Home made arcade All in 1 PS3. W.I.P.

[1TONpete]

Im thinking about turning one of my ps3's into a arcade box. My reasoning for this is I want to build something for the kids. Simple controls and my kids love arcade style sticks, with big buttons. I originally was thinking about making it so my kids could use snes controllers but I want the arcade stick.
 My first thought was just to make a arcade controller, but I have a spare ps3 and an extra TV laying around, so why not make a complete arcade cabinet .
I did some shopping and found some parts at DX. and others
links to buttons and arcade sticks.
dream buttons...


http://www.lizardlick.com/
http://s.dealextreme.com/search/arcade+stick.html?category=1100
http://www.sparkfun.com/search/results?term=arcade&what=products
Build progress will be posted here.
So far this is only my wireless arcade stick, No progress on the whole arcade until this works first.
This is what I got for now. Everything pictured I had or was given to me. (no cash build so far.) Still a couple buttons shy. Eventually this will be mounted in the other half of the ps2 case with a plexi top, with real arcade buttons.

I had to put this is when I found it. MK Dpad. SWEET! (might have to make a mold of this one)

The joystick out of the plug'n'play game was originally 4 way , I did some trimming to make it an 8 way. I'm not done trimming I am going to notch in an octagon pattern.





Before I made this harness up I wired things up to the ps3 controller last night, everything went perfect. So since this is still very early in dev, i made a clip to separate the ps3 controller from the rest of the mod.


The rest of the page will just be for the build log.

So now begins the questions...
1. Can this style stick be swapped for analog on a ps2/3 controller? (I say ps2 because i might try to use a ps2 controller as a donor and i have a ps2-ps3 adapter.) (also I have a 2 racing wheels for ps2 that might be used for this in some way)
2. Would it be to easier to try to attach a arcade stick to a standard analog? To flimsy? remember kid proof....
3. What would make the best donor for controller? -Ease of installation? I am thinking about doing it wired obviously ... ps2, /ps3 , snes, aftermarket ,oem?
4. Is there any emulators out there that have a good graphical interface for loading roms? My kids can't all read that great yet, but recognize their games by the covers. Something like multi manager for the later systems?
Any thoughts are welcome. Remember this is for kids and the machine will not have a BRplayer. Other than that I'm pretty open to ideas.
One idea i had was to keep the hdmi port external so that i can connect the arcade box to the HDTV.
Note: I will be making the controller first , get that concept working then I'll worry about the cabinet.

[hyper999]

1. Yes you can do that, but you lose the analogue functionality as it were (e.g you will no longer be able to have the analogue go up a little bit, only fully up or not at all).

2. Possible but i'd go with this^^.

3. I would say a hong kong knock off PS3 one, like the official ones but without the flexible daughter board for easier modding.

[MrPete1985]

the few times I have modded mad cats fight sticks I bought my parts here
http://www.lizardlick.com/

just an FYI incase you cannot find everything you need on deal extreme

[1TONpete]

Thanks for the info and answers guys.
I found this on the site you recommended. perfect. thanks so much.
http://www.lizardlick.com/Toodles-Cthulhu-for-PCPS3_p_543.html
and
http://www.lizardlick.com/Toodles-Axisdapter-Board_p_538.html
the first device does not require a controller board, as it is the controller board. (these things can be very useful for controller modding.) the 2nd device requires a ps3 sixaxis but I don't have that type sixaxis. Anyone has info on a ps3 controller that has the button cable connect to the controller board instead of pressed onto contacts?
update: found some parts. I love finding free stuff for mods. I got a arcade joystick out of one of those "plug'n'play" video game systems. Also found in my closet a multi channel home audio amp and some speakers.
I am really excited about trying this. I am going to do some design work later on the layout of the controller. goal for layout, kid friendly, yet not adult annoying.
More questions:
1. unified power/power switching? How to turn everything on and off with one button or switch. The TV has a auto standby switch when no video signal is received it goes into a sleep mode and resumes upon good video signal. The audio amp has 2 switched 110vAc plugs. I might not use the audio amp though. The stereo speakers on the TV are adequate and can be removed/replaced and put external.  I am thinking about using the ps3 button as power turn on , leave the TV in its standby mode and put a external "all" off AC switch. (kid proof)
2. Graffix- I don't usually do kid friendly artwork. I am more the dark and brutal type. I am thinking I want to put a "grab-bag" of game characters from all the different systems on it. Character recommendations? Luckily I have a friend right down the street who does vinyl printing and cutting.
3 . 2nd stick or not to 2nd stick? I found a stick with a button on the top I think would be handy in shooter style games. Also if only using 1 stick w button,  my son can play simple games by just the stick. imagine playing fps like cod with just 2 sticks and 2 buttons. ahh but no analog. Idk maybe.
Just remembered I got a guncon3 i can install with this also.

