How To Build Your Own (8 Way) D-pad...

[moz]

ebay here i come

 

[grahf]

fishybawb/minkster,
I used a dremel and X-acto knife. I made a rough cut with a dremel cutoff wheel, then used the razor to trim it so the dpad would fit through. Its not very nice looking it person, but i might clean up the edges in the future.

 

[Loubear]

Did you try beveling the edges of the cut to make it look nicer? Oh yea, do you have a closeup hi res pic of the d-pad?

 

[EvilDragon]

Hmm I know I could design a d-pad module that is easy to install, getting the parts made though that could prove expensive. I have even been thinking of a way to do it with 8 switches, no logic chips and still have perfect control. Need to think about this..

You can be sure I'll offer premodded gp2x or modding gp2x's at my shop once you've got a module that works perfectly and looks good

 

[Reesy]

Finally got a chance to solder the wires. The contact pad is held in place with 3M double sided tape. Its extremely stable, and does not move at all. I cut the cross for the dpad in the front housing last night. Its not much to look at since i did it by hand with a razor and dremel (will post pics later). The actual dpad itself needs to be shaved down a little bit more before it will be perfect. As it is right now, its a little too tight with the case closed. I dont know when i'll have time to finish it, but will post up the results when i do.

On the gamecube board how did you expose the circuit board in order to solder to it? Do you sand it down or something, sorry I'm a complete novice when it comes to this sort of thing.

 

[grahf]

Loubear, I would hav to bring my 2x to work and use the scanner, since my camera wont take macros. The scans of the board were done at work. Its not much to look at though up close

Reesy, i just used a small razor blade to scrape the coating off. You can use just about anything, but be careful and scrape along the trace, so it doesnt catch on them. It would help if you have some kind of magnifying glass to look through. The wires i used were just some small gauge wire from an old USB cord. You can see i had to also trim the pcb at the top and side so it would clear the "L" button and side of the case. I used a dremel, but you could easily use some sandpaper on a flat surface.

 

[Reesy]

Ahh thanks for the tip, I'll give that a go.

 

[Loubear]

For some reason, the dpad here looks to me as a good fit for the gp2x, what do you guys think...I think that's a 6 button genesis controller.

 

[iatneH]

(image)
For some reason, the dpad here looks to me as a good fit for the gp2x, what do you guys think...I think that's a 6 button genesis controller.

I've hacked about a half dozen of those, and while it is a very nice D-pad (one of my favourites since it is the same one used in the Sega Saturn pad), it's actually a comparatively large assembly made of two separate pieces (not counting the rubber plunger pad).

I actually have one of these assemblies handy so I'll try to get you a picture if you're interested and don't want to bother taking apart that pad yourself.

edit:
This shows the two pieces (the top shell of the controller gets sandwiched between them)


This shows the height of the assembly. And you still have to fit a rubber pad underneath it.


edit2:
Yup, way too big. Oh and I know that I haven't peeled the vinyl off my screen and battery bar. I'll peel it once it gets too messy to see the screen clearly.

 

[OmarNawaz]

For some reason, the dpad here looks to me as a good fit for the gp2x, what do you guys think...I think that's a 6 button genesis controller.

wayy too big

great work guys will be trying this one soon

 

[DaveC]

Yup, way too big. Oh and I know that I haven't peeled the vinyl off my screen and battery bar. I'll peel it once it gets too messy to see the screen clearly.

Actually it starts off too messy to see the screen. It is cloudy, your are better off without it. Get one of those screen protector sheets if you want, they are much clearer.

 

[Loubear]

Does anyone have that photo of the gp2x alongside all the other consoles, that one with like a hundred consoles side by side..I want to compare the dpads...

 

[iatneH]

Does anyone have that photo of the gp2x alongside all the other consoles, that one with like a hundred consoles side by side..I want to compare the dpads...

You mean the one at the bottom of this page?

 

[bacteria]

I know people seem keen to salvage commercial D-pads, but you have the issue about removing the original joystick from the GP2x and modifying the outer case (and living with the result), and hoping everything lines up properly. Am I the only one who doesn't want to do this, and make their own customised D-pad which sits on top of the GP2x itself? It is not difficult to make your own, it just takes a fair bit of time; but if you have the skill to modify a commercial D-pad, you have the skill to make your own!

The advantage of making your own is that you can also accomodate the centre push where you want it, and your final result will be far, far easier to play games and use diagonals with, than a commercial D-pad.

 

[FluffyPanda]

Bacteria, I think we all know by now that you love your own experiments in joypad construction, but most of us really are happier with a professional joypad assembly.

Your method is unconventional and interesting, but that's not to say that people should give up on commercial dpads just yet.

Maybe if soueone could come up with a funky moulded version of your pad, or one worked out of nylatron(tm) or something people would be interested in buying that though.

 

[bacteria]

Bacteria, I think we all know by now that you love your own experiments in joypad construction, but most of us really are happier with a professional joypad assembly.

Your method is unconventional and interesting, but that's not to say that people should give up on commercial dpads just yet.

Maybe if someone could come up with a funky moulded version of your pad, or one worked out of nylatron(tm) or something people would be interested in buying that though.

Style over substance then, you mean? Us "older" gamers prefer something which works (substance) than style (as the most important thing to us is not "ohhh, look at my flashy mobile phone screensaver" or other vain fads). :lol: I was kinda hoping that other people would be adventurous too. Anyway, the picture you saw of my D-pad was a very early version - it has changed dramatically since. I am making yet another model, when I get to the final stage, I will post a pic - you can then base your comments on that! <_<

It is unlikely that there will be a de-facto standard for D-pad assembly anyway, as it will involve people sourcing their own D-pad to disassemble it, as you can't make one which contrevines the Nintendo patent. "N" are very protective of their intellectual property, even if they are not making money from it anymore (look at N64 emulation as an example). Anyone who sells a pre-made product, including D-pad, will have to be very careful not to impede on their design (mine doesn't). Anyway, my latest design takes far too long to make to be commercially viable, I may post a "how to make" article with pics in due course, so people can try.... B)

 

[Loubear]

..Ocd makes Loubear twitch when he sees things out of order...*twitch* *twitch* That might be just one of the reasons why I strongly dislike homemade d-pads..

Oh yea..iatneH, that's the one, thanks a lot!

 

[Reesy]

http://reesy.gp32x.de/reesy_gp2x_mod.png

Well got my mod done, thanks grampf for taking the risk first and prooving this was possible.

 

[Shikaku]

http://reesy.gp32x.de/reesy_gp2x_mod.png

Well got my mod done, thanks grampf for taking the risk first and prooving this was possible.

SEXY

XD

 

[Thraka]

Can someone post a wikipage or something with step by step instructions with supplies on how to do this.