Original NES and SNES controllers

[Ichinisan]

When I cancelled my BLW orders, they were 1000 orders behind and still shipping orders from customers who placed them in July. Keep bugging them to cancel the BLW order unless you want to wait until spring/summer.

Yeah. They absolutely should not be saying "in stock" on their web site and should not be accepting orders for something that is not actually in stock and ready to ship.

I found a new OEM sealed SNES controller on ebay for $40, bought it - seller sent a note saying it would ship next week. Then this morning the seller cancelled the order saying he had a stock misrepresntation (huh? the picture showed the actual item).

I think they mispriced it. I'm looking for a couple OEM new SNES controllers, they seem to go for $100+ on ebay each, argh.

I would just buy a whole lot of used SNES controllers and use the best of those. Get an Asciipad too in case you play a shooter or something that could wear out your buttons (though I haven't really had that problem with SNES).

Some things like this might actually be cheaper to get Japanese versions. The cords would be much shorter though. The Super Famicom controllers also have different coloring on the buttons. Y and X are not concave, but shaped exactly like A and B. I don't notice a difference when I'm not looking at the controller.

 

[Ichinisan]

Any opinions on the original SNES gamepads vs revision 005?

I bid on a couple original sealed pads, but I see there's slightly revised 005 with the nintendo logo imprinted into the plastic. Seems like there might be other internal differences (lighter weight/etc).

They're pretty much the same. The revised ones were included with the mini SNES and also sold separately after the introduction of the mini SNES. Just like the dogbone NES controllers were introduced along with the NES-101 and also sold separately.

Not really any functional difference with the revised SNES controllers. I have several of each. Even the internal parts are interchangeable.

The older ones that have a printed (not embossed) logo also have some cosmetic variation. The earliest ones had "L" and "R" printed dark on the shoulder buttons. Most just have it slightly embossed (smooth/glossy letters within textured plastic). I think most of the controllers with dark printed letters on the shoulders probably came around the time when older SNES units had a cartridge locking mechanism. That mechanism was quickly removed from the American SNES and carts were later redesigned to defeat it.

 

[CZroe]

So I don't have S-video on my HDTV. Is the next best route to do SCART to a framemeister with HDMI to the TV? I did notice in some videos RGB seems a little darker, but anything is better than composite?

I'll end up with an NES Satellite/4 score before the month is over I suppose, lol.

I bid on sealed SNES controllers, hard to find "new" unused SNES OEM pads.

No S-Video never really occurred to me. Because composite can be adapted to it I expected to see TVs without that first!

There are counterfeit SNES controllers out there so hopefully these are the real deal.

I just bought an NTSC+CSYNC SNES SCART cable and EuroSCART to XRGB Mini adapter from retrogamingcables.co.uk.

I also paid for an XRGB Mini Framemeister from SolarisJapan.com.

Wow! Going ALL in.

I noticed on SolarisJapan (japanese store), after I paid for my order the status also said "COMPLETE". I'm like wow, that store and ArcadeWorks are the only ecommerce stores that use that terminology when the order has been paid. It seems like it's more programmer lingo (i.e. we successfully billed their card, complete).

One of my pet peeves is when a programmer bombards the user with useless (for the user) information, like when iTunes installs and you see literally THOUSANDS of progress bars flying by. Those are completely useless for estimating the time remaining or determining overall progress! They often don't even give any useful information if there is an error/interruption, just "copying files" or something instead of "copying [this particular file]."

When I cancelled my BLW orders, they were 1000 orders behind and still shipping orders from customers who placed them in July. Keep bugging them to cancel the BLW order unless you want to wait until spring/summer.

I do have the BLWs installed in mine and my older sisters, I showed my other sister how to install it in hers. The games work on the first try now, tough as heck to get out but that's life.

I found a new OEM sealed SNES controller on ebay for $40, bought it - seller sent a note saying it would ship next week. Then this morning the seller cancelled the order saying he had a stock misrepresntation (huh? the picture showed the actual item).

