X-Arcade easiest, and cheapest for an XBOX

[Hawk Daddy]

I don't really want to put alot of time into soldering a bunch of wires together, and making sure that everything works good, when I can just buy an X-Arcade stick, with an xbox adapter to run my MAME cabinet.  But I want to know what do you guys think about the X-Arcade sticks, and if you didn't use an x-arcade what would be best for the xbox, hacking up a controller and wiring up my own buttons?  Maybe this should be in the console section, but it does have to do with MAME so I'm not sure.

Hawk

[btp2k2]

There sticks are bad knock offs of Happ Super sticks. The shaft slides around in the base, cause the stick to get stuck in one direction for a second. It just feels cheap, and they are noisy.

If you want to go the X-Arcade route for use on your console, get the adapter and the BYO Arcade Kit from X-Arcade, then go to ultimarc or Happ and get real controls and buttons

[M.Lanza]

I've got an xbox in my mame cab at the moment and i'm using
the x-arcade encoder as my interface.

With the total cost and the frustration of trying to get the encoder to
work how I needed it to, I know that If I had to do it again, I would definately
hack controllers.

If you're not building your own control panel, than the x-arcade stick sticks should work well for you.

If you are building your own cp, then beware of your control placement, because the wire harness
for the x-arcade encoder is a mess of daisy-chained wires and connectors that will only work right
with the x-arcade sticks.
If you're planning on a custom control setup, even a sf2 setup, then you will be dealing with
alot of crimping and soldering to get the wire harness to reach everything on your cp,
so you might as well hack some controllers anyway and save yourself some money.

If you want to deal with hacking a controller, The first thing you should know is that
there is no easy way to connect a microswitch to the xbox controllers analog triggers,
so you should try to get some controllers without the analog triggers, or hack some playstation
controllers and use an adapter to connect them to the xbox.

I got a street fight 15th anniversary xbox controller for $5.00 at eb games.
I think that these would be better suited for controller hacking the than regular
xbox controllers.

[leapinlew]

I don't really want to put alot of time into soldering a bunch of wires together, and making sure that everything works good

Don't look now Hawk, but the name of the site is BUILD YOUR OWN CONTROLS.

Theres a reason why many of us don't use X-arcade. Even their PCB is problematic.

[RayB]

I don't understand the point of losing analog controls?? ... This is like a step backwards for Xbox gaming.

[M.Lanza]

I don't understand the point of losing analog controls?? ... This is like a step backwards for Xbox gaming.

Those controllers are made for 2D fighting games such as "street fighter whatever",
where most people prefer to use the standard digital d-pad and buttons.

[Goz]

I have used the XArcade BYOA Kit (encoder only) on more than one cab project and it is pretty problem free. The fact that you dont have to lose analog control is a plus. Push a button to toggle digital / analog (analog = all open or all closed not true analog). There is no lag using the Xarcade encoder, its not a bad way to go... I at one time has a Dreamcast, PS2, XBox, and a Gamecube in one cab and used serial switch box and a KVM to switch between consoles.

[Glaine]

I only bought my X-Arcade because I was new to the game, but I agree with Goz. They aren't that bad (I wouldn't buy more than one of them though). I've never had issues with the sticks not working fine. I agree that the feel isn't quite as good as other sticks, but the play is still decent.

All of the parts use pretty noisy microswitches that, compared to things like Sanwa buttons (which I love now) require a lot more force to activate. But you could certanly do worse.

You could always use it to get comfortable in the hobby and then build something nice once you know for sure what you want. And a lot of friends tend to be in the market for your old X-Arcade when you decide to upgrade.

[btp2k2]

I haven't noticed any difference in force needed to activate a button....the clickity clack though is pretty darned annoying.

I recently picked up the trackball unit. First thing I did was pop it open and replace the buttons and microswitches. But one thing caught my eye....the trackball unit looked exactly like the Betson I have in my cab. The only difference is the name stamped on it. I have since done side by side comparisons, and notice little to no difference in performance....

X-Arcade does make good stuff, they just tend to cheap it out for the "everyman"

[Hawk Daddy]

Ok so how hard would it be to take a controller apart, and solder the wires directly to it.  I have no problem with using PS2 controllers, cause I've converted some of them to xbox, with a converter, and hard soldering them.  If I did use a controller would it be as simple as soldering the wires to the pads on the controller board?  Cause if so then that should be no problem.  As I don't have a problem with soldering, and consider myself above the average solderer.  As I am going to have to solder in extension's into my xbox's dvd drive so that it will reach where I need it to.  I plan on haveing the power and eject buttons on the front of the cab along with the dvd drive, with a different face to make it look better for the cabinet.

Hawk

[M.Lanza]

It's not that hard. It just involves soldering wires to the button contacts on the pcb.
You might have better luck hacking third party ps1 controllers as opposed to hacking
the ps2 controllers since the buttons on the ps2 controllers are analog.

Here are some links to sites detailing the controller hack.

http://www.darkravenwind.com/cdvision/superpad.htm

http://wrongcrowd.com/arcade//joystickp1.shtml

[HaRuMaN]

Someone say controller hack? 

[chazbeenhad]

The Xarcade unit is a good piece of hardware. Fact of the matter is you can easily replace the parts in it, like buttons and joysticks, with no problem if you get really unhappy with them.

[Hawk Daddy]

Does anybody know where I can find this information out for an xbox controller.  The after market ones will be fine.  As I don't really want to destroy the Microsoft ones. And if I mess up it's not as expensive.

Hawk

[ark_ader]

Yeah get the Xbox controller module for the Xbox and the X Arcade.

I have this setup and it works a charm.  You can swap from digital to analogue and it works with most games like DOA and Soul Calibre.

Yes I know £/$25 is alot to pay for the module, but I have them for every other console bar the GC and it works like a dream.  You will need a 4 Way 9pin Switchbox if you have more than one console.

Don't listen to those who knock the X Arcade, they are just jealous, and proabaly cannot afford one.
  

Actually I just ordered and installed some cherry microswitches and they do make the difference - alot quieter and more authentic.

BTW the controller works great with MameDox, DaphneX and XBMC.  I would change one the joysticks to a 4 way if you have a dual.