custom joystick?

[Darth Xanax]

I have been searching the Internet for a fully analog duel joystick and cannot
seemed to find one a search has brought me to these forums.  My situation
is kind of odd I have complete paralysis in my right arm due to a motorcycle
accident therefore I have adapted to playing video games with my feet.

I was curious if someone would be willing to build me a custom joystick for the
PlayStation 2 of course it would have to be someone that is very well skilled
in making custom joystick's.  Because of my situation this joystick will take
a little bit more abuse and therefore would have to be built with the most durable
parts.  I will pay handsomely for your services if it is indeed built to my
specifications if you have the proper skills to take on such a project and think
you can help please contact me.

wehrmacht1@aol.com

in the subject of the e-mail please type custom joystick

Here is a rough sketch of what I'm looking for

[paigeoliver]

Hmmm. I am thinking Happ analog joysticks with the balltop chopped off and larger round metal discs put there instead (to push them with your feet more easily), combined with those oversized buttons used in Pop n' Music.

Might be easier to do if you would take a PC compatible setup instead of a playstation one. I am not sure if there is a custom analog solution available for playstation.

[tmasman]

Hmmm. I am thinking Happ analog joysticks with the balltop chopped off and larger round metal discs put there instead (to push them with your feet more easily), combined with those oversized buttons used in Pop n' Music.

Wow... That would make for an expensive controller... (@ $125 per stick + customizations).

I was thinking a couple of moded flight sticks with the PS controller pots put in place of the originals...
The L3 & R3 switches would be a trick, unless they could be separate buttons.

• How big are you wanting the buttons to be? Typical arcade buttons are just under 1". They would definately be up to any abuse you could throw at them.
• What are you wanting the analog sticks to look like? How big? Do you like paigeoliver's idea of large round metal discs on top of the sticks? Would you rather grab them with your toes, or put your feet on top of them?
• How big are you wanting the overall size of the control panel to be?

Just trying to help with project requirements gathering...

As paigeoliver said... The sticks will be the most difficult part to get interfaced. many "ready-made" joysticks that can replace the analog controls on a PS controller...

This would definately be in interesting project.  I'm not sure if I've got the time to do something like this now, but I'll keep my eyes on this thread to see if anyone else jumps in.

[Flinkly]

um, the quasicon controllers might do the trick, but the analog joysticks might be hard to use due to their small size.

[Darth Xanax]

Thanks for the quick responses and everyone's input I will try to answer these
questions best I can keep in mind though I'm not too familiar with some of
the parts that were mentioned and building a joystick altogether.

The L3 and R3 can be incorporated as individual buttons I was thinking
about this one myself if they were built into the analog stick I would probably
be pressing than prematurely when I apply pressure on the stick with my foot.

As for the sticks themselves I find that a stick with a ball on top works
best for me I usually position the ball between my big toe and pointer toe.
I would probably have to take a look at the round metal disc you referred to
as I am not sure how that would work for me but like I said I don't know
much about building joysticks so I'm open for any suggestions.

1 inch buttons would be fine that's what I use on my PC controller as long
as they do not protrude too high up they would need to be kind of flat so
I can just roll my big toe off of the one I am currently on to the next one
without actually lifting my whole foot up to get to it.

As for overall size I guess no bigger than it has to be just as long as
there is room for everything I need.  Also the buttons would have to
start at least 4 or 5 inches from the bottom of the cabinet so I have
room to place at least half of my foot on it and my heel would just hang off
the rest.

As for price I'm not really too concerned about that as long as something like
this can be done of course I am imagining it would not go over $500.
But it would definitely have to be fully analog and compatible with PlayStation 2
there are so many games that I cannot play because of that reason, but
my main motivation for getting this done now is the episode three-game
that will be out tomorrow.

If anyone thinks they can help please draw up your own blueprint and I will go
over it to see if we are on the same page, thanks

Here is a controller I am very comfortable with the arc of the buttons is perfect
and the placement of everything else is as well I am picturing something
as close to this as possible but with the added features that I need.

[Flinkly]

um, i was just thinking about this, but what about lowering the joystick into the panel so that most of the controls were close to level with the panel?

[Flinkly]

i actually just had an idea.  since your comfortable with that one, how about you just send that to one of us, we'll buy another one that is similar, hack a playstation two pad (maybe even add in vibration technology) and add the second joystick.  the largest cost would be manufacturing and buying the second joystick, but it is very doable.  we could even add in the lowered joystick idea, if you liked that. 

my biggest worry would be the spacing of the controls.  i wouldn't want either joystick get in the way of using either foot to hit buttons.  i would love to incorporate the lowered joystick idea though, but with that comes increased depth to the whole unit.  and you could add weights to keep it in place...

oh man...so many ideas.  well, hopefully you see this all soon and someone can get on top of it.

also, if anyone has an arcade pad like his, and it's analog, i'd be interested in knowing if it runs off the same information as a regular sony pad.  or if anyone knows that, i'd be interested to hear it.

as for paige's plate topped joystick idea, he was just talking about fabricating a round disk, so that controlling the joystick might be easier.

hope to hear from you soon.

