Can I do this with a 360 controller setup?

[fantoboy]

Ok- so I wanna build a control panel that can be switched from a pc to a 360.
I'm guessing the best way is to hack 2 360 controllers.

My main question is can I split the usb cable (after going through a usb hub probably) and have it going into the pc and 360 without actually having to flip a switch??  Or am I better off using a switch/switchbox?
2nd question is can I wire any arcade joystick and buttons with a 360 mod?  Or are people just buying 360 joysticks and using that hardware?
3rd question- does the pc just recognize them as usb controllers? Then I should use xpadder or joy2key to set them up? Can I do button shifts with a setup like this? Like press p1 and p2 start for esc?
4th question- any recommendations on the best 360 controllers for the mod?

thanks!

[Donkbaca]

1) you can't split the signal, as far as I know you need a switch like this:
http://sewelldirect.com/m/product.aspx?productId=153
2) easiest way is to get a 360 stick, like the hori ex2, you can find them for 40 bucks.  You COULD get a pad and hack it, but seeing as how the stick is the same price I would just buy the stick.
3) the pc sees them as USB controllers, they work fine in MAME and other emus, no other software needed.
4) see answer to number 2. Hori ex2. I like them, if you don't like the hardware, you can just swap out sticks and buttons on your cp

[fantoboy]

Thanks for the reply.  I'm guessing I can't do button shifts as a joystick.  Do xpadder or joy2key support shifting?

[Donkbaca]

Why do you need to use a shift? The xbox sticks have ten buttons each?

[fantoboy]

I'm trying to keep the CP as clean and uncluttered as possible.  I was hoping to just do 2 players- 6 buttons each (street fighter style) with a start button for each.  8th button would be the coin door.  The problem is exiting emulators and navigating mugen need an esc key.  I didn't want to add another button to the CP.  I was hoping maybe I could do the traditional shift by pushing 1p start + 2p start.  It wouldn't be a big deal if I had to add another button to the CP.  Can I get away with playing most 360 games without the 2 additional buttons (I guess I'd be removing black and white or RB and LB plus the 360 guide button).  I'm mostly planning on playing SF4 and MVC3 on it.

[Donkbaca]

The buttons you would have would be all the 4 face buttons, 2 shoulders, 2 triggers, and start an back. You could have the face buttons and triggers be your 6, left and right shoulders can be coin and start, then you can auto hot key the select and back buttons to be whatever you want, so you could have up to 4 admin buttons. Use them as select and start on rmulators and then use autohotkey to make pressing them both esc.

What front end are you going to use? I know gameex has built in support to automap exit keys for emus. Makes it pretty easy

[fantoboy]

I'm going to be using Hyperspin.  I'm torn about how many buttons I'll need.  I'm thinking I may need more for various 360 games, and then I'm thinking maybe I wanna do psone and n64 emulation, requiring more buttons. But I really like the look of a simple, uncluttered CP.  Ugh

[Donkbaca]

The hori ex2 should suit you fine. The only downside is no analog support