Four player adapters: Difference between revisions

From NESdev Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
(Add Controllers category to Four Score.)
m (Notes that simple adapters are passive.)
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''NES Four Score''' and '''NES Satellite''' accessories allow four NES controllers to be connected to the NES's two controller ports.
Four player adapters are devices that plug into controller or expansion ports and provide additional ports. These ports can be used as alternatives to hardwired controllers or for multiplayer with more than 2 simultaneous players. Contemporary adapters allow some consoles to interface with up to 8 controllers. These adapters come in multiple forms, each with their own interfaces and limitations.
Controllers connected to this accessory are read using the same process as the [[standard controller]].
After the normal 8 reads from one port to get one controller data, 8 more are done to get another controller.


Note that the NES Four Score is not compatible with the convention widely used on the Famicom, which connects the 3rd and 4th players to data bit 1 instead of bit 0. The Famicom has its own adapters, such as the '''Hori 4 Players Adapter'''. See ''[[#Famicom Adapters|Famicom Adapters]]'' below.
=Adapters=


D3 and D4 are not connected on the Four Score, so accessories like the [[Zapper]] and [[Power Pad]] will not work with it. The Satellite has a separate "CTLR GUN" mode switch to permit use of the Zapper. (The Four Score has a similar switch for 2-player mode, but it merely disables the multi-tap feature, it still can't pass the extra lines.)
=="Simple" Famicom adapters==
Because the Famicom only has one expansion port, a device such as the '''JoyPair''' or '''Twin Adapter''' is required to attach multiple controllers to it. Standard expansion controllers respond on D1 of $4016, and these passive multi-port devices redirect the second port to D1 of $4017. These may be used as players 3 and 4. In 1- or 2-player games for the Famicom, though, it is common to OR together the D1 and D0 bits of a joypad read to allow players to use external controllers as substitutes for the hardwired ones.


On both devices there are additional switches for turbo fire on the A and B button reports, which apply to all 4 ports.
The expansion ports on these multi-port devices do not pass through all of the signals and thus are limited in functionality compared to the console's expansion port. Because of this, many controllers are not compatible with these adapters.


Additionally, rather than being directly connected to the NES the ''NES Satellite'' transmits the controller signals to a receiver over wireless radio.
=== Pinout ===
      JoyPair CN1 |  | Famicom EXP
-----------------+--+-----------------
          GND  01 |--| 01  GND
        OUT0  12 |<-| 12  OUT0
Joypad 1 /D1  13 |->| 13  Joypad 1 /D1
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 14  Joypad 1 /OE
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V
      JoyPair CN2 |  | Famicom EXP
-----------------+--+-----------------
          GND  01 |--| 01  GND
        OUT0  12 |<-| 12  OUT0
Joypad 1 /D1  13 |->| 07  Joypad 2 /D1
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 09  Joypad 2 /OE
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V
(All other JoyPair pins not connected)
 
==Hori 4 Players Adapter==


One PAL variation of the Four Score (NESE-034) can only read corresponding PAL controllers (NES-004) due to diodes on its inputs. See: [[Standard controller#PAL|Standard controller: PAL]]
The '''Hori 4 Players Adapter''' is a Famicom expansion port device that provides 4 ports, usable in 2- and 4-controller modes selected using a switch. In 2-controller mode, ports 1 and 2 on the adapter function exactly like a "simple" Famicom adapter, and ports 3 and 4 are disabled. In 4-controller mode, ports 1 and 3 are multiplexed onto $4016 D1 and ports 2 and 4 onto $4017 D1. The first 8 reads from an address provide the joypad 1 D1 report from the first controller, the next 8 reads the joypad 1 D1 report from the second controller, and the next 8 reads a signature unique to that address. The read counter is reset as long as OUT0 is 1. The same connection limitations of the "simple" adapters still apply in 4-controller mode, which combined with the 8 read limit restricts the set of usable contemporary controllers to those compatible with the standard controller.


== Protocol ==
===Protocol===
=== Input ($4016 write) ===
==== Input ($4016 write) ====


  7  bit  0
  7  bit  0
Line 22: Line 40:
         +- Controller read strobe
         +- Controller read strobe


This is used to strobe the [[Controller port pinout|OUT line]] of all 4 connected controllers at once.
This matches the normal strobe behavior used by the [[Standard_controller#Input_.28.244016_write.29|standard controller]] and strobes all 4 at once.


