Build your own joypad?

[Loki]

Yesterday I was playing some Super Mario 64 rom on my pc with an Xbox controller and after playing for a while I realized it sucked big time.
So a N64 controller hooked to the PC would be a better option but then again... N64 controllers also suck.
It isn't comfortable in my hands, the joystick is of bad quality and I get a pain in my thumb after playing a while.

So... why not make your own?
I'd love to make some kind of mix between an N64 and Playstation or Xbox controller. The button layout from the N64 and the shape and joystick from a PS or Xbox controller. With USB connection would be nice ^^

Making one from scratch would most likely be very expensive if you think about plastic molding and such.
Maybe modding one?

Any ideas?

[Hoopz]

I've been using Joytech's Xbox 360 controller and find it to be a good solution.

http://www.joytech.net/5/products/xbox360/4/57/NEO-Se-Advanced-Controller.htm

You can download a Windows driver for it and it connects via USB.

I think that may be an easier/faster/cheaper solution than modding or building your own joypad.

[Bobbler]

Yesterday I was playing some Super Mario 64 rom on my pc with an Xbox controller and after playing for a while I realized it sucked big time.
So a N64 controller hooked to the PC would be a better option but then again... N64 controllers also suck.
It isn't comfortable in my hands, the joystick is of bad quality and I get a pain in my thumb after playing a while.

So... why not make your own?
I'd love to make some kind of mix between an N64 and Playstation or Xbox controller. The button layout from the N64 and the shape and joystick from a PS or Xbox controller. With USB connection would be nice ^^

Making one from scratch would most likely be very expensive if you think about plastic molding and such.
Maybe modding one?

Any ideas?

Was going to say the wired 360 controller, but someone beat me to it LOL. Although its cross pad isnt that great IMO, replace that with the one from the PS2 pad would be my preference.

No reason why you couldnt have a bash at building your own with casting resin or something? Prototype with clay/plastercine, make a casting and pour in the resin. Do it in two halves and hollow out the middle, drill through for the buttons etc? Cheap to do but a lot of work really.

[Loki]

The 360 controller is almost the same as the Xbox one... now that I look at the 360, I kind of see a nice option.
Remove the right joystick and the 2 small left buttons and replace it with some bigger ones and put them where the joystick used to be.
This way I would only need to mod or create the plastic on top....
I only have no idea how I should do that. Plastic for a joypad must be very strong.

[thennomeking]

I would suggest getting a copy of Benheck's book -  Hacking Video Game Consoles - http://benheck.com/book/

This is the guy who builds console systems into handhelds.  It will teach you a bit about your idea.

[Loki]

Thanks thennomeking, I'll take a look at it

Just put some ideas into a picture ^^
Behold! My superb paint shop pro skills! haha 

[steveh]

while looking for pictures of xbox controllers.  i came across this.

it really has nothing to do with what you want to do.

http://www.wagonbutterworth.com/projects/xbox_controller/

[freckleface]

That is a mess.....even novice fabrication would be preferrable to that. Cute, though.

[Crowquill]

I'm really suprised with the popularity of the Playstation's controller design that there weren't Xbox and N64 controllers shaped like it. You'd think even some cheap asian company would use the same controller design with different electronics to be able to market it for different systems. About the only N64 controller I ever saw that varied from the standard Nintendo (crappy) design was Interact/Performance's Super Pad (pic below). It looks goofy, but was quite comfortable and usable.

One area that did get influenced by Sony's design were PC gamepads. You might search high and low on the web to find different ones that might fit your needs. It should already be USB too. If not, maybe there would be one to mod.

EDIT: forgot the pic.

[Donkey_Kong]

Gamepad fans <DO NOT READ>

I thought the common goal here at byoac was to hack control pads and 360 controllers and the like. Now we are gonna build them? I appreciate the effort but man I gotta tell you that the reason I exsist here at byoac is because I hate ANY control game pad compared to ANY arcade style joystick...But thats just me.

Again, I do appreciate the effort and to each there own. If I'm gonna ever learn the physics of any gamepad it would be strictly to HACK that b#$%ch, not to build it or reproduce it.

Good luck in your ventures. My post is pretty much pointless...sorry.

Or maybe I was just trying to say something to this effect...HACK IT AND STACK IT WITH A MANS SIZE STICK!!

          

Gamepad fans <DO NOT READ>

[sphetr2]

DK, you forgot to close your tag (</ DO NOT READ>) 

[Loki]

Crowquill: Man, that's one weird joypad, but it looks like it has the same crappy joystick as the original tho.

DK: Haha yeah, I kind of understand your point
Thing is.. I'm pretty young (22) and considering arcade isn't really alive here I grew up with Nintendo and SEGA
I love all kind of gaming devices. PC, console or arcade, I like it all, and I like to play it how it is supposed to.

Anyway, I just found out a shop not to far from here is selling this one.


It looks pretty nice with the 6 button layout.

    *  2 quick-fire shoulder triggers
    * 8-way D-pad
    * 6 responsive buttons
    * 2 analog joysticks with built-in buttons
    * Shift Key – provides up to 20 programmable functions

Didn't knew saitek had these.. really nice, and I think this works well with N64 games.

[yalborap]

Yeah, I really liked playing N64 games with one of those(mine might be a slightly different model, but button layout is definitely the same).

And I have to know...What exactly is your avatar from? It looks familiar, but I can't quite place it...

[Loki]

Nice, guess I'll get one of those then

The avatar is from the Witchblade Anime. ^^

[yalborap]

Nice, guess I'll get one of those then

The avatar is from the Witchblade Anime. ^^

Ah, don't think I've seen that one, sadly. Is it any good?

[Loki]

Only have seen 1 episode so far, so can't really tell.. still downloading the rest :p
But Gonzo always makes good anime ^^
http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3597,gnuvad,witchblade.html

[Crowquill]

That Saitek pad will probably work just fine. Did anyone else notice the square cutouts for the analog sticks? Compared to the octagonal cutout that Nintendo used, I can't imagine it'd be any worse, but I have a Logitech controller that has cutouts like that which make playing Robotron very difficult on it.

BTW, you are right..the "Super Pad" does have Nintendo-style analog sticks.

And now I have to look into another anime series