Updated arcade stick mod
Saturday March 26, 2005
So, I’ve done a bunch of research and question-asking and reading and cursing and gamestopping and some more reading and some more question-asking, etc. When I originally built my custom arcade sticks, I used the PCB’s from old PSX digital-only controllers, since they were the easiest to hack and solder. These worked really well for me (in combination with some PSX-to-USB converters I got from Radio Shack for $10) with PC games. Both Linux and Windows see the arcade sticks as regular joystick devices and they work perfectly fine with M.A.M.E. and the TOTALLY cool Killer Instinct emulator.
Anyway, as I’ve blogged much about before, along came the Xbox and Street Fighter Anniversary Collection into my life and with it my hopes that I could use my arcade sticks with it. And, as I’ve blogged much about before, this dream was smashed to oblivion due to the Dreambox converters that I bought from LikSang being unable to work with non-analog PSX controllers.
So I modded a new controller a few nights ago (Gamestop is wonderful!) and replaced the digital PCB for my arcade stick with it. I used SpiffyShoes PSX A-series controller hack which lets you do a completely no-solder hack on a A-series dual-shock PS1 controller. I only had some spare CAT-5 lying around to use for the wire, and it was REALLY painfully slow and frustrating trying to use its 24-gauge twisted-pair wires to plug into the ribbon terminal. I’m not completely happy with it, as it looks a bit unstable, not having the wires actually secured to the terminal in any way, and I’m not sure if I want to leave it as it is or replace it with a soldered PS1 H-series PCB, but at the very least, I hooked it up to SFAC through my Dreambox converter and it works perfectly.
Here are some pictures of my mod (not pretty on the inside, I admit it), including the closeup of the no-solder PCB board. I’m worried that the wires are going to come out one of these days soon.
But for now, I’m happy being able to use the little bugger on Xbox live. =:)
Happy gaming….
Hey, I own Marvel Vs Capcom 2 on XBOX, and i got this one controller converter from Radio Shack…so I play MvC2 using my PS1 controller, and it also works on a PS1 Arcade stick just fine…but the thing is, the arcade stick is wack, and i want one that’s really easy to press the buttons n stuff. The thing is, i wanna custom make the graphic on the arcade stick…like, im not familar at all with the acutal building of the arcade stick, but i want to buy a good arcade stick in which i can customize the graphic….do you know of any place that i can get an arcade stick that i could customize the graphic?? do u make your own? if u can answer any of my questions, plz get back at me: xxpakavelixx@hotmail.com OR AIM: Hott Sowce. THank you.
Hey Ali,
Yeah, I’ve heard of the converter you got from Radio Shack–I think I heard that it does a pretty good job. Apparently WalMart used to sell one too.
As far as building a stick on your own… it’s pretty easy! The art part is easy–just search on the internet for street fighter graphics, then use those to make your own custom design. That’s what I did. The controller part is a bit harder, depending on how much work you want to put into it. Basically, if you can find a box to use to hold the controller, then it’s much easier. I went with making my own box, which took more time. Soldering/hooking up the internals isn’t that hard either. I only just started doing this kind of stuff when I wanted to build my own controllers. And for the arcade parts themselves, just go to Happs controls and buy what you want. I know this is kind of vague, but if you just start searching the Internet for information on “arcade controller hacks”, you’ll find tons. Here’s some links I found helpful:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jdpyle1/controls_playstation.htm
http://www.geocities.com/armad1ll0/images/Tutorials/Dualshock_H.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~spiffyshoes/DualShockHack/
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,25469.msg209725.html
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jdpyle1/controls.htm
http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/gamepad/Hacking%20a%20Dualshock%20PSOne%20pad,%20good%20411.htm
http://tobywong.50megs.com/ (AWESOME hack!)
http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18815 (this one will help you a lot, I think–it even has a shopping list for arcade controller parts)
http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=177
http://www.geocities.com/armad1ll0/systems/Xbox_stick.htm
I’d love to hear how you get on with this adventure!! =:)
I am looking to have a arcade controller made for me. Please contact me at ajross34@hotmail.com
I enjoy this post very much, I’m going to link back to your blog in my next article.