Choosing Your Hardware
There are four hardware solutions for using RetroSpy with non-USB-based controllers. Each has its own pros and cons.
Option 1: RetroSpy Vision
Base Platform
RetroSpy Vision Support Matrix
- RetroSpy Vision Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision Flex Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision Dream Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision CDi Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision CV Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision ADB Input Display
- RetroSpy Vision Analog Input Display
Cables for Supported Systems
- Atari 2600 joysticks, driving & keyboard controllers, and the Omega Race booster grip
- Magnavox Odyssey2
- Mattel Intellivision
- NES
- Atari 7800 joysticks
- Sega Master System
- Commodore 64 Games System
- Amstrad GX4000
- NEC PC Engine/TurboGraphx-16/SuperGrafx
- Sega Genesis 3/6-button controllers and the Mega Mouse
- SNK Neo Geo Arcade Sticks and Neo Geo CD controllers
- Commodore CDTV wired mice/joysticks and keyboards
- SNES controllers and mice
- Fujitsu FM Towns Marty controllers, keyboards and mice
- Amiga CD32 mice, classic Atari-style joysticks and keyboards
- 3DO controllers and mice
- Atari Jaguar Standard and Pro controllers
- Sega Saturn digital controllers, the 3D Control Pad, the Shuttle Mouse and keyboards
- Sony PlayStation digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- NEC PC-FX
- Nintendo Virtual Boy
- Nintendo 64 controllers and mice
- Sega Dreamcast controllers, mice and keyboards
- VM Labs Nuon
- VTech V.Smile
- Sony PlayStation 2 digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- Nintendo GameCube controllers
- VTech V.Flash
- Nintendo Wii & Wii U extension controllers
- Nintendo NES Classic
- Nintendo SNES Classic
Pros
- This is by far the simplest approach to setting up input display
Cons
- You don’t get to have the fun of doing it yourself!
Option 2: Arduino
Supported Systems
- Atari 2600 joysticks, driving & keyboard controllers, the Omega Race booster grip and paddles
- Magnavox Odyssey2
- Mattel Intellivision
- Coleco ColecoVision standard, Super Action controllers and the Roller controller
- NES
- Atari 7800 joysticks and paddles
- Sega Master System
- Commodore 64 Games System
- Amstrad GX4000
- NEC PC Engine/TurboGraphx-16/SuperGrafx 2, 3 and 6-button controllers
- Sega Genesis 3/6-button controllers and the Mega Mouse
- SNK Neo Geo Arcade Sticks and Neo Geo CD controllers
- Commodore CDTV wireless remotes, wired mice/joysticks and keyboards
- SNES controllers and mice
- Philips CD-i wireless remotes and wired controllers, mice and the KeyControl keyboard
- Fujitsu FM Towns Marty controllers
- Amiga CD32 mice, classic Atari-style joysticks and keyboards
- 3DO controllers and mice
- Atari Jaguar Standard and Pro controllers
- Sega Saturn digital controllers, the 3D Control Pad, the Shuttle Mouse and keyboards
- Sony PlayStation digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- NEC PC-FX
- Bandai Pippin
- Nintendo Virtual Boy
- GameBoy Printer Emulation
- Nintendo 64 controllers and mice
- Sony PlayStation 2 digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- Nintendo GameCube controllers
- VTech V.Flash
Pros
- This is the most tried and true RetroSpy hardware platform.
Cons
- Will never support Wii, Dreamcast, Nuon, Amiga CD32, NES Classic, SNES Classic and possibly more controller types down the road.
Option 3: Teensy 3.5
Supported Systems
- Atari 2600 joysticks
- Magnavox Odyssey2
- NES
- Sega Master System
- Commodore 64 Games System
- Sega Genesis 3/6-button controllers and the Mega Mouse
- SNES controllers and mice
- Fujitsu FM Towns Marty mice and keyboards
- Amiga CD32 controllers and classic Atari-style joysticks
- Sega Saturn digital controllers, the 3D Control Pad, the Shuttle Mouse and keyboards
- Sony PlayStation digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- Nintendo Virtual Boy
- Nintendo 64 controllers and mice
- Sega Dreamcast controllers, mice and keyboards
- VTech V.Smile
- Sony PlayStation 2 digital controllers, dual analog controllers, DualShock 1/2 controllers and mice
- Nintendo GameCube controllers
- Nintendo Wii & Wii U extension controllers
- Nintendo NES Classic
- Nintendo SNES Classic
Pros
- Supports Wii, Dreamcast, V.Smile, Amiga CD32, NES Classic and SNES Classic.
- Is capable of supporting nearly all controllers that Arduino does in the long term.
Cons
- Not all of the Arduino supported controller types have been ported to Teensy, yet.
- Slightly more complicated software/hardware setup.
Option 4: Teensy 4.x
Supported Systems
- Nintendo 64 controllers and mice
- Sega Dreamcast controllers, mice and keyboards
- VM Labs Nuon
- Nintendo GameCube controllers
- Nintendo Wii & Wii U extension controllers
- Nintendo NES Classic
- Nintendo SNES Classic
Pros
- Supports Dreamcast, Nuon and V.Smile Classic.
- Cheaper than Teensy 3.5.
Cons
- Not all of the supported controller types have been ported to Teensy 4, yet.
- Cannot support 5v controllers (i.e. older controllers) without additional hardware.
Make Your Choice
My personal conclusion is that if you don’t need Wii, Dreamcast, Nuon, V.Smile, Amiga CD32 or one of the classic consoles stick with the Arduino. However the Teensy is also good, so if you want to go that route it is also a solid choice. Click your console’s link under the hardware platform you have chosen.
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