Author Topic: PS2/XBOX arcadestick w/ analog controls perfect for hacking (Read 8729 times)

19rjs99 · « **on:** August 17, 2005, 02:25:48 pm »

I just bought on at lunch today. This could be a great way to make analog available on our control panels and it's wireless. I will post my impressions as soon as I can.

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801990

Stingray · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:02:05 pm »

Why doesn't anyone make one with two analog sticks? Have the people who make these things totally failed to notice the other analog stick on all three of the current gen controllers?

-S

19rjs99 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 03:45:28 pm »

This one has 2. They look almost like trackballs but snap back to center. they are located on both sides of the buttons. Not to mention this has a sweet pearl finish with chrome accents around the buttons.

Stingray · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 04:18:35 pm »

Oh, is that what those two white things below the buttons are? Interesting. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

-S

pointdablame · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 05:48:17 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on August 17, 2005, 04:18:35 pm

Oh, is that what those two white things below the buttons are? Interesting. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

-S

toyfiend2004 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2005, 01:52:58 pm »

keep us posted, dude.

brain21 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2005, 03:27:14 pm »

Any first impressions yet? Showed the link to a couple of guys at work and we are all very interested and anxiously awaiting a review!!!!

Thanks!

Brain21

19rjs99 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2005, 06:10:08 pm »

Here's some pics... The stick works well but the case is all plastic. It's a little on the light side. Might just have to add my Xbox to my cab now...

pointdablame · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2005, 08:16:07 pm »

so the analog balls actually work well? what do they feel like exactly... is it a smooth trackball like motion, or is it restricted?

19rjs99 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2005, 12:14:41 am »

As you can see in the upper right of the last pic the control is half a ball. They are a little stiffer than a regular xbox analog. The only reason I referenced a trackball was their appearance not their feel. They are restrictive and snap to center. I was thinking of removing the ball top on the analog and adding a small joy made of carbon fiber. I would like to find joystick tops kinda like the Quasicon.

Notice the joystick is also dual shock compatable.

Kremmit · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:21:05 am »

Curious to see what's on the other side of the PCB that's under the lil' analog thumbsticks.

19rjs99 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2005, 09:45:10 am »

I will try to take more pics tonight...

brain21 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2005, 11:45:50 am »

Is it me, or does the joystick look short?

So, how does it play? How do the buttons & Joystick feel? Solid, or what? What are your opinions on the convex buttons vs the normal concave?

Brain21

19rjs99 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2005, 12:25:12 pm »

Buttons are a little on the stiff side. I do prefer concave buttons to the convex. That's just a matter of preference. However, once you start playing you forget all about the style of button. The joy is a short throw which is good for fighting games.

I picked this up with the intention of hacking it into a CP so the buttons and joy are not a concern. I really wanted it for the analog controls. I probably won't get to do this until winter though. Too many other projects...

19rjs99 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2005, 05:51:01 pm »

Here are the pics of the analog controller...

yalborap · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2005, 05:53:57 pm »

I was messing with this very joystick earlier today in the store, and I noticed the little balls can click in like analog sticks.

This DOES create an R3/L3 button, correct?

And I noticed it was wireless. Does that work well, or is it terrible?

versapak · « **Reply #16 on:** August 29, 2005, 06:23:00 pm »

Yep, the stick clicks would definitely be L3 & R3.

It looks like those are just the standard analog sticks that are found in the gamepads (Maybe bigger? Can't really judge the size from the pics). They just don't have the stick protruding from the round base.

That is a very interesting and cool idea for including analog support into a handheld like that.

I dunno that it would be anything special for an arcade cabinet control panel though, as it is no different than what we have in all the regular controllers anyway.

Kremmit · « **Reply #17 on:** August 29, 2005, 08:12:42 pm »

So cute!

19rjs99 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 29, 2005, 10:05:12 pm »

My intentions are to put the analog controls into a control panel for consol use. These are about the size of a golf ball. I may add some sort of small stick to the top just for the feel. Maybe just a small plastic dowel peice.

The response is really good for a wireless device. I don't notice any lag. The case itself is just plastic and fairly light. The joy is also rather loud but they are just standard micro switches, you can add your own cherry's if you like. The buttons are very quite.

yalborap · « **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2005, 10:28:33 pm »

If there's no lag, I'll have to pick one of these up.

How does it get power, though? I didn't notice any obvious battery compartment when looking through the various imagery of it opened up, and it seems kinda....difficult to imagine it would work with absolutely no power source.

19rjs99 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2005, 12:13:43 am »

3 AAA batteries

There is a small box on th front side of the controller. It also has the on/off and the vibration on/off switches.

yalborap · « **Reply #21 on:** August 30, 2005, 08:58:06 am »

AAA, you say? Doesn't sound too bad.....

Any idea how long the batteries last? Sorry for all the questions, but I want to make sure this thing is really going to work well for my needs.

Minwah · « **Reply #22 on:** August 30, 2005, 09:07:27 am »

Those analog sticks don't look any easier to hack than normal console pads to me...am I missing something?

yalborap · « **Reply #23 on:** August 30, 2005, 09:26:20 am »

Quote from: Minwah on August 30, 2005, 09:07:27 am

Those analog sticks don't look any easier to hack than normal console pads to me...am I missing something?

They be built into the control panel already. One could swap out the joysticks and buttons for top of the line stuff, and keep the analog balls.

