Please recommend a gamepad to hack?

[Tiger-Heli]

This has probably been asked lots of times, but . . .

Does anyone know of a USB gamepad with about 14 inputs that uses wires so no soldering required (I can cut wires and run to terminal blocks).  Or something close to this if not quite 14 inputs.

Or anyone selling pre-hacked pads similar to above . . .

Also would 4 of these work at the same time in MAME and be mappable???

[paigeoliver]

If you use more than one of the same type of USB gamepad, then they will randomly switch positions with every reboot, making all that work you did a big waste of time.

I have never seen a fully "wired" joystick with more than 8 inputs total. An original Sidewinder will get you 14 though (don't bother with a USB sidewinder, as they are hard to hack).

Once you are hacking more than two gamepads it just becomes cheaper to buy an I=Pac anyway.

[Tiger-Heli]

If you use more than one of the same type of USB gamepad, then they will randomly switch positions with every reboot, making all that work you did a big waste of time.

I think it might be okay, what I am looking at is individual desktop control panels.  Like a bunch of specialized X-Arcade solos.  So one panel would be plugged in all the time, the others as needed.  I think MAME will recognize them in the order they were plugged in, which would be fine. (At least I hope it will, if it treats joysticks the same as USB mice, I think I'm okay).  This sounds like a question for UrebelScum, though!!!

I have never seen a fully "wired" joystick with more than 8 inputs total. An original Sidewinder will get you 14 though (don't bother with a USB sidewinder, as they are hard to hack).

After I posted this I thought I might need to check 1Up's dual strike hack again, even though DS's are discontinued.

Once you are hacking more than two gamepads it just becomes cheaper to buy an I=Pac anyway.

Maybe not, I want 5 panels: two X-arcade solo styles, a standard X-Arcade with rotary joys (requires two pads), and two Assault style panels for vindicators.  So 6 game pads total.  I would like them all USB so I can connect and disconnect as needed.  That many inputs would otherwise need an MK64, which I have worked out how to do, but then I need a bunch of DB25 cables, and an enclosure for the MK64, so figure $100 total for encoders and wire to go this route, so if I can come away for $16 per game pad, I break even, and if it will do more what I want, then if it ends up being $30 more than that ($20 per game pad) it's worth it.

[armad1ll0]

I can hack the pads for you and it's labor of $15 per pad.
Just tell me what pads you want hacked.

I have 4 USB (d-pad + 10 button) pads ready to go now...

They use generic HID drivers...