I think they mispriced it. I'm looking for a couple OEM new SNES controllers, they seem to go for $100+ on ebay each, argh.

I have an OEM new Super Famicom controller (same thing but with a shorter cord and colorful buttons) but it was never in a bag. It slides all around in the carrying case with games and a used controller but the original twist tie has never been taken off. I might have another inside the box of an SNES mini I bought new in 2000 but I may have taken it out and used it way back then.

I wonder if the seller also has a brick and mortar store and ended up selling them out of the store or finding that they were stolen/no longer in stock.

Any opinions on the original SNES gamepads vs revision 005?

I bid on a couple original sealed pads, but I see there's slightly revised 005 with the nintendo logo imprinted into the plastic. Seems like there might be other internal differences (lighter weight/etc).

There were more revisions over the course of the original model's production. Some had removable cords, some had L & R printed on their respective buttons, some had different PCBs, etc.

The imprinted Nintendo logo is cheaper because they can use the same shell in Japan, EU, and USA (no longer need different faceplates for "Super Nintendo Entertainment System" and "Super Famicom), so it's not really a change that makes the controller any worse for the end user. That's also why the back now has both Super Famicom and SNES logos.

I think they may have also adjusted the cable length so that it's longer than the original SFC controller and shorter than the original SNES controller. I have all three so I can check soon.

I'm unsure but there may have been one other change. I think the controllers are now universal, which is a good thing. In the old controllers there are a couple places on the circuit board labeled "PAL only." IIRC, the PAL controllers had a couple resistors added there. It seems to be moving some components into the controller where the US/Japan consoles have the same components in the console's controller connector block. It's a shameless attempt to keep EUR/AUS units from working with the controllers from NTSC units. Their controllers always worked fine with USA/Japan region consoles.

I'm looking for these games on SNES, so I see on Ebay they are ridiculously expensive compared to NES games (lol). I'll stick with NES while I look for these carefully. I want clean labels/clean cartridges!

• Chrono Trigger
• Donkey Kong Country
• Final Fantasy 2
• Final Fantasy 3
• F-Zero
• Legend of the Mystical Ninja
• Pilotwings
• Secret of Mana
• StarFox
• Street Fighter 2
• Super Mario RPG
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario World
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
• Super Tennis
• TMNT: Turtles in Time
• Zelda: A link to the past

Off the top of my head, I have an extra Chrono Trigger, at least two versions of Donkey Kong Country (1.0 and 1.1), Star Fox, and Japanese Super Mario RPG (I plan to make it English by wiring in a replacement ROM). I've probably got more (Pilotwings, F-Zero, Mario Kart, possibly Turtles) but I'd need to catalog my stuff.

I couldn't help but notice: no Super Metroid? I have a US dupe but it makes more sense to buy the cheaper Japanese version (the ROM is bit-for-bit identical).

You might want to consider a flash cart for SNES!

 

[007ELmO]

I never seemed to get into Metroid (strange!). I bought metroid 1 on NES, I hope to discover it and Super Metroid later on.

Let me know if you have any SNES games you'd part with and their condition, based on current prices, I will probably be slower to buy SNES games and looking for carts/labels in good condition (and manuals if I can find them).

CT and Turtles are quite expensive on ebay. If they're clean I'd take any of them off your hands for loose pricechart!

I don't think I want a single cart with ROMs on it, I like having the separate/actual games.

Someone else in my neighborhood plugged his NES in and has like 50 games. I tried to explain to him about modding it/etc. He didn't listen and he's playing with composite on his HDTV in widescreen. Sigh.

Thanks!

 

[Ichinisan]

I never seemed to get into Metroid (strange!). I bought metroid 1 on NES, I hope to discover it and Super Metroid later on.

Let me know if you have any SNES games you'd part with and their condition, based on current prices, I will probably be slower to buy SNES games and looking for carts/labels in good condition (and manuals if I can find them).

