Driver:Dempa Micom Soft Analog/Digital Intelligent Controller System

Dempa Micom Soft Analog/Digital Controller System

Originally developed for use with the Sharp X68000 Japanese home computer, this controller system supported up to four analog axes, ten buttons, and multiple modes and special features.

Released in 1989, XE-1AP control pad version was ahead of its time. It was the first game pad to feature grip handles, analog thumb controls, and shoulder buttons (with two shoulder buttons on each side). It heavily influenced the design of the Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad, which was the basis for the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Xbox control pads. It was nicknamed the horseshoe crab (kabutogani) controller in Japan due to its shape.

Variants

This analog controller was sold in two versions:

• XE-1AJ desktop HOTAS flight control style joystick. Also sold with Sharp branding as the XZ-8NJ2 Cyber Stick
• XE-1AP control pad, with added support for use with Sega consoles

XE-1AJ

The XE-1AJ has the following controls:

• Two-axis analog joystick
  • Thumb button A
  • Index finger trigger B
  • A Rapid Fire On/Off switch to the right of button
• Analog throttle
  • Thumb button D
  • Thumb rocker switch E1 (down)/E2 (up)
• Panel controls:
  • A, B, C, Select and Start buttons
  • A/B Normal/Reverse switch (exchanges the functions of A and B buttons)
  • A Hold On/Off switch (enables auto-fire when A Rapid Fire is on)
  • A Trigger Speed slider (adjusts A rapid fire speed)
  • B Trigger Speed slider (adjusts A rapid fire speed)
  • B Manual/Auto/Hold (selects between normal, rapid fire, and auto-fire modes for B)
  • Analog/Digital Mode switch
• Reset button on rear panel (special modes can be enabled by holding panel buttons while pressing the reset button)

The Start and Select buttons are sometimes referred to as F and G, respectively.

The positions of the throttle and stick can be exchanged for for left-handed or right-handed use.

XE-1AP

The XE-1AP has the following controls:

• Two-axis analog thumb stick (centre left)
• Analog throttle slider (centre right, can be rotated through 270°, but rotation is not reported)
• Shoulder buttons A (right upper), B (right lower), C (left upper), and D (left lower)
• Face buttons:
  • Upper right A' (outer) and B' (inner)
  • Upper left E1 (outer) and E2 (inner)
  • Lower Start (right) and Select (left)
• Mode switches:
  • MD/Personal Computer interface
  • Analog/Digital mode
  • A Normal/Auto fire mode
  • B Normal/Auto fire mode
  • Channel Shift On/Off Switch (on underside, changes functions of analog controls)

Channel shift mode is designed as an alternate control scheme for racing games. With channel shift mode on, the throttle slider is used to steer, and the stick is used to shift gears (left/right), accelerate (up) and brake (down).

Digital Mode

In digital mode, the controller emulated a digital joystick or control pad for games that lack support for analog controls.

XE-1AJ

Digital mode is compatible with many games designed to work with standard 2-button MSX-compatible joysticks, using the stick, A and B buttons. Note that it will not work with software designed to work with a Fujitsu FM Towns Marty Pad.

XE-1AP MD interface

This mode is compatible with games designed to work with a 3-button Sega Mega Drive Control Pad:

Stick up	Up
Stick down	Down
Stick left	Left
Stick right	Right
A button	A
B button	B
C button	C
Start button	Start

XE-1AP Personal Computer interface

This mode is compatible with most games designed to work with a Fujitsu FM Towns 6-button Pad:

Stick up	Up
Stick down	Down
Stick left	Left
Stick right	Right
Throttle up	Z
Throttle down	Y
A button	A
B button	B
C button	X
D button	C
Start button	Run
Select button	Select

E1 and E2 are also readable, but will only be recognised by software designed specifically for the XE-1AJ or XE-1AP in digital mode. Note that fighting games will not be playable, as the throttle slider is not a suitable substitute for two buttons.

Emulation Status

Currently, MAME supports the XE-1AP variant in Analog and Digital modes, for both the MD and Personal Computer interfaces. It can be used with the Sega Mega Drive console family, NEC/Hudson Soft PC Engine console family (using the XHE-3 adapter), Sharp X68000 computer family, and Fujitsu FM Towns computer family.

A Auto, B Auto, Channel Shift, and special modes enabled by holding buttons at power on are not supported.

