NeoGeo joystick

SNK Neo Geo DA-15 joystick port pinout: 10 direct binary inputs (directions, A/B/C/D buttons, Select, Start) plus GND and +5 V supply.

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The SNK Neo Geo AES home console (1990) and MVS arcade board use a DA-15 (D-SUB 15-pin) connector for each controller port. Unlike most contemporary home consoles, the Neo Geo uses direct binary input: each button and direction has its own dedicated line, pulled high to +5 V internally and driven active-low when pressed, with no serial multiplexing. The connector carries ten switch inputs — four directional lines, four action buttons (A, B, C, D), Select, and Start — along with a ground return and a +5 V supply rail. The MVS service documentation labels these ports “D SUB 15P (1P)” and “D SUB 15P (2P)” on the PCB.

DA-15 (15-pin D-SUB) controller port, front view

PinNameDirDescription
1GND-Ground
2n/c-Not connected
3SELECTINSelect Button
4BUTTONDIN“D” Button
5BUTTONBIN“B” Button
6RIGHTINRight
7DOWNINDown
8+5VOUT+5 V power supply
9BUTTONDIN“D” Button, again?
10n/c-Not connected
11STARTINStart Button
12BUTTONCIN“C” Button
13BUTTONAIN“A” Button
14LEFTINLeft
15UPINUp

Notes

  • Direction is relative to the console (computer side).
  • All input lines are active-low: pressing a button or direction pulls the line to GND; lines are pulled high to +5 V internally via R-C filter arrays on the PCB.
  • Pin 8 supplies +5 V to the controller; it is required for SNK pads and many third-party sticks to function, though the original joystick accessory did not use it.
  • Pin 9 (BUTTOND) is electrically redundant with pin 4; the hardware reads only pin 4.
  • Pins 2 and 10 are not connected.
  • Output lines use open-collector drivers with 22-ohm series resistors.

Signals

  • GND — Ground return (pin 1).
  • SELECT — Select button input; active-low.
  • BUTTONA — “A” action button; active-low.
  • BUTTONB — “B” action button; active-low.
  • BUTTONC — “C” action button; active-low.
  • BUTTOND — “D” action button; active-low. Wired to both pin 4 and pin 9; only pin 4 is read by the hardware.
  • UP / DOWN / LEFT / RIGHT — Directional switch inputs; active-low.
  • START — Start button input; active-low.
  • +5V — +5 V DC supply output to controller (pin 8).

References

Category:VideoGame Connectors