Hey all only me again; I had this idea the other day. thought I'd share it with anyone that could help. I cleaned a friends N64 joystick the other day (it wasn't that bad so I got it feeling like it was nearly brand new) But what I noticed when cleaning it and studying the mechanism is those 2 bits of black plastic and the joystick itself are the only things to truly worry about. I mean here is my thought! I have some BRAND new N64 pads as well as sticks completely untouched. If I were to make a plastic mould of these 3 parts in theory I should be able to put them in an existing joystick container and it should feel like new again. hmm? The only slight downside is you might not get the exact colour of the stick perfect.. but then again what about company's like Dulux (It think it was them) who say they can identically recreate any colour? Does anyone know if this would remotely work? If so any special plastic moulding places I could take current design to? I await feedback!
I must have not played my N64 much because none of my 4 controller's thumbsticks are dead, and I've had them since 1996. Do all thumbsticks eventually die, or is only if you go hardcore with goldeneye/mario party?
Some members here including myself already though of this, but making new pieces made from some kind of metal. I think that topic didnt go any further than that
Oh that is a shame; metal would last longer for sure, but would it have the same feel as plastic? Well I did end up ringing a moulding place they gave me a very rough quote.. it was something like £1500 for a thousand (just the 3 plastic bits mind) So I will need to get a more accurate figure but if everyone puts in £5 to £10 into a pot.. think there is a specific website that allows a fair way of doing it ie) if you dont reach your goal everyone gets cash back.. However if it works then the moulds would be made and probably be cheaper there after to get additional ones made. BUT I think if the word was spread on every N64 forum on the net might just be able to pull it off. I can't start up the campaing though as I am a UK citizen and I think that the website I saw was US only! It was http://www.kickstarter.com/
When I was in Japan six years ago they were Y2000 apiece in Chiba... I bought only one :-( Oh, how I lament...
Another link from where to buy the GC sticks for N64: http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/p...ller-Thumbstick-Repair-Part---New---GC-style/ Anyone tried that site?
hori pads are great but expensive - i have my 3 up for sale on ebay now, but they will probably never sell.
Any analog stick caps? If nothing else, Nintendo's choice of ridged design is uncomfortable these days.
I believe lukiegames on ebay sell both types of these joystick things on ebay. The shop I do repairs for, get the original style in. they seem to be well made as i popped one open.
I believe the GC style sticks were determined to not be 1:1 accurate with their analog sensitivity when we were discussing the topic in another thread (cube-dx thread?)
No they aren't shame though. I remember writing up about it a while ago as if you had 6 "steps" with the old style, you only had maybe 4 "steps" with the GC style.
My local game store gets their replacement sticks from this place. http://www.innexinc.com/product-detail.php?prod_id=NXN64R-002&plat_id=25&page_num=0 Although the product listing is wrong. These are 3rd party not Nintendo brand. From what I've seen the build quality is good although I haven't used one personally.
I see cheap options from Hong Kong/China these days (eBay, Dealextreme). Are they the N64 OEM clones, or the Gamecube versions? (or both? or maybe a new version?)
While this topic is here, I'll drop some threads from Nintendo 64 Forever relevant to N64 joystickery. Third Party OEM Thumbsticks; Replacements w/ Original Look and Design New version of the GC style replacement stick released; most of previous issues addressed N64 Analog Replacement Options; Every analog alternative and replacement Working LodgeNet 64 Controller; How to make one! (If you have some soldering skills, I say this is a pretty fucking tits alternative) @ShadowZero: do they not have a picture of the stick itself on their listing? If they do have pictures, then here's a pic showing the difference between "OEM" and "Gamecube" style sticks: On the left, you have an OEM style replacement. On the right, you have the "Gamecube" style replacement. The former is more of a stick, whilst the latter has a "ball" base. If the sellers don't provide appropriate pictures for you to be able to tell what kind of stick is in the listing, it'd probably be best to send them a message to ask. I wonder if the Hori Minipad stick also "skips", since that also feels a bit more sensitive (I wonder since I haven't experienced "skipping" with it, unlike my controller with the GCN-style replacement stick).
Not that I've noticed. I've been using mine for the past few years and I've never had any issues with it. It works just like a regular N64 stick, only much, much smoother.
By far my favourite joypad for the N64 is the Mako Pad 64 (or Makopad 64), which is simply the transparent version of the Superpad 64, and it's fantastic; due to the redesign (it has two prongs, not three, unlike the official N64 controller) all controls and buttons are accessible without you moving your hand, unlike the official N64 pad. For a review, see: http://s9.zetaboards.com/Nintendo_64_Forever/topic/7186633/1/ (the review is of the Super Pad 64, the top right hand one in the first photograph, one black one with two prongs - the Makopad 64 is the exactly the same but with AUTO-FIRE and SLOW DOWN buttons, and is transparent instead of black. I've had mine for more than ten years, and it's still as responsive now as it ever was - I've hammered it with Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, Super Smash Bros., and countless other N64 classics. The analogue stick is made of metal, unlike the official controller, so it has not yet even started to wear away. http://www.retrogames.co.uk/more/on/details/015814 Or see the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bQfu-HAqc (and ignore the post in the comments section where it says "There wasn't ever a game where you hade to use the dpad and the? analong stick at the same time" - lots of games used both the analogue stick and the D-Pad, such as Duke Nukem 64, Duke Nukem: Zero Hour, and Jet Force Gemini, all of which used the D-Pad to select weapons). Sadly, you'll probably have to look through ebay, local newspapers, or local secondhand shops to find a Makopad 64 nowadays, but of course that's true of all N64 stuff. And the Makopad 64 comes in two types, the Makopad 64 which is transparent and has a couple of "cheat" switches (Slowdown and Autofire, I think - I've never used them), and an opaque black version called the Superpad 64, which lacks the cheat switches. The back opaque version of the Makopad 64 is called the Superpad 64, see the review at: http://s9.zetaboards.com/Nintendo_64_Forever/topic/7186633/1/#new (it's the top right hand controller on the first photograph). Beware though, as there is at least one other joypad for the N64 called the Superpad 64, which is *not* what you want. I cannot recommend this joypad strongly enough.
Wow, old thread dig-up, guys! lol. The Mako pad was truly hideous. Horrible to hold and horrible to use. The stick being plastic is COMPLETELY irrelevant. Everyone's barking up the wrong tree with what the problem is, as they have been for years. When I get the time, I'll be working on a proper replacement. Good as new, as it were. It's a long way down my to-do list, though.
If you want to keep the original sticks in good condition, you have to add some (tiny bit) synthetic grease. There is no lubrication on the stick and base of the "bowl." After a while, gaming shaves micrometer by micrometer off the base of the stick and bowl sides. A youtube user by the name of Lukemorse1 put up a vid about caring for and restoring N64 joysticks, including building up the plastic of worn / loose analog sticks. Give it a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEJmSQjONRg
