Mad Catz gone out of business? (PS2 pads in short supply!)

[SukkaFoo]

What is the deal here? I used to be able to go to ANY retailer of PS2 accessories and pick up a Mad Catz brand PS2 controller... now... they seem to have vanished.

Mainly, I just want one because they used to have nice big fat soldering points for making custom sticks. Have any of you used other brands which are easy to solder on? The standard Sony ones are too hard for me. I see a lot of Pelecan ones around, what does the PCB look like on those?

The one Mad Catz I could find was the Micro. Anyone tried to use one of those?

[Zapatistab]

What is the deal here? I used to be able to go to ANY retailer of PS2 accessories and pick up a Mad Catz brand PS2 controller... now... they seem to have vanished.

Mainly, I just want one because they used to have nice big fat soldering points for making custom sticks. Have any of you used other brands which are easy to solder on? The standard Sony ones are too hard for me. I see a lot of Pelecan ones around, what does the PCB look like on those?

The one Mad Catz I could find was the Micro. Anyone tried to use one of those?

Sony PS1 Dual Shocks are easy to hack. As long as you avoid the colored ones. But you can do a solderless hack with the colored ones. I'm sure the link is floiting around here somewhere.

The PS1 dual shocks have large contacts, just scratch away the black stuff that covers the contact points. And the benefit of these controllers, is you'll never have lag, and they are compatible with most if not all controller converters. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I can't imagine the madcatz contacts are that much bigger.

Also I always see used madcatz controllers at game stores.

[SukkaFoo]

Well, thats sort of the problem. I used the solderless PS1 pad hack already, and it doesn't work with the Tekken 5 arcade cabinets. My stick that used a Mad Catz pad does.

[Hoagie_one]

Gamestop sells rebranded madcatz pads as their own brand, try there.

[Dave_K.]

Well, thats sort of the problem. I used the solderless PS1 pad hack already, and it doesn't work with the Tekken 5 arcade cabinets.

I've herd of people bringing PS2 pads into the arcade to use on Tekken 5 cabs, but this is the first time I've herd of someone bringing in their own hacked stick setup for a tekken 5 cab...the cab's original control panel with sanwa stick and buttons isn't good enough for you? 

IMHO, "PSOne Dual Shock" (not PSX) solderless hack is the simplist solution, and you can still find these pads at Gamestop/EBgames for $4.99 or less (I recently picked up a pair for $2.99 each!)

[odysseyroc]

I just got back from playing some Tekken 5 at the arcade. I couldn't imagine a better setup than what's already on there.

[pmc]

MadCatz hasn't gone out of business anyway. Seems like they are alive and kicking (although I wouldn't touch their stock). 

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=mcz

-pmc

[SukkaFoo]

I know you're all trying to be helpful, but you've missed the point - I already tried the PS1 solderless route. The T5 cabs don't like PS1 pads. And, yes, the cabinet's controlls are horrid.

Also, the Gamestop rebranded ones are Pelican(sp?)

As for the T5 cab's sticks, they're utter crap. Well, I should say the design of the panel is utter crap. The angle you have to hold your wrists in the lowered position while standing is impossible, and it's too high for the stools normally used on Japanese cabinets. The controlls are about 4 inches too high or too low, depending on your preferred position.

I defy any of you to find high level players who use them. Mishima players use pads, and everyone else uses their own sticks.

Thanks for your suggestions, anyhow

[Hoagie_one]

I know you're all
Also, the Gamestop rebranded ones are Pelican(sp?)

maybe its just the wireless ones then. 

[TalkingOctopus]

I know you're all trying to be helpful, but you've missed the point - I already tried the PS1 solderless route. The T5 cabs don't like PS1 pads. And, yes, the cabinet's controlls are horrid.

Also, the Gamestop rebranded ones are Pelican(sp?)

As for the T5 cab's sticks, they're utter crap. Well, I should say the design of the panel is utter crap. The angle you have to hold your wrists in the lowered position while standing is impossible, and it's too high for the stools normally used on Japanese cabinets. The controlls are about 4 inches too high or too low, depending on your preferred position.

I defy any of you to find high level players who use them. Mishima players use pads, and everyone else uses their own sticks.

Thanks for your suggestions, anyhow

I have to agree.  Although the hardware may be good, the tekken 5 layout is very uncomfortable.  I had dinner near the local arcade last week and decided to check the arcade afterwards.  I played a few matches againist a stranger and while I am definately not a top player, I couldn't get any of my normal stuff going with that setup. 

Have you looked for the controller online.  They seem to have them in stock at gamestop:

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801495

Also, I am willing to be there are a slew of them on ebay.

[Zapatistab]

As mentioned before, why don't you just use a PS1 Dual Shock and scratch off the black stuff that covers the contacts. Any Grey or off white PS1 dual shock will do.

I only brought up the solderless hack, because it's an option. Personally I don't like using it, it takes the fun out of soldering.

[sc1103]

As he mentioned earlier, the PS1 pads dont seem to work: 

I know you're all trying to be helpful, but you've missed the point - I already tried the PS1 solderless route. The T5 cabs don't like PS1 pads. And, yes, the cabinet's controlls are horrid.

[SukkaFoo]

As mentioned before, why don't you just use a PS1 Dual Shock

As I mentioned before, the T5 cabs will not work properly with the PS1 pads. High volumes of directional inputs result in dropped commands or lagged commands. Either way, I'm going to be using this stick in tournaments and that won't be acceptable.

In any case, I found a used MadCatz pad, wired it up, and it works just fine now

Thanks for everyone's input!

[Dave_K.]

As I mentioned before, the T5 cabs will not work properly with the PS1 pads. High volumes of directional inputs result in dropped commands or lagged commands.

Interesting, as I've never herd this before.  I wonder if you find the same problem with the PS2 Tekken 5 game and those pads.  The PCB is the same hardware as PS2, so unless its a software problem, I can't see why this would happen.

[SukkaFoo]

Not sure, the origional T5 (5.0) came out almost immediately for PS2, so that became the standard. While it was in the arcade I used a Hori stick.

[Zapatistab]

[

Interesting, as I've never herd this before. I can't see why this would happen.
[/quote]

My thoughts exactly

[TalkingOctopus]

As I mentioned before, the T5 cabs will not work properly with the PS1 pads. High volumes of directional inputs result in dropped commands or lagged commands.

Interesting, as I've never herd this before.  I wonder if you find the same problem with the PS2 Tekken 5 game and those pads.  The PCB is the same hardware as PS2, so unless its a software problem, I can't see why this would happen.

PS1 pads work just fine on the ps2 version of T5.  I only use hacked ps1 pads to play it.  I play it quite often too.  My friends are quite fond of T5.  I like T5 too, but I wouldn't mind some variety.