My free (so far) xbox arcade machine project.... Hero's Journey

[ItchyD]

I'm working on building a custom arcade machine on my extremely limited budget.  I got a (goofy looking / beat to hell) Leland Ataxx machine free off freecycle.  I sold the trackballs, and with that money I bought a tv and an old xbox. 

Now I'm trying to figure the cheapest way to get some controls on there to interface with the xbox.  I'm planning to watch ebay for some pelican real arcade controllers.  Hopefully I can pick some of those up cheap and upgrade the parts in the future when I have more money.







Arcade Machine off Freecycle      $0
26" TV from pawn shop            $50
Used Xbox from pawn shop       $40
Selling 2 trackballs on ebay   -$104
Net expenditure so far             -$14


I still have the Ataxx PCB and coin mech from the machine to sell or trade if anyone has one of those Pelican Real Aracades or anything else that would help me interface to the xbox.

I'm actually not too happy with the TV when I'm standing where I would be if I was using the old controls it's a little bit too close.  I'm going to have to make sure the CP i build sticks out a bit past where the old controls were.  Another problem with the tv is if it loses power it resets to channel 2 rather than input and I have to go drag the remote down there and stick it next to the sensor in the back to change it to input since you can't get there from the menu.  I am going to have to keep power to the tv even when it's toggled off. 

I've been working up some control layouts and this is what I've been thinking...



I know the layout on the right is not very traditional but the problem is when using the xbox I press A about 40%,  of the time R about 30% of the time, and the rest of the buttons alot less often.  I'm trying to come up with a layout that doesn't look too goofy, and is still comfortable but is practical to use.

I can't do this build without alot of advice from the forums so please share your expertise guys! 

[Bender]

I've been thinking about this too. Also trying to use other emulators with a d-pad, so I really like the diamond shape you had on the right, so how about incorporateing that with a neo-geo like layout like this (see the right side)

[ItchyD]

Good Idea, I'm not sure I like that white one floating up there though.  I'll have to cogitate on it some more

[HaRuMaN]

Now I'm trying to figure the cheapest way to get some controls on there to interface with the xbox.  I'm planning to watch ebay for some pelican real arcade controllers.  Hopefully I can pick some of those up cheap and upgrade the parts in the future when I have more money.

Don't know what you consider cheap, but you could hack a pair of controllers and hook them up to arcade controls...

[YoGaBaR]

how about four buttons in a row

xxxx
xxxx

or even put them in an arc like the neo

btw what game is up on that screen

[Malenko]

how about four buttons in a row

xxxx
xxxx

or even put them in an arc like the neo

btw what game is up on that screen

I was thinking like this:
X_X
XXX
XXX

or more specifically
L_R
bYw
XAB

the game looks like Super Mario War or something like that. its a homebrew PC project and I prolly got the name wrong

[ItchyD]

Yes it is Super Mario War.  It's kind of like mario deathmatch.  My kids and I really love it. 

[Imperator]

I would suggest just using a 3x3 or 4x4 layout that is comfortable to you.  Most of the emulators on the xbox allow all the button mappings to be reconfigured so you could do something like:

ARX 
BLY

and put the other buttons up top somewhere. 

[ItchyD]

Traded coin door and 2 controllers to HarumaN for 2 controller hacks.  Next up I gotta sell the remaining original parts and see if I can afford some joysticks and buttons.

[ItchyD]

More parts going up for sale http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=87499.0

[ItchyD]

Well after awhile I have ordered my buttons and joys from groovy game gear.  I got 2 happ competition joys,  8 electric ice buttons, and 12 black happ buttons as well as 2 green, 2 blue, 2 red, and 2 yellow LEDs.  My control panel is a mere 23.5 x 8.25 so it's pretty tight.  I sketched this up today in solidworks.

 

The top buttons are back and start, the top row of three is x, y, b, the bottom row of three is L, a, R, and the thumb buttons are black, and white. 

I'm really wondering what people think, like is it too cramped for two players?  The spacing between button centers is 1.5" is that enough or too much?  It leaves like .3" between each button.

[Blanka]

Leave the 2 bottom keys of. It is either 4-in-a-row NeoGeo style, or 2x3 row Streetfighter style.

[HaRuMaN]

Leave the 2 bottom keys of. It is either 4-in-a-row NeoGeo style, or 2x3 row Streetfighter style.

It's the Xbox black / white buttons.  They have to go somewhere...

[ItchyD]

yeah the only buttons I would consider losing would be the player 2 start / back buttons.