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 (spring-returned)
- 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 B rapid fire speed)
- B Manual/Auto/Hold switch (switches 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 |
| Throttle | Right Stick Y |
This is not be the most ergonomically comfortable way to play every game. In particular, you may want to either avoid using right-hand face buttons so the right stick can be held in position, or assign the Throttle Analog Inc/Dec inputs (rather than the Throttle Analog input) and reduce its auto-centring speed to zero in MAME’s Analog Input Adjustments menu so the emulated control will hold its position.
For games that use opposite direction on the throttle to accelerate and decelerate/brake, you can assign “Right Trigger Reverse or Left Trigger” to the Throttle, and use the right trigger to accelerate and the left trigger to decelerate/brake. Remember not to assign the triggers to buttons if you’re using them to control the throttle.
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 |
Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco GP 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
- This game is intended to be played with the throttle control rotated for horizontal movement – you may need to reassign it
| Stick left/right | Choose track, move text entry cursor, adjust settings |
| Stick up | Accelerate, navigate menus, move text entry cursor |
| Stick down | Brake, navigate menus, move text entry cursor |
| Throttle | Steer |
| A or A' | Shift up, select menu items |
| B or B' | Shift up, exit menus |
| C | Shift down, select menu items |
| D | Shift down |
| E1 or E2 | Pit in |
| Start | Start, pause or resume game |
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 |
| 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, B' , C, D, E1 or E2 | 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.
| Stick | Helicopter movement |
| A or A' | Fire cannon, adjust settings |
| B or B' | Fire missiles |
| Start | Pause or resume game, select menu items |
| Select | Navigate menus, press while holding Start to reset |
Forgotten Worlds (PC Engine Super CD-ROM²)
- Connect the XE-1AP to the controller port using the XHE-3 adapter
- Insert the CD-ROM² Super System Card and the Forgotten Worlds CD
- Select Analog mode and Personal Computer interface in MAME’s Machine Configuration menu (the defaults)
- Press the Run button on the XHE-3 adapter at the Super CD-ROM² System screen to start the software (the Start button on the XE-1AP will not be recognised)
| Stick | Movement, navigate menus, adjust settings |
| Throttle | Aim |
| A or A' | Fire, purchase items in shop, skip cutscenes, select menu items, adjust settings |
| B or B' | Fire, skip cutscenes |
| C | Purchase items in shop, skip cutscenes, select menu items, adjust settings |
| D | Skip cutscenes |
| Start | Start, pause or resume game |
| Select | Show or hide score/item screen when paused, 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 down | Throttle |
| Throttle up | Brake, navigate menus |
| A, B, A' , B' , C, D, E1, E2, Start or Select | Start game, select menu items |
Syvalion (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 | Move, navigate menus |
| A, A' , B or B' | Fire, skip cutscenes, continue, select menu items |
Thunder Blade (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 up/down | Rotor collective pitch (vertical movement), navigate menus |
| Stick left/right | Rotor cyclic pitch (horizontal movement) |
| Throttle | Speed |
| A or A' | Fire cannon, start game, select menu items, adjust settings |
| B or B' | Fire missiles, start game, select menu items, adjust settings |
| Start | Start game |
| Select | Options menu |
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 |
Taito Chase H.Q. (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 down | Accelerator pedal |
| Throttle up | 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 |
