To anyone who has made or modified a arcade stick....

[DumbledorsArmy]

Hey everyone. I've decided that at some point soon (hopefully), I want to construct a arcade stick of my own. I want to do this for several reasons.

1. I've been having a ball with Texmaster, and I want to have a better way for input. Right now I'm using a wonderfull DragonBall PS controller.
2. I like making things. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif Back in the day, when I lost the rumble on my PS2, I tracked the problem down to a blown fuse. Instead of ordering a new fuse, I modded my PS2 with a in-line fuse holder that I ran into the hard drive bay. Problem solved, and if it ever happens again I am able to fix it in about 5 seconds.
3. I found a arcade supply company very close to where I live that carry Sanwa and Seimitsu parts. Shipping for a stick and buttons will run me about $7.
4. It seems like the best option for me. I was checking out some pre-made sticks and it seems like making my own would be more cost effective to do. That, and I like a challenge and the satisfaction of making something kick-ass.
5. I have a wired MadCatz Xbox 360 wired controller laying around doing nothing. What else am I gonna do with it? It would be nice to have a arcade stick for the Xbox Live arcade games as well.

The questions I have:

1. What model stick do you all use? There are several listed on the website for each company.
2. Buttons? Is there much of a difference between either manufacturer?
3. Are there any company's that sell blank controller boxes? Although I'm still not sure about this, I may want to make it myself. That way I can make it to my specifications.
4. Am I insane for wanting to do this? Probably not, as I know I've seen other people do this.

Arcade parts: Lizard Lick Amusements (http://www.lizardlick.com/index.shtml)
Webpage with info on how to mod a 360 controller: How to make a Xbox 360 arcade stick (http://www.gamersreports.com/article/24/default.htm)

My current POS controller. It makes all kinds of horrible noises when I play...
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6263/imag0161oh3.jpg

If and when I do this, I am going to document to whole process. Maybe get a 'how to' on the TC boards.
Comments, thoughts, suggestions....

[PetitPrince]

1. What model stick do you all use? There are several listed on the website for each company.

Most of us use Sanwa's JLF-TP-8Y stick.

[colour_thief]

That said, I primarily use the Seimitsu LS-32.

[muf]

1. Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT
2. Sanwa OBSF-30
3. Just get an old secondhand cheap ass arcade stick, like a Virtua Stick Saturn, Namco PSX Stick, Hori Fighting Stick or something, remove the insides and put in your arcade parts & MadCatz PCB. You can do a custom print on the faceplate and/or give the shell a custom paint job.
4. I did it, and it saved me quite a few pennies over getting a VSHG or an HRAP.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

heh, i was planning on ordering a custom soon.

g'luck (b^^)b

[cdsboy]

I have VSHG, but before i got that i rewired a Hori Tekken 5 special edition stick to a 360 controller. DO NOT go with the official controllers, the contacts are super tiny so you have to be a beast to solder them. If you can try to get one of the slick controllers that have universal ground for the d-pad.

EDIT:
grr i need to learn not to skim... i see you already have a madcat one >.>

[DumbledorsArmy]

Most of us use Sanwa's JLF-TP-8Y stick.

That said, I primarily use the Seimitsu LS-32.

Of course these are to two models that are temporarily sold out.

Another thing I noticed. Some of the sticks have a 5 wire wiring harness. Will I be able to adapt this for what I want to do? If I can't, then I will be limited to the Sanwa JLW-TM-8 (don't know what the difference between this one and the JLF other than the 5 wires versus 8 ), the Sanwa JLW-UM-8 (bat handle, don't want it) and the Seimitsu LS-32 (out of stock, of course it doesn't really matter at this point, not building it right now).

3. Just get an old secondhand cheap ass arcade stick, like a Virtua Stick Saturn, Namco PSX Stick, Hori Fighting Stick or something, remove the insides and put in your arcade parts & MadCatz PCB. You can do a custom print on the faceplate and/or give the shell a custom paint job.


I'm still torn on what way to go with the enclosre... I haven't found any pre-made sticks with a case that I like. I'm just too damn picky...

heh, i was planning on ordering a custom soon.

g'luck (b^^)b

Thanks, this will definately be an adventure, especially if I build the enclosure myself. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[muf]

Another thing I noticed. Some of the sticks have a 5 wire wiring harness. Will I be able to adapt this for what I want to do?
Of course, why wouldn't you be able to? Just get the harness for it:
http://akihabarashop.jp/developments/images/sanwa-JLFH.jpg
And solder the wires to your PCB. That's how I did it; well, sort of. the wires are soldered onto a piece of veroboard which has a pin header on it, to which I connect my gamepad PCB which has a flatcable soldered to it for ease of maintenance. Here's how it all looks:


I'm still torn on what way to go with the enclosre... I haven't found any pre-made sticks with a case that I like. I'm just too damn picky...
That's funny, I haven't seen any handmade boxes that I'd want for myself, so I went with factory ones http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif.

