Four player adapters: Difference between revisions

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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.


== Protocol ==
=== Pinout ===
=== Input ($4016 write) ===
      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
  7  bit  0
Line 18: 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: $10
#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: $20


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 $10 and $20 are sent most-significant-bit first. This can be used to detect the presence of the ''Four Score'' or ''Satellite''.
===Protocol===
==== Input ($4016 write) ====


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


== Famicom Adapters ==
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 expansion controllers attach extra controllers to D1 of $4016 and $4017. These may be used as players 3 and 4, though in 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.
==== Output ($4016/$4017 read) ====


=== Hori 4 Players Adapter ===
7  bit  0
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". <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> <ref>[//forums.nesdev.org/viewtopic.php?p=238168#p238168 Forum post]: Discussion of Hori 4 Players support in ''Micro Mages''.</ref>
---- ----
xxxx xxxD
        |
        +- Serial controller data


==== Mode 2 ====
==== Report ====
Presumably this is analogous to 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.


More information is needed to verify this.
$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)


==== Mode 4 ====
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.
This is a very similar protocol to the ''Four Score'' adapter described above, with two differences:
# The serial stream comes through D1 rather than D0.
# The signature bytes swap ports, with $20 read via $4016 and $10 read via $4017


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.
===Turbo===


== Hardware ==
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.


If you find yourself in the situation where you want to use the Four Score electrical interface for a project, but don't want to use up a Four Score, you can simply use six shift registers instead. Daisy-chain three shift registers together:
The toggle rate is based on the Four Score's internal clock and is approximately 2 frames.


If using 4021s:
==NES Satellite==


            IC1                IC2                IC3
[[File:NES-Satellite.jpg|200px|thumb|right|top|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.
        1A |1 16| Vcc      3A |1 16| Vcc      Vcc |1 16| Vcc
<div style="clear: both"></div>
        nc |2 15| 1B        nc |2 15| 3B        nc |2 15| Vcc
NES P1 D0 |3 14| 1Sl      ZZ |3 14| 3Sl      YY |3 14| Vcc¹
      1Up |4 13| 1St      3Up |4 13| 3St      Vcc |4 13| Gnd²
      1Dn |5 12| nc      3Dn |5 12| nc      Vcc |5 12| nc
      1Lt |6 11| from ZZ  3Lt |6 11| from YY  Vcc |6 11| Gnd
      1Rt |7 10| NES CLK  3Rt |7 10| NES CLK  Vcc |7 10| NES CLK
      Gnd |8  9| NES OUT  Gnd |8  9| NES OUT  Gnd |8  9| NES OUT
          '----'              '----'              '----'


If using 74'165s:
=Hardware=


          IC1                  IC2                IC3
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.
        .-\/-.                .-\/-.             .-\/-.
NES OUT |1 16| Vcc    NES OUT |1 16| Vcc  NES OUT |1 16| Vcc
NES CLK |2 15| Gnd    NES CLK |2 15| Gnd  NES CLK |2 15| Gnd
    1St |3 14| 1Up        3St |3 14| 3Up    ²Gnd |3 14| Vcc
    1Sl |4 13| 1Dn        3Sl |4 13| 3Dn    ¹Vcc |4 13| Vcc
      1B |5 12| 1Lt        3B |5 12| 3Lt      Vcc |5 12| Vcc
      1A |6 11| 1Rt        3A |6 11| 3Rt      Vcc |6 11| Vcc
      nc |7 10| from ZZ    nc |7 10| from YY  nc |7 10| Gnd
    Gnd |8  9| NES P1 D0  Gnd |8  9| ZZ      Gnd |8  9| YY
        '----'                '----'              '----'


For players 2 and 4, repeat the above, but change:
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.
* NES P1 D0 becomes NES P2 D0
* 1xx becomes 2xx
* 3xx becomes 4xx
* IC3 pins denoted with ¹ and ² are swapped


== Compatible games ==
=5+ controllers=


Four Score ([http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/search.php?peripherals_op=OR&peripherals%5B%5D=fourplayer&group=groupid NesCartDB]):
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.


*''Gauntlet II''
=Compatible Games=
*''Greg Norman's Golf Power''
*''Harlem Globetrotters''
*''Indy Heat''
*''Kings of the Beach''
*''Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League''
*''M.U.L.E.''
*''Magic Johnson's Fast Break''
*''Monster Truck Rally''
*''NES Play Action Football''
*''A Nightmare on Elm Street''
*''Nintendo World Cup'' (and multicarts that contain it)
*''R.C. Pro-Am II''
*''Roundball: 2-on-2 Challenge''
*''Smash T.V.'' (twin-stick for 2 players)
*''Spot''
*''Super Jeopardy!''
*''Super Off Road''
*''Super Spike V'Ball''
*''Swords and Serpents''
*''Top Players' Tennis''


Famicom 4 Players Adapter:
Games known to support 3 or more simultaneous controllers:
*''Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai''
{| class="sortable wikitable"
*''Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey Bu: Subette Koronde Dai Rantou''
! Game !! Hori 4-player Adapter !! Four Score !! Simple
*''Moero TwinBee: Cinnamon-hakase o Sukue!'' (3-players)
|-
*''Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu''
| A Nightmare on Elm Street || yes || yes || ?
*''Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball Bu''
|-
*''Nekketsu Street Basket: Ganbare Dunk Heroes''
| Bomber Man II (J) || no || no || yes
*''Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League''
|-
*''U.S. Championship V'Ball''
| Bomberman II (U) || no || yes || ?
*''Wit's''
|-
| 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:
Homebrew games:
*''Double Action Blaster Guys'' becomes ''Quadruple Action Blaster Guys'' when Four Score is connected
*''Double Action Blaster Guys'' becomes ''Quadruple Action Blaster Guys'' when Four Score is connected (NES)
*''Micro Mages'' (NES and Famicom)
*''Micro Mages'' (NES and Famicom)
*''NESert Golfing'' (NES and Famicom)
*''NESert Golfing'' (NES and Famicom)
*''Spacey McRacey''
*''Spacey McRacey'' (NES)
*''Super PakPak''
*''Super PakPak'' (NES and Famicom)


Tech demos:
Tech demos:
*''Eighty''
*''Eighty'' (NES and Famicom)
*''allpads''
*''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 ==
= 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.
* [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''.
[[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

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