CT and Turtles are quite expensive on ebay. If they're clean I'd take any of them off your hands for loose pricechart!

I don't think I want a single cart with ROMs on it, I like having the separate/actual games.

Someone else in my neighborhood plugged his NES in and has like 50 games. I tried to explain to him about modding it/etc. He didn't listen and he's playing with composite on his HDTV in widescreen. Sigh.

Thanks!

I never liked the original Metroid, but Super Metroid is absolutely amazing. Don't use a walk through!

Had to play NES on my LCD for a few weeks. The Sony KDL-52XBR2 is far worse than most LCDs when it comes to NES games (one of the earliest LCD Bravia TVs). Connected it back to a CRT two nights ago and it looks absolutely awesome by comparison. Without Hi-Def NES, CRT is definitely the best way to go.

 

[CZroe]

• Chrono Trigger (neither are "minty")
• Donkey Kong Country (not sure where my 1.1 copy is but I know I have one)
  
• F-Zero
• Pilotwings
• Secret of Mana (Japanese; intend to convert to English)
• StarFox (at least 3)
• Street Fighter 2 (old and new style cart shell)
• Super Mario RPG (Japanese; intend to convert to English)
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario World (actually, it's Super Mario World + Super Mario All*Stars combo pak)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
• Super Tennis

I know a pawn shop that still had TMNT IV: Turtles in Time. They gave me a good deal on a bunch of other stuff.

I'm pretty sure I have 2 copies of Final Fantasy 2, but I have to check at my apartment.

 

[007ELmO]

If the labels and cartridge condition is good enough for you (and the pins are cleaned), I'll take them off your hands! Any questionable cartridge condition or label take a pic!

Tell me about the Jap to English conversion ones, too.

 

[007ELmO]

I never liked the original Metroid, but Super Metroid is absolutely amazing. Don't use a walk through!

Had to play NES on my LCD for a few weeks. The Sony KDL-52XBR2 is far worse than most LCDs when it comes to NES games (one of the earliest LCD Bravia TVs). Connected it back to a CRT two nights ago and it looks absolutely awesome by comparison. Without Hi-Def NES, CRT is definitely the best way to go.

OK, I added Super Metroid and Ken Griffey Presents MLB to the list. I noticed LCDs are way worse with input lag, but my brother in law's hi-def NES on his LED LCD is marveous - the hi-def NES has no lag to 1080p. In game mode, games are very responsive on his TV.

I think plasmas have inherently better input lag, but not sure.

 

[CZroe]

The Japanese to English thing means I have a Japanese version and I plan to replace the chip with one programmed with the English version. It's still authentic, just cheaper and probably not as collectable.

For example, Super Mario RPG has a special chip in it that makes emulation particularly harder and glitchier and less-authentic. It also makes it impossible to just program a chip with the USA version and throw it into a copy of Madden '95. That'll never work, but the Japanese version has the same chips and circuit board in a differently-shaped shell that is very easy to play in a US console. It will work if I copy the English version and replace the chip. I can probably put one of that Mario RPG hack and make a switch that switches between the different versions (I see people selling this as a repro pretty often). I can also do this for games that were unofficially translated and never released in English, like Wonder Project J.

The main thing holding me up is that I have to set up an old PC with a serial port.

For any modern TV the input lag has more to do with the image processing and scaler than it does with the display technology itself. The reason all plasmas and LCDs have input lag is because they all have to have scalers/image processors due to having a fixed resolution. "Game mode" bypasses some of the fancy stuff like progressive scan deinteelacing and fancy interpolated line doubling so that it gets displayed on the screen faster.

 

[007ELmO]

OK interesting! Well, the other non japanese games you have right now, what's their condition? I'm an impatient nerdy bastard (known as INB from now on), I'd like to start filling out my collection this week because the SNES RGB arrived! I would like to play Seiken Densetsu 3 and FF5 in English, not sure if there are good translations out there at this point?

