Chopping up a C64 - Bad?

[RayB]

I've got one of them Commodore 64 joystick TV game devices and the joystick is just HORRIBLE.

I plan on building a better control and mounting the device's guts into it. I'm looking at a few options:

1. Take an old C64 (I have one with broken keys) and chop the case up so it's as small as possible.

2. I used to play C64 with a Wico bat-handle joystick (which was arguably the best and most popular joystick for that system). If feasible I could attempt to cram the parts into one of those. (Would probably require doubling the height of the base though.

3. Just use a project box and keep it simple.

Thoughts?

[ChadTower]

IIRC, the C64 had the same controller pinout as the 2600.  That opens up your potential donor pool quite a bit.

[MYX]

I have a C64 in my closet with disk drive, a couple of joys, printer (okidata high res!!!) and a case of game disks. Is this stuff still worth anything?

[SirPeale]

There's a site where they hacked a regular PS/2 keyboard into the joystick.  It was pretty neat.

Edit: Google is my friend: http://thedarkside.ath.cx/dtv/ports.html

[ChadTower]

I have a C64 in my closet with disk drive, a couple of joys, printer (okidata high res!!!) and a case of game disks. Is this stuff still worth anything?

Some of the games could be if they are complete and in great shape.  The box/materials are worth a lot more than the disks because of the age and fragility of 5.25" floppies.  They'd have to be specific titles, though, usually RPGs.  The rest of the hardware isn't worth as much as it would cost to ship, especially that printer.  If you have a Commodore monitor, those are still very much in demand, because of their native ability to use 15khz RGB (like an arcade monitor).

[RayB]

IIRC, the C64 had the same controller pinout as the 2600.  That opens up your potential donor pool quite a bit.

That's irrelevant. I'm taking the guts from one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Commodore-64-Games-One-Joystick/dp/B000701CSM

...and stuffing them into a new casing. I still want to keep an "all-in-one" design. No plug-in joysticks.

[ark_ader]

I got one of these for Christmas.  I agree that the control function sucks, and an alternative would be great.  I would like to know how to add a DC power supply to the unit without burning it out.

Playing Paradroid again in 5 seconds is amazing.

[Minwah]

IIRC, the C64 had the same controller pinout as the 2600.  That opens up your potential donor pool quite a bit.

Also the same as the Spectrum, Amstrad, Amiga, Atari ST etc.  Same connector as the Mega Drive (Genesis) too but I think the pinout is different for that one.

[Minwah]

I would like to know how to add a DC power supply to the unit without burning it out.

Surely just an AC adaptor would work as long as it outputs the correct voltage/current.

[miles2912]

Go to Radio Shack and buy Hummer.  I don't think there is a smaller C64 around.  Google DTV Hummer for more info.

Don