Strange power joy

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madhat
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Strange power joy

Post by madhat »

I found what I think is a power player joystick game in a thrift store, but I am not sure it is or not. I don't have any pics, but lemme describe it:

The N64-shaped controller has a light gun built into it, using the "Z button" as a trigger. The player 2 port is at the bottom of the middle prong, along with the cable that goes to the TV and a cable that attaches to a DC adaptor. Cosmetically, the player 2 port seems to fit a Genesis controller, but I admit I did not test it. 4 AAA batteries go into the area where the controller pack would go and (here's the kicker) the joystick is operational with four contacts at the bottom, working like a D pad. It doesn't appear to have any built in games, but there are two "on" positions on the power switch, which seem to suggest a position for cart, and one for

The logo on it says "Power Joy".

It didn't come w/ an adaptor, but I discovered the regular NES adaptor fit it. After I used the adaptor, it seemed to stop working. It might just be a piece of c r a p, but do you think I fried it? I never got it to work properly. It could have been broken in the first place, which is probably why it was in a thrift store.

Has anyone seen a power joy like this? Has anyone hacked it?
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

I believe I have exactly what you are talking about. Let me find a picture to confirm...

Errr... Im going to draw it, and I'l post it up to see if you know what I mean.

Image

Yeah the image is bad, but the overall design isint that hard to mistake.
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madhat
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Post by madhat »

Yeah, kinda like that. Are there start and select buttons next to four directional buttons, like the c buttons on the N64?

What was it like hacking this? Is it different from a normal super joy, aside from the light gun and stuff being moved?
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

Yeah thats it. I didnt have the front half of the case when I made the drawing, so it was a bit off, but it is the same one.

It's also the same NOAC I am using in my current NES portable. It looks square like the NOAC gannon has on his website, but it's not that same brand.

It's definitely hackable, has a cartrige port, and an onboard controller (uses 1 PCB Only!)

SO rewiring the first player controller is easy because you just need to solder to the tabs where the buttons normally were.
As per second player/lightgun, I tore those out. I didn't need them in this portable.
Making XNA Games in C#.
madhat
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Post by madhat »

does yours have built in games or does it need a cart?

is there any way to test the dang thing w/o a cart?
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

madhat wrote:does yours have built in games or does it need a cart?

is there any way to test the dang thing w/o a cart?
Yeah It has a few built in games.
Making XNA Games in C#.
madhat
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Post by madhat »

well, after tinkering, i'm pretty sure mine still works but needs a cart. I can't get it to work w/ 4 AAA's, which is 6V of power, but it will work with 9V from the NES power supply.

Is this consistent w/ urs?
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

Yours dosen't work on 9v because you probably didnt bypass the 7805 regulator on board. If you do that, make shure you don't ever put 9V into it!
Good luck,
bioniclebert
Making XNA Games in C#.
madhat
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Post by madhat »

bioniclebert wrote:Yours dosen't work on 9v because you probably didnt bypass the 7805 regulator on board. If you do that, make shure you don't ever put 9V into it!
pardon my noobishness, but what is this regulator and where is it? Is it stepping down the 9V into a usable amount? Is it also responsible for making 6V of AAA juice unusable?

I haven't cut anything up yet, I am using the connections it was built to use. The 9V right now is coming through whatever regulator is built in or is absent.

Thanks a lot by the way for helping me, bioniclebert. You are awesome.
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

madhat wrote:
bioniclebert wrote:Yours dosen't work on 9v because you probably didnt bypass the 7805 regulator on board. If you do that, make shure you don't ever put 9V into it!
pardon my noobishness, but what is this regulator and where is it? Is it stepping down the 9V into a usable amount? Is it also responsible for making 6V of AAA juice unusable?

I haven't cut anything up yet, I am using the connections it was built to use. The 9V right now is coming through whatever regulator is built in or is absent.

Thanks a lot by the way for helping me, bioniclebert. You are awesome.
thanks.
The 7805 is a voltage regulator that steps a high voltage (7.2 and up) down to 5V.
Image


Taken from the net.
Anywho, the regulator looks like that and is on the same side as the cartrige port. (I believe) To bypass this, connect the ground of your 4 AAAs to the center pin, and the positive lead of the 4 AAAs to the output pin. If that dosen't work, sometimes you have to tie the 5V to the input pin AND the output pin. So it will look like this:
Image
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madhat
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Post by madhat »

Thanks!
BTW, have you figured out what buttons correspong to A and B?
chanticlair281
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ME TOO!

Post by chanticlair281 »

I was just in GoodWill tonight and bought this exact same controller. I knew what it was because of this thread. I pounced on it and quickly laid out $4.99 plus TN tax. I get it home and the 4 AAA batteries will not produce a viewable screen. I can see some colors but it is acting like the original NES when the cart needed to be fixed (blowed on). Could it be my batteries are not strong enough? I also do not have an adapter but do have a nes adapter. I am afraid to plug it in and fry it. Also, bionic, how did you convert the adapter to play American games or did you?
bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

I had bought a famicom converter from Lik-sang a while back.
as per powering it up, I'd suggest using AA's and connecting them to the 7805 like I have it in the diagram.
As for your video, It could be that either:
1) the video is not grounded
2) the NOAC is not getting enough current from the AAA's, so AA's would fix this.
3) the cartriges are in upside-down
4) the cartriges are dirty
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chanticlair281
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Mine is working

Post by chanticlair281 »

I got mine to work with AAA batteries. I just did not have a new enough set. I put 4 band new ones in and now it works. I was a little dissappointed with the game selection. It looked like 4 maybe 5 games repeated to fill up 9999 spots. Three of them were shooting games and the light gun must be off. I even held it right on the screen and it did not work. Oh well. I am only going to use it to make a Portable NES. Now all I need is a converter and a 2"(ish) LCD that accepts RWY inputs. Any suggestions on good places to snatch a few of these?
Cur7
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Post by Cur7 »

Its one of these
Image
One of the on's is for the adapter and the other is for 4 AAA batterys,
I couldnt see no 7805 regulator in mine and the other two buttons are "Turbo" buttons, The cart slot is a famicom 60 pin and the player 2 connector can be wired to use a nes pad, its just a serial connector, the controller connector should look like this Image
The other stick which seems to be just a link up to the other dpad, keep that as it will come in use if you are relocating the controls, just extend the wire, the "Z" button seems to be like another "a" button which can be torn out same as the light gun led ir thingy but i believe these wont work on LCD screens althought i cannot say for sure, i could never find a game they work with anyway.. so yea.. have fun and i hope i helped
i picked up one of these from a local carboot sale for £3.50 but if you really want to burn a hole in your pocket, they sell them at QVC UK for
£21.99 Here

You can just use a Intec or Hip gear or if your in UK like me a "4Gamers" 2.5" lcd pad, they vary from 12-30$ (i think) and my 4Gamers was from ebay for £28 but since i told the guy what i did with mine, he decided to add another £5 on his asking prices, but if i need another he will give me discount because im cool. :P
-Cur7
Image
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