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| NES Advantage | |
|---|---|
| Name | NES Advantage |
| Type | Arcade-style controller |
| Manufacturer | Asciiware (published by Nintendo of America) |
| Release date | 1987 |
| Platform | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| Connectivity | Hardwired cable to NES controller port |
NES Advantage
The NES Advantage is an arcade-style controller released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 by Asciiware and distributed by Nintendo of America. Positioned between home console peripherals and dedicated arcade hardware, it was marketed to owners of the Nintendo Entertainment System seeking arcade-like controls for titles such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, and Contra. Its release intersected with the late 1980s expansion of third-party accessory makers including ASCII Corporation and retail channels such as Toysrus and KB Toys.
The accessory targeted players familiar with coin-operated cabinets from venues like Chuck E. Cheese and arcades operated by companies such as Sega and Capcom (company). It combined a large, weighted base, twin joystick handles, and turbo functionality to emulate the feel of machines like the Neo Geo and cabinets produced by Taito Corporation. At launch it received attention from publications including Nintendo Power and mainstream periodicals covering the home video game market recovery after the Video Game Crash of 1983.
Physically, the unit resembled a tabletop arcade control panel with an aluminum trim, chrome-plated joystick with a bat-top shaft, and multi-function buttons. The housing incorporated a non-slip base similar to arcade control consoles deployed by Atari, Inc. and Midway Games. Prominent features included a turbo dial enabling adjustable rapid-fire rates, a slow-motion toggle that used rapid on-off input to simulate slow play favored in titles from Capcom and Konami. It also included two controller ports allowing it to act as Controller 1 or Controller 2 with a switch, paralleling multiport accessories produced for the Commodore 64 and Sega Master System.
Internally the device mapped standard NES controller signals—clock, latch, and data lines—through discrete hardware to the arcade controls, matching signaling conventions established by the Nintendo Entertainment System controller protocol. Turbo functionality was implemented with an adjustable duty cycle oscillator, akin to circuits found in third-party peripherals for Atari 2600 and ZX Spectrum expansions. The control used microswitches for buttons and a ball-bearing pivot with leaf-switch contacts in the joystick assembly, design choices reminiscent of components supplied by firms such as Sanwa Denshi and Happ Controls used in authentic cabinets. Power for the turbo oscillator derived from the NES controller port voltage rails without external supply, complying with the electrical limitations discussed in technical bulletins of the era by Nintendo Co., Ltd..
The face featured two large circular buttons labeled A and B, mimicking arcade button spacing common to cabinets by Sega and Capcom (company). Additional smaller buttons provided turbo enable and slow-motion engage, while a recessed reset switch duplicated the console reset action accessible to NES owners. Twin cable exits permitted orientation for left- or right-handed players; a selector switch allowed the unit to present itself to the console as either the primary controller or the secondary controller, paralleling dual-controller adapters used in competitive play promoted by events like the Nintendo World Championships. The joystick's tension and microswitch feel echoed professional sticks used in tournaments hosted at venues affiliated with Twin Galaxies.
Contemporary reviews in magazines such as Nintendo Power and Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the unit's arcade authenticity and sturdy construction, while critics highlighted its size and incompatibility with certain titles requiring diagonal precision, an issue also noted with similar peripherals from ASCII Corporation and Vic Tokai. Sales performance benefited from the NES's dominant market share in the late 1980s and accessory bundling strategies used by Nintendo of America. The controller influenced later licensed and unlicensed peripherals for platforms including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis, shaping consumer expectations for turbo and ergonomic design.
While the original 1987 release remained largely unchanged, minor regional variants appeared with different trim and labeling for distribution in markets serviced by Mattel-era licensing partners. Third-party clones and derivatives emerged from manufacturers like Mad Catz and Pelican Accessories in later console generations, incorporating microcontroller-based turbo systems and USB adapters for compatibility with modern systems such as Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation family. Collectible reproductions and replica projects have been produced by enthusiast groups tied to communities on platforms such as Reddit and vendor marketplaces associated with eBay.
The controller occupies a niche among collectors of NES memorabilia and arcade history, often surfacing in auctions at specialist houses that also handle video game collecting lots and museum acquisitions by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution's pop culture initiatives. Condition, original packaging, and provenance relating to promotional appearances at events like the Consumer Electronics Show affect market value. Its influence persists in modern arcade-style controllers and fight sticks used in tournaments sanctioned by organizations including EVO.
Category:Nintendo accessories