This is normally written with bit 0 set, then again with bit 0 clear to poll the controllers before reading them out.
==== Output ($4016/$4017 read) ====


See: [[Controller reading]]
7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxDx
        |
        +-- Serial controller data


=== Output ($4016/$4017 read) ===
==== Report ====


  7  bit 0
  $4016 read D1:
---- ----
  0-7  - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #1
  xxxx xxxD
  8-15 - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #3
        |
  16-17 - (Always 0)
        +- Serial controller data
  18    - (Always 1)
  19-23 - (Always 0)
   
  24+  - (Always 1)
$4017 read D1:
  0-7  - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #2
  8-15 - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #4
  16-18 - (Always 0)
  19    - (Always 1)
  20-23 - (Always 0)
   
  24+   - (Always 1)


When the ''Four Score'' mode switch in the "4" position, it can be read like this:
Note: ''Joypad 1'' and ''joypad 2'' are names used on the controller-side [[Expansion_port#Famicom|Famicom expansion port]] pin interface, as compared to $4016 and $4017 on the CPU side. While joypad 1 normally connects to $4016, this adapter routes each controller's joypad 1 /D1 to $4016 or $4017 as needed.


#Read $4016 D0 8x for the 8 bit report from controller #1.
==Four Score==
#Read $4016 D0 8x for the report from controller #3.
#Read $4016 D0 8x for the signature: three zeroes, followed by one 1, followed by four zeroes
#Read $4017 D0 8x for the report from controller #2.
#Read $4017 D0 8x for the report from controller #4.
#Read $4017 D0 8x for the signature: two zeroes, followed by one 1, followed by five zeroes


This allows 8 bits to be read from each of the 4 attached controllers. This is suitable for [[standard controller]]s which only report 8 bits on D0.
[[File:NES-Four-Score.jpg|200px|thumb|right|NES Four Score]]
The Four Score is an adapter that plugs into both NES controller ports and provides 4 ports, usable in 2- and 4-controller modes. This device is nearly identical to the Hori 4 Players Adapter, differing in that D0 is used instead of D1 and the addresses' signatures are swapped. This device also provides two turbo switches.


The signatures can be used to detect the presence of the ''Four Score'' or ''Satellite''.
===Protocol===
==== Input ($4016 write) ====


After reading all 8 bits of the Signature for either register, all subsequent reads return a value of 1.
7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxxS
        |
        +- Controller read strobe


The ''Four Score'' does not connect lines D3 or D4, so the [[Zapper]] is incompatible. The ''Satellite'' has a CTRL/GUN switch that can enable this, but not in 4-player mode. When the ''Four Score'' mode switch is in the "2" position it will operate as if controllers #1 and #2 were directly connected, ignoring the other 2 ports and not producing a signature byte.
This matches the normal strobe behavior used by the [[Standard_controller#Input_.28.244016_write.29|standard controller]] and strobes all 4 at once.


== Famicom Adapters ==
==== Output ($4016/$4017 read) ====


=== "Simple" ===
7  bit  0
Because the Famicom only has one expansion port, a device such as the JoyPair or Twin Adapter is required to attach multiple controllers to it. Standard expansion controllers respond on D1 of $4016, and these multi-port devices redirect the second port to D1 of $4017. These may be used as players 3 and 4, though in 1- or 2-player games for the Famicom there is a convention to OR the D1 and D0 bits read to allow players to use an external controller as a substitute for the hard-wired ones. The SNES reused this convention.
---- ----
xxxx xxxD
        |
        +- Serial controller data


The expansion ports on these multi-port devices do not pass through all of the signals and thus are limited in functionality compared to the console's expansion port.
==== Report ====


      JoyPair CN1 | | Famicom EXP
  $4016 read D0:
  -----------------+--+-----------------
  0-7 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #1
          GND  01 |--| 01  GND
  8-15 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #3
        OUT0 12 |<-| 12  OUT0
  16-18 - (Always 0)
   Joypad 1 D1  13 |->| 13  Joypad 1 D1
  19    - (Always 1)
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 14  Joypad 1 /OE
  20-23 - (Always 0)
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V
   
