Another modified controller for a Quadraplegic thread

[mthomson]

I'm a quad of 20+ years with a serious passion for video gaming.

I've read everything I could find on this board regarding custom controllers for the disabled, and unfortunately found no real solution.

My current console is the Xbox360 that I use primarily for playing Project Gotham Racing 3 on Xbox live. Due to nonexistent fine motor control of my fingers I use the Hori DOA4 fighting stick instead of the standard 360 controller. It's a great starting place for anyone who has limited fine motor control of their digits. It has a robust 4 way stick and large buttons. However it does have short comings when used as a controller in anything other than fighting games. As I mentioned most of my gaming time is spent on PGR3 and while the Hori stick allows me to play I'm to the point that I need a controller with analog input instead on the on-off microswith control of the 4 way stick. Driving the faster cars with on-off throttle control and full lock steering only is difficult at best.

I've recently purchased a Mad Catz arcade stick thinking I could use the analog stick from it in the Hori housing...but now have the feeling I'll be left wanting even more. So now I'm hoping to build, or have built more accurately, a full blown custom controller. I'm thinking of using the The Ultimarc UltraStik 360 Joystick in a custom base with components stolen from either the Hori, Mad Catz, or original 360 controller. After reading a lot of the great posts on this board, and learning so much about controllers that my head hurts  I'm left wondering if anyone here can help me regarding interfacing purchased components like the The Ultimarc UltraStik 360 Joystick, a quality 4 way stick, and arcade quality buttons to the 360.

If anyone here is interested in helping me tackle this project I will gladly pay what it takes, and as important is to hopefully create a platform that could be adapted to others with disabilities.

My thoughts so far are an aluminum base @ 8" x 18" (to rest on one's lap) with stand-offs supporting a carbon fiber upper deck - the guts would be contained between the two plates. I own a small tool shop so finding the materials and doing the machinework would be no problem. But since I know next to nothing about how the individual components would 'talk' to the Xbox360 and can't solder to save my own life  I was hoping someone here could help with that part of the project.

thanks for any interest and I welcome all input.

mark

[mthomson]

Thanks for the sticky mr. moderator 

[bfauska]

It sounds like a really cool project, because of both the reason for it and the challenges that it presents, but I don't know anything about interfacing with the xbox.  I imagine that it would basically involve a joystick hack, but with the analog joy it could be difficult.  I wish you luck, and will follow the progress if it gets posted here.

Later,
Brian

[mthomson]

Thanks bfauska, I think so too....for both reasons.

I also have the new Microsoft force feedback steering wheel for the 360 if anyone here thinks any useful info could be gleaned by dismemberring it.....I'd really rather not have to do that as the thing cost me $150, but if it would be helpful it can be sacrificed.

As my simple thought process goes....all of the components are readily available....the layout of the controls could easily be tailored to individual needs, with adaptations to the sticks if necessary (I use a 35mm film canister taped on the ball of my Hori DOA4 stick for instance).....the only real stumbling block is interfacing the controls to the Xbox 360.

If anyone here knows how to figure this out please help. I could get some output readings from the analog stick in the Mad Catz stick if that would help....and if someone could guide me in what leads to check and ohm meter settings etc.

thanks again,
mark

[Dudeman]

Where are you located?

[mthomson]

Dudeman,
I'm in south central Indiana.

[Dudeman]

Oh... a bit far for me... I'm in NC.

[DoctorWHO]

Perhaps this could be the solution:

http://www.xcm.cc/xcm_xfps_360.htm

[mthomson]

Thanks DrWHO,

I have looked into that, the guys at X-Arcade told me about it, but it doesn't appear to be able to do what I'm hoping....that being a good arcade sized analog stick with all of the other Xbox buttons as well.

thanks for the tip though

mark

[DoctorWHO]

Since it has two ps2 ports, and it's designed to use the keyboard for games, as stated on his page, maybe you can use an Ipac from Ultimarc, with ps2 cable. The Ultrastick can be easily connected to the Ipac and so all the buttons you need.

