Arcade Stick - A possible built for several systems (Xbox and Playstation)

Hi everyone,

I don't know if this forum is the best to ask advice on this, but if not please redirect me to another.

I am planning to build a table/arcade stick to my game room. My idea is to have the most universal connection possible or that by a simple adaptor be able to play multiple platforms. Mainly I would like to play Xbox (original) and Xbox360, but if possible (and fairly easy) PS2 and PS3, and in a even harder thought, Saturn and Dreamcast.

If there is someone with some tips, like adaptors, or JAMMA boards for this purpose please let me know. And if you have built one before, just link me to your built.

Hopefully in a couple a months I will have the table built and can show off during the process.

Cheers

 

"Arcade sticks" are 4 way clicky sticks, not analogue which is what you need for the systems you mention (apart from Saturn which doesn't use a joystick).

Issue is each system is proprietary, even the orientation of the joysticks let alone sensitivity of each can be different.

The only way to achieve this is by rigging up an analogue joystick as well as the action buttons and also shoulder buttons, and then making each console system integrate to the controller, a master controller; whilst keeping each console system independent from each other, otherwise you'll get a lot of incompatibilities, things not working or even as should.

You either need to make a cartridge system for the master controller and have all the consoles together whilst working independently (as per my Project Unity system) or the controller standard but the consoles in cartridges (as per my far more superior new Unity project) - although that system falls down with not having enough wire connectors to support two analogue joysticks, two analogue shoulder buttons, digital buttons too.

Making a multi system is a far harder beast to make than you'd believe, which is why so few modders have succeeded in making a multi system, and even then in various levels of accomplishment.

Given what you've mentioned, i'd suggest making a master controller, console controllers into cartridges and all your consoles in one unit however not sharing any connections with each other apart from ground which will select the system being operated.

If you want to have an idea of such a system, look at my YouTube channel for Project Unity and the various worklog videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/MODDEDbyBACTERI

 

I think these are what you're looking for

http://www.focusattack.com/akishop-ps360-multi-console-joystick-pcb/
http://www.focusattack.com/toodles-cthulhu-multi-console-pcb/

 

I need to study a little bit more to understand you bacteria! But I get the complexity. In my case, most of the games I want to play would be extremely arcade-like, shooters and such, so shoulder buttons and other new gen additions wouldn't be necessary. My idea was 1 stick and like 6 buttons at most, for fighting games. They would be encompassed in a master circuitry and rerouting some wires with a switch would lead to different console interfaces. At least in my head that worked like that!

Kappa I think that is what I am looking, need to investigate further, but hopefully that will be sufficient!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Most likely will bother you tomorrow after more investigation.

 

I use the PS360+ that Kappa linked to. It is pretty versatile, but I haven't tried it with all of the systems it has mentioned. (still have some cable building to do)

 

What about the KADE miniConsole+?

http://kadevice.com/kade-miniconsole/

Cannot be bought yet but the kickstarter campaign has been successful.

 

bacteria, I think OP is talking about having a arcade stick that will work with a bunch of different consoles..

the only issue you should run into is connecting the joy stick too each controller, as arcade sticks use switches, where controller sticks (except for a few old consoles) use potentiometers to reference position..
If you are building the stick from scratch, you could possibly attach an arcade joystick too a controller potentiometer assembly.. I don't know how sturdy that will be...

It may be easier to pick an off the self interface, like PS2 and incorporate a few "converters".
For instance, I have a PS2 too xbox 360 remapper thingy here and I know you can get them to go to Xbox, PS3 and dreamcast

 

The PS360+ is the best solution but... It is about $60. If you manage to buy a Mad Catz or Hori stick, you will have to invest in a hole drill, a RJ-45 passthrough, a RJ-45 crimper, controller extension cables, and ethernet jacks. It will cost plenty of money.

Save your money and aim for the PS2 and PC. PS3 does have the drivers for USB, while there will be support for select PS4 games. This is a great starter PCB. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zero-delay-...hting-stick-/171490829856?hash=item27eda66620 All you need to do is find the arcade stick complete with joystick and buttons.

 

I wonder if you can use an arcade trackball as an analogue input?

 

Thank you all for the suggestions!

My original plan was to use a Xbox360 old control to serve as interface. But I don't know how good I can then use that and a converter for other consoles. As I said earlier, I would prefer to have for the Xbox360 and original xbox, as I have a couple of shooters and arcade-like games for them, much more than for PS2 or PS3. So I wouldn't want to use a PS2 and then converter to Xbox, only if the works really good on the Xbox.

The solution of PS360+ looks the best as I don't just want to build a arcade stick, but really a arcade table for my gameroom. Is it worth all the investment? If well build for several systems a arcade/controller/table would be priceless in a gameroom as a centre piece.

Just checking prices in the uk and looking for the cheapest solution.

Cheers!

 

I thought play-asia sold that PS360+ but its out of stock. Can you guys recommend a store? Possible european?

 

focusattack is the only official retailer iirc

 

I can vouch for the MC Cthulhu setup. The damn thing works with a dozen different systems I have hooked up and it's much easier (and cheaper) to swap a cable out than fool with a converter box that may either have compatibility problems or map your button layout to something unusable. Before I used Playstation-to-whatever converters and they always seemed to map the buttons to some crap configuration since they assumed you were using a PS pad and not a stick layout.

I don't own a PS4/XB1, so I can't speak for those, but beyond that it's one of the best investments I've made for a peripheral. Only 2 small complaints; no Genesis/Mega Drive compatibility and it doesn't work with the Retron5.

 

Do you own a 360? In the site of focusattack says it will not work with it and I really want that. Other than that it's cheaper than the PS360+ so it could be a much better option.

Sorry, just saw that its doable but challenging.

 

Works flawlessly with the 360 once you get it wired up correctly. I forget the exact hardware configuration mine uses but it has a 360 controller PCB wired in conjunction with the MC Cthulhu. One nice thing is with a single USB connection it is compatible with the 360, PS3, PC, Ouya, and original Xbox (with USB cable adapter).

 

Just to give people an update, as I completed this several months ago and I have been lazy. Basically I only come online to solve issues, I am not really someone that likes to show what I did.

So without further ado:

 

Thats awesome! you used a cthulhu MC ?

 

Yeah it's a MC Cthulhu and Chimp, plus a Xbox360 Madcatz controller. The buttons and stick are Seimitsu.