   24+  - (Always 1)
   
   
      JoyPair CN2 | | Famicom EXP
  $4017 read D0:
  -----------------+--+-----------------
  0-7 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #2
          GND  01 |--| 01  GND
  8-15 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #4
        OUT0  12 |<-| 12  OUT0
  16-17 - (Always 0)
   Joypad 1 D1  13 |->| 07  Joypad 2 D1
   18    - (Always 1)
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 09  Joypad 2 /OE
  19-23 - (Always 0)
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V
   
   
(All other JoyPair pins not connected)
  24+  - (Always 1)
 
Note: ''Joypad D0'' refers to the data normally available on $4016 or $4017 bit 0. Unlike the Famicom expansion port, NES controller port wiring is relative to the port used, so while a controller normally chooses which data inputs to use, it does not choose whether those are joypad 1 or joypad 2.


=== Hori 4 Players Adapter ===
===Turbo===
This adapter plugs into the Famicom 15-pin expansion port, and has 4 identical 15-pin ports on it to attach individual controllers. It has a mode switch with two settings, labelled "2" and "4". It is the same as a ''Four Score'', but with its lines connected a little bit differently.<ref>[//forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=237997#p237997 Forum post]: Analysis of ''Wit's'' controller reading, and speculation about the Hori 4 Players adapter.</ref>


Ports 1 and 2 of the adapter behave in a way that is compatible with how other Famicom expansion controllers work. Ports 3 and 4 can be enabled with the mode switch set to "4", allowing four expansion controllers to be read through $4016/4017 D1 similar to ''the Four Score'''s report through D0.
The Four Score includes separate turbo enables intended for the A and B buttons. Each of these applies universally to all attached controllers and in both 2- and 4-controller modes. These turbos force their respective bits to 0 at a fixed rate by ANDing with a mask that alternates between 0 and 1, making a held button appear as though it is being rapidly pressed and released. After a strobe, the A turbo applies to the first read of each controller's report and the B turbo to the second read. In 2-controller mode, each turbo also applies again after every 32 additional reads, causing toggles in the stream of 1's that follow the report from official controllers.


Unlike the ''Four Score'' and ''Satellite'' this has no turbo feature.
The toggle rate is based on the Four Score's internal clock and is approximately 2 frames.


==== Mode 2 ====
==NES Satellite==
This is the same as the ''Four Score'''s mode "2", but using D1 instead of D0. $4016 D1 reports bits directly from controller port 1, and $4017 D1 from port 2. Port 3 and 4 are not read, and there is no signature byte. Any extra bits read are simply an extended report from the port 1/2 devices. This behaves the same as the "Simple" mode above and below.


==== Mode 4 ====
[[File:NES-Satellite.jpg|200px|thumb|right|top|NES Satellite]]
This is a very similar protocol to the ''Four Score'' adapter described above, with two differences:
The NES Satellite is a 4-controller wireless adapter similar to the Four Score. Specific details are not yet known. Instead of a mode switch for 2 or 4 controllers, the NES Satellite has a mode switch selecting between standard controllers and the Zapper. Like the Four Score, it also features A and B turbo switches.
# The serial stream comes through D1 rather than D0.
<div style="clear: both"></div>
# The signature bytes swap ports.


In this mode the ''4 Players Adapter'' actually adds 4 gamepads to the 2 built into the Famicom, potentially allowing 6-player games. However, its intended purpose seems to be offering 4-player support without requiring the hard-wired controllers.
=Hardware=


== Hardware ==
Inside the Four Score and 4 Players Adapter is a 22-pin DIP labeled [[FPA-PAL-S01 pinout|FPA-S01]]. This IC consists of a decoder and one set of shift register, 5-bit counter, and multiplexer per joypad address, allowing each address to return the 8-bit contents of joypads 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 in series, followed by the signature byte.


Inside the Four Score and Famicom Four Player Adapter is a 22-pin DIP labelled [[FPA-PAL-S01 pinout|FPA-S01]].  
In case you want to build a four player adapter into an arcade cabinet or some other permanent installation, you don't need to use a Four Score or other adapter: you just need six total shift registers. The inputs to these shift registers are parallel, so you need separate wires for each signal, like from SMS or ZX Spectrum controllers.