[1TONpete]

So here's what I got.
1 ps3 w broken br and custom no brfw w working br controller. (I can install pkg)
  Its got nes ,snes and sega installed and a couple kids games. (lego series and other kid friendly titles.) I am going to try some of the racing games I own and see if they will play on the no brfw. Game compatibility is a problem with no br working. Time crisis, Marvel Capcom3 and socom 4 work and resident evil move edition works too.
2. TV w standby mode.
3. Arcade stick.
4. guncon3
5. move stuff eye and extra controllers.
6. 2 ps2 racing wheels w pedals.
7. the crazy mind/skills to put it all together.
What I need:
1. The hid usb adapter things are out of stock. they would make this build go easy but "it is what it is."
So I need to think about the easiest way to build an arcade version of a standard controller. So heavy modding an existing controller appears to be the only option atm. But which controller to use exactly?
The plug n play adapter that requires a certain ps3 controller might work well if i can find the right controller.
2. the big buttons but i found a couple places to buy cheap.
3. materials for cabinet. 

[MrPete1985]

http://www.meritline.com/komodo-nxp3-050-wired-usb-controller-ps3---p-47352.aspx

this controller is easy for an arcade mod it is common ground and cheap as hell, I have a few laying around my house that I plan to use eventually.

[1TONpete]

Perfect!. Thanks Pete.  You have been right on the ball with this one.
After some thought, I really want to get one of these HID adapters. The possibilities are almost endless. Think about a track ball for right analog? These things are completely mappable too. They allow for analog inputs also.  The input device list is huge.
I definitely want to put a ball in.  Probably can just use an old ball mouse for parts.
I did some closet digging and got my old usb flight stick out. Its got an 8 way dpad on the top and 4 buttons and left analog stick. Hooked up to ps3 and it worked fine. problem no L and R buttons. so Im am going to do some testing on the games my kids play and see what kind of control issues come up. I'm sure this will be sufficient for NES .Also has a z axis analog but not tested yet.
Possibility of use as a "nav" controller for move in-abled PS3 games? it has all the same buttons (-) L and R but includes full [],/\,O,X instead of just X,O. But being tied down while playing move is not good. But with this knowledge if I find a cheep wireless usb controller I could install it in my m16 move sharpshooter as a permanent nav controller.
Note in games like Killzone 3/ SOCOM 4 you can pick what you want to use as your left hand controller .
Using this as the left hand stick for FPS will be nice. Simpler games will do as a stand alone.
I am going to look for my usb PC game pad. That will have most of the features I need for now.
If the flight stick works ok with NES games I might start with that because of the simplicity of the games. perfect for young kids. plus by it not having ps button and start /sel he cant get into menus. So I think Ill start out with this and upgrade when better parts come my way. or when the hid adapters come in stock. So I gotta order buttons and get started.
Edit: problem right off the bat with no start/sel , nes and snes wont work.

