Project "eradication Of Sitck"

[Sonic-NKT]

sounds like a cool project, if someone would mod my gp2x this way i would do it
about the new controls. i like both dpad and sticks..
the gp32 stick would be worth a try i think, yes many of you hate the clicking, but in my opinion it was much better than the one from the gp2x. At liksang you can get the stick as replacement part...

 

[Ravnos]

This is very important issue - how to modify the gp2x's case without making it ugly?

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Actually, if you can find or make a circular dpad that fits the size of the hole that the joystick will leave once taken out, you shouldn't have to modify the case at all. Something like the Genesis' controller has, though that one in particular is way too big for the 2X.

 

[Ravnos]

Sorry to bring up a dead topic, but I was thinking about this the other day and had an idea. I was thinking that the Game Gear dpad would fit in here, so I went and measured it. The diameter is only approx. 1/16-1/8in. too big for the 2X's joystick hole (if you include the thingy with the directional arrows at the base.) If you bored out that hole ever so slightly you could probably fit a GG dpad in there.

Just a thought, I'm not even sure if you're still working on this. If you are, I hope you're documenting it so that anyone who wants to follow doesn't have to start from scratch.

 

[IntenseWage]

The N-Gage QD d-pad is a perfect fit and is circular. I personally think it's a pretty nice pad.

 

[Ravnos]

Yeah, but how many people are going to buy an N-Gage just to tear out the dpad? Game Gears are at least old enough to be found relatively cheap for such things, and there are probably at least a few busted up ones that can be used.

 

[Hodr]

My suggestion for ultimate GP2x control stick.

 

[Hanz™]

My suggestion for ultimate GP2x control stick.

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Haha. Lol.

 

[Radek]

My suggestion for ultimate GP2x control stick.

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This isn't silly at all!

Because of my failure of finding appropriate stick/pad (one what could be fitted inside the gp2x without drilling the case) I will have to resort to using external controller. Because the stock stick's pins are very long they are actually literally sticking out of the backside of mainboard. Connection them should not require soldering or removal of stock's stick. That is what I will do... for a start.

I should have something more to show within a week.

I should also be able to reduce the converter size back to 3 chips (plus some discrete components). There is also other possibility of realization the same function but by using somewhat different approach...
(lets say an another reduction in size of pcb without resorting to the SMD)
(I feel dumb now because I didn't think about it at first...)

 

[Flexinoodle]

Couldn't you just use four buttons and have a small molding made, It would probably end up about the same height as the stick now, Because the molding was being placed on top of the original hole the size wouldn't matter, The original hole would just be for the wires from the switches.

 

[IntenseWage]

It wouldn't be hard to get ahold of N-Gage QD pads at all. They sell replacement faceplates for QD's on Ebay all the time for pretty cheap, and all the faceplates come with the pad. No need to track down a Game Gear, pay for a full system, and then take it apart just to use the pad.

 

[Radek]

It wouldn't be hard to get ahold of N-Gage QD pads at all. They sell replacement faceplates for QD's on Ebay all the time for pretty cheap, and all the faceplates come with the pad. No need to track down a Game Gear, pay for a full system, and then take it apart just to use the pad.

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I actually found one... is it really that good? Have anyone some more bigger pictures of if (from backside too)?

Yet another options I'm thinking that will be optimal (for a price, comfort and availability) is to get SNES controller and use it. It can be had for just few $ and is pretty decent.

 

[IntenseWage]

Yeah, I think it's pretty nice. It has a nice feel, it's easy on the thumb, doesn't have any sort of annoying clicking sound going on, and it's cheap. I can say that it has no issues with diagonals. I've never had a problem executing special moves in KOF.

 

[Series-8]

Is that N-Gage QD a membrane pad type?

Actually I was thinking again, and my first judgement of the 8-way cellphone pad I had looked at was'nt all that bad;

Its small and nearly circular (sortof a diamond ish shape), you JUST might be able to mount it to a circuit and then fit it thru the hole left by the joystick.

Here it is (well actually its not the cellphone pad but something like it):

http://www.ittcannon.com/media/pdf/catalogs/qs.pdf

check out the measurement, it just might fit.

 

[IntenseWage]

Yeah, it is.

 

[slypie]

I think GPH were retarded in the first place in having a joystick over a dpad. The GP2X is designed for open source and a lot of it is emulators which most of the systems emulated used dpads.

