turning a Game Gear into a Genesis controller (mod)

turning a Game Gear into a controller (mod)

My GG has the well-know bad caps issue and i'm not interested in fixing it, since i dislike playing with its small LCD screen.
Instead i was thinking about converting the whole handheld into a Genesis controller by replacing the mainboard with the PCB of a cheap 3rd party genesis control pad PCB like this.
The only problem is that the button contacts won't match with the new PCB obviously, so i need some trick for them... what would you suggest me to do?

 

Hi!
You could reuse the motherboard then simply weld to the 3rd pcb controller.
Check the thread of Maxwar on Sega16, you'll see where are the solder points are on the motherboard. http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showth...old-dirty-broken-Game-Gear-found-in-the-trash

If you have more advanced skill, you could also make a really simple PCB (by using transfer paper and copper board) and matching the buttons and screw holes form the GG, and take the part from the PCB controller to resolder them into a new board..


Also, if you don't want to keep the screen, I would glady take it to fixe my GG.

 

Could you not just cut and solder onto the traces on the GG button PCBs? TBH it seems a bit of a waste, personally I would just build my own joystick out of arcade parts instead.

 

If I recall, and I might be mixing this up with the Neo Geo, The genesis is unique in that it doesn't even need the PCB. The cord literally goes to each contact and it would work...

 

@XxHennersXx: you're mixxing up. Genesis controller definitely has a PCB, not the Neo Geo one (just wires).

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/FR6scsbjc_I/maxresdefault.jpg

 

Genesis controller protocol:

 

Seriously just consolize the poor thing.
I also do not like to play on tiny screen, but that is no reason to butcher that poor Game gear.
Hell, if its the two ASIC version I would even buy it from you!!

Besides, I do not think It would make much of a good controller for the genesis, which already is blessed with excellent controller options.

 

My aim really is to play GG games with PC emulators and still use the old beloved piece of plastic as a controller.
The various consolization options do not satisfy me for various reasons (price, installation difficulty, too small GG software library, etc.).

I knew about the PCBs bridging solution, but since the capacitors have failed they could leak acid and damage both the PCBs so i would need to remove them if i go this way.
Instead I would prefer to remove the original mainboard and other stuff inside to reduce the weight and make it more comfortable to hold as a controller.

As an alternative replacement PCB i've found an old USB Logitech Wingman Action Pad which has a smaller d-pad that could match directly the GG one. The one in the Genesis pad i linked in the 1st post is probably larger.
For the 3 remaining buttons i'm thinking to glue some piece of rigid plastic between the GG external buttons and the rubber parts.
Making new holes in the GG case is a rude solution i'd like to avoid because i want to keep the original button positions.

 

If you do not want the mainboard of you gg and it is a 2-asic, I could use it for science ( like overclocking ).

Btw the logitech Wingman action d-pad sucks balls imho. I really hate the feel of it. I play shmups and it has to be one of the worst D-Pad out there. But they learned the lesson and then made the Logitech Dual action which is awesome.

 

I'm planning the reuse the Wingman Action Pad PCB and rubber parts only, not the external buttons.

Once the mod is done i will probably put the internal parts for sale on ebay... btw the mainboard has bad caps which may have leaked already... (i've never opened the console til now)

 

Really interested to see the finished project on this one. Great idea to reuse old parts and have something unique in my opinion. Hope it all works out for you eadmaster.

 

I'd love to fit a raspberry pi inside a Game Gear and use it for emulation purposes. The main problem is how output to the screen...

 

If you change the inside of the GG for a raspberry, then change the LCD too: there's some 3.5" screen with touchscreen for raspberry.

 

There were a few issues i didn't take into account:

1. I need a 4.5mm gamebit screwdriver to open the console (i've just ordered one from China);
2. the replacement board needs to be fixed somehow to the GG case. Possible solutions in my mind:
   1. cut an "adapter" board made of plastic or light wood that matches the original GG screws;
   2. use insulating tape + bubble wrap to fill the empty space;
3. while the d-pad could match directly, the remaining 3 buttons won't, so i need some trick for them:
   1. use a rigid piece of plastic or metal to mechanically connect the external buttons with the rubber parts + fix them with glue or insulating tape;
   2. make a small secondary circuit board that matches the 3 GG buttons and connect it to the main board (any guide?).

I will probably need some time to find the right materials and experiment with the various solutions.
In the meanwhile i'll keep watching this thread so you are welcomed to post your suggestions for these issues...

 

I like to use the ghetto method of gluing some thin veneer on the bottom of the case and then screw PCBs on it.

 

Can you point me a cheap one? No need for touch support.

 

http://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2012/11/cheap-miniature-lcd-screen/ cheap (here http://www.amazon.com/3-5-Inch-TFT-Monitor-Automobile/dp/B0045IIZKU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

http://www.adafruit.com/products/913 more expensive.

a bit smaller http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/83-15684?green=776D14A0-84E0-585D-9079-9166FF308BB3

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2135028730/piscreen-a-35-tft-with-touchscreen-for-the-raspber for this one maybe there'll be some retail products after the KS.

 

UPDATE:
the 1st protype is ready:
pic1 pic2
Ok, it does not look very nice, but since this is my first circuit mod project i'm just glad it works!

Parts i've used:
- replacement ribbon PCB for DualShock 2 (for the button contacts - very easy to cut);
- this conductive glue;
- breadboard wires;
- multimeter (for continuity testing and finding the right bridging points).

Interesting discoveries i've made:
- despite the DS2 button contacts are carbon-based they are working fine with the Logitech PCB which has metal contacts;
- the conductive glue is much easier to use than solder since it takes hours to dry so you have all the time to make corrections + it is less risky because you don't need to use the iron;
- the original GG board has 2 small holes around the D-pad which are missing in the Logitech PCB. This is preventing the new PCB to make a good contact in that area, and so the d-pad is resting a bit lower than usual... (but it is still usable)
- my original GG board should be the 2 ASIC version see pics here - which price do you suggest me for the full PCB set (incl. the LCD, audio and power boards)?

Enhancements i'm considering for the future:
- bridge the D-pad too, to get a better contact in that area;
- add a few push-buttons in the upper part of the console to use as triggers (useful for emulation purposes);
- redirect the Logitech power led to where the GG red led was (using a light pipe?);
- wire the speaker to a jack with a simple stereo-mixer, to hear the music coming from the console...

 

Consolize the Game Gear into a Master System case
Portablize a Master System into a Game Gear case

When everyone comes over to play Sonic 2, start laughing maniacally as they recount their associated memories of the "Master System" they're playing... They'll never know

(Your mod looks like some impressive work and it seems to be going places, good luck!)