[DumbledorsArmy]

I forgot that I had this at one point.
http://www.madcatz.com/Images2/products/4758.gif

This controller SUCKED ASS. The 2 main reasons I bought it:

1.The spinner control. You would figure that it would be great for AstroPop from the XBL Arcade. Nope, absolutely horrible.
2. Picked it up at GameStop for $12.00 new. It came with 3 free arcade games, so I figured why not.

Anywho, this is the current state of that controlller now.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3746/imag0162ti4.jpg

It got stepped on and the stick was snapped off. But due to my inability to throw anything electronic out, I still have it. Opened it up and I'm liking what I see. Of all the solder points that I need to make (26 of them), 22 of them have open holes so I can just run the wire through the board and solder it. Only four of them will have to be soldered to the leads on the flat surface of the board. The other thing I like about it is the headset hookup. It's not part of the board. I could extend it if I want to. I'll probably just run a extension cable though since Microsoft has done away with the wierd looking hookup for the headset. I don't think I'll find myself ever wanting to hook up the chatpad to this. The only think that sucks about this board right now is the cord. It got shredded at some point as you can see in the bottom left corner of the pic.

If you can try to get one of the slick controllers that have universal ground for the d-pad.


How would this hook up with one ground? Have you done this before? I might not be too worried about it though if I use the board from the MadCatz arcade stick. The d-pad point all have holes through the board where I can make the hookup's pretty easily.

[cdsboy]

How would this hook up with one ground? Have you done this before? I might not be too worried about it though if I use the board from the MadCatz arcade stick. The d-pad point all have holes through the board where I can make the hookup's pretty easily.

You get the version of the joystick with universal ground. http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif

[DumbledorsArmy]

Thanks for all the responses! I might be able to do this sooner rather than later. My friend needs me to install her car stereo in her new car and she usually buys me something for payment. So I'm thinking about getting her to pick me up what I need to build this.

Another thing. I met this guy that does some pretty amazing woodcarving. So I might possibly be getting some custom artwork engraved in the box if I make it!

[Phydeaux]

I forgot that I had this at one point.
http://www.madcatz.com/Images2/products/4758.gif

This controller SUCKED ASS.

Good to know. I almost paid $40 for it. Used.

Instead I got one of these (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/13/joystiq-impressions-hori-vf5-joystick-for-360/default.htm). I don't even play fighting games.

What's funny is that there was a total of three stickers on it. The first one was $59.99, it'd been plastered over by a $39.99 one and then it had a $59.99 plastered back on.

There's one of these for the Wii out there, too. I'm considering getting it for the $39.99 before it gets jacked up, too.

[Monte]

the only people that make boxes that are readily available is xarcade but they make it for american style layouts.
here's a site with joystick pictures that is mostly from members at shoryuken.com
http://www.joystickvault.com/showgallery.php/cat/506 pretty much every button layout is on there.
also additional links are SRK tech talk (http://forums.shoryuken.com/forumdisplay.php?f=177) and SRK trading forum (http://forums.shoryuken.com/forumdisplay.php?f=226). Most people would advise not to try to make your own box unless you are an experienced carpenter and have the tools. If you want to make your own stick then you have to buy all the tools and then what usually happens is that when you make it it doesn't come out quite like you wanted and so you make another and that continues until you finally can make a respectable stick but by that happens you spend more than what you would have if you bought it from a stickmaker. I would just browse SRK's trading forum and get a case from there. Ask the stickmakers if they have a slot open and can make you a case. I'd recommend hahano, he made my stick (http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z58/MonteroGraves/sanwastick/default.htm). he makes good, inexpensive cases, tell him I sent you maybe he'll give you a discount haha.

EDIT: forgot to mention arcade in a box (http://www.arcadeinabox.com/Scripts/default.asp). They recently started doing sanwa sticks and the owner frequents SRK and is very easy to contact. Of all the stick builders he'll probably be the quickest since the other stick makers do it as a hobby where as he does it for a living and is used to working on many projects at once.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

FYI Hahano no longer does customs atm...though I guess if you just wanted a case it wouldn't hurt to ask.

I'll be moving very soon and I'm not taking any more custom orders, sorry. I'll still be building sticks on the side, but not at a rate I can continue selling them to a specific person.

[Monte]

I guess I must have forgotten to take my brain pills this morning. I thought he recently opened back up for orders and I posted in his thread to vouch for him but I checked the post date and it was back in april. my how time flies! http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

i -wish- he was still taking orders. Pabs of the TA.net forum was going to hook be up with a pretty sweet deal.

