Arcade control Question when using a gravis gamepad USB

[thegreatdamarmu]

Hi I'm relatively new to this forum but it comes highly recommended from all the sites I've been reading and from browsing you all seem to really know your stuff.

I have 3 Gravis USB Gamepad Pros(possibly a 4th) lying around. I know some people have argued there's ghosting problems with it others say its just because of shoddy soldering on their part.

but I figured I'd give them a shot. I have no real use for them other than this. if I find the ghosting problems I might just buy a ipac4 usb.

Now I have a few questions about the wiring. I know you have to close the circuit by connecting the two sides together. and some people say that requires 14 wires while others say it requires 28 wires. I was wondering if anyone could direct me or tell me how exactly to solder/wire these game pads and connect them to the microswitches or direct me to a website/tutorial I'd really appreciate it. almost everything I read says "used a gravis USB gamepad pro easily hackable" but doesn't really explain it.

now for some minor questions. that aren't really related to wiring/building the actual cabinet or all that important just me wanting some input.

1.) I used to love the old 4 player games like TMNT and X-men. Are their really enough games to make it worth while to put 4 controllers on the control panels? because sometimes I think they might just get in the way. my thoughts were to maybe have 2 separate removable controllers that attach to the side to allow this gameplay. if there isn't many games for that.

2.) I used to really love the arcade cabinets for the X-men, Street fighter 2 and Mega Man Power Battles. Has anyone seen case/control panel designs that are relatively the same as these and could tell me where to find them? I think I want to go with the Street fighter 2 case. but this is all really external look and feel.(I've scoured and found nothing =\ )

3.) In your own opinion what would be the best front end? I was looking for one that would let me power down within it and possibly have a Arcade Jukebox program for it(unless you know of a good separate one.) and also let me load multiple emulators.

4.) The controllers have 20 14(I can't count) buttons total I was gonna use 4 for moving and 6 for usable buttons and 1 for the player key and 1 for coin in. Any idea what I should use the other 2 buttons for?(I'll have a extra 4 buttons total if I go with the 2 player panel 8 if I do a 4 player panel)

on a side note. I plan on documenting the whole process and posting it on the web. if everything goes to plan. any good sites for that?

sorry if I sound like a complete moron, even after researching this for a year. I want to build a total of 3 cabinets 1 shooter 1 fighter/platform and 1 racing.

Below is a image of the controller with out its casing. if you needed to see it again.

[Spaced Ace]

Wait, so you are not wanting to use arcade joystics and buttons?  You want to hook up gamepads to and arcade unit?

I'm lost.

If you want to hook a pc/laptop, to a set of arcade controles, buy an I-Pac.  If you want to hook up a home consol game system to arcade controls, buy an I-Pac and a converter. 

I'm still lost.

[Justin Z]

I think he means to use them as a hack, and if that's the case, I agree -- just buy an I-Pac.

[thegreatdamarmu]

Sorry I should have been more clear. I wanted to Hack the Controller to use as the base for the arcade controls. mainly because I have everything but I'm a little short on cash for the i-pac

[Spaced Ace]

I would do two things.  First, check here in the forums, http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/board,2.0.html about IPAC for sale cause odds are you can get a used one half price.

Second, been there, done that.  I to tried to hack a gamepad, but it was nothing but a headache.  And, in the end, it didnt work.  Its not worth the effort, time or hassel. 

I say have a yard sale and send away for an IPAC.

[thegreatdamarmu]

I would do two things.  First, check here in the forums, http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/board,2.0.html about IPAC for sale cause odds are you can get a used one half price.

Second, been there, done that.  I to tried to hack a gamepad, but it was nothing but a headache.  And, in the end, it didnt work.  Its not worth the effort, time or hassel. 

I say have a yard sale and send away for an IPAC.

thanks for the input on that. I'll have to check that out.

[Timoe]

thegreatdamarmu,

I have hacked that exact pcb and it works fine and should work for your needs.  If I remember correctly it is common ground which means you can "daisy Chain" your ground wires.  Look at the pcb carefully, each button location has two semicircles, when the button presses down it forms a connection between these two semicircles which indicates to the pcb that you have pressed that button.  Follow the traces from the semicircles.  Notice if the traces are shared from one side of each circle.  If they are, then it is common ground and this will also indicate which side is the ground.

Just in case: first put a dab of solder on the pad (semicircle) and another dab of solder on the wire, then put the wire in place (on the semicircle) and touch it with your iron.  You'll get a good connection this way.  After you test everything and it works, secure all your solder spots with hot glue.

[thegreatdamarmu]

Hey thanks for the tips. My one friend said he did it on one along time ago said it wasn't hard but he doesn't remember what's what.

Also I wasn't sure exactly how to get the good connection thanks for that too.

I think I might just do the 2 wires to be safe though. I think I see the same path for the grounds but I want to be sure. they seem to follow the same path back to the chip but at the same time there's little chips that break them up before they move along their merry way.