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Its been a while since i've been here. New project idea.

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PixelCloud:

Well i'm back and i'm in my new house. Anyways i've decided to start my new project, its going to a set of arcade controls. This is my basic idea.

There are goign to be 3 parts to it.

The Controller Hub

This will contain the computer inferface device (ipac mini) and it will be wired to two input devices. The controller hub will also have enough room to expand to a larger contoller inferface and add room for two new inputs. (see attached drawing) its just a quick drawing i did in ms paint.

THe idea is taht the players can hold their own controllers (much like playing a console) and wont have to sit next to each other (needed for parties). The wires from the ipac mini will be spliced into another wire (usb, rg45, ???) so the cnnecting wire wont be big. Then when it gets to the controller it is connccted to the switches and sticks.

The Controllers (1 for each player)

The main advantage of having the controllers seperate from each other and the inferface is that the players an have more flexbility to where they sit, etc,etc

Im' going to make two controllers right now that have 1 8-way stick, 6 buttons, and a start and credit button. The wires connecting the switches will be wired into another cable and will connect to the main hub.

EDIT one: The controllers are also goign to be designed in an ergonomic way with the joystick being rotated about 10 degrees clockwise (fromt the vertical) and the button layout the same way (but counter clockwise fromt he horizontal)

So i have some questions...

1) will this work?
2) has anyone ever done something like this before?
3) any suggestions?



EDIT:

I plan on using brushed aluminium for the controller hub and im hoping to use plastics for the controllers.

oldsage:

I'm actually designing something simmilar, only mine will seat inside an arcade cab and will only be present for easy expenabilty... Hope it works out for you, remember to post pics...
My only suggetion is that you use DB15's or something, it has more pins the RG45 and (to my eyes) looks better...

EDIT: BTW, why do you use 4 ways? How many 4 way games are there that use 6 buttons???

Grasshopper:

I've done exactly the same thing but I've only built one controller so far.

I hacked a standard Ipac into an old Belkin printer switchbox. The hub connects to the control panels using two 36 pin Centronics cables.

The great thing about using a printer switchbox is that they are sturdy and come with pre-cut holes for the Centronics sockets.

You could do the same thing using a DB25 switchbox but I prefer Centronics connectors because they are sturdier and clip into place.



PixelCloud:


--- Quote from: oldsage on March 27, 2005, 02:19:03 pm ---I'm actually designing something simmilar, only mine will seat inside an arcade cab and will only be present for easy expenabilty... Hope it works out for you, remember to post pics...
My only suggetion is that you use DB15's or something, it has more pins the RG45 and (to my eyes) looks better...

EDIT: BTW, why do you use 4 ways? How many 4 way games are there that use 6 buttons???

--- End quote ---


well they are happs supers so i guess they are 8 ways.. but i just looked at the amount of switches and saw 4... so i said 4 way...

whoops

PixelCloud:


--- Quote from: Grasshopper on March 27, 2005, 02:19:29 pm ---I've done exactly the same thing but I've only built one controller so far.

I hacked a standard Ipac into an old Belkin printer switchbox. The hub connects to the control panels using two 36 pin Centronics cables.

The great thing about using a printer switchbox is that they are sturdy and come with pre-cut holes for the Centronics sockets.

You could do the same thing using a DB25 switchbox but I prefer Centronics connectors because they are sturdier and clip into place.



--- End quote ---

i was thiking of using those cables for mine too, the problem i asw though was that they arent *that* flexible and that might pose a problem.

Did you do a PCB hack? or wire to wire?

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