[DumbledorsArmy]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I have decided that I am going to fabricate my own box. I found some button layouts online and I enjoy a challenge. On a scale of 1 - 10, I would rate my carpentry skills at about a 5. I have a decent selection of tools, and my friend that I'm installing the car stereo for has the rest. She is going to chip in for the parts I need as payment for me installing her stereo. All I need now if the sticks to stop being "temporarily sold out".....

[statikeffeck]

hey guys, i like building my own sticks and have done so. But if you'd like to have someone else build it, I recommend the custom sticks over at ShoRyuKen forums. http://forums.shoryuken.com/forumdisplay.php?f=226
The guys there have made hundreds of sticks and have lots of pictures and feedback. You can also look at the pictures for ideas for your own.

[DumbledorsArmy]

Hey everyone. Well, I should be ordering my parts in the next several days. Car audio installation is going well. Should have that done tomorow. So when I got home tonight I did a little bit of work to the controllet pcb. Removed two small unright pcb extentions that were used for the LB and RB buttons. Soldered on a new USB cable. Plugged it into the 360 and everything is great. Hopefully in the next week or so I'll be able to start to seriously build this thing. How big of a footprint does the average stick have? I'm going a little large, somewhere around 10" deep and 16" wide. I do my playing from my bed so I want something large to rest on my lap.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

it's really up to you and depends on your uses. I think i've seen quite a few sticks around 8.5"x11" size but if you want something more substantial well, -you're- the one making it so that won't be a problem.

[DumbledorsArmy]

Hey mufunyo, is that a Agetec arcade stick for the Dreamcast that you are using? That was one of the few that I liked the looks of, and I managed to win a Ebay auction for one for $51, shipped. I don't have the time right now to make a box. Figured I will go this way for now. That is still something I want to do though...

[Rosti LFC]

The arcade stick is a Sanwa JLF (or similar name). Same one found in the VSHG, HRAP3 and most high-end custom sticks as well from what I've seen.

[muf]

Hey mufunyo, is that a Agetec arcade stick for the Dreamcast that you are using? That was one of the few that I liked the looks of, and I managed to win a Ebay auction for one for $51, shipped. I don't have the time right now to make a box. Figured I will go this way for now. That is still something I want to do though...
Nope, it's a SEGA Virtua Stick Saturn.

[DumbledorsArmy]

The arcade stick is a Sanwa JLF (or similar name). Same one found in the VSHG, HRAP3 and most high-end custom sticks as well from what I've seen.

I knew what kind of stick it is, I was wondering about the shell of the whole thing.... I guess I should have worded my question a little bit different... http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

Nope, it's a SEGA Virtua Stick Saturn.


Thanks, although I figured out that it wasn't the Agetec stick before I read your reply.

Anywho, I found a couple of guides online on modding the Agetec stick and it looks like its going to be fairly simple. All I need to do is cut off some of the plastic on the inside of the shell to make a Sanwa or Seimitsu stick sit flush and enlarge the buttons holes a bit...

Another question though. Will momentary contact pushbuttons be fine for the start and back buttons? I would assume yes, but I'm just trying to cover all the angles to limit the amount of dumb mistakes from the get go...

[DumbledorsArmy]

Well, after waiting almost 2 weeks for my Agetec Dreamcast stick to reach me, it finally came yesterday. All my stuff from Lizard Lick Amusements also came yesterday. It was like a early Christmas present, with the mailman playing the role on Santa!! http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif I already have the Sanwa mounted. Now I need to do the buttons and the PCB from the Xbox controller. Hopefully pics will come soon.


edit: Oh by the way, has anybody else noticed that TC is one member shy of 500??

[Kitaru]

edit: Oh by the way, has anybody else noticed that TC is one member shy of 500??We're level stopped.

[caffeine]

Although we did just pass 1000 topics!

[Kitaru]

Although we did just pass 1000 topics!
Uh oh, only 300 posts left!

Haha, I'll stop being a dork.

[muf]

So do we get grandmother posts now?



...I'll get my coat.

[DumbledorsArmy]

Ok, stupid question. I have my JLF mounted, the 360 PCB installed and hooked up and everything is working fine. I still need to mount the new buttons, but for now I can deal with it. Anywho, I can't get Joy2Key to function with it. It will read all the button inputs fine, but I get nothing from the joystick. Any ideas???

[Rosti LFC]

You are trying to get Joy2Key to map the POV hat axis and not the joystick axis, aren't you?

[DumbledorsArmy]

You are trying to get Joy2Key to map the POV hat axis and not the joystick axis, aren't you?

Yes.