Due to the number of controls and complexity, you will need to manually assign inputs. Here are example assignments that largely mirror the original layout using an Xbox-style controller:

Start	Start
Select	Back
A	Right button
B	Right trigger
C	Left button
D	Left trigger
E1	D-pad left
E2	D-pad right
A'	B
B'	A
AD Stick X Analog	Left stick X
AD Stick Y Analog	Left stick Y
Padde V Analog	Right stick Y

However, this is not be the most ergonomically comfortable way to play every game. In particular, since the throttle control was not originally automatically centring, you may want to either avoid using right-hand face buttons so the right stick can be held in position, or assign the Paddle V Analog Inc/Dec inputs (rather than the Paddle V Analog input) so the emulated control will hold its position.

Compatible Games

This list is incomplete.

After Burner II (Mega Drive)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the first controller port
• Select Analog mode and MD interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed
A or A'	Fire missile
B or B'	Fire Vulcan guns
C and D	Only used in input test
Start	Pause or resume game, select menu items

Galaxy Force II (Mega Drive)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the first controller port
• Select Analog mode and MD interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed
A or A'	Fire missiles
B or B'	Fire shots
Start	Pause or resume game, select menu items

Fire button functions can be exchanged in the game’s Options menu.

After Burner II (PC Engine)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the controller port using the XHE-3 adapter
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed
A or A'	Fire missile, select menu items
B or B'	Fire Vulcan guns, select menu items
Start	Select menu items
Select	Pause or resume game, navigate menus, press while holding Start to reset

Operation Wolf (PC Engine)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the controller port using the XHE-3 adapter
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Stick	Move aiming cursor
A or A'	Fire rocket launcher, select stage
B or B'	Fire machine gun, select stage
Start	Start, pause or resume game, skip cutscenes
Select	Press while holding Start to reset

Out Run (PC Engine)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the controller port using the XHE-3 adapter
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Stick left/right	Steer, radio tuner dial
Stick up	Select low gear, navigate menus
Stick down	Select high gear, navigate menus
Throttle	Accelerator pedal
A, A' , B or B'	Brake pedal, select radio station
Start	Pause or resume game, select menu items
Select	navigate menus, press while holding Start to reset

Thunder blade (PC Engine)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the controller port using the XHE-3 adapter
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• The controller is only detected on start, so you will need to reset the emulated machine if you switch between analog and digital mode

Although analog mode is recognised and supported, it does not provide any benefits over a digital control pad or joystick. Movement speed is fixed, and no additional buttons are supported. Also note that this game only uses the A' and B' face buttons – the A and B shoulder buttons are not used.

Stick	Helicopter movement
A'	Fire air-to-air guns, adjust settings
B'	Fire air-to-ground rockets
Start	Pause or resume game, select menu items
Select	Navigate menus, press while holding Start to reset

After Burner II (X68000)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the first joystick port
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• Press the OPT.1 key on the keyboard (PrtScr by default) at the title screen to enable joystick controls

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed
A or A'	Fire missile
B or B'	Fire Vulcan guns
Start	Select menu items

Super Hang-On (X68000)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the first joystick port
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)

Stick left/right	Steer
Throttle up	Throttle
Throttle down	Brake, navigate menus
Start	Select menu items

After Burner III (FM Towns)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the second controller port
• Select Analog mode and MD interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu
• Use a Towns Pad connected to the first controller port to navigate the menus and change the Input Device to Analog Stick or Analog Pad

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed, after burner level
A or A'	Fire missile, select menu items
B or B'	Fire Vulcan guns
C or D	Hold to activate after burners
Start	Start, pause or resume game, dismiss input test

Chase HQ (FM Towns)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the second controller port
• Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
• Use a Towns Pad connected to the first controller port to navigate the menus and change the Input Device to Analog

Stick left/right	Steer
Stick up	Select low gear
Stick down	Select high gear
Throttle up	Accelerator pedal
Throttle down	Brake pedal
A or A'	Select next axis (channel) in input test
B or B'	Exit input test
D	Activate turbo boost

Galaxy Force II (FM Towns)

• Connect the XE-1AP to the second controller port
• Select Analog mode and MD interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu
• Use a Towns Pad connected to the first controller port to navigate the menus and change the Input Device to Analog Stick or Analog Pad

Stick	Flight attitude, navigate menus
Throttle	Speed
A or A'	Fire missiles, select menu items
B or B'	Fire shots
Start	Pause or resume game, dismiss input test