Minwah · « **Reply #24 on:** August 30, 2005, 10:08:44 am »

Quote from: yalborap on August 30, 2005, 09:26:20 am

They be built into the control panel already. One could swap out the joysticks and buttons for top of the line stuff, and keep the analog balls.

I see...so hack the digital part of the controller and keep the analog part for usability. That makes sense, I was just reading (incorrectly) from the title that the analog part could be easily hacked.

Stingray · « **Reply #25 on:** August 30, 2005, 10:56:38 am »

This thing looks like it's got oodles of possiblility. I think I'm gonna have to get one.

-S

Stingray · « **Reply #26 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:41:27 pm »

I ran out & bought one at lunch today. After having a chance to see it in person, I have to wonder why Naki didn't just use analog sticks similar to the ones on a standard dualshock controller instead of the little hemispheres. I'm thinking that possibly they did it that way so you have the option of using your fingertips on the analog controls instead of your thumbs. I'm sure it will become more clear after I've had a chance to actually play it.

Overall first impression is that it looks to be higher quality than I initially thought it would be. It's both bigger and heavier than I expected. The buttons are slightly smaller than standard arcade buttons, but they're not irritatingly small or anything. I don't know if they are all this way, but the one I got had the PS2 control names on the buttons and the X-Box names next to the buttons. This works out pretty well for me, since I intend to use it with a PS2. I imagine that I'll play with it some as-is before I decide if I want to just leave it or build it's guts into another enclosure with real arcade controls.

-S

yalborap · « **Reply #27 on:** August 30, 2005, 06:39:04 pm »

The joystick seems to work rather nicely, but I have two issues with it:

One, I cannot seem to hit the triggers and analog stick buttons at the same time. Not good, as that's how I return to the menu on my xbox.

Two, if I continue trying to get it to work, the signal dies. Also not good.

Anything I can do to fix either of these issues?

Stingray · « **Reply #28 on:** August 31, 2005, 09:15:59 am »

What do you mean "the signal dies"? I don't think I had that problem, but I don't think I'm trying to do the same thing you're trying to do. Mine seemed to have not lost the signal at all, even when I left the game on, but switched the controller off for about a half hour or so.

After having played with mine a bit I'm even more perplexed as to why they chose to use the little half balls instead of sticks. They seem very awkward to me, but maybe I'm just not used to them yet. Looks like it may get hacked sooner than I thought.

-S

19rjs99 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 31, 2005, 09:55:31 am »

I agree that they are slightly on the slick side. I am considering a small graphite shaft and the tops off and old controller. The only hang up is that the edge of the "ball" acts as a restrictor to the pcb. So I will need the control panel hole to act as a restrictor if I take the "ball" off.

I have not had any issue with my signal dying either. I had the receiver on the floor across the room and the controller on my lap on the couch. I had no communication problems. Sounds like the batteries may be going dead, try new ones.

yalborap · « **Reply #30 on:** August 31, 2005, 11:17:32 am »

I am using new ones.

It only happens when I constantly try to hit the thumb-ball-buttons and the shoulder-button-buttons at the same time.

Oh well, most stuff has an exit option anyway, so it doesn't matter too much.

Stingray · « **Reply #31 on:** August 31, 2005, 11:36:11 am »

So you're hitting both of the ball-buttons and all four of the shoulder buttons or just L1 & L2 (sorry , I don't know how the X-Box lables buttons). I'll try that tonight and see if mine loses the signal.

Also, the buttons seem very stiff to me. I might take one apart and cut a coil or two out of it's spring to see if that helps.

-S

yalborap · « **Reply #32 on:** August 31, 2005, 12:57:42 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on August 31, 2005, 11:36:11 am

So you're hitting both of the ball-buttons and all four of the shoulder buttons or just L1 & L2 (sorry , I don't know how the X-Box lables buttons). I'll try that tonight and see if mine loses the signal.

Also, the buttons seem very stiff to me. I might take one apart and cut a coil or two out of it's spring to see if that helps.

-S

L1 and R1(left trigger and right trigger).

19rjs99 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 31, 2005, 12:59:46 pm »

I will try it on my Xbox later...

19rjs99 · « **Reply #34 on:** September 02, 2005, 04:51:50 pm »

I am not having the any issues with lossing the signal. Even using the 4 buttons you do at the same time.

Stingray · « **Reply #35 on:** September 02, 2005, 04:53:29 pm »

I tried it on my PS2 last night. Not losing signal with that button combo either. I think you might need to return yours.

-S

yalborap · « **Reply #36 on:** September 03, 2005, 03:33:03 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 02, 2005, 04:53:29 pm

I tried it on my PS2 last night. Not losing signal with that button combo either. I think you might need to return yours.

-S

It hasn't happened since then, and it was the only one the store had. Returning it and getting another one will be....difficult, to say the least.

toyfiend2004 · « **Reply #37 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:04:01 pm »

anyone else got anything new on this item? was hoping for more feedback on it.

Stingray · « **Reply #38 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:25:33 pm »

Quote from: toyfiend2004 on September 08, 2005, 03:04:01 pm

anyone else got anything new on this item? was hoping for more feedback on it.

Do you have any specific questions?

-S

toyfiend2004 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 08, 2005, 03:48:25 pm »

just if there were anymore loss of signal. anyone tried hacking it yet? things like that.


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