Utilities to test controllers

The place for all discussion on gaming hardware
Post Reply
User avatar
HDgaming42
Posts: 341
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:16 am
Location: Canada

Utilities to test controllers

Post by HDgaming42 »

Is there a sticky? Should we make one?

I'm paring down my collection and trying to sort out which controllers to keep, and which may have problems (I know some of them are wonky)

Googling for tools leads me to sites that send malwarebytes into fits. I would appreciate learning which utilities the community here uses for their systems, and where they get them from without a visit from the malware fairy.

Here are the systems I'm currently in need of, though I'll add any links to tools people recommend regardless of system:

NES
SNES
SMS/Genesis - http://thegamearchives.net/?val=0_2_1_0 ... 21_0_0_0_0 Virustotal - https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/8be7 ... 494176405/
Saturn
Dreamcast
PS1/PS2 - http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/pla ... -test-app/ Virustotal - https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/706f ... /analysis/
XBOX
Gamecube
Wii
XBOX360

edit: found and verified the link for Genesis. Four controllers with dirty buttons. The more you know...
Last edited by HDgaming42 on Mon May 15, 2017 3:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dochartaigh
Posts: 1575
Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 pm

Re: Utilities to test controllers

Post by Dochartaigh »

If you're talking about programs which will show a lit-up button on-screen as you press a button on the controller, to make sure every keypress is registered (and even diagonals for some programs), I use some test programs for Playstation 1 and SNES which do that.

Archive.org I believe has a Playstation 1 and SNES controller test programs in their complete romsets - think they're available on sites like CoolRoms and the like as well (hope it's OK mentioning those sites - I'm NOT talking about illegal ROMs here - just test programs which I don't think are copywritten). Think the SNES ones is called "Controller Test Cassette" or "SNES Burn-in Test Cartridge". I forget what I used for PS1.
User avatar
orange808
Posts: 3877
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016 5:43 am

Re: Utilities to test controllers

Post by orange808 »

For superficial testing, the Windows Control Panel is plenty.
We apologise for the inconvenience
User avatar
s8n
Posts: 256
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:30 am

Re: Utilities to test controllers

Post by s8n »

User avatar
HDgaming42
Posts: 341
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:16 am
Location: Canada

Re: Utilities to test controllers

Post by HDgaming42 »

Thanks for the contributions--will go digging through suggestions when I find the time!
User avatar
bobrocks95
Posts: 3663
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:27 am
Location: Kentucky

Re: Utilities to test controllers

Post by bobrocks95 »

I believe Nintendo themselves had test roms for the NES and SNES that they'd use at repair centers. I'd assume they have controller testing functionality. If you do find them, you should probably just put a detailed name for them so others can find them, rather than posting the ROMs.
PS1 Disc-Based Game ID BIOS patch for MemCard Pro and SD2PSX automatic VMC switching.
Post Reply