NES controller mod: Special Attack Button

I've been playing a lot of old NES games and I've noticed that a lot of games use a combination of buttons to do the special attack. This was getting annoying in those high intensity moments and it just wouldn't work right for me. I thought there must be a better way, maybe a shoulder button, like on modern game console, that was just for the special attack. So after a little bit of playing around this is what i came up with.

For this mod i will make my shoulder button combination will be UP and B because this is how you do the special attack in two of my favorite games (Castlevania and Ninja Gaiden), it can be changed to any combination of buttons to suit your favorite game though.

Step 1 What you need,

NES controller
Soldering iron
Prototyping board (I used strip board)
Screwdriver
Wires
Button (get a decent sized one)
2 PNP transistors (NPN could be used but you would have to change the wiring a little, I will be teaching you how to do it with PNP)
Drill

Comments

[anakuron]

hi, nice idea and tutorial, can you explain what is the purpose of the transistors, why not just solder the button directly to the inputs?

[frankbawesome]

If you do that you wont be able to use B or UP normally, it will do the special attack instead.

[anakuron]

I couldn't understand why it doesn't work directly so I tested it with my arcade stick and, well the special attack button worked just fine but it caused some other problems like the direction buttons caused start presses etc.

but it doesn't really cause the special attack when pressing up or b, that just didn't make any sense to me, maybe it's a bit random(depends on game) what it does when combining up and b button and then while they are combined some other key as well when you are playing.

I think this would work fine if you add diodes to the special attack button wires? so that they can only head to ground?

[frankbawesome]

you're probably right, diodes should work too.

[Jellyf1sh]

You got skills that kills A+++

[formulajake88]

Hey, first I want to say great instructable! It's nice to see an old school console getting some love :) However, I just want to say it might be a good idea to specify the part number of the transistors used, as the order of the base, emitter, and collector pins can change from one transistor to the next. I am assuming you are using a 2N3905 or 2N3906. Lastly, as someone who took the time to draw out your circuit to see how it works lol, I can say a wiring diagram would be appreciated. Anyways, like I said, great 'ible! Keep up the good work!

[frankbawesome]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will draw a circuit diagram when i get the chance. As for the part number 624 BC 556B.

[vigothecarpathian]

Double Dragon II.....you had to press both A and B at *precisely* the same time. I bet this kinda hack would be a lifesaver on my thumbs for that game.

[phish814]

I wish I would have had this as a kid. My brother might not have beaten me as much then!

[school_net_hacker]

lol sux to be you bro XDDDD

[TOCO]

I still have my nes. But none of my favorite games have special attack buttons or anything like that. Or at least I dont know about them. This was a really good instructable. And hey it made it on the main screen of instructables. I learned a thing or two while reading through it.