Still missing cables/framemeister/etc. of course though.

I did snag a good looking DKC1 cartridge from my Cleveland dealer.

 

[007ELmO]

I just bought the following after looking for an hour for ones close to pricechart and are super clean (holy crap did the RPGs own me):

• Pilotwings
• Chrono Trigger
• Final Fantasy 2
• Final Fantasy 3
• Super Mario RPG
• Super Metroid
• TMNT: Turtles in Time
• Super Street Fighter 2

So, based on your list- I'm still looking for:

• F-Zero
• Secret of Mana (Japanese; intend to convert to English)
• StarFox (at least 3)
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario World (actually, it's Super Mario World + Super Mario All*Stars combo pak)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
• Super Tennis

 

[Fallen Kell]

I read the SNES Mini modded with RGB has slightly better video output than the rest. I would have preferred the original.

It is the best video output of the SNES era in the USA. The mini used a 1 chip graphics solution which even supported RGB, but simply did not connect the RGB pins to the required amplifier and output since the US did not have any install base of RGB capable TV's.

I just bought an NTSC+CSYNC SNES SCART cable and EuroSCART to XRGB Mini adapter from retrogamingcables.co.uk.

I also paid for an XRGB Mini Framemeister from SolarisJapan.com.

Just make sure you have the correct sync. There are different ways to perform the RGB mod (csync, luma-sync, etc) so you need a cable that uses the appropriate connection. I have a mini-framemeister and have a RGB modded SNES and N64. It was the best way for both of those systems to be connected (except N64 is now getting a decent HDMI mod which should be out very soon resolving many of the problems with the built in anti-aliasing which causes the biggest issues upscaling the video (well that and the multiple video output formats)).

You want to go look into possibly updating the firmware on your mini-framemeister for one that supports profiles and download the profiles for your systems (I forget which website has them, but there were quite a few people who put a lot of hours into getting the perfect settings for NES, SNES, etc), as these really make a HUGE difference.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I'm looking for these games on SNES, so I see on Ebay they are ridiculously expensive compared to NES games (lol). I'll stick with NES while I look for these carefully. I want clean labels/clean cartridges!

• Chrono Trigger (bahaha... good luck on less than $100 just for a working cart)
• Donkey Kong Country
• Final Fantasy 2
• Final Fantasy 3
• F-Zero
• Legend of the Mystical Ninja
• Pilotwings
• Secret of Mana (a rare which will cost around $100)
• StarFox
• Street Fighter 2
• Super Mario RPG (another rare which will set you back at least $100)
• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario World
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
• Super Tennis
• TMNT: Turtles in Time
• Zelda: A link to the past

I'm personally glad I bought them all back when they were new I think the only thing I am missing from your list is Super Tennis. You should also add Contra III and Super Metroid to that list (oh and just get Super Street Fighter 2 and save yourself the costs on Street Fighter 2).

 

[007ELmO]

I'm personally glad I bought them all back when they were new I think the only thing I am missing from your list is Super Tennis. You should also add Contra III and Super Metroid to that list (oh and just get Super Street Fighter 2: Turbo and save yourself the costs on Street Fighter 2).

Yes, let's just say I lost about $450 for 8 games so far. Chrono Trigger was $100. I basically went off pricecharting prices, some things have doubled in only 2-3 years.

I did get CT and Super Mario RPG already, so those pains are out of the way. SOM is going for $55 loose. I think I already bought Super Street Fighter 2, should have gotten turbo. I did pick up Super Metroid as requested.

These are the SNES games I've started with this week:
Donkey Kong Country 1
Pilotwings
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 2
Final Fantasy 3
Super Mario RPG
Super Metroid
TMNT: Turtles in Time
Super Street Fighter 2

TMNT 4 was an arm and leg, too. Chrono Trigger's instruction manual is $35, skipped. FF2/FF3/Mario RPG manuals are probably similar. The cartridge and label conditions look stellar in the pictures, it did take me a couple hours to find them.