[mthomson]

DrWHO,

Now that looks very interesting 

Thanks for the lead....I'll contact Ultimarc with my intentions and see what they can tell me.
I'll eport back here with my findings.

mark

[Tiger-Heli]

Ultimarc also has this: http://www.ultimarc.com/xba.html , but I think what you are looking for is X-box analog, and I don't know of an easy way to get that other than soldering between maybe a PC joystick and an X-arcade gamepad.

[mthomson]

Tiger-Heli,

Thanks for the link, however it appears as though that adapter is for the original Xbox whereas I need an adapter for the 360, and from what I read on the site this particular adapter converts analog signals to 'full throw', meaning an analog input of left, no matter how far, would be interpreted as a full left...which is what I'm trying to avoid now.

mark

[horseboy]

Well, as far as I can tell, your only hope here is that someone figures out how to make an adaptor to use the Ultrastik with home consoles. Since there are converters to use PS2 controllers on just about every console, the PS2 would be a good candidate. I started a thread about this very subject a while back. I would love to be able to use a real analog stick with my consoles, and I am pretty sure some others would too.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=63439.0

Sadly, it doesn't appear to be too high on Andy's priority list, and nobody else really responded. So, If somebody could figure that out, I think your problem could be easily solved. The problem is figuring that out. It surely won't be easy.


The only other option would be to somehow hack a $110 Happ analog stick into an existing console controller. Seems doable, but really expensive. AFAIK, nobody has done this either. 

 

[mthomson]

horseboy,

I just read your other post completely. Hopefully Andy is working on our analog delima. I'll email him too and let him know that there's at least one more customer should he be able to figure something out.

I thought that the Ipac handled full analog control throuhput, but then again I too am an idiot regarding this stuff and likely misunderstood what I read. I'm going to contact Ultimarc directly and check for sure.

thanks for your interest,
mark

[Tiger-Heli]

I thought that the Ipac handled full analog control throuhput, but then again I too am an idiot regarding this stuff and likely misunderstood what I read. I'm going to contact Ultimarc directly and check for sure.

Definitely not - in fact Andy talks about it NOT doing analog on the link I sent you.  The A-PAC does, but I don't know of a way to interface it to an X-arcade.

I still think your idea is possible, between using a standard PC joystick (or the Happ Analog), maybe swapping some pots, and interfacing to a X-box controller PCB, but don't know specifics on how to do it.

If you don't get anywhere with Andy or this thread, you might ask on the console forum, as they would be more familiar with X-box mods.

[AtomSmasher]

Have you taken a look at the Quasicon?  Its a bit large and expensive, but it has analog joysticks which could most likely be removed and installed into a smaller housing.  It doesn't have xbox 360 support yet, but they say they will have it soon.  I'm not sure how easy the analog joysticks would be to use for you since they are smaller then a normal joystick, but its something to consider.  You could always try emailing Quasimoto and see if they'd be willing to help.

http://www.quasimoto.com/

review of the controller: http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/quasicade_3.html

[mthomson]

AtomSmasher,

That looks promising. I'll email them too and inquire as to the status of their Xbox 360 support.

Thanks for the link.

mark

[KevSteele]

XBox 360 support for the Quasicon has been "almost ready" for well over a year. I don't know if it's a licensing issue or what, but they've had problems.

I'll check with Quasimoto and see what's up, and post here.

[mthomson]

Thanks Kev,

I haven't followed up on this as quickly as I would like to...alot of irons in the fire right now. But for all who could benefit I really want to see this become a reality.

mark

[horseboy]

Solution?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64967.0

[mthomson]

horseboy,

I bought one recently to experiment with and found the analog stick to be imprecise, not much better than the digital on/off of my Hori stick. The buttons are very small and close together and the base is a tad small to use easily in one's lap.

Mine is apart right now to investigate using the board alone with some higher quality components. But boy oh boy are those wires and solder spots tiny.

mark