Nunchuk Controller Mod

[retromod]

NUNCHUK CONTROLLER FOR ATARI JOYSTICK COMPATIBLE CONSOLES

During last years a large amount of broken Quickshots were stranded in my storage. I would estimate about 100 items with all kind of flavours. As I do not dump broken items for spare part reason I now found the right project to reuse parts of them: The Nunchuk Controller Mod

A Nintendo Nunchuk Controller was modified to deliver a digital signal instead of the analogue one. It is quite easy to get a digital signal from an analogue one by using electronic parts but the common joystick cable lacks any power support, there is simple no 5V line integrated. Sure if you buy special cables or extract them from highend joysticks with autofire you might get one - but this is all about resources and finally target price.

So it was necessary to find a way to get a digital signal out of the analogue controllers without using an additional circuit. The 2nd attempt worked and modding a nunchuk controller requires only a few minutes if you have all tools and material available. The used method works on ALL analgue sticks as they use similar components inside.



The result is a joystick which fits into one single hand. Two fire-buttons (not independent as on Atari 7800 due to cable limitations) with a direction stick. As you can see on the picture the joystick tester device properly detects the direction. Now it is time to check how it works in real game play and if the mod works reliable over an amount of time.

The design itself might change. The fire buttons will be red on the final product or white (as it is delivered with the upcoming white Atari 2600 edition). Not sure if I should change the black stick to grey to match the Atari CX24 stick colors/design.

[Shadowrunner]

Great job! If you can get it working with both buttons for 7800 games I'd be interested

[retromod]

no problem if I'll use an enhanced cable having additional lines integrated. Currently I use the quickshot standard cables which have only limited lines. If I'll use more lines I'm also able to offer pause function on 2600 via joystick ;-)

I will think about it.

[Shadowrunner]

A dedicated pause button on the controller for 2600 games would also be very cool

[retromod]

but it is not new. The druid console offered over 1 year ago already used a pause feature by pushing both fire buttons on CX24/CX78 on an Atari 2600 console. the upcoming EX-Mod for Atari allow 3 different ways to pause the console: by the druid console method, by pushing the second button only or by the special remote controller based on CX40.

The original idea of the Nunchuk controller mod was to use the second button for pause/onscreen menu but as told the price for cables is one argument and the lack of a pause feature on the "white edition" limited the mod to the normal cable. Sure there will be an enhanced version of the nunchuk mod but i first need a cheap source for the cables (as there are quite expensive and normal cables are cheap due to reuse from broken quickshots).
 

[dot.fyre]

Always look forward to seeing your new mods but not sure about this one.

I don't doubt it works as it should but I couldn't imagine playing any games with it.
I don't mind using a Megadrive pad with my Atari but it really needs a joystick IMHO.

Also, mixing one of my favourite consoles of all time with a controller from the least favourite.......

[retromod]

Always look forward to seeing your new mods but not sure about this one.

I don't doubt it works as it should but I couldn't imagine playing any games with it.
I don't mind using a Megadrive pad with my Atari but it really needs a joystick IMHO.

Also, mixing one of my favourite consoles of all time with a controller from the least favourite.......

Well the nunchuk might not be the answer for all games, like quickshot for decathlon. But it is a cheap and easy solution which might be a good choice for some genre of games. As you still have the option to use another one this is the way to go if not comfortable with it.

We also offer cx24 in black and wood design, cx78 in black/silver style, cx40 with golden/ silver design. All fully refurbished and technically enhanced. The nunchuk is another option which perfectly works specially for horizontal shooters like space invaders, deamon attack, centipede. It's also great on decathlon but might fail on pitfall or pole position. Currently it is bundeled with the white edition of an atari 2600 only.

[deKay]

Always look forward to seeing your new mods but not sure about this one.

I don't doubt it works as it should but I couldn't imagine playing any games with it.
I don't mind using a Megadrive pad with my Atari but it really needs a joystick IMHO.

Also, mixing one of my favourite consoles of all time with a controller from the least favourite.......

[retromod]

To simplify production and time spent to alter existing Nunchuk controllers I bought the right parts on local electronic shop to shorten migration process.  I also sorted out the quickshot controllers for cable transplant.

I've 3 big boxes full of Quickshort controllers, half of them are heavily broken specially the model I and II from early days. So they are perfect candidates for cables.

[retromod]

all current development efforts are now available on our facebook website.