 

[007ELmO]

It is the best video output of the SNES era in the USA. The mini used a 1 chip graphics solution which even supported RGB, but simply did not connect the RGB pins to the required amplifier and output since the US did not have any install base of RGB capable TV's.



Just make sure you have the correct sync. There are different ways to perform the RGB mod (csync, luma-sync, etc) so you need a cable that uses the appropriate connection. I have a mini-framemeister and have a RGB modded SNES and N64. It was the best way for both of those systems to be connected (except N64 is now getting a decent HDMI mod which should be out very soon resolving many of the problems with the built in anti-aliasing which causes the biggest issues upscaling the video (well that and the multiple video output formats)).

You want to go look into possibly updating the firmware on your mini-framemeister for one that supports profiles and download the profiles for your systems (I forget which website has them, but there were quite a few people who put a lot of hours into getting the perfect settings for NES, SNES, etc), as these really make a HUGE difference.

I received the Framemeister today, took about 1.5 days from Japan - nice. I'm still learning about profiles/settings, will figure that out on Sunday. Typically we set profiles per console, correct?

I talked to Jason (game-tech) and he said he's trying to get Kevtris (hi-def NES guy) to make a similar digital to digital mod for SNES. He said Kevtris instead wants to make an analog to digital converter (essentially an XRGB competitor). I did watch some RGBLife videos on N64 getting HDMI, I'll need to keep an eye out for that - would be awesome to get that up and running without XRGB.

 

[CZroe]

Man! You move way too fast for me.

Thought I'd point out that Gamestop beats eBay/Pricecharting on some things. For example, last I checked Chrono Trigger was $85. Stock of the hard-to-get titles comes and goes. Watch out though: Scammers have been known to slip fakes past them though so you gotta check things thoroughly. It sounds like they have always made good when this happens though.

 

[007ELmO]

You mean a local gamestop? I'd like to see the label condition, amazon for example sometimes shows no picture and just says "good condition" - which isn't good enough when spending $50!

I just picked up Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, and Secret of Mana using some tire reward gift cards for buying winter tires for my family for Christmas - lol. Give to receive.

I'm definitely being a little pickier with SNES games, probably due to their price.

Down to looking for these now and their price chart value from a few days ago
F-Zero - $10
Ken Griffey - $5
Legend of the Mystical Ninja - $30
StarFox - $15
Super Mario Kart - $30
Super Tennis - $5
Zelda: A link to the past $36

 

[CZroe]

You mean a local gamestop? I'd like to see the label condition, amazon for example sometimes shows no picture and just says "good condition" - which isn't good enough when spending $50!

I just picked up Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, and Secret of Mana using some tire reward gift cards for buying winter tires for my family for Christmas - lol. Give to receive.

I'm definitely being a little pickier with SNES games, probably due to their price.

Down to looking for these now and their price chart value from a few days ago
F-Zero - $10
Ken Griffey - $5
Legend of the Mystical Ninja - $30
StarFox - $15
Super Mario Kart - $30
Super Tennis - $5
Zelda: A link to the past $36

Got dupes of all of those except Zelda and Mystical Ninja. I would have pics from a few days ago but I just upgraded phones. I'll try to get more pics tonight.

 

[007ELmO]

Cool, let me know! I ditched my DSLR after seeing what photomatix does for me with a decent android camera (not my moto x2). The samsung galaxy cameras aren't too bad.

 

[CZroe]

Cool, let me know! I ditched my DSLR after seeing what photomatix does for me with a decent android camera (not my moto x2). The samsung galaxy cameras aren't too bad.

Not sure which KG Baseball you are looking for but I have dupes of both:

This pic didn't turn out too well but I have to go back for pics of Super Mario Kart anyway:

Super Tennis has some label damage on the top though the rest of it looks fine. I do have a boxed copy with a better label but I know you've been using Bitboxes and probably aren't interested in paying more for the original flimsy paper box:

If you are aiming for a boxed collection it's going to set you back a LOT more!