The actual IC inside the Four Score consists of two shift registers, two counters, two multiplexers, and a decoder, allowing the game to receive the contents of the first and third joypads in series, followed by the signature byte.
=5+ controllers=


In case you want to build the Four Score into an arcade cabinet or some other permanent installation, you don't need to use a Four Score: you just need six total shift registers. The inputs to these shift registers are parallel, so you need separate wires for each signal, like from SMS or ZX Spectrum controllers.
These adapters can be used in combination with each other on the AV Famicom for up to 8 controllers, or on the Famicom with the hardwired controllers for up to 6. Because nonstandard controllers are not compatible with 4-controller modes, using them reduces the maximum possible controller count, but if a single nonstandard controller such as a mouse is desired, it can be used with a "simple" adapter alongside up to 6 standard controllers on an AV Famicom using a Four Score in the NES controller ports, a "simple" adapter in the expansion port, and a Hori 4 Players Adapter with controllers in ports 1 and 3 in the other "simple" adapter port.


== Compatible games ==
=Compatible Games=


Games known to support 3 or more simultaneous controllers:
Games known to support 3 or more simultaneous controllers:
Line 194: Line 231:
*''Super Dodge Ball - 4 Player Hack v1.00 akatranslations'' (Famicom)
*''Super Dodge Ball - 4 Player Hack v1.00 akatranslations'' (Famicom)


== References ==
=Incompatible Games=
This section lists games that provide four player game modes without supporting a four player adapter. They are explicitly enumerated here because various lists, including one in Wikipedia, frivolously keep listing (and re-adding after an edit to remove them) these games as supporting a four player adapter.
*''Championship Bowling'': Manual clearly states "Players One and Three use Control Pad 1, and Players Two and Four use Control Pad 2".
*''Jeopardy!'' series: Players 1 and 3 share controller 1.
 
= References =
<References/>
<References/>
* [//forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=237997#p237997 Forum post]: Analysis of Wit's controller reading, and speculation about the Hori 4 Players adapter.
* [http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=65237 NintendoAge forum thread]: Photos of Four Score PCB and hardware discussion.
* [http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=65237 NintendoAge forum thread]: Photos of Four Score PCB and hardware discussion.
* [https://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=12543.15 Famicom World forum post]: List of Famicom games and their behaviour with Hori 4 Players adapter.
* [https://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=12543.15 Famicom World forum post]: List of Famicom games and their behaviour with Hori 4 Players adapter.
* [//forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=238168#p238168 Forum post]: Discussion of Hori 4 Players support in ''Micro Mages''.
* [//forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=238168#p238168 Forum post]: Discussion of Hori 4 Players support in ''Micro Mages''.
[[Category:Controllers]]
[[Category:Controllers]]

Latest revision as of 03:30, 27 June 2024

Four player adapters are devices that plug into controller or expansion ports and provide additional ports. These ports can be used as alternatives to hardwired controllers or for multiplayer with more than 2 simultaneous players. Contemporary adapters allow some consoles to interface with up to 8 controllers. These adapters come in multiple forms, each with their own interfaces and limitations.

Adapters

"Simple" Famicom adapters

Because the Famicom only has one expansion port, a device such as the JoyPair or Twin Adapter is required to attach multiple controllers to it. Standard expansion controllers respond on D1 of $4016, and these passive multi-port devices redirect the second port to D1 of $4017. These may be used as players 3 and 4. In 1- or 2-player games for the Famicom, though, it is common to OR together the D1 and D0 bits of a joypad read to allow players to use external controllers as substitutes for the hardwired ones.

The expansion ports on these multi-port devices do not pass through all of the signals and thus are limited in functionality compared to the console's expansion port. Because of this, many controllers are not compatible with these adapters.

