Sega Genesis controllers

[Roj]

I've got a Sega Genesis-style controller here that works with my old A4000,
but it's starting to go flakey. I bought two new-ish off-brand Genesis
controllers, but only the left and right direction controls work on both of
them. I vaguely remember something about needing to swap wires in the
controllers, but I can't find any of the old docs I used to have about it.
Does anyone here remember specifically what may need to be done to get these
things working properly?

Thanks

[Paul_Gadd]

There was many comments going round about Sega Megadrive (Genesis) pads damaging or not working properly on the Amiga for years but after using the pads on my old A1200 for nearly 9 years i thought it was nonsence,

For pin diagram go HERE

[Castellen]

I use a Megadrive control pad with my A4k no problems.

When used on a C= 64 it makes some keys on the keyboard not work.
Werid!

If you're not sure about the connections, get a multimeter and work
out what pins do what.  All the switches are simply pull to ground
inputs, it's not hard to work them out.

[Castellen]

@Paul_Gadd:
Just had a look at that link on Genesis control pads.
I see why they might damage Amiga ports.

It seems that unlike Megadrive pads, the Genesis ones have a select
button, which is connected to pin 7, the 5V output on Amiga.

Assuming the select button is a pull to ground input, pushing the
button would cause a short circuit from 5V to ground.

From memory that pin is protected by a series resistor, so probably
the worst thing is you'll burn out the resistor by holding down
select.  Probably best to disconnect the select button in that case.

[Waccoon]

The controller is perfectly compatible as far as I can tell.  The turbo feature on the 3rd partly Genesis controllers is really nice, too.

The only thing that bugs me is that the build quality of the controllers is pretty bad, so they tend to go bad quite often.  The conroller I got was the one built into the Genesis 3 remake, and the right button doesn't work at all.  I bought two more controllers, and the ABC buttons are flakey on both.  Hmph.

So, how do you get Dreamcast controllers working on an Amiga?   :-D

[Paul_Gadd]

It seems that unlike Megadrive pads, the Genesis ones have a select

Both pads are identical, Megadrive/Genesis pads/machines/games are just the same apart from the name and the power supply,

Apart from the not so clever Japs who thought by making the carts slightly wider they would restrict them to Asia countries only, easy to bypass just file down both sides slightly of the MD/Genesis cart slot.

Same as the Snes/Famicon