I successfully transplanted a Play Sega controller PCB into an official Saturn controller housing. It has it’s ups and downs. The shoulder buttons don’t quite match up, so you’ll find yourself having to use the shoulder buttons from the Play Sega controller. Other than that, the PCB isn’t the best. I find that I have issues at times with the D-Pad not always accepting input when holding “right”.
I would advise that it’s not really worth it, as someone who has done it themselves.
I know that the old Mayflash 3-in-1 PC JoyBox (Saturn, PS2, Xbox) was great. Based on that, I expect the current 3-in-1 (rectangular purple housing) to work well. I’ve gotten nothing but quality from them - sorry to hear about that one.
just wait for the below to be back in stock and use real pads…
http://www.raphnet-tech.com/products/saturn_usb_adapter/
Ralphnet is one of the better sources of adapter available right now
I can tell just by looking the D-pad on this sucks.
They just can’t get the dpads right on these…
The SLS Saturn pad is still the top tier. It is a touch different from the real Sega saturn pads, but it’s improved. The D-pad is even tighter and the shoulder buttons are “harder” as well. It’s higher quality IMO and I grew up with the Saturn importing stuff like Xmen vs Street Fighter, Vampire Savior and Alpha 3.
Haven’t tried the crappy ones you see on eBay nowadays. They look like shit, I can smell and taste the bad quality and cheap plastic through the screen when I look at them online. At 10$ I’ll buy one to test it in fact I need to. Even if it’s trash it’s still way better than say, a Super Nintendo controller yuck.
The SLS pads are worth 150$, if and when you can actually find them.
Yeah but is this going to lag?
Btw thank you guys this thread was excellent and super helpful.
Even the new stock authorized Sega USB pads now are cheap knock off fakes.
Like the PLAY SEGA USB pads.
I am sure the new Street Fighter II Pads are no exception.
The lag is going to be minimal and unnoticeable. Raphnet makes the best adapters for retro-controllers.
Btw, finding Sega Saturn controllers in new condition is getting hard, they’re quite expensive as well. The Cool Pad edition seems to be the easiest to find.
I havent seen Raphnet have SS USB adapters in stock for a while. I would have thought more people would be tearing his arm off for some. Theres also the USB Retropad adapter which does quite a few consoles with the right cables http://www.brunofreitas.com/node/41
Has anyone tried just gutting a saturn controller and converting it to USB? From the chatter in this thread I imagine there’d be a few customers for someone with the know how to make a 10-20 batch.
I just use the official PS2 Sega Saturn pad with a Brooks Adapter
New is definitely getting needle in a haystack hard to find. I recently bought a used Japanese pad on Amazon for 30 that was in great shape.
So I attempted to put the White Controller Retrolink PCB into the Sega Saturn controller, it doesn’t fit perfect and it’s quite tight, like the hole is a millimeter to the side. You definitely need to desolder the microswitches and resolder them to the USB.
I just got one of those retrolink Saturn pads, here’s my review:
I’m really surprised by this. Right off the bat, it’s the identical Sega Saturn mold which I didn’t expect.
The buttons feel cheap, which I did expect, but not as bad as I expected if that makes sense.
The triggers are super weird. On the original saturn pads they had a very light touch, on the SLS remake they had a deeper push and click, these are super deep and clicky. It… sucks, but they’re shoulders who cares.
The d-pad is mush central. At least it’s the same mold as the real deal, which is IMO the most perfect sized and best D-pad ever, but don’t expect Saturn perfection when pressing the buttons or near perfection with the SLS. It’s mushy and raised, but it’s also not as bad as say, a Mad-Catz pad, it’s just not the Saturn Tight TM that you’d get out of an OG or SLS.
But dude, for 10$,this is pretty damned good and way better than I expected, dare I say I’m impressed.
Oh and now I see what people meant by modding these with original Saturn parts. Oh my god, that would be incredibly simple and easy right? It’s like paying 10$ for the PCB and USB cord, giving you a better than SLS level pad!
-edit- OMG HAHAHA wow the C-button just collapsed! lmao. What a piece of shit. Still, 10$ is worth it for the PCB which I’m assuming you could just stick in an OG saturn pad and be done.
Hmm well what about just taking the real Saturn front plate + buttons and just screwing it onto the retrolink bottom?
TIL I’m not the only one looking for a modern Saturn JP controller…
I don’t know what you consider modern but, you can find NOS new old stock Japanese Saturn pads, brand new never opened on ebay.
-edit- ok maybe Ebay Japan lol, not seeing anything atm… but still even used Japanese stuff is nice, Japan actually took care of their systems and games unlike Americans.
A few months ago I got a used Japanese sega saturn pad on amazon that was like new for 30.
I did the Gamelink Saturn USB PCB in a Saturn HSS-0101 pad mod a couple of weeks ago.
It turned out alright. I had to move the crystal to the topside of the PCB in order for the pad to shut properly.
I also changed the shoulder switches for ones found on X360 pads.
In the end, it’s a really good pad and I would recommend the mod to anyone looking for a cheap Saturn USB pad.
Pardon my ignorance but what do you mean by “crystal”?