Pinout

     JoyPair CN1 |  | Famicom EXP
-----------------+--+-----------------
         GND  01 |--| 01  GND
        OUT0  12 |<-| 12  OUT0
Joypad 1 /D1  13 |->| 13  Joypad 1 /D1
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 14  Joypad 1 /OE
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V

     JoyPair CN2 |  | Famicom EXP
-----------------+--+-----------------
         GND  01 |--| 01  GND
        OUT0  12 |<-| 12  OUT0
Joypad 1 /D1  13 |->| 07  Joypad 2 /D1
Joypad 1 /OE  14 |<-| 09  Joypad 2 /OE
          5V  15 |--| 15  5V

(All other JoyPair pins not connected)

Hori 4 Players Adapter

The Hori 4 Players Adapter is a Famicom expansion port device that provides 4 ports, usable in 2- and 4-controller modes selected using a switch. In 2-controller mode, ports 1 and 2 on the adapter function exactly like a "simple" Famicom adapter, and ports 3 and 4 are disabled. In 4-controller mode, ports 1 and 3 are multiplexed onto $4016 D1 and ports 2 and 4 onto $4017 D1. The first 8 reads from an address provide the joypad 1 D1 report from the first controller, the next 8 reads the joypad 1 D1 report from the second controller, and the next 8 reads a signature unique to that address. The read counter is reset as long as OUT0 is 1. The same connection limitations of the "simple" adapters still apply in 4-controller mode, which combined with the 8 read limit restricts the set of usable contemporary controllers to those compatible with the standard controller.

Protocol

Input ($4016 write)

7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxxS
        |
        +- Controller read strobe

This matches the normal strobe behavior used by the standard controller and strobes all 4 at once.

Output ($4016/$4017 read)

7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxDx
       |
       +-- Serial controller data

Report

$4016 read D1:
  0-7  - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #1
  8-15 - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #3
 16-17 - (Always 0)
 18    - (Always 1)
 19-23 - (Always 0)

 24+   - (Always 1)

$4017 read D1:
  0-7  - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #2
  8-15 - Joypad 1 D1 bits 0-7 from controller #4
 16-18 - (Always 0)
 19    - (Always 1)
 20-23 - (Always 0)

 24+   - (Always 1)

Note: Joypad 1 and joypad 2 are names used on the controller-side Famicom expansion port pin interface, as compared to $4016 and $4017 on the CPU side. While joypad 1 normally connects to $4016, this adapter routes each controller's joypad 1 /D1 to $4016 or $4017 as needed.

Four Score

NES Four Score

The Four Score is an adapter that plugs into both NES controller ports and provides 4 ports, usable in 2- and 4-controller modes. This device is nearly identical to the Hori 4 Players Adapter, differing in that D0 is used instead of D1 and the addresses' signatures are swapped. This device also provides two turbo switches.

Protocol

Input ($4016 write)

7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxxS
        |
        +- Controller read strobe

This matches the normal strobe behavior used by the standard controller and strobes all 4 at once.

Output ($4016/$4017 read)

7  bit  0
---- ----
xxxx xxxD
        |
        +- Serial controller data

Report

$4016 read D0:
  0-7  - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #1
  8-15 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #3
 16-18 - (Always 0)
 19    - (Always 1)
 20-23 - (Always 0)

 24+   - (Always 1)

$4017 read D0:
  0-7  - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #2
  8-15 - Joypad D0 bits 0-7 from controller #4
 16-17 - (Always 0)
 18    - (Always 1)
 19-23 - (Always 0)

 24+   - (Always 1)

Note: Joypad D0 refers to the data normally available on $4016 or $4017 bit 0. Unlike the Famicom expansion port, NES controller port wiring is relative to the port used, so while a controller normally chooses which data inputs to use, it does not choose whether those are joypad 1 or joypad 2.

Turbo

The Four Score includes separate turbo enables intended for the A and B buttons. Each of these applies universally to all attached controllers and in both 2- and 4-controller modes. These turbos force their respective bits to 0 at a fixed rate by ANDing with a mask that alternates between 0 and 1, making a held button appear as though it is being rapidly pressed and released. After a strobe, the A turbo applies to the first read of each controller's report and the B turbo to the second read. In 2-controller mode, each turbo also applies again after every 32 additional reads, causing toggles in the stream of 1's that follow the report from official controllers.

The toggle rate is based on the Four Score's internal clock and is approximately 2 frames.

