15pin (DA-15) gameport to usb on modern pc?

[retroborg]

Hello,
Recently I bought a new M/B (Asus p5b), only to find out that it does not feature the old 15pin gameport (DA-15), so I can't connect my two MS Sidewinder 10button pads.

I also noticed that none of the modern mainstream, Creative Soundblaster cards have the 15pin gameport either! (At least it is not mentioned in their descriptions at the creative home site. Please correct me if I'm wrong)

I searched the web and found a few 15pin to usb adaptors, but most don't support 8-10 button pads, nor the 10 button MS Sidewinder pad!

So, what are my options to connect my two 15pin MS Sidewinders to my new pc?

Please any help will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[mh2360]

You could disable the on-board audio, and get a older sound card that supports the old style game pad connector. The CMedia 8738 series has the old style connector and 6ch sound and are pretty cheap.

Alternatively you could look for a dual gamepad card, I used to have an old ISA version, but I bet you could find a PCI version on Ebay...

[Poppa_Meth]

A few still have them. but they are really MIDI connectors. A friend of mine has an X-fi Platinum and I can hook my old sidewinder to the MIDI input on the back.

[retroborg]

Somebody suggested that I get an XBOX 360 pad, since it will work on WinXP just fine? Interesting, are they any good, or at least as good as the MS Sidewinder pads?

And most importantly, is the directional D-PAd (Cross) of the 360 better than the sucky SONY PS1/2/3 D-Pad?! I've always hated that D-Pad, it's too hard and stiff, totally useless for semi-circle moves in 2D Beat Em uPs like Street Fighter & King of Fighter series and for 2D Shoot Em Ups (Raiden,RayStorm,etc..)

Will this work in 2D PC Emulators MAME,ZSNES,etc...?

Thanks in advance

[yoda313]

Will this work in 2D PC Emulators MAME,ZSNES,etc

Essentially any controller you can see in your control panel will work in those emulators. I can use a logitech usb pad in zsnes just fine. On retroports.com they say there classic controller usb adapters also work in the emulators. You shouldn't have a problem.

You can go to bestbuy or circuitcity or any big electronic store and try out a 360 control pad. By the looks of it they are simply updated versions of xbox 1 control pads. I used to have an xbox 1. My only gripe about the controllers was the trigger buttons. I don't like the pull type. I like push buttons better. I don't know what the 360's are like for the trigger buttons though (you know the left right buttons on the top??).

Good luck.