bacteria
Modder & Portablizer
I am about to start a "super GP2x mod" now. I may well fall flat on my face, but have put a lot of thought into this, worked out how to do it (in my head); although there are many factors which all need addressing; all need solving before the solution becomes reality - failure at any of these stages will mean project failure - and a lot could potentially go wrong; I have the creative know-how and the imagination to make it work, but my skills in some of the areas required are limited and may prove inadequate.
Background: I made my D-pad effectively 4 way instead of 8 way by widening the gap between the contacts (putting a piece of paper between the contacts did the trick, and is easily reversable). This made playing games like Wolfenstein 3D very easy to control. I have also played many other games on the GP2x with purely 4 way too; however there are many games which need 8 way (horizontal/vertical shooters, etc). The commercial D-pad is not really so intuitive to use as 8 way; a proper joystick is the best method - and the best joystick for this, in my opinion, are the ones you have on handheld controllers like on the GameCube and N64 - easy to use, responsive and no dead zones.
This means a hybrid - a GP2x with both a D-pad and a proper joystick to get the best of both scenarios. This means making a new (bigger) case for the GP2x. There are advantages to making your own case - no issues with mounting a D-pad (as people have discovered), you can use any D-pad of any size you like, and both the D-pad and joystick can be mounted easily, to your design - using proper commercially made parts designed for the job.
What I want to achieve with this project is:
1) integrated D-pad and joystick
2) better buttons (vol up, vol down, start, select, A, B, Y, X, centre push, left shoulder, right shoulder, on/off), bigger buttons, placed in a better layout
3) bigger batteries - you can get D batteries at 10,000NiMH - imagine how long they would last!
I would have hoped to have used the TV out function to drive a 5" LCD (eg PS one screen) but that seems frought with problems, so will have to use the default screen.
To-do list:
1) dismantle N64 and GameCube controllers I have - GameCube uses daughter boards for the joystick and D-pad, which makes things easier - the N64 uses a mechanical joystick, which might be easier to work with: if the joystick is only analogue it won't like ordials (digital), so I may need to see if there is a way I can make connections by other means - with aluminium foil contacts at the base of the N64 mechanical stick ordials would do the trick
. I need to see if I can work out how to do this. If this fails, project ends.
2) design a case (I will make it out of paper mache - very tough, strong, light, thin, inflexible, mouldable) with a suitable hole for the LCD screen, wider/longer to take the buttons and joystick and D-pad. This will need a lot of work to achieve, lots of testing and making. If this fails, project ends. I'm not looking forward to this part!
3) solder/secure wires to each button position on the GP2x, to secure to commercial press-button switches (Maplins). My soldering skills are not good, will try alternative methods - if I fail to make this work, project ends. Can use shoulder buttons from the GameCube/N64, as they are nice.
4) Secure the motherboard permanently to the case, with blu-tac and hot-glue. Secure battery compartment into case too.
5) use bigger speakers, maybe with a small amp (I have a couple of mini-speaker sets available) - or simply double the amount of speakers to give better clarity at volume - I have an old speaker from an original GameBoy and GBA, so can do this.
Big project, and it will be a slow project; but if it succeeds I could end up with a dual control GP2x which would be ideal for any game available on the GP2x, with buttons spaced properly and in the right places, and very long battery life. Downside will be no connection to the ext port (I don't use TV out anyway) and it is unlikely that I will be able to conduct any repairs on the system if it goes wrong, once everthing is sealed and finished.
Haven't decided shape of case yet, too early in project yet - either it has to be wider (left and right sides) which might not be ideal, or double height (screen top, all buttons and controls at bottom) which I am more likely to go for - a bit like a bigger GameBoy! I can't decide this until I can map out where things need to be. Finished result will need to be easy to use and not look too wierd. I imagine the final product's colour will be medium dark grey if I use the D-pad and joystick from the N64 (I have a hideous red N64 controller to dismantle - no loss), or light grey if I use the ones from the GameCube (standard one which comes with the GameCube - don't need it as I have two better ones)!
Anyway, early days, lots can (and will go wrong), and this project may end up being a non-starter - but it is worth trying this, and nothing ventured, nother gained! I may well fail with this project, however I think I have the skills to make it work (potentally putting my GP2x at stake though!!). I will provide some pics as I go along - updates may be slow, however, lets see how it goes. I will try and make sure I have everything working (in theory at least) before I dismantle the GP2x itself, otherwise I will have to buy a new one. If I am not convinced everything is going to work out, even at the early stages, I will end the project and stay-as is. I would prefer to try this mod and fail, rather than not try at all - the result could be rather special!