NES Satellite

NES Satellite

The NES Satellite is a 4-controller wireless adapter similar to the Four Score. Specific details are not yet known. Instead of a mode switch for 2 or 4 controllers, the NES Satellite has a mode switch selecting between standard controllers and the Zapper. Like the Four Score, it also features A and B turbo switches.

Hardware

Inside the Four Score and 4 Players Adapter is a 22-pin DIP labeled FPA-S01. This IC consists of a decoder and one set of shift register, 5-bit counter, and multiplexer per joypad address, allowing each address to return the 8-bit contents of joypads 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 in series, followed by the signature byte.

In case you want to build a four player adapter into an arcade cabinet or some other permanent installation, you don't need to use a Four Score or other adapter: you just need six total shift registers. The inputs to these shift registers are parallel, so you need separate wires for each signal, like from SMS or ZX Spectrum controllers.

5+ controllers

These adapters can be used in combination with each other on the AV Famicom for up to 8 controllers, or on the Famicom with the hardwired controllers for up to 6. Because nonstandard controllers are not compatible with 4-controller modes, using them reduces the maximum possible controller count, but if a single nonstandard controller such as a mouse is desired, it can be used with a "simple" adapter alongside up to 6 standard controllers on an AV Famicom using a Four Score in the NES controller ports, a "simple" adapter in the expansion port, and a Hori 4 Players Adapter with controllers in ports 1 and 3 in the other "simple" adapter port.

Compatible Games

Games known to support 3 or more simultaneous controllers:

Game Hori 4-player Adapter Four Score Simple
A Nightmare on Elm Street yes yes ?
Bomber Man II (J) no no yes
Bomberman II (U) no yes ?
Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai yes yes yes
Gauntlet II no yes no
Greg Norman's Golf Power yes yes ?
Harlem Globetrotters no yes ?
Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dai Rantou no ? yes
Indy Heat yes yes ?
Kings of the Beach yes yes ?
Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League no unlikely yes
M.U.L.E. no yes ?
Magic Johnson's Fast Break yes yes ?
Millionaire (Sachen) no no yes
Moero TwinBee: Cinnamon-hakase o Sukue! no ? yes
Monster Truck Rally no yes ?
NES Play Action Football yes yes ?
Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu no ? yes
Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball Bu no ? yes
Nekketsu Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes no ? yes
Nintendo World Cup (U) yes yes ?
R.C. Pro-Am II yes yes ?
Rackets and Rivals no yes ?
Roundball: 2-on-2 Challenge no yes ?
Smash T.V. (twin-stick for 2 players) no yes ?
Spot yes yes no
Super Jeopardy! yes yes ?
Super Off Road yes yes no
Super Spike V'Ball everywhere but title screen everywhere but title screen yes
Swords and Serpents no yes ?
Top Players' Tennis yes yes ?
U.S. Championship V'Ball only during 3+player gameplay only during 3+player gameplay yes
Wit's yes yes yes

Homebrew games:

  • Double Action Blaster Guys becomes Quadruple Action Blaster Guys when Four Score is connected (NES)
  • Micro Mages (NES and Famicom)
  • NESert Golfing (NES and Famicom)
  • Spacey McRacey (NES)
  • Super PakPak (NES and Famicom)

Tech demos:

  • Eighty (NES and Famicom)
  • allpads (NES and Famicom)

Hacks:

  • Battle City - 4 Players v1.3 Ti (NES and Famicom)
  • Battle City Mario - 4 players v1.0 NesDraug (NES and Famicom)
  • Battletoads - 4 players v2.2 NakeuD2007 (emulator only)
  • Battletoads & Double Dragon - 4 players v0.9 NakeuD2007 (emulator only)
  • Super Dodge Ball - 4 Player Hack v1.00 akatranslations (Famicom)

Incompatible Games

This section lists games that provide four player game modes without supporting a four player adapter. They are explicitly enumerated here because various lists, including one in Wikipedia, frivolously keep listing (and re-adding after an edit to remove them) these games as supporting a four player adapter.

  • Championship Bowling: Manual clearly states "Players One and Three use Control Pad 1, and Players Two and Four use Control Pad 2".
  • Jeopardy! series: Players 1 and 3 share controller 1.

References

Retrieved from "https://www.nesdev.org/w/index.php?title=Four_player_adapters&oldid=21941"