Quick question about NES controllers on Famicom (Ark. Spinner)

[IronBuddha]

I did some searching and couldn't find anything about it.

I know obviously Famicom games won't work on a NTSC Nintendo, but what about the different controllers, specifically the spinner for Arkanoid?

[Rob2600]

I did some searching and couldn't find anything about it.

I know obviously Famicom games won't work on a NTSC Nintendo, but what about the different controllers, specifically the spinner for Arkanoid?

The Arkanoid paddle was bundled with the game in the U.S., so it definitely works on an NTSC NES. My parents bought it for my sister and me in the late 1980s and we all had a lot of fun with it. It'd be nice if I still had it.

[IronBuddha]

The Arkanoid paddle was bundled with the game in the U.S., so it definitely works on an NTSC NES. My parents bought it for my sister and me in the late 1980s and we all had a lot of fun with it. It'd be nice if I still had it.

Reason why I'm asking is because I'm a cheap ass:wink 2: I've been seeing Arkanoid with the paddle for the US nintendo for around $50. But there's a video game place at this flea market by my house selling Arkanoid cart only for $7, I can pick up the Famicom Arkanoid and paddle for around $15-$20.

I was planning on buying the cart at the market and the Famicom bundle, so then I would have all I need for around $25. I could even sell the Famicom cart in the end as well.

[DeputyMoniker]

Quick question: Can you imagine how shitty this place would be if everybody titled their thread the way you did? We would have three titles.
Question.
Comment.
Rant.

[IronBuddha]

Quick question: Can you imagine how shitty this place would be if everybody titled their thread the way you did? We would have three titles.
Question.
Comment.
Rant.

Can you imagine how great of a place this would be if it wasn't for whiny assholes.

[DeputyMoniker]

Can you imagine how great of a place this would be if it wasn't for whiny assholes.

Actually, I can reflect on a time like that.

[Sniderman]

Can you imagine how great of a place this would be if it wasn't for whiny assholes.

Well, THIS whiny asshole happens to agree, so I added some more info to your thread title. Folks who actually DO know the answer may very well...I dunno ...ANSWER your question if they know what you're fishing for.

[Rouhija]

Famicom controllers do not work on us or pal NES since they have different sockets.

[rbudrick]

Yep, FC controllers use that funky 15 pin connector. NES controllers use that funkier 7 pin connector. You could probably adapt it, but that would be a huge pain in the ass. I say buy the American one.

Pirate FC clones use a 9-pin connector like the atari consoles and Genesis. In fact, many controllers were made just for these clones.

While we are at it, does/did anyone make a FC to NES controller adapter or vice versa?

-Rob

[IronBuddha]

Yep, FC controllers use that funky 15 pin connector. NES controllers use that funkier 7 pin connector. You could probably adapt it, but that would be a huge pain in the ass.


-Rob

Nah it wouldn't be worth it just to save a few bucks, I was about to go ahead and just buy the American version, but after reading around it sounds like the spinner knob that comes with the game is a piece of junk anyways.

I'll just stick with my mame cab whenever I need a fix of Arkanoid.

[Rob2600]

after reading around it sounds like the spinner knob that comes with the game is a piece of junk anyways

I remember it working really well, actually. The only problem was that the wire would start to come out of the top after a while, but it never affected the gameplay. It just looked ugly like that. I'd stick it back into the controller when I was done and it was fine.

Maybe after twenty years, they haven't held up, but out of the box, they were good.

[IronBuddha]

I remember it working really well, actually. The only problem was that the wire would start to come out of the top after a while, but it never affected the gameplay. It just looked ugly like that. I'd stick it back into the controller when I was done and it was fine.

Maybe after twenty years, they haven't held up, but out of the box, they were good.

If I ever come across one and have a chance to test it out before buying it, then I'll get one.

The problems I've read about them is either the spinner goes completely dead or it doesn't stay center, the ship moves left or right on it's own. But just like you've said I think it's more of a fact that it's been used for 20 years and not that it's a faulty product.

[GarrettCRW]

I have the NES Arkanoid spinner, and it works pretty well. Taito was extremely prescient, and included an easily accessible screw with which to help calibrate the thing.

[Ze_ro]

Sorry to bump a year-old topic, but it seemed more logical than starting a new one....

I recently bought Arkanoid + the paddle controller, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. I'd like to get Arkanoid 2, but it was only released in Japan on the Famicom. If I use an adapter to play the Famicom version on my North American NES, will it work with my North American paddle?

--Zero

[MachineGex]

I bought Arkanoid 2 just to try the NTSC spinner controller and it does not work. I was very disappointed since the game is not nearly as fun without the spinner. Plus, Arkanoid 2 is the same as the SNES Arkanoid game. I was wondering if you could get the controller for Arkanoid 2 and make an adapter for it to play on the NTSC console?

[Ze_ro]

I was doing some research before I posted to figure out how the Famicom's controller port worked, and I found this pinout (http://assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15877) on the Assembler forums... it carries more signals than the NES has available, but I figured that the two paddles would be electrically compatible, just with a different connector.

I have no idea, however, if the port is accessed the same way on a Famicom as it is on an NES, so maybe the paddle is exactly the same, but the game has to talk to it differently.

Did you try using the paddle in both the left and right ports?

--Zero

[Pikkon]

http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8490331&publicUserId=5853157

[Ze_ro]

Well, that's kind of the opposite of what I had in mind. Plus, I'm not sure if that would work for anything other than regular controllers, as I've heard that the Zapper and the Arkanoid controller (and presumably some other stuff, like the Power Glove) use the two pins that he doesn't connect in his design. I'm not entirely sure if that's the case though.

In the end, I'll probably just end up buying an actual Famicom and getting the Japanese controller (not just for Arkanoid 2... I've been meaning to get one anyways).

--Zero