My new stand-alone controller...

[tmasman]

I've been messing around with a POS I hacked together a while back & decided it was finally time to build a proper controller...

So I planned on 1 8-Way, 8 player buttons (for PSX systems), start, select/coin, 2 pinball buttons.  It came out pretty nice & I still have a little finishing touches I need to do (like trimming the bottom panel a little).

_{Click to enlarge...}




I've got it built, & I've got it wired to a db25 cable with the male plug end hanging out... I plan on building "adapters" for the systems it will be used on.  Right now the plans are for PS2 & PC (probably with a PS->USB adapter). There are future plans for GC and one of those "6million-in-one" handheld game systems we've talked about here a time or 2... (Here is the one I've already got)

My only problem now is deciding how to cover/decorate it... Paint, Vinyl, Art, leave it as is...
Any ideas?

Of course I did a bone-headed thing... I sanded the corners down so it was easier to handle... Of course, now if I decide to cover it with anything, it'll be awkward because the edges aren't perfectly square... DOH!  I think I may be just going with a painted finish...

What do you think?

[JamesS]

I am by no means a good person to comment, but it looks good to me.

What kind of Encoder are you using?  Or are you?

[tmasman]

I am by no means a good person to comment, but it looks good to me.

What kind of Encoder are you using?  Or are you?

There is no encoder inside it. I plan on building "adapters" to make this box work with whatever system I want to. See the attached example...

I didn't want to put in all this work & only be able to use it on the PC (or PS2, etc...) I wanted a "Universal Remote Control" if you will... Now all I have to do is get an encoder/controller & wire it up to a female db25 plug & I can use my controller on any system I like.

I'll update as I build the adapters... I'll build a PSX adapter first, then probably my multi-gaming system.

[NY_in_TX]

Looks good.  

Keep us posted on your adapter setup.  Looks like a good idea.  a clean way to handle all the adapters you need when using mutliple consoles.

ny

[MrDT]

I like it I'll probably be ducking out a little when making mine, I've found some 'medion' playstation style controllers fitted with both usb and playstation jacks which I'll be butchering for my cab, which means i can have both connected at once, saving the hassle of switching ports (yes, i really can be that lazy! )

I'll be sure to keep an eye on your adapter progress though, as I'm toying with installing a real megadrive and nes in my box as well, instead of emulating

[RetroJames]

Of course I did a bone-headed thing... I sanded the corners down so it was easier to handle... Of course, now if I decide to cover it with anything, it'll be awkward because the edges aren't perfectly square... DOH!  I think I may be just going with a painted finish...

What do you think?

Not so bone head.  If you cover it with laminate you can still route the edges so there is a smooth transition from laminate to wood.  Then just paint the exposed edge with a good enamel.  That is basically what they did on this old Omega Race upright I have and it looks really good.  

[Harakiri]

Looks sharp, nice work! I think some paint and T-moulding would make it nicer!

BTW is it heavy enough to have some stability during gameplay?  

[tmasman]

Looks sharp, nice work! I think some paint and T-moulding would make it nicer!

BTW is it heavy enough to have some stability during gameplay?  

Yeah... I plan on finishing it up eventually...
Right now I'm still trying to decide what finish though... Laminate, adhesive vinyl, paint, etc...

Heavy enough?
I used 1/2" MDF & it seems plenty heavy enough to me... Of course, I haven't got it all hooked up to anything yet...  

I do have a PS1 controller hacked & ready to be put into a little plastic project box I picked up, so I should be able to let you guys know how well it plays pretty soon.

I also plan on getting a PS -> USB adapter f/ MAME play... (So I don't have to spend $$$ or time on an encoder or keyboard hack... )

[Nannuu]

That's good stuff.  Putting the Super Joy in there would be really cool too.  It'd be like carrying around a mini Mame system.  It'll come in handy when you have to visit the in-laws!

[tmasman]

That & any other time I'm traveling...
The Super Joy can run off batteries! So I'm gonna see if I can get my hands on one of those PSOne LCD screens cheap & hack it. You can replace the Backlight with Superbright LCDs to make it consume a lot less power & make is more battery friendly too...

Then you have a truely portable gaming solution!

I'm also going to hack the Super Joy to accept hacked Nintendo controllers (since you're playing Nintendo games in the first place!) That way I don't have to lug around the controller box if I don't want to. (but I still can if the urge hits)

Anyhow, I'm probably gonna be pretty busy this weekend, but I'm gonna try & get that PSX controller in the enclosure & all hooked up so I can start playing with the controller.

- tmasman

[tmasman]

Well... I've got my first adapter built! (Haven't tested it yet though...).
I've got to take it over to my Brother-In-Law's place to test it out on his PS2... I also ordered a PS -> USB adapter. It should arrive by the end of the week.

I also just ordered the ArcadeVGA card & the cable I needed f/ my J-Pac (bought it off of the guy I got my cabinet from)
Want to see my cabinet?


Anyhow, I actually just got a promotion & raise at work, so I should have the money coming in to finish up my cabinet pretty soon. I'd like to finish it in time for my birthday party on Feb 7th... But I've still got to decide on what I want to cover the sides/front with. (I've sent out a few emails asking about adhisive backed vinyl... That's definately my first choice if it's not too $$$$$)

Anyhow, here are a few pics of my project box as it stands now...









I'll post again after I've tested it all out!

[Edgedamage]

Things always look better in plastic project boxes.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

What kind of wire did you use to solder to the game controller contacts.  I am looking for some wire that is able to do the same thing.  Last time i tried that sort of thing, the wire was to stiff and popped the solder right off the contact points along with a bit of trace....GRRRRRR....i was pissed!  
I am getting ready to do something similar and wondered what wire you were using.

thanks,
Groovy~

[tmasman]

I've got a spool of 7000' of 24 Gauge 7 stranded wire...
It's still a little stiff (it'll stay if you put a kink in it), but it workes great for this stuff.

When soldering this stuff to a PCB always make sure there is a clean contact area where you want to solder, place the wire where you want it to be soldered down, then use an aligator clip to hold it in place.  (Before that, it also makes it TONS easier if you "tin" the wire tip first... That just means heat up the tip of the wire & put a little solder on there)
Now heat the PCB & wire at the same time & apply the solder from the other side (not directly on the iron, this has helped me to get it to "stick" better to the PCB) Now slowly remove the iron & the aligator clip should still be holding the wire in place.
By the time you've put the iron down it's probably safe to remove the aligator clip & make sure the wire it secure.


ANYHOW,
I'm selling this wire in lots of 100ft for $5 + shipping (shipping is about $2). Let me know if you're interested.