Hi, Micomsoft made some great peripherals, both great in design and functionality. Unfortunately a complete list of the products is nowhere to be found. I'm looking especially for the input devices. The video out/upscan devices are not that interesting to me at the moment, but still belong to a complete list. Right now I have the XE-1 AP and XHE-3 in my posession and the giant gamepad works great on MegaDrive and PC-Engine. On the other hand, when plugged into the FM Marty the game didn't recognize it and a smell of burning electrical components came from the inside so I unplugged it instantly. It still works on the other consoles though... The joystick of my XE-1 AP has a head shaped like a Philips screwhead, on the pictures I found via Google there are sticks like that and other sticks with a flat rubber finish. Either there a two different versions of this gamepad or there is just a rubber cap missing, I don't know... Anyways, this is what I found out about the input devices: XE (MSX, 2 buttons, ugly and no extra functionality) XE-1 PRO (MSX/FM, 2 Buttons, Auto-Fire, adjustable stick and buttons) XE-1 PRO HE (PC-Engine version of the above, built-in multi-tap) XE-1 ST2 (MSX/FM/SEGA, 3 Buttons, adjustable stick and buttons) XE-1 SFC (SNES, 8? Buttons, main buttons adjustable) XE-1 AP (MSX/FM/SEGA, Analog Stick, adjustable Throttle, about 100 buttons ;-)) XHE-3 (PC-Engine adapter for XE-1 PRO, XE-1 ST2, XE-1 AP and maybe others) XPD-1 LR (FM/X68000, Libble Rabble/Crazy Climber controller with 2 d-pads) Is that all or did I miss something? Thanks in advance for completing the list, also with other, not input related devices. :nod:
The XE-1AP should have a tiny bag with other screwable heads in it, i believe you got two other heads. There are a few other joysticks like the XE-1 PRO FC (basically a XE-1 PRO for the Famicom), XE-1 PRO SG (basically a three button version of the XE-1 PRO HE for the Megadrive) XE-1b (a black version of the XE-1 (not the XE ). XE-1ST (a non autofire version of the XE-1 Pro has a blue flash at the top). XE-1AJ (quite rare, it is more common to find the Sharp CZ-8NJ2) an analogue / throttle stick designed for the MSX / X68000) XE-1AS (the XE-1AJ but designed for the PC, uses a 15 pin analogue port). Dempa was the software arm of Micomsoft and they made a lot of games on the X68000 (the XPD-1LR was bundled with Libble Rabble) and on the Megadrive, Afterburner is much more fun with the XE-1AP, Fastest lap is a lot more tricky and challenging too as overstearing will spin you. The XE-1AP is also compatable with Afterburner and Space Harrier on the 32X. The XE-1AJ and 1AP were made as the head of Micomsoft at the time was a big fan of Afterburner and Dempa made the Megadrive and X68000 versions... There is also a XO-1 a autofire unit for the MSX / X68000 too and the X-F1, which like the XHE-3 is a device to allow any MSX / X68000 joystick or Joypad to be plugged into the Famicom. And that is it for controllers, I believe if you look hard enough you can find the list of display devices on the micomsoft website. I do wish that Micomsoft would reintroce the XE-1 PRO series as their joysticks were fantastic (although we'll ignore the XE-1 PRO SFC as that was a bit crap), esp the rotatable buttons and 4/8 way joystick and they are fairly easy to fix too, a multicompatable USB one for the PS3/PS2/XBox 360 and PC would be fantastic.
Thank you for this detailed answer, with your help I was able to dig up some more information. (Although it is becoming more difficult now since Google indexed this thread multiple times...) First of all I've found a list of discontinued products at Micomsoft: http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/finish.htm But this list seems incomplete, it is missing those peripherals: XE (the ugly, left handed one [http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/m1land9413/7183211.html]) XE-1 PRO SG (from your list) XPD-1LR (ok, it is bundled with games, but shouldn't it be on the list?) XE-1 SG (as pictured here [http://ko-gathering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13009&start=41]) XE-2PC (looks cheap, maybe a fake? [http://www.nexgam.de/artikel/xe-2-pc-pc-engine-zubehoer.html]) X-HE2 (a PC-E two-tap [http://magweasel.com/2009/07/14/i-love-the-pc-engine-x-he2]) I guess there are still more different models out there... About the XE-1b and XE-1AJ/AS you mentioned, I've never seen them before and also can't find any information. On the other hand, I've heard about the Sharp CZ-8NJ2 Cyber Stick before, it is that large two-handed mission stick which is compatible with different systems by using interface cards with attached cable and plug, e.g. for X68000 or PC-Engine. But that hasn't to do with Micomsoft, right? The XPD-1LR was also bundled with Libble Rabble for FM Towns/Marty. The XE-1AP is compatible with even more games on the Mega Drive: Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II After Burner II MUSHA Aleste Fastest One Galaxy Force II [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_Sega_Mega_Drive_games] and of course After Burner Complete (32X) Space Harrier (32X) And on the PC-Engine in connection with XHE-3: After Burner II Forgotten Worlds Operation Wolf Outrun [http://www6.airnet.ne.jp/wataru/pcefaq/pcefaq.htm#3-16] But I really can't get used to the control in the driving games, gas/brake on the left stick and steering on the right throttle is just awkward to handle. In "modern" games with "modern" gamepads it is the other way around. Another find on the Micomsoft site, the XE-1AP is featured in their "blog": http://www.micomsoft.co.jp/cgi-bin/develop/diary.cgi?no=32 There is also the instruction manual, too bad I can't read/understand a word About the display devices, of course I looked at the Micomsoft site, but all the new stuff and high prices there make my head hurt. I'm more interested in the old devices, like XMD-1RGB and similar from that time, as featured in this thread: http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14960 I totally agree with you, they should be making joysticks again for the current consoles :nod:
i had no idea Micomsoft and Dempa were connected. When I was a kid I'd look at that "strange" joystick in the Mega Drive Japanese Afterburner II Manual wondering what the hell it was. Yakumo
Oh man, I had no idea about a lot of these. I'll have to track down the XE-1AP someday. Thanks for sharing this!
When I got a XE-1AP years ago by accident I didn't know really what to do with it and didn't find much information about it. All information I could gather is now in this thread and since it is indexed by Google I guess it will help others when looking for this strange peripheral.
You missed the Micomsoft in Japanese in the manual and box then? back on topic... XE The XE is called that on the joypad but it is marked the XE-1 on the label on the underside, the only difference between the XE-1B and the XE-1 is that the b stands for black, the XE-1 is just white. The XE-1 PRO SG is the XE-1 SG, I just confused it as the XE-1 PRO HE looks similar. The XPD-1LR should be on the list as it is the only joypad that they ever made. The XE-2PC is indeed a fake as the quality of the inside is a give away. The X-HE2 is the only other thing that they did make, not sure why I missed it off the list the first time. The XE-1AJ does exist as I know a MSX collector in holland who has one, however you are more likely to see the Sharp CZ-8NJ2, which Sharp licensed and made in large numbers. The CZ-8NJ2 is hardware compatable with the XE-1AP so you can use it with the XE-HE3 (but not the Megadrive). Also a quick look at the button and switch layout will show that it is in the same format as the XE-1 PRO joysticks to confirm the Micomsoft origins. The XE-1AS is less likely to show up as it was made for DOS/V (ie real IBM PC compatables) computers which were still a niche at the time against the mighty PC-9801, I've never seen one but I have been told they exist.
