Controller PCB recycling question

[retroisbest]

Hi there,
I have a USB SNES Controller that i would like to recycle for my project, but need some help.

If i were to dremel the PCB into its sections (so DPAD, X,Y,A,B Start and Select and the shoulder buttons) how can i trace back what ground is? can i use a common ground to wire the grounds to a single ground point?)

I know its a simple question but its puzzled me for ages.

Thankyou for all your time and help.

[Anshum]

I think there is a common ground on this pad. I just finished 2 days ago hacking 2 gamepads for my project.
Firstly you need to check if all the buttons use that common ground. To do that plug your controller into a pc and go to devices and printers then select usb controller then right click on it and select controller settings then click on properties, after doing that keep the windows opened and take a small wire and start connecting the points and ground.
If they all have a common ground then solder a wire to the ground and daisy chain the push-buttons and joystick.
And you don't have to dremel, I did mine by just soldering the wires on those silver points. It may not be the best way but it works and is less of a hassle.

[retroisbest]

I think there is a common ground on this pad. I just finished 2 days ago hacking 2 gamepads for my project.
Firstly you need to check if all the buttons use that common ground. To do that plug your controller into a pc and go to devices and printers then select usb controller then right click on it and select controller settings then click on properties, after doing that keep the windows opened and take a small wire and start connecting the points and ground.
If they all have a common ground then solder a wire to the ground and daisy chain the push-buttons and joystick.
And you don't have to dremel, I did mine by just soldering the wires on those silver points. It may not be the best way but it works and is less of a hassle.

Thankyou for the useful tips Anshum,
Unfortunately i still need to dremel it to pieces as its going into an original gameboy case (DMG-01) and the pcb is too large.
can i still daisy chain the ground to a single ground point? (Im using a raspberry pi 2 GPIO's and retrogame which allows the GPIOs to act as key presses)

[Anshum]

Yes you can, just attach it to the point on the board which says GND