DC controller of choice (for hacking)

[Lilwolf]

I was wondering... should I try to hack an official sega controller or look for any offbrands?

At the local toys-r-us they have a few different brands.  I was hoping that someone might know if any have good posts to solder onto.

Also, has anyone ever tried getting the conductive glue to hack controllers?  It seems like it might make it really really easy.

[Frostillicus]

I hacked 2 originals - they were pretty basic.  Didn't try the glue.

[gnateye]

madkatz dreampad, the 6 button style, hands down, if you find the older models, all the holes ae already in the pcb, no drilling, just stick the wire thru the hole and solder, i find them at gamestop all the time cheap, and ebgames has them too.

i have done about 6 of these so far.

[Lilwolf]

They had some madkatz purple ones.

they where a little more expensive (10 bucks).  Are they that much easier to hack?

I'm willing if it's easier.

[gnateye]

either model of madkats pads are great, but the older ones ar ehte ones with teh holes already in the pcb, you can actually see the holes if you look thru the clear part of the controller by the start button, little metal lined holes, waiting to be hacked. it really is a time saver. and a little peice of advice be carefull with the analog inputs, even though you prolly arent hacking them, dont ruin them or bend them or anything just be careful that can really mess up a dreamcast pad, i speak from experience

[Frostillicus]

madkatz dreampad, the 6 button style, hands down, if you find the older models, all the holes ae already in the pcb, no drilling, just stick the wire thru the hole and solder, i find them at gamestop all the time cheap, and ebgames has them too.

"drilling"? What would you need to drill on a non-madcatz pad - you're just soldering wires onto them.

[gnateye]

i drill thru the pcb and hte contact then slip the wire thru from the back make for very secure and clean soldering job, i dont like soldering directly onto the contact, i have broken too make solder joints taht way.

[infariot25]

i bought the whole lot of purple colored 3rd party dc controllers from my local toys r us.  I got 6 brand new ones at $5 each.  they were marked 10 like you said but they were only 5 at the register. So i say do a price check.  
I have sucessfully hacked one(5 are left).  the ones i got were harder to hack because up/down and left/right shared the same contact but used different grounds.  I believe its the exact same thing as on this site (http://members.cox.net/joysticks/)    
its the DC dream master pad.
refer to the site if i am unclear.

good luck

[gnateye]

that sounds really confusing...