ManekiNeko
05-10-2004, 02:42 PM
I found one of these crazy things over the weekend. I'll be posting a picture of it on my site, but in the meantime, let me just describe it for you. As the name suggests, it's kind of like the multitap which they used to sell for video game consoles, except it's designed specifically for computers. The Multiport has a total of six (!) controller ports. The first two are for standard PC controllers, while the remaining four are 9-pin D-shell connectors which can presumably accept controllers from older systems, like the Atari 2600 and Sega Genesis.
The weirdest part is that there are controllers made especially for the Multiport, called GrIP-Pads. They look astonishingly like the later model joypads made for the Sega Saturn, but plug into the 9-pin ports. This leads me to ask a lot of questions... can I substitute one of these less than responsive GrIP-Pads for something I'd prefer to use, like a Sega Arcade Pad? For that matter, could I take the GrIP-Pad and plug it into, say, an Atari 2600 and use it there? I'd be willing to experiment to find out, but I've had bad experiences plugging foriegn controllers into seemingly compatible game systems, and I'd rather not sacrifice my computer's motherboard just to find out if I can attach a Sega Genesis controller to it.
Has anyone seen one of these Multiports? I'm really interested to know how they work and what you can use with them.
JR
The weirdest part is that there are controllers made especially for the Multiport, called GrIP-Pads. They look astonishingly like the later model joypads made for the Sega Saturn, but plug into the 9-pin ports. This leads me to ask a lot of questions... can I substitute one of these less than responsive GrIP-Pads for something I'd prefer to use, like a Sega Arcade Pad? For that matter, could I take the GrIP-Pad and plug it into, say, an Atari 2600 and use it there? I'd be willing to experiment to find out, but I've had bad experiences plugging foriegn controllers into seemingly compatible game systems, and I'd rather not sacrifice my computer's motherboard just to find out if I can attach a Sega Genesis controller to it.
Has anyone seen one of these Multiports? I'm really interested to know how they work and what you can use with them.
JR