The reason is Apple II joysticks are Analog and the others I just described are Digital. But dont worry! Now there is a way you can use any of those digital DE9 joysticks on your apple II. Dont spend crazy money on an Apple II specific joystick when a $5.00 thrift store joystick could work just as well!
With this adapter you can connect any of these to your apple II! IIe, IIc, IIc+, IIgs, II and II+
Usage information:
- You are going to need to get yourself a copy of MECC Computer inspector and Apple IIe/IIc Diagnostics (I use version 2.1) to calibrate your joystick. Contact me if you need help with this. Sometimes the MECC inspector will say no device is connected, that just means the joystick is way out of whack. Boot the Apple IIe/iic diagnostics and center the cursor to the middle of the screen, once its there the MECC Computer inspector will see the joystick. With the MECC computer inspector adjust the X and Y axis potentiometers on this adapter until the cursor is in the middle of the screen with values as close to 128 X 128 as possible.. dont worry, perfection is impossible to achieve.. close is good enough
- NOTE: the new version 5.0 release of Total Replay in 2023 has the MECC joystick feature built in if you press CTRL + P but if the settings are to far out from center you first need to use the Apple IIe/IIC master diagnostics to get it roughly centered.
- Connect the Joystick to the end that says "joystick here" and connect the other end to the Apple II. This will work with an Original Apple II or II plus and clones with the joystick Dip socket but you will need a DE9 to Dip adapter which can be found from one of the many sellers online who carry them.
- SEGA MEGADRIVE/GENESIS controllers. WAIT!!! regardless of what you heard you cant just connect one of these SEGA game pads to an AMIGA or Commodore, etc. as it will cause damage. Same goes here. However there is a simple adapter that you can get in tandem with this adapter which will allow a Megadrive/Genesis controller:https://www.ebay.com/itm/175622112601
- Now also keep in mind the old Atari and commodore joysticks were just one button. Now those single button joysticks will work but the Apple II supports 2 button joysticks and some games and programs rely on 2 buttons. So you want to search for Specific joysticks that had 2 or more buttons. Keep in mind ALOT of old joysticks had 2 even 3 buttons but they all worked as a single button to cater to left and right handed players. All I can say is Trial and error, dont go spending money right away and do your research to find true multi button joysticks.
- This listing is for one joystick adapter only and nothing else.
UPDATE 5-21-23 : I purchased a Sega Megadrive/Genesis Controller adapter to try out with my Apple II joystick adapter. I bought this one in kit form: https://www.ebay.com/itm/175622112601
It works perfectly. I was using a Genesis controller to play Donkey Kong and Mario Bros with no issues. There are 3 switches for configuring the buttons. Depending on what configuration you have the system may go into self tests when you reboot as its simulating button pushing. On some configurations I pulled it out to reboot. Again this has nothing to do with the adapter I am selling this is just info for anyone wanting to use a Sega Genesis controller on their Apple II joystick adapter.
I have been making, restoring, repairing, and selling on eBay 23+ years. Please feel free to reach out and ask me questions.