Can I use a GPwiz as a Playstation 3 controller?

[Timstuff]

Okay, here's the deal... I love my home made arcade stick that I put together for my PS3, but there's a problem... For some reason, the cheap Mad-Catz controller I hacked for it has problems with the left direction on the joystick. When I press the stick left, the signal dies after holding the direction for about 3 seconds, and then the "left" switch has to be released and pressed again, and so on. I'm not sure wether it's because I did a shoddy job soldering, of if it's because the Mad Catz controller is a piece of crap, but either way it's really annoying. The stick works well enough despite all this, but imagine being player 1 in Street Fighter or Tekken, and trying to block a long combo and you get the idea of why it could be a problem in the long run. Add to that that my favorite character in Street Fighter is Guile, and it could lead to even more frustration since his ranged attack is a charge move.

I'm hoping to find a solution aside from doing a new controller hack that won't be as small-scale solder intensive, and that brings me to the GPwiz-- the PS3 is known for being compatible with a pretty wide variety of generic and brand name USB gamepads and joysticks through the USB port, so that makes me wonder-- if you hook up a GP-wiz to the PS3, will the system recognize it? Has anyone even tried to attempt this before? It seems to me like if it works, it would be the perfect solution for a do-it-yourself PS3 arcade stick, but that's the big thing-- does it work? I'd love to toss my Madcatz PCB for a screw-terminal GP-wiz if it's possible to interface it with my PS3, so I'd like to know if that would be a valid option. And if it's not, does anyone know of any other idiot-friendly encoders that I could use with my PC and PS3?

[Timstuff]

Hmm... I find it hard to believe that in the history of mankind, no-one has ever tried to connect a GPwiz with a PS3, although I suppose it's a possibility. While technically I could do it myself, it would be an awfully expensive experiment considering that it might not work. So does anyone know?

[RandyT]

Hmm... I find it hard to believe that in the history of mankind, no-one has ever tried to connect a GPwiz with a PS3, although I suppose it's a possibility. While technically I could do it myself, it would be an awfully expensive experiment considering that it might not work. So does anyone know?

I can make it a no-risk situation for you if you want to try it.  If it doesn't work, you can send it back and I'll give you a full refund, including shipping.  I'd be interested in knowing this as well

RandyT

[Timstuff]

Cool. It might be a little while before I'll be able to do it since I'm in the middle of moving into my new dorm, but I'll be sure to get back to you on that! Thanks!

[SavannahLion]

Just a thought.

If the GPWiz is seen as a standard game controller in Windows, wouldn't it be logical to deduce that connecting just about any standard game controller to the PS3 give you a pretty good idea if a standard controller work?

I dunno, I might be wrong about that.

[Timstuff]

As this video shows, for many USB gamepads and joysticks it's all a matter of plug-and-play. If the GPwiz is recognized as a standard USB gamepad, then it ought to be worth testing out on a PS3 methinks.

[youtube]ASvJh6fF8p4[/youtube]

BTW Randy, I'd certainly be happy to conduct the test once I can get my hands on some tools and wiring. All my arcade stuff is at my parents' house except for my screwdriver! >,<

[Ummon]

I'm totally confused. The GPwiz is made for hacking your gamepad and connecting the wires to the GPwiz?

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm totally confused. The GPwiz is made for hacking your gamepad and connecting the wires to the GPwiz?

No.
It replaces the hacked gamepad.

This lets you use your joystick/buttons as a gamepad on the PC.
The question in this thread is whether it will do the same thing on a PS3.

[Ummon]

I'm totally confused. The GPwiz is made for hacking your gamepad and connecting the wires to the GPwiz?

No.
It replaces the hacked gamepad.

This lets you use your joystick/buttons as a gamepad on the PC.
The question in this thread is whether it will do the same thing on a PS3.

Okay, I'm not confused in that the path is controls->gpwiz->PC. Then the wiz is mainly for PC games?

[NoOne=NBA=]

Then the wiz is mainly for PC games?

It appears as a standard gamepad to the computer, so it's for any app that will accept input from a gamepad.