[tmasman]

I would bet that the controller he posted was digital...
Wouldn't be any good to hack that stick...

Question F/ Darth Xanax...
If they were mounted right... Would the Analog controls from a regular PS2 controller work for you? The L3 & R3 could still be separated out, but I was just curious if those little "sticks" would be any good to you.

If not, I assume we're talking a pair of full-size ball-top analog joysticks.

Question F/ BYOACers...
Could the PS2 analog controls be hacked to a PC analog stick? (I'm sure the pots could be physically hacked to one) but what are the ratings (size/resistance/wtf?) of the PS2 analog pots anyhow? Just curious if I pulled apart a PC flight stick & wired the pots to a PS2 hack, would it work?

[Darth Xanax]

Wow I wasn't too sure if what I was looking for can be constructed but after
looking at that monster that you post it I guess it is possible.  I'm not too sure
exactly what you mean by lowering the joystick into the panel do you mean
taking the joystick near the top and putting it were them two analog sticks
are at the bottom?  If so I don't think that will work to good the best positioning
for me would be what I have in my blueprint above everything would be easily
assessable for me if it were like that.

As for hacking other joysticks and Sony pads I can send you whatever you need
I have a bunch of stuff I've ripped through a bunch of joysticks in the past decade
and my friend said save the parts you never know.

I'm going to dig up the few more pictures and post them here I also saw that
he replied to my post shortly after I made it I will check these boards more
frequently.  Thanks so much for your help and ideas

[Darth Xanax]

Unfortunately them little sticks would not work to good would definitely want to
go with a pair of full-size ball-top analog joysticks

[tmasman]

I'm not too sure exactly what you mean by lowering the joystick into the panel

He's talking about recessing them in a hole into the control panel to keep them closer to the surface, instead of sticking up 3 - 4 inches above the panel...
I'm guessing that wouldn't work too well for you if you're already used to that stick you posted a picture of.

I'm still curious... Would you be able to use the PS2 analog "sticks" if they were mounted on a larger control panel, or are they too small?

[Darth Xanax]

definitely too small might work for a D-pad though

[Kremmit]

1 inch buttons would be fine that's what I use on my PC controller as long
as they do not protrude too high up they would need to be kind of flat so
I can just roll my big toe off of the one I am currently on to the next one
without actually lifting my whole foot up to get to it.

Looks like he wants Sanwa  or Happ Competition buttons. 

If we're trying to put balltops on Happ analog sticks, Minwah managed to hack a J-stick balltop to one.  I'm concerned about the long throw, though.  Maybe if the shaft were shortened, so the ball was closer to the joystick base, the range of motion wouldn't be so extreme.  Would also help with the short stick idea.

[Flinkly]

well, i need some info to continue on with this in my mind. 

while i have an xbox, i've never got any of those "arcade" pads.  are the sticks just digital?  i guess that rains on my parade. 

the throw of the analog stick might be a problem.  well, i need some help on this one guys.

[Darth Xanax]

That PlayStation controller that I posted a picture of is definitely digital.

[tmasman]

Shibby!
I found our answer to the analog joystick problem...
e-Bay to the resque

That seller has a few of these listed f/ BIN $10 + 12 shipping.  We could even hack that controller instead of sacrificing another PS2 pad (if there's a way to add the second joy...).

Who's going to take the lead on this one?
I can put this thing together if no one else steps up.

I'll give it a couple of days for some one to get started, if no one does, I'll buy 2 of those controllers to see what we can do with them.

<edit>
My wife's going to kill me... She doesn't mind the hobby, as long as it doesn't get in the way of her Honey-Do List... eh... Oh well, this is WAY more fun.

- tmasman

[Flinkly]

nope, digital joystick.  the analog part is the buttons.  poor advertising, but it's a chineese product, so they probably don't even understand their mistake.  i read about it over at liksang, and the review was horrible.  i also tried to find someone actually make a comment about the joystick, but the only one i saw was "8 way joystick".  better luck next time.  actually, i don't think there are any playstation arcade joysticks that are analog.  strange.

[tmasman]

nope, digital joystick.  the analog part is the buttons.  poor advertising, but it's a chineese product, so they probably don't even understand their mistake.  i read about it over at liksang, and the review was horrible.  i also tried to find someone actually make a comment about the joystick, but the only one i saw was "8 way joystick".  better luck next time.  actually, i don't think there are any playstation arcade joysticks that are analog.  strange.

