Mod or adapt an SNES stick for Saturn/Dreamcast?

[Genesis Knight]

I've got a chance to buy a QJ TopFighter stick locally. It looks like a very tough, easy-to-mod stick. Thing is, I don't even own an SNES. Any ideas or links on how to get an SNES stick working on other systems?

[shmuppyLove]

You might be able to find a SNES-to-whatever adapter here and there. SNES to USB is no problem, and I think there's one for Gamecube/Wii as well, but beyond that I haven't seen many.

Your best bet is to swap the electronics inside for either an MC Cthulhu or a PS1 or PS2 PCB that you could then convert to whatever system you need.

In the long run, the Cthulhu is definitely the better choice. With a single PCB you can do just about every console there is, including Saturn and DC. And even then, if you found something it can't do, you could still use a PS2 converter.

[toodles]

The only way I know of would be to use an FGW Converter to make your own SNES->whatever converter. If you used an FGW Converter plus an MC Cthulhu, you'd be able to use the stick on a crapton of consoles.
You can find links to all of the PDF welcomes docs for them at http://godlikecontrols.com
It is NOT a newb friendly mod though. If you have the knack, it's easy. If you don't, it'd be hard.
It looks like its programmable, so there may be some timing concerns. The FGW Converter will poll the board every 5ms; if the stick uses the frequency of the polls to guage time for the recording/playback, the record/playback may be wonky.

[mrsmiley381]

Oh snap, I had no idea Toodles had an account here. I'm still using my UPCB-based stick, even though I might be having a cold solder problem with the joystick. My friend is coming up tomorrow and we're going to do a little bit of work on it. It's needed some finishing touches for years now.

Anyway, I'd suggest the FGW Converter with Cthulhu like Toodles mentioned. This isn't a strict endorsement, either; drilling in that metal panel will be a bitch. Just plug that stick into the converter and have the converter work with the Cthulhu. It's a lot easier from a stick hacking standpoint at the expense of being a more complicated wiring project. However, the wiring project is awesome once it works.

Still pissed the QJ I bought years ago was busted. That's what I get for trusting a vendor at the Classic Console And Gaming Show that wasn't someone I already knew.

[Ed Oscuro]

This seems like a waste of a QJ to me. I don't see the LCD working with another PCB, and that's one of the claims to fame for this stick. It's not as if the Saturn and DC don't have arcade spec sticks available in large quantities, either; you might even save some that way if it already has buttons or even the joystick you'd eventually install. It would beat a wooden box for the MC Cthulhu, at least.

[SolderFace]

I would just stay away from that stick unless you own a SNES. if you put a McKthulu you loose the programable or macro or whatever thats built in to the stick. adapters are fine when you start with a PS2 controller since the serial speed is much higher. but when you use old technology like the snes then you are stuck with the crappy clock speeds. one good thing though, the serial IC's used in official and third party SNES controllers are all over the place as far as maximum stable clock frequency. the actual clock frequency on the SNES console is much slower than the maximum clock the official SNES will work on. basically what I'm saying is that you can overclock to increase the response time of almost any SNES controller unless its shit. even with adapters it should be less laggy. heck, you might even be able to do a pin for pin hack with the dreamcast or some other serial data console but your button mapping would be set to fail. I have a frequency counter and a function generator so maybe I should go check my snes controller with a custom clock to see how fast it can go.