.As a matter of fact, a SNES pad can be connected to a NES by simply swapping the connector on the end.

How to connect Nintendo SNES joystick to PC ?

It is possible to adapt a joystick originally developed for Nintendo SNES to a PC. After connecting joystick to PC parallel port, you must install a driver. Note: the parallel port should be configured as ECP in the BIOS setup of the computer (usually already turned on).

   DB25                   SNES
25 pin D-sub             7 pin
male                
2--------------------------2
3--------------------------3
5--->|---+
6--->|---+
7--->|---+-----------------1
8--->|---+
9--->|---+
10-------------------------4
18,19----------------------7

->| means 1N4148 diode
18,19 shorted

The diodes better to be soldered inside the DB25 connector. Joystick with this cable will work only after manual drivers install. DirectPad drivers for Windows 2000 or XP may be downloaded from http://www.emulatronia.com/reportajes/directpad/ntpad.zip.

Additional information

Clock pulse and corresponding button

1. B
2. Y
3. Select
4. Start
5. North
6. South
7. West
8. East
9. A
10. X
11. L
12. R
13. [no button, always high]
14. [no button, always high]
15. [no button, always high]
16. [no button, always high]

NES joystick controller pinout

       o 4

  1 o  o 5

  2 o  o 6

  3 o  o 7

  

1. +5VDC Supply
2. ?
3. ?
4. GND
5. CLK
6. Latch
7. Data out

The NES starts the show by sending a high pulse down the Latch line, which makes the 4021 (8-bit shift register) inside the controller grab and store the state of all buttons.

Then the NES sends a series of eight low pulses down the CLK line, which makes the controller shuffle bits (one for each CLK pulse) down the Data Out line according to which buttons were pressed when latched. A low bit on the Data Out line means the button is pressed.

Clock pulse and corresponding button

1. A
2. B
3. Select
4. Start
5. North
6. South
7. West
8. East

Pins 2 & 3 aren"t used on the standard pad. I believe they may be used with alternative controllers like the light gun or Arkanoid paddle.