[1TONpete]

NOTE : Those of you who know how xbox triggers work will understand this. Instead of the switches take an analog apart and attach an arm to each , like 360 controller triggers. Connect the end of the arms to the arcade stick end which normally would be hitting the switches inside. Now they will turn the analogs. I will try to get pics together.
So here's my plan. I am going to order 2 complete sets of buttons and sticks. Total cost before shipping was 60$ US. 2 usb knock-off controllers recommended by MrPete. At under 20$ US for both before shipping. Eventually I will be ordering a track ball mouse to install also. AS far as wiring the controller up, I had thought about trying to make analog arcade sticks but I think for now the dpad will do.
The cabinet is drawn up w a basic design. I will be using an old entertainment center for my wood. Its not that fake fiberboard , its real wood and its huge. My girl had been complaining about it so I decided to recycle it. My neighbor is a good carpenter, as am I, so he will be helping make the cabinet.
For testing and proof of concept, I will be making my first controller separate. I am building it all inside the top half of an old ps2 fat case. I might use the real ps3 controller for this one as I might keep it as a regular wireless ps3 arcade stick. In this build I will be using the stick I got out of the plug'n'play game. (out of the 5 plug'n'play games I had, only 1 had a true joystick.) So I might have to order 3 sets of buttons. If I am going to keep the wireless arcade stick. Maybe I'll sell the arcade stick when I'm done . I don't know yet.

[1TONpete]

update on my arcade stick build...
mocking things up.. The buttons will be one off's clears of the big red button. I was going to use real arcade buttons but I'll save the money on this project by making my own. I also might try to recreate the dpad in clear oooh that would be sweet. The arcade will feature real arcade buttons. For now I am testing my analog joystick... I might replace with a real 8 way joystick. I have a blue skull somewhere. If not I have a scorpion image i can use for my skin instead.






MOLDING





MOLDING pulled.



MOLDS pulled..




So here is my MK dpad, if anyone is interested in me making this for the xbox , let me know. If there is no interest i will just save the mold.

[TomasR]

looking good man but did you already finish the molds for the normal ps3 controller. the clear buttons? just wondering since im kinda looking forward to those.

awesome modding skills you got there

[1TONpete]

I got clear buttons man. pm me, we'll talk about it. Sorry had a lot going on. No time to do major pours, but I am pouring again soon and I'll pour a whole bunch of stuff. I laid of taking them public cause its not fun and very time consuming. I don't want to be making buttons when i can be building sick stuff.

[1TONpete]

So my friend and I found a working full arcade version of NBA Jams . The screen was shot but it still worked. So we began dismantling immediately. I have a larger monitor to replace the broken one. We will be removing all the NBA Jams stuff and selling it. The only things we are keeping are the buttons and the cabinet  . Inside will be a ps3 running all the emulators and some ps3 games. We are working on finding a usb powered 2.1 speaker system to run the audio through.
So here are some pics. Ill update with before breakdown once I get my friend to log on here and post them.

[1TONpete]

Sorry for double but this is huge...
I was out and about running errands, when we stopped at this place called Ocean state Job lot. Cheap store with all kinds of random crap. Well inside I found some sweet deals . Unfortunately I am broke but I shared this info with Darknight and he went out and purchased a couple of these PS3 arcade sticks. They have been through thorough testing, by the both of us and my 3 year old son. (The best button masher you ever seen) Anyways I took some pics and then we took one apart upon purchase. Then we put them back together and played some MK9. (since then testing completed on just about every fighting game for the PS3 including remakes of retros, like SST "HD". I even tested on SNES versions of fighting games. This thing is beast. Once you get used to arcade controls OMG. So enough rambling... here are some pics..


They also had this cool wii micro... for 10$

I googled "dreamgear arcade stick" and shopping and these are the results...
http://www.google.com/search?q=dreamgear+arcade+stick&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=dreamgear+arcade+stick&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=AfW&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=shop&ei=eHqATubzEqPv0gHmyvkJ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=6&ved=0CBIQ_AUoBQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=880220e849a6f978&biw=1280&bih=786

This is a usb adapter for systems with compatibility issues with fw or hardware idk. My 3.55cfw fat boy had no need for device. I had to read through the instructions to find out what it was for.