Anyway good luck with the project...

 

[Sonic-NKT]

i liked the dpad of the gp32.. worked great all the time.
but the gp2x is really "not that good"
anyway the rest of the console is awesome and i can live with it, but a replacement would still be nice

 

[Cody K.]

I’ve only recently started paying attention to the GP2x and my first thought was “retro gaming on the go”. I think this is a HUGE draw for many buyers, but the analog stick almost goes completely against the simplified, precise control required for older games.

I’m actually going to hold off on buying this system until a 4-way d-pad is a viable option.

My only argument against an 8-way is that pressing diagonally has been a hit or miss thing with me on many controllers. “I didn’t want to walk into the lava… I pressed LEFT, damn it! NOT DOWN+LEFT! I hate this THING!” Well maybe I don’t get that worked up about it, but honestly the old NES controllers were great.

Maybe the d-pad on the PSX controller is better? It's been so long since I had either.

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Also, I don’t know if the people on these boards have connections to custom parts manufacturing, but I work with a CNC milling machine on fine jewellery ever other day. I’m not offering my services or anything at this point, but designing masters for durable plastic injection doesn’t seem like a far stretch beyond that. I think custom parts manufacturing is not as inaccessible as some people may think.

As far as a new d-pad design goes, the ultimate answer would most likely be to use proven, existing d-pads (NES?) and make a custom mount to secure the directional button(s) that plugs precisely into the existing GP2x hole. From an esthetics (and control) point of view, it’s the best answer.

What are the dimensions of the hole? Just curious.

Then again, first things first… get the thing working properly and then worry about the BLING! Good luck on your project, Radek.

 

[Ravnos]

The stick isn't analog.

 

[Radek]

I’ve only recently started paying attention to the GP2x and my first thought was “retro gaming on the go”. I think this is a HUGE draw for many buyers, but the analog stick almost goes completely against the simplified, precise control required for older games.

I’m actually going to hold off on buying this system until a 4-way d-pad is a viable option.

My only argument against an 8-way is that pressing diagonally has been a hit or miss thing with me on many controllers. “I didn’t want to walk into the lava… I pressed LEFT, damn it! NOT DOWN+LEFT! I hate this THING!” Well maybe I don’t get that worked up about it, but honestly the old NES controllers were great.

Maybe the d-pad on the PSX controller is better? It's been so long since I had either.

-----

Also, I don’t know if the people on these boards have connections to custom parts manufacturing, but I work with a CNC milling machine on fine jewellery ever other day. I’m not offering my services or anything at this point, but designing masters for durable plastic injection doesn’t seem like a far stretch beyond that. I think custom parts manufacturing is not as inaccessible as some people may think.

As far as a new d-pad design goes, the ultimate answer would most likely be to use proven, existing d-pads (NES?) and make a custom mount to secure the directional button(s) that plugs precisely into the existing GP2x hole. From an esthetics (and control) point of view, it’s the best answer.

What are the dimensions of the hole? Just curious.

Its diameter is 7.8mm (0.3 inch).

Then again, first things first… get the thing working properly and then worry about the BLING! Good luck on your project, Radek.

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Thanks for good wishes.

I have done three other designs of pcb and selected the best one. It's the size of the one on earlier pictures (but it's superior in other aspects). Now I have only to hunt for some cmos chips (NAND gates preferably with Schmitt triggers) and I could start to manufacture some units.

I have already managed to fool the gp2x to read externall inputs and the whole circuit works ok being powered directly from AA batteries inside gp2x.
(this is big plus because using build in voltage regulator could be tricky and would make things more complicated)

Even better if you look at the backside of gp2x's mainboard you will see that stock stick's pins are very long - long enough to think about connecting them to the circuit without soldering.

So replacing of stock stick might not even require soldering if done smart.

Now for some amusement picture of my prototyping circuit board what I was using for testing.

The stick isn't analog.

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Obviously but it can move freely thought it can not give continous output. And after the diagonal bias it's its second biggest issue. It's nearly impossible, when moving from (for an example) Up to Left, to not hit combination of Up-Left in a way. It can be remedied to an extent by software using temporal filtering and I have done Python aplication demonstrating such method.

 

[IntenseWage]

Bump.