[DumbledorsArmy]

I'll guide you through:



I found this last night when I was trying to get it to work. Did everything you listed. Nothing. So I fired everything up again today figuring maybe I was just missing something since I was really tired. Yep, I missed the fact that when you enable the 'Use POV switches' option that POV: UP, POV: DOWN etc. appears in Joy2Key.... Like I posted in my question 'OK, stupid question.....' Not stupid, just tired. And my wife was asking why I wasn't just making a new post about it... http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[m:)]

On the topic of modding arcade sticks, i did mine last night.
it only took about an hour and a half from opening the box to playing tetris.
i popped a sanwa jlf-tp-8t in hori's wii fighting stick.

I found a guide on the net, buttons are next.
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179535

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h67/aktech23/sanwa.jpg

[DumbledorsArmy]

Nice. I guess it wasn't too hard if it only took that long. You need a bubble top for the JLF!!!!! Lol, nah it's cool. what color you doing for the buttons?

[m:)]

Nice. I guess it wasn't too hard if it only took that long. You need a bubble top for the JLF!!!!! Lol, nah it's cool. what color you doing for the buttons?


it was really easy, just trim the base so it fits and stick it in there. i spliced the wires together.
the buttons will be more work , i dunno what colors i'll get. I'm thinking two colors, one for the four tetris buttons, and a different color for the other ones.

[m:)]

wow, the stock buttons on the HORI are garbage. i lost one already. sanwa's ordered now. i went with 4 black and 4 white buttons.
I'll post again after they are in. in the meanwhile it looks like zero tetris for me this week http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cry.gif
it was a ruff weekend already http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif

[m:)]

all sanwa'd up now http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif
the buttons were a little more work then the stick. took about 2 1/2 hours and my work room is still in shambles, but i took 'er for a test drive. yum big big difference with the new buttons.

it's buttery..

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h67/aktech23/photo.jpg

[DumbledorsArmy]

Nice. I like the way it looks. Finally got high-speed again. I might start posting in here again....

[Burbruee]

all sanwa'd up now http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif
the buttons were a little more work then the stick. took about 2 1/2 hours and my work room is still in shambles, but i took 'er for a test drive. yum big big difference with the new buttons.

it's buttery..

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h67/aktech23/photo.jpg
Stupid question, but was it a big difference from stock stick and buttons when you installed the sanwa parts?
I'm thinking about modifying my Fighting Stick 3 for PS3, which should be similar to the wii FS I guess.
Though, I do not have a dremel like that site linked earlier suggests, so I might have a problem fitting the parts in.

Now that you've played with it for a while, how is your performance in-game compared to the fighting stick before any modification?
Assuming it's better, how much of it do you think is because of the sanwa parts and how much of it from getting better with stick in general?

- - -
Also, this guy modified an HRAP2 to work with the 360 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn_ZmoGBYrU&feature=related). Anyone know how to do that and if you can do it with a FS3? (I have no PS3, so having 360 functionality would be very http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif )

[muf]

Also, this guy modified an HRAP2 to work with the 360 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn_ZmoGBYrU&feature=related). Anyone know how to do that and if you can do it with a FS3? (I have no PS3, so having 360 functionality would be very http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif )
Just swap out the PCB with the guts of a 360 controller.

[Burbruee]

Also, this guy modified an HRAP2 to work with the 360 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn_ZmoGBYrU&feature=related). Anyone know how to do that and if you can do it with a FS3? (I have no PS3, so having 360 functionality would be very http://www.tetrisconcept.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif )
Just swap out the PCB with the guts of a 360 controller.
I haven't opened the controller up and looked at the PCB, yet. I might do it tomorrow. But, would it be easy to connect the buttons from the stick to the PCB?

[m:)]

Stupid question, but was it a big difference from stock stick and buttons when you installed the sanwa parts?
I'm thinking about modifying my Fighting Stick 3 for PS3, which should be similar to the wii FS I guess.
Though, I do not have a dremel like that site linked earlier suggests, so I might have a problem fitting the parts in.

Now that you've played with it for a while, how is your performance in-game compared to the fighting stick before any modification?
Assuming it's better, how much of it do you think is because of the sanwa parts and how much of it from getting better with stick in general?


I don't have a dremel either, I used a cone shaped reamer drill bit in a cordless screwgun/drill. i used a saber saw to trim the base on the sanwa. i did have to cut a hole in the bottom of chassis for the stick to move freely.

the stick feels much better.
going from 4 way to 8 way seemed to be the biggest difference, you could probably shim the switches in the stock stick and get some improvement out of it. they seemed loose when i pulled it out. this would be something to check

it's hard to say how much improvement it made stick wise as I had never played with one before. i did start getting faster times right away and it feels a lot tighter. I went from S2 to S5 pretty quick but i was totally new to ARS also.

as for the buttons, I lost a button on the fighting stick within about 2 weeks. the new buttons are very responsive, but that doesn't really affect performance so much as feeling.