Console Arcadestick to PC Conversion, pls help!

[chevkoch]

I ran across this project, where someone converted a DC arcadestick to be used on a PC:

http://www.kuenstr.de/dcstick/

He describes that he took out the guts of the DC stick and soldered the innards of an USB PC pad to the button connections of the original stick.

That's a project I'd like to attempt. This afternoon I opened up my Namco PS arcadestick and a Gravis gamepad pro PC pad and to me it looks like I could just 1) take out the electronics "board" of the stick, 2) solder the button connections of the stick to the respective solder joints on the PC pad "board" 3) close up the whole thing and plug&play and MAME bliss.

Sorry if this sounds incomprehensible, I'm new to electronics tampering (apart from a semi-successful Afterburner mod on the GBA). The guy that did the project linked to above mentions that he measured some "common ground" etc. For you conversion-adept here, could you tell me if the project would work like I'm picturing it, what are the things to look out for (perhaps difference in volts - console stick/PC pad)?

I don't wanna do this to my Namco stick however. Instead I thought of getting a cheap microswitched stick, like this MD/SNES Sidewinder Joystick from Blaze and a cheap USB PC pad that has about the same number of buttons as that stick.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[dgnr7982]

You have to wonder what the point is the 'Magic Box' lets you use all DC, PS and Saturn controllers on PC, I use my DC stick thru USB without problems.

[mid]

Yep, the Magicbox works perfectly well for the DC stick (and I'd imagine a PS stick as well), and the Joybox-13 works for the GC stick as well.

[chevkoch]

Well, I thought it would be a nice project to be working on. And a converted stick would make more noise as a gift for Xmas for a Mame-inated friend of mine than an adapter.

Is the Magic Box adapter limited to 4 buttons only for the DC Arcadestick? On second thought, for Mame and Emulation of classic games I wouldn't probably need more than that anyway.

Lik Sang carries this 3-in-1 PC Joy Box, has someone used that? It looks like a Magic Box in a different (new?) case.

Still, anyone up for giving me some tips electronics-wise, re: the above mentioned conversion project?

[Super Stu]

Is the Magic Box adapter limited to 4 buttons only for the DC Arcadestick?

The new revised Magicbox can utilise all 6 dc stick buttons.

[chevkoch]

Is the Magic Box adapter limited to 4 buttons only for the DC Arcadestick?

The new revised Magicbox can utilise all 6 dc stick buttons.

Thanks, where can I find that? Play-Asia says their MagicBox does only support 4 buttons:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-6m-70-1hv-4-5-77-1-15-magic%2Bbox.html

[dgnr7982]

https://www.consoleplus.co.uk

[mid]

I ordered a Magicbox from Consoleplus and received one labelled as a PC JoyBox, so they are definitely the same thing.

And it definitely works with all six stick buttons, as that is what I bought it for.

[chevkoch]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm glad my beloved Lik Sang carries that new version as well.

[chevkoch]

For those interested in yanking out the old soldering iron and hacking an USB gamepad to build your own PC compatible arcadestick, here are the fruits of my web research on the subject:

Great tutorials for electronic newbies (like myself):

http://www.proaxis.com/~iguanalabs/Begtut.htm

Kevin Reems' gamepad hacks/tips&tricks/walkthrough:

http://members.cox.net/joysticks/

Arcadecontrols: homebuilt sticks and arcade cabinets, lots of projects:

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

particularly interesting here, a nice custom-built arcadestick:



Link to more pics and description of this stick

[mid]

Lovely build on that stick, but its yet another example of people with MAME cabs putting all their buttons is straight rows, rather than the curve that Hori and so on use, which is just so much more practical and comfortable. Take a look at something like the DC stick to see what I mean.