BAH!
They should be sued! 
The buttons one a playstation aren't analog... The only analog part of a Playstation controller is the joystick... ug.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll just start looking at how realistic it would be to hack the PS controller pots to another stick... I think that would be cheaper/easier than 2 $85 arcade analog sticks... (& then figuring out how to get them connected to a hacked pad).

- tmasman

[Flinkly]

i think it would be easier to hack two analog joysticks to a ps2 pad...and the buttons are kinda analog.  they register slight button pushes and full button pushes.  most games don't use this though.  the xbox is the same way.  only game i know that uses it is that dead or alive beach volleyball game (seriously, my girlfriend thought it might be a video game we could play together (rented), she can't handle the dual joystick halo action...).

[Nannuu]

I'm not sure how to get the analog sticks to work on a PS hack.  But you could get Ultimarc's Xbox encoder to make the panel.  Then use one of the cheap converters that allow you to use Xbox controllers on a PS.  Sounds like it would work to me.

[Flinkly]

but the joysticks would be digital, not analog, right?

[Darth Xanax]

I am glad to see that this project is actually taking off I appreciate everyone's
help and dedication.  If you have to get the 2 $85 arcade analog sticks
to get things rolling I don't mind paying the extra money.  Also I was wondering
how realistic it would be to have some kind of interchangeable cord for the
future console systems? This way I don't have to have another one made
in the future, Or maybe even for current console system's like xbox?

[Flinkly]

with most interfaces, such things already exist.

[tmasman]

My take on this...
Button should be digital (microswitches)...
Sticks should be analog (potentiometers)...
D-Pad could be 4 buttons, or some other workable arangement of switches.

I would personally build it based on a PS2 controller...

There are no converters to use PC controllers on a Playstation. Too many possibilities & no way to load drivers on console systems...
But there are converters to use PS controllers on just about any system available (including PC).

[Darth Xanax]

 

[Kremmit]

Quasicon has stated that they will not sell parts, only complete units.  Too bad, as they have analog buttons as well as those cute little analog sticks.

[Flinkly]

quasicon!!!!

but really, i'll try to get a hold of kevin steele to get some info on that quasicon controller.

[tmasman]

quasicon!!!!

but really, i'll try to get a hold of kevin steele to get some info on that quasicon controller. 

eh...
Too much $$$ & 100% proprietary...

[nullb0y]

couldnt you grab a ps analog controler and mount a stick (coustom built) to the analog?

[Flinkly]

there's more to it than that, but that is basically what we want to do.  some of the more difficult things are finding an analog joystick that can be converted to a ball top, what kind of pots would work with a ps2 gamepad, and a whole slew of questions after those are answered.  what we need is someone who knows about ps2 gamepads and their "hackability" to analog controls.

[Darth Xanax]

Is it at all possible to put Turbo switches for the buttons?

[tmasman]

Is it at all possible to put Turbo switches for the buttons?

If by turbo you mean auto repeating (when you hold them down, it'd just be a matter of hacking a controller with that function.

so yes it would be possible.

- tmasman

<edit>
Removed all the "0"s.... nephew was in my lap that night & I didn't realize he was hitting the keys until I read my post just now... heh...

[Darth Xanax]

Cool can we incorporate that in there as well?  Anything else I can do on my
end let me know, thanks

[Darth Xanax]

Here are two controllers that I use the first one is for Nintendo 64 it works
with every analog game I have played.  The second one is a little weird its PS2
it works with some analog games but not all let me know if you need any parts
from any of these and I can send them to ever is working on this.

[Flinkly]

i didn't think it would relate, but this seems to have all the info we need to succesfully make a controller using analog joysticks from happs and a ps2 controller...i found the usefull info on page nine.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,28718.0.html

[Darth Xanax]

Hi guys, I was just wondering if there was any updates for this project?

[Flinkly]

being a starving college student, life has been really bogging me down recently.  even my own arcade has been put on hold.   check out that other post i linked to in my last post for ideas and tech that you might want to incorporate into some sort of an idea.  I'd help but i don't have the time or money to put into this right now, although i'm full of ideas.

[Darth Xanax]

Can someone post a couple of links on where to get the best analogs sticks from.
Thanks

[largemann]

My first thought was to just mount a balltop shaft directly onto the PS2 analog sticks, then just hack the pad to pushbuttons.
I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work.

I've attached a picture of what it looks like once the small rubber tops to the sticks are removed.

[Darth Xanax]

Actually my friend thinks he can build this so he wants me to buy the parts
and he's going to assemble and to tell you the truth I would rather start like that
so if anyone knows any good online stores to buy parts please post a link here, thanks