 

[CZroe]

You mean a local gamestop? I'd like to see the label condition, amazon for example sometimes shows no picture and just says "good condition" - which isn't good enough when spending $50!

I know of one GameStop that seems to be participating in the retro games thing in some way (a binder at the front of the store for ordering) but I think it's still all handled online.

I'm definitely being a little pickier with SNES games, probably due to their price.

That seems like the exact opposite of my "sticker shock" approach! I start looking for lot deals, salvageable junk, alternate versions, and cheap or broken stuff I can repair. I'm probably the perfect candidate for that LootCrate rip-off that sends you several retro games each month even though I haven't signed up. I'd have no control over the condition but they say everything is cleaned and tested and they track your collection to avoid dupes which are my primary concerns.

 

[slag]

Do they make a NES controller with games built in? Atari did that years ago and I would think there's a market for this as well. No need to plug into a computer or anything, just hook the HDMI cable up to a TV or monitor or whatever and play through the controller.

 

[CZroe]

Do they make a NES controller with games built in? Atari did that years ago and I would think there's a market for this as well. No need to plug into a computer or anything, just hook the HDMI cable up to a TV or monitor or whatever and play through the controller.

Almost all of the original "TV games" that showed up ~15 years ago were unauthorized ones with Famiclones or NES on a chip inside. Most were full of pirated NES games and looked like N64 controllers or PlayStation One consoles. They were blatantly sold right out of mall kiosks and such where passers by would see Super Mario Bros or Contra and it would trigger their nostalgia.

The NES used mostly off-the-shelf parts for RAM, CPU, RFU, etc. The magic was in the custom PPU (Picture Processing Unit). The reason it worked so much better than other systems with the same CPU and better specs was that this part pulled some fancy tricks to allow faster sprite manipulation and scrolling. That's where the magic happens but it has been cloned for decades. Indeed, the chip outputs an analog composite signal that is generated internally so the HiDef NES has to intercept PPU reads/writes and simulate it to make a digital image for modern televisions.

 

[007ELmO]

Do they make a NES controller with games built in? Atari did that years ago and I would think there's a market for this as well. No need to plug into a computer or anything, just hook the HDMI cable up to a TV or monitor or whatever and play through the controller.

Yes, they do. And that's one reason why this thread was created and I ended up going the hi-def NES route!

My brother in law hooked up an NES controller with emulated games on it. For likely a multitude of reasons, it was quite laggy on is LCD/LED TV and we failed to defeat the first level in Super Mario 2. We failed to get to the waterfall area!

With nearly no lag on original hardware now, we can fairly easily get to 5-3 with no practice except from 25 years ago.

If you want to go into the multitude of reasons of why an NES or scaler that outputs up to 720p/1080p is a better route, we can!

There is a fun purist feeling to connecting a retro console and playing on original hardware though. When I connected Zelda 1 a couple months ago I was taken back 25 years, immediately. TBH it feels great to boot a game up and press start, playing withing seconds. For the busy adult life, it's what many of us ask for.

 

[007ELmO]

Not sure which KG Baseball you are looking for but I have dupes of both:

This pic didn't turn out too well but I have to go back for pics of Super Mario Kart anyway:

Super Tennis has some label damage on the top though the rest of it looks fine. I do have a boxed copy with a better label but I know you've been using Bitboxes and probably aren't interested in paying more for the original flimsy paper box:

If you are aiming for a boxed collection it's going to set you back a LOT more!

Thanks for getting this organized!

Can you help me clean the exterior of the cartridges of price labels? Also I haven't (shamefully) opened up a cart yet and cleaned it with isopropyl, because I've been buying only clean cartridges. I'll tip for doing both of those!

If you do that too, I'll probably take StarFox, F-Zero, Super Tennis, and Ken Griffey Presents (not winning run).

I will not be doing a boxed collection, except for some games like FF2/Chrono Trigger/etc. in the far future.