Super NES/FC Programmable Controllers

CYBERPad

Manufacturer:	Suncom Technologies
MSRP:	Unknown
Country:	US
Licensed:	Probably
Year:	Unknown

This joypad is one of many programmable controllers available. It is also among the oddest shaped. The body is shaped into a fat "6" on its side, with the "tail" of the 6 facing the player. The tail of the 6 shaped body holds a switch and two buttons, which, I assume, are for programming moves into the joypad. Above the directional button are the select and start buttons, which are wider and shallower than those on a standard controller, and are labeled "start" and "select" on the buttons themselves. The main buttons (X, Y, A, B) are in about their usual location on most joypads, but with an additional button, used, I assume, to execute programmed moves.The L and R buttons are in their standard location, on the far side of the pad. This controller boasts 256 bits of memory for programmed moves, using a CMOS microcontroller. The programmed moves are saved, even when the power to the SNES deck is turned off. You can also switch button siignments on the pad, something which few controller offer! It also has the usual turbo fire (27 shots per second, as the ad claims), and slow motion. Like many SNES controllers, there is also a version available for the Genesis.

Fatal Fury 2 Commander

Picture
Not Available

Manufacturer:	Hori Electric
MSRP:	Unknown
Country:	Japan
Licensed:	Probably
Year:	Unknown

This controller was only released in Japan, and I would venture to guess one of the rarer controllers. It is made to be used with Fatal Fury 2 for the Super Famicom. It has all the moves for the Fatal Fury 2 characters programmed in, so you can execute them with the push of one button, and you can program in your own moves for other games. It looks just like a standard SNES controller, except it is wider horozontally in the middle, it is black with purple lettering and the Japanese "Fatal Fury 2" logo on the middle, and "HORI" above the logo. It also has a three position switch, between the directional button and the select button, presumably used to program the joystick (the text on the switch is in Japanese).
(Taken from an article in EGM #54)

Gamemaster

Manufacturer:	Triton Toys
MSRP:	~$29.95 US
Country:	US
Licensed:	Probably
Year:	Unknown

This is an odd-shaped, programmable joypad. It is black with white trim along the outline of the top of the controller. The controller has the usual button scheme, except the Start and Select buttons, with a "P" button, blueish green (for executing the move you program into it) to the left of the Y and B buttons. The directional controller and the B and A buttons are purple, and the Y and X buttons are greyish blue. There are three buttons along the top of the joypad to the left; accel, repeat, and auto, all the same color as the P button, used to program a move into the joypad. On the upper right of the joypad are the Select and Start buttons, the same color as the X and Y buttons. Next to them is the program-save switch, a dark green color similar to the P button, used to program a move into the joypad. It has the usual basic shape of a SNES joypad, but instead of the usual curves, they are a slightly rounded square shape. Finally, in the middle of the joypad, is the yellow and purple "Triton Toys" triangle shaped logo. As far as I know, only one move can be programmed into the pad, which would make it much less effective for fighting games, as opposed to other programmable controllers which can store many more.

Radical FX

Picture
Not Available

Manufacturer:	Doc's Hi-Tech
MSRP:	$49.95 US controller, $13 US cartridges
Country:	US
Licensed:	No
Year:	Unknown

This joypad is rather interesting, because it takes the concept of a programmable controller and adds something new. You can obtain small ROM cartridges with moves programmed for a vartiety of the most popular SNES games, like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter II and TMNT Tournament Fighters, that plug into the joypad. Also, you can buy 256k RAM cartridges for programming your own moves. When you bought one of these joypads from Doc's, you got 2 cartridges of your choice free. The joypad itself looks similat to most other joypads, with the exception of a LCD display which you use to select which moves to use or program in, small buttons used to program in moves, and long curved buttons around the hemisphere with the A, B, X, and Y buttons, which are used to activate the programmed moves. Also, the select and start buttons are small buttons, just like the buttons used to program in moves. The "Radical FX" logo is above the LCD screen, and the joypad was available in white and black. It also has a single turbo fire option, but no auto fire. All in all, a great idea for a controller, even if it is a little pricy compared to the competition.

SN Programpad

Manufacturer:	STD
MSRP:	$29.95
Country:	US
Licensed:	Probably
Year:	Unknown

This is definately one of the most popular programmable controllers, and for that matter, one of the most popular controllers, period. Many of these boys have been sold, and it is definately a quality product. In addition to having 29 preprogrammed moves for Street Fighter II and Fatal Fury, you can porgram in your own. Also, this controller has independent turbo and auto fire for each button, and slow motion. Another feature of the controller allows you to "mirror" the moves, so you can use the programmed moves regardless of whether your charcatre is on the right or left hand side of the screen. The body of this controller is transparent, like the SN Propad. The shape and layout of the pad is similar to the standard SNES controller, except for three curved buttons around the right hand hemisphere of the controller, and a greenish grey area with a LCD panel and related buttons for programming in moves, just above the start and select buttons. The LCD panel shows the settings for the controller, and the related buttons are used to set the slow motion, turbo and auto fire, and to select programmed moves, and to program your moves in. All in all, a great controller, and a definate must have for fighting game fans who don't mind using a joypad! Highly recommended.

Top Fighter (updated 8-20-06)

Manufacturer:	QT?
MSRP:	Unknown
Country:	US
Licensed:	Unknown
Year:	Unknown
	Controller with certficate and patch Side view of controller

Wow, this stick is a badass! It is 10.5" x9.5", is programmable (with LCD panel), has independent autofire for each button, and variable slow motion. Not only that, but only 20,000 were made, and each comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity, as well as a manual, and a patch to put on a jacket etc.

Info and pic courtesy Mark S

XE-1

Manufacturer:	Unknown
MSRP:	Unknown
Country:	Japan
Licensed:	Unknown
Year:	Unknown

Here we have a programmable controller, released in Japan for the SFC. It has 8 buttons, 2 of which are, I assume, can be programmed. Not much else is known about this, anyone have more?

Info and pic ripped from eBay