XE-1 AP

XE-1 AP
Made for: Sega Mega Drive
Manufacturer: Dempa
Release Date RRP Code

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The XE-1 AP is an unusual analogue controller manufactured by Dempa. It is compatible with the Sega Mega Drive, but also with a number of other Japanese consoles and computers (some require extra adapters). The device was not released outside of Japan, though is revolutionary in many ways due to the fact it was released in 1989 - nearly a decade before analogue features of this nature became mainstream.

The controller has ten face buttons, four shoulder buttons, an analogue stick and an analogue slider (which can be rotated to suit the user). Many of these buttons exist as switches to maintain compatibility with the computers the controller supports. Others are turbo switches, or are simply not used in the majority of circumstances. There is also a switch to turn the controller back to "digital mode", allowing it to remain compatible with all games on each system (aside from computer games that do not support joysticks).

Several games support the XE-1 AP's analogue controls (including some first-party Sega releases):

• Mega Drive:
  • After Burner II
  • Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II
  • Fastest 1
  • Galaxy Force II
  • Musha Aleste: Full Metal Fighter Ellinor
• Mega CD:
  • After Burner III
  • Night Striker
  • Star Blade
• 32X:
  • After Burner Complete
  • Space Harrier

It is currently unknown if support remains for this controller in the westernised versions of these games. It is also unknown if any home computer ports of Sega arcade games support the unit.

Gallery

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  JP box (front)

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  JP flyer