Background: I made my D-pad effectively 4 way instead of 8 way by widening the gap between the contacts (putting a piece of paper between the contacts did the trick, and is easily reversable). This made playing games like Wolfenstein 3D very easy to control. I have also played many other games on the GP2x with purely 4 way too; however there are many games which need 8 way (horizontal/vertical shooters, etc). The commercial D-pad is not really so intuitive to use as 8 way; a proper joystick is the best method - and the best joystick for this, in my opinion, are the ones you have on handheld controllers like on the GameCube and N64 - easy to use, responsive and no dead zones.
This means a hybrid - a GP2x with both a D-pad and a proper joystick to get the best of both scenarios. This means making a new (bigger) case for the GP2x. There are advantages to making your own case - no issues with mounting a D-pad (as people have discovered), you can use any D-pad of any size you like, and both the D-pad and joystick can be mounted easily, to your design - using proper commercially made parts designed for the job.
What I want to achieve with this project is:
1) integrated D-pad and joystick
2) better buttons (vol up, vol down, start, select, A, B, Y, X, centre push, left shoulder, right shoulder, on/off), bigger buttons, placed in a better layout
3) bigger batteries - you can get D batteries at 10,000NiMH - imagine how long they would last!
I would have hoped to have used the TV out function to drive a 5" LCD (eg PS one screen) but that seems frought with problems, so will have to use the default screen.
To-do list:
1) dismantle N64 and GameCube controllers I have - GameCube uses daughter boards for the joystick and D-pad, which makes things easier - the N64 uses a mechanical joystick, which might be easier to work with: if the joystick is only analogue it won't like ordials (digital), so I may need to see if there is a way I can make connections by other means - with aluminium foil contacts at the base of the N64 mechanical stick ordials would do the trick
. I need to see if I can work out how to do this. If this fails, project ends.2) design a case (I will make it out of paper mache - very tough, strong, light, thin, inflexible, mouldable) with a suitable hole for the LCD screen, wider/longer to take the buttons and joystick and D-pad. This will need a lot of work to achieve, lots of testing and making. If this fails, project ends. I'm not looking forward to this part!
3) solder/secure wires to each button position on the GP2x, to secure to commercial press-button switches (Maplins). My soldering skills are not good, will try alternative methods - if I fail to make this work, project ends. Can use shoulder buttons from the GameCube/N64, as they are nice.
4) Secure the motherboard permanently to the case, with blu-tac and hot-glue. Secure battery compartment into case too.
5) use bigger speakers, maybe with a small amp (I have a couple of mini-speaker sets available) - or simply double the amount of speakers to give better clarity at volume - I have an old speaker from an original GameBoy and GBA, so can do this.
Big project, and it will be a slow project; but if it succeeds I could end up with a dual control GP2x which would be ideal for any game available on the GP2x, with buttons spaced properly and in the right places, and very long battery life. Downside will be no connection to the ext port (I don't use TV out anyway) and it is unlikely that I will be able to conduct any repairs on the system if it goes wrong, once everthing is sealed and finished.
Haven't decided shape of case yet, too early in project yet - either it has to be wider (left and right sides) which might not be ideal, or double height (screen top, all buttons and controls at bottom) which I am more likely to go for - a bit like a bigger GameBoy! I can't decide this until I can map out where things need to be. Finished result will need to be easy to use and not look too wierd. I imagine the final product's colour will be medium dark grey if I use the D-pad and joystick from the N64 (I have a hideous red N64 controller to dismantle - no loss), or light grey if I use the ones from the GameCube (standard one which comes with the GameCube - don't need it as I have two better ones)!
Anyway, early days, lots can (and will go wrong), and this project may end up being a non-starter - but it is worth trying this, and nothing ventured, nother gained! I may well fail with this project, however I think I have the skills to make it work (potentally putting my GP2x at stake though!!). I will provide some pics as I go along - updates may be slow, however, lets see how it goes.
I will try and make sure I have everything working (in theory at least) before I dismantle the GP2x itself, otherwise I will have to buy a new one. If I am not convinced everything is going to work out, even at the early stages, I will end the project and stay-as is. I would prefer to try this mod and fail, rather than not try at all - the result could be rather special!
