Davec's Joystick Cap

[Shirohagen]

OK, so I guess this is basically a message to DaveC about his Joystick Cap, but I thought I'd make it an open thread so that other people can read it too. I know there's a lot of discussion about this but perhaps we could get some definitive info in one thread for everyone's reference.

I'm interested in buying one of these caps as I have to admit the GP2X's stick has really disapointed me, but while there has been a lot of technical discussion about the stick (see this post http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=24164) and also good feedback about the cap itself in various threads, I'm still a bit unsure about what it actually is and how it helps the problem.

So, DaveC, can you explain your stick mod to me and anyone else who is curious so we can make up our minds whether to buy one or not? What exactly IS it? Does it simply fit over the top of the existing stick or actually replace it, if so, how do you remove the old one and install it? Do we have to do anything scary to our new GP2Xs to get it going?

I'm guessing it makes the stick easier to push around as it is concave, but other than that how does it help?

Go on DaveC, give us your sales pitch!

Oh, and anyone else who bought one, feel free to tell us about your experience of it.

 

[tyke]

Ive got one and its the best thing since sliced bread!

No honest it feels so right I dont know how GamePark screwed up so much with their design, Dave's just feels like it should and everything I play feels perfect

Get one now!

 

[daclassicgamingmaster]

It's quite good and a huge improvement over the old one. I suggest getting one.

 

[Shirohagen]

what exactly is it? I know it sounds like a really dumb question, but is it like a sort of "Shower Cap" which goes over the existing stick or is it a stick replacement?

How did you guys install it?

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[Reesy]

You pull off the old cap and then push on DaveC's replacement...simple

 

[Shikaku]

You pull off the old cap and then push on DaveC's replacement...simple

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*100% off topic

Reesy's back...

wee

 

[Shirohagen]

Ok, that's exactly the part which worries me, it sounds a bit severe to "pull off" the cap, do you mean it pops off the stick easily without force and can be easily replaced afterwards? I don't want to damage the GP2X's stick!

So the original shaft of the stick remains, and all you do is pop the cap off the end of it?

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[barnesy]

Yes, it's just a bit of plastic sitting on a metal shaft. It pops off without all that much force, but is tight enough to stay in place normally.

 

[declaration]

Its not at all drastic to pull the stock cap off. It comes off very easily and you are then left with the stick.

With the new cap, things are 1000% better. It actually makes the GP2X playable. I think Craig should source a couple of hundred from Dave and make them optional at the point of GP2X purchase.

 

[yaustar]

Ok at that's exactly the part which worries me at it sounds a bit severe to "pull off" the cap, do you mean it pops off the stick easily without force and can be easily replaced afterwards? I don't want to damage the GP2X's stick!

So the original shaft of the stick remains, and all you do is pop the cap off the end of it?

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If you ever did it with the GP32 stick, it is pretty much the same procedure.

 

[aapje89]

Its not at all drastic to pull the stock cap off. It comes off very easily and you are then left with the stick.

With the new cap, things are 1000% better. It actually makes the GP2X playable. I think Craig should source a couple of hundred from Dave and make them optional at the point of GP2X purchase.

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a couple of hundred, that must be an awful lot of work, lol.

 

[Reaperman93010]

I completely agree about getting the cap and have no idea why Gamepark went with a convex cap (unless there was a patent reason, or something). It's as simple as pulling the old one off and popping a new one on. There's minor shimming if needed--the included instructions beat that one to death pretty well.

the 15 second firmware and daveC's cap really turn GP2X into a usable game machine. I also think that this cap should be made available at purchase, but I have a feeling that would take a production line revamp to be practical. :lol:

sounds like you've still got a tight cap--after a solid week of playing on the stock cap, it tends to start falling off...and getting lost... It REALLY loostens up.

 

[Hanz™]

Ok at that's exactly the part which worries me at it sounds a bit severe to "pull off" the cap, do you mean it pops off the stick easily without force and can be easily replaced afterwards? I don't want to damage the GP2X's stick!

So the original shaft of the stick remains, and all you do is pop the cap off the end of it?

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Yep. It really is easy, I have done it a couple of times with my GP2X, I don't know why.

 

[Zeon X]

I was found that after a week or two of playing with the GP2X's original stick it could freely be turned and taken off with easy.
The new cap is much better for games that were originaly designed to have a D pad. Tetris for 1 is so much easier now.
With the original stick you have to move to extrame of the stik to move, with Dave's stick you can press the outer edge, making games player better.

 

[LIZARDKING]

There is improvement but it's not all that....

I feel more of the lack of the left joystick movement more noticeable with DaveC's cap than before but it can pull -off fireballs and snowballs in fighting games w/ much ease.

Still hard to play Pacman & Miss Pacman precisely!

 

[DaveC]

There is improvement but it's not all that....

I feel more of the lack of the  left joystick  movement more noticeable with DaveC's cap than before but it can pull -off fireballs and snowballs in fighting games w/ much ease.

Still hard to play Pacman & Miss Pacman precisely!

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The cap stem may be hitting the case a little on left presses because the mobo is off center. Push the stick all of the way left. Does the stem touch any part of the case? If so try rotating the cap until it clears. Does the cap top hit the case? If so try rotating a little or pulling it up slightly until it clears. After that if you still can't do left then your stick assembly itself is duff.

 

[Gieese]

DaveC,

Just received my cap.
It's just greater than expected.
Again thanks much!!
Didn't take a week to JPN.

 

[Shirohagen]

Thought I would post as I have bought a joystick cap from DaveC, which has safely arrived and I've been using it for a few days.

The old GP2X stick does indeed come off easily, so that wasn't too scary, and the DaveC stick is so much smaller than I was expecting. It looks great and goes on easily. It definately makes it easier to use, although obviously the mechanics of the stick itself are still lacking so it's not perfect. It's much better though and if all the devs consult DaveC's joystick configuration setups etc then things look much better!

Joystick Internals

Thanks DaveC, much appreciated!

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