Any modern personal computer has enough horsepower to thoroughly emulate any classic video-game system. However, all those different classic systems have different controller devices, none of which are very similar to common computer peripherals (like keyboards and mice).

I therefore suggest that someone make classic game controllers with a modern touch --each type would plug into a computer's USB port, get whatever minimal power they need from that port, and convert their control-signals into standard USB-protocol signals. The classic console- game getting emulated on the computer would have a patch to interact with the USB port, and get exactly the control-signals, for the game, that it expects to receive.

Naturally, if you want to play a different game from a different game console, you run a different emulator and plug a different controller into the computer's USB port.

Yes, I know that it is easy for a computer to connect to a lot of those ports simultaneously, but think of the clutter, all those different game-controllers on your desk. You can only use one of them at a time! So, really, usually only one needs to be plugged in at a time. Certainly no more than four, if you and three friends are playing a 4-player game (pretty sure no classic game console ever had more than 4 controllers connected at once).
-- Vernon, May 08 2018

A difficult one to emulate are the controllers used for the 1980's BBC Computer - this computer had analogue inputs which fed A/D converters which would output a continuously variable number which the programmer could interpret in their code in any way they wanted. Controlling games with true analogue joysticks was so good.
-- hippo, May 08 2018


These have existed for over a decade, both as newly-made controllers with USB ports, and as adapters to give old controllers USB interfaces.
-- mitxela, May 08 2018


I had no idea that the British Broadcasting Corporation took their gaming so seriously.
-- RayfordSteele, May 08 2018


They've been obsessed by it for years ... so much so that now they live in their own little virtual world.
-- 8th of 7, May 08 2018


// pretty sure no classic game console ever had more than 4 controllers connected at once //

The PS2 had a "multi-tap" that let you connect more controllers, though I think it only had two ports built in. I feel like there was something similar for the GameCube, though, which had four ports built in.
-- notexactly, May 10 2018



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