NES Zapper support?

Zerghunter666

New member
Hi, I had a simple game idea for the NES and well I was thinking about using the iconic NES Zapper but I don't know if this engine has support to use such controls. That'd be nice if it has compatibility and support, would make game creation ideas more possible.

P.S.

Support for NES power pad?
 

MistSonata

Moderator
Well, there's good news and bad news there. The good news is that you should probably have no problem making a Power Pad game. I don't know exactly how the Power Pad works, but it's most likely that it's functionally identical (software wise, anyway) to a regular controller.

Unfortunately the NES Zapper is way more complicated, and requires special programming to get the timing down to the scanline level in order to tell the game where the zapper is pointing, something I doubt will be covered in NESmaker anytime soon. You might be able to do something clever, though, like Super Russian Roulette, though. In that game, the zapper doesn't need to communicate with what's on the screen, it just needs the sensor in the front covered so that it doesn't need light. You don't even have to hold it to your head, you can cover it with your hand or something. Though, I think in that game you can shoot the character on screen, and that DOES require the special programming I mentioned earlier.

Here's some details on the power pad that I found, it looks like it's not identical to a controller, but it's pretty close, and if you're really dedicated to making a game for it, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to tweak the input code to work with it if you're not afraid to get into some ASM programming.
 

darkhog

New member
If you want a shooting game, you may also do something some nes games did (such as Chiller) - show "crosshair" sprite and have it move with d-pad and then a shoots. Works surprisingly well and as a bonus is LCD-proof ;).
 

Kasumi

New member
Right, as darkhog mentioned the NES Zapper doesn't work on modern televisions without modification: https://www.howtogeek.com/181303/htg-explains-how-the-nintendo-zapper-worked-and-why-it-doesnt-work-on-new-tvs/
 

Zerghunter666

New member
Well aware of the compatibility with new LCD screens. It would be nice to shed light on compatibility because some of us have older tube TVs that are compatible with the NES Zapper. Will keep in mind about darkhog's suggestion, thanks!
 
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