Arcade control panel for one player?

[sofakng]

Well, I got to thinking and I'm beginning to wonder if it's really worth it to build a cabinet if I will be the only one playing it.  My friend's really aren't into this sort of thing and my girlfriend would play it from time to time, but only very little and she only likes Pac-Man, etc.  On top of that, I will be moving into my own place in about a year, and moving a cabinet would be a huge project (trust me).

Are there any cheap ways for a single-player pad that I can use on my computer (or even a PSX/PS2 arcade pad, or X-Box)?

I could still order an IPAC/2, one joystick, 8 buttons, etc, etc, but that will probably cost me around $100 which is in the price range of the X-Arcade stick, etc. (is x-arcade any good?  or anything like that?)

Anybody have any recommendations?

[AlanS17]

You could hack a pc gamepad rather than buy an IPAC. That would save maybe $20. The joysticks wouldn't cost any less, though.

Also, if you're more interested in HAVING a joystick than BUILDING a joystick... You could buy one of those Playstation controllers on redoctane ($30) plus a Playstation/PC adapter on Ebay ($6). That's a cheaper solution for you. Don't know the quality of the redoctane controls, though. You may wanna talk to armadillo about that. He works with those things.

Personally, I think building these things is half the fun...

[rampy]

I agree... building is half the fun...

But if you want multi-function (i.e. pc -> ps2/etc) the x-arcade is pretty clean way to go if you aren't handy with a soldering iron for a psx pad hack...

*shrug*  I say build, but if you don't like that sorta thing (soldering/building/etc... no shame in buying... well we'll only tease you a little bit)

Sometimes people don't have any vision, until AFTER they see your final project (in regards to not wanting/needing a full cabinet) then they get it (and want their own)... but it's smart of you to really think about your ambitions/intentions and make the right decision for you (Even if it isn't a full cabinet or if you buy your controls)

Good luck!

Rampy

[jakejake28]

buy a ps1 dualshock and hack it. you get 1 joystick and 8 buttons, plus the ability to buy a convertor for ps1->gamecube, dreamcast, and pc, plus it already works with ps2. fairly cheap
new dualshock:$20,
8 buttons: $14.40
joystick:$12-18

all thats left are wires, quick connects and wood.

edit: i the 30 seconds it took to type this, 2 people suggested same thing

[AlanS17]

Here's a link to the redoctane joystick...

http://www.redoctane.com/joystick-capcom.html

Plus it looks like they're having a $5 off sale right now.

[sofakng]

Thats what I was thinking (building one).  I was really looking forward to wiring my cabinet, but like I said, after thinking about it I don't know if its worth it right now... plus I'm broke as could be.

So I've decided that I will build a small multi-purpose controller for myself.

Do I need anything else besides the PS2 controller? (and obviously the new joystick and buttons and ps2->pc adapter)

Since this joystick will be used for both 4-way and 8-way games, should I get a 4/8-way stick such as the J-stick?  ...or should I still go with a competition stick and forget about 4-way games?

I'm mostly interested in getting good at fighting games so I definitely want a good 8-way stick, but my girlfriend will want to play 4-way games like Pac-Man (etc).

What should I buy?

Everybody here is so incredibly helpful.  Thank you all SO MUCH for helping me.  I owe you all.

- John

[AlanS17]

If you don't mind switching back and forth between 4way and 8way, any of the Ultimarc sticks will work fine. I can't speak for them in terms of performance, though. I've never actually used one. You're going to want performance if you're playing fighting games. You'd probably be safe with one, though.

[Spaced Invader]

--snip--
Since this joystick will be used for both 4-way and 8-way games, should I get a 4/8-way stick such as the J-stick?  ...or should I still go with a competition stick and forget about 4-way games?

I'm mostly interested in getting good at fighting games so I definitely want a good 8-way stick, but my girlfriend will want to play 4-way games like Pac-Man (etc).

What should I buy?

Everybody here is so incredibly helpful.  Thank you all SO MUCH for helping me.  I owe you all.

- John

Since you don't have to worry about your "friends" grabbing the four way and throwing off your kill-shot, you could get both and wire them in parallel. Just a thought. I'm sure there's a soultion involving Duct Tape though...let me think about it.  

[SirPoonga]

What type of games do you play?  Would you be happy with just a joystick and some buttons?

[DeafBug]

I am in the same situation as you are in except the moving part.  I live in a house.  My friends are not that sort of people either and my family lives in another state. My wife will play Ms Pacman or any one player game. So I was happy to find a broke down Frogger cabinet.  I am going to make that a one player arcade cabinet.

As for the 4-way and 8-way, I am going to attempt something that I have not seen here yet.  The Frogger control panel is wide enough to do it all.  I don't have the design yet but here is a general idea.

From left to right,  8-way    4-way    buttons  And the trackball in front

The joysticks are going to be daisy chained on the ground wire as we all know that.  They ground wire is going to be connected to a switch so that I can switch to which joystick I want.   The directional buttons on the joystick will be connected to the same  terminal point.  As for the electric flow, there is only electric running where the ground is connected the other one is dead as no grounding connection until you switch it on the switch.

This way I get a true 4-way for 4-way games and a true 8-way for 8-way games and both joysticks are flushed mounted.  I thought about the Oscar restrictor plates but I wanted a real feel.

[IG-88]

How about a tabletop like all these selections:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=6268

These guys have given alot of nice suggestions. Price wise it might not be that much cheaper. Size wise tho......