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[CaptainM]

I am looking into building and arcade cabinet to put my xbox in and play emulated arcade games on. I'd still have a fully functioning xbox, but I want to be able to use arcade controlls (joystick, buttons, etc...) I would want to use real arcade controls, like some on this site. My biggest concern is can I rig a controller to use these buttons and joysticks? I'd just get a decent sized tv and mount it into the cabinet whole. I know it's possible to build your own pc arcade controller, but could I do it with xbox? Is this possible, or even plausible? Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[ienjoygaming]

Yes it is very possible as I am doing the same (very slowly though). You do need a decent soldering iron and a steady hand though. Try googleing 'xbox 2 arcade'. You can PM me for any help I'm no expert but have built a Dreamcast arcade machine before, and my current project is a Galaga replica machine.

This post has been edited by ienjoygaming: Dec 2 2007, 12:26 PM

[VampX]

I remember coming across an xbox2jamma harness on ebay a couple weeks ago, so they do exist.
then it would be as easy as hooking the harness up to your xbox and adding buttons to the jamma cable.
I think the harness converted everything to Arcade use, sound/video/buttons/etc.

worth a google or ebay search.

[ganjatron]

There was a thread awhile ago called "arcade fans, show us your cabs" or something like that where there was extensive discussion of setting something like this up.

[CaptainM]

What I want to do is just mainly mod the controller so I can use arcade microswitches instead of the buttons and and arcade joystick instead of the normal joystick. Can I do this by just soldering the wires of the microswitches onto the pcb of the controller? I'm just thinking since I already have a fully functional arcade on my xbox right now, it would just be that much funner to play it in a cabinet and with the arcade controlls. I'm not very smart when it comes to the actual hardware, so thanks for your help.

This post has been edited by CaptainM: Dec 2 2007, 07:03 PM

[ienjoygaming]

QUOTE(CaptainM @ Dec 2 2007, 07:56 PM)

What I want to do is just mainly mod the controller so I can use arcade microswitches instead of the buttons and and arcade joystick instead of the normal joystick. Can I do this by just soldering the wires of the microswitches onto the pcb of the controller? I'm not very smart when it comes to the actual hardware, so thanks for your help.

Yes that is exactly what I am doing. I'm on my third tryout now and the only problem I had was I had to make sure the buttons on my one controller (unofficial version) had a different ground to the d-pad.
As I said I'm willing to help out as and when I can as it may kick start me into finishing mine.

[CaptainM]

But how do I actually connect the switches??? I'm also experimenting with an old third party controller as well. I found the arcade thread, awesome. I looked at this website and it looks very helpful. The only thing I don't like is that he didn't use xbox controllers. I have a 360 now, so I've got a bunch of old useless controllers, so I don't mind tearing them apart  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . Can you just let me know about the wiring and such? Thanks a load!

[CaptainM]

I took a closer look at the controller I'm working with. One I found that for most of the keys (a/b/x/y/white/black/etc) had a black bar where the mesh thing would hit when you pressed the key. They also had two contacts, that I think I would put the wires of the switches on. Here is a crappy picture of that. Two

[bulge2]

ok heres my 2 xbox cabs that i have converted from a xmen capcom cabinet and a golden tee cabinet.

i used a xbox to jamma converter which i purchased off ebay.

CAPCOM CAB

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/07022007351.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/07022007356.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/09022007360.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/07022007355.jpg)


GOLDEN TEE MAME CAB (lots more work - custom CP - vinyl overlay etc)

HOW it was

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/goldentee.jpg)

CONTROL PANEL DESIGN PHASE

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/23032007373.jpg)

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/04042007379.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/04042007376.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/24042007393.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/10072007532.jpg)



WIRING AND TESTING PHASE

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/25042007394.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/14062007403.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/10072007529.jpg)

GETTING THE ARTWORK ON THERE

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/10072007532.jpg)

FINISHED PROJECT

(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/28082007560.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/28082007562.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/28082007561.jpg)
(IMG:http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/zip_n_seal/28082007563.jpg)

SOME WORK VIDEOS

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value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rli7lwGb6QE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode"

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PRETTY COOL HUH? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pop.gif)

[CaptainM]

bulge2, very nice work. Try to keep on topic though. Just one question, is it easier to try and hack a controller, or buy an xbox to jamma converter? How much did the second one cost? Did you use an arcade monitor?

[bulge2]

yeah sorry just had to post it finally.


you have two options really hack a controller and use a home television, there are advantages to this. but personally i found it a better path to convert a real arcade cabinet.

i had previous knowledge of arcade standards like JAMMA connections etc, so i found it fairly straight forward to convert a cabinet.

the xbox to jamma card on ebay is really a great method to use the xbox as it is a all in one solution.  the main difference with these cards is that they convert the video output to RGB (which arcade monitors accept).

which ever way you decide there is a fair amount of work to do.

Total costs (other than xbox)

cabinet £100 including power supply monitor speakers etc
control panel wood £20 (have enough for another 4)
control panel plexiglass £20
artwork £40
xbox to jamma card £30
amplifier for louder sound £14 (some cabinets wont need this)
all buttons and joystick etc £50

so £274 plus the xbox, plus many many hours work.

i think this is the best way to get a 'real' xbox arcade.


This post has been edited by bulge2: Dec 3 2007, 05:55 PM

[CaptainM]

Well I'm not going to be very legit. I just don't see what the advantage of buying an arcade monitor, when you can just use a tv. Does anybody have any tutorials for hacking the xbox controller?

[CaptainM]

I pm'd ienjoygaming about hacking the controller this is what he had to say:
[QUOTEI am assuming you know or have found out about the wiring of microswitches.
Hacking the xbox controller is pretty straight forward the black "pads" you show on your pics in the topic are just some kind of carbon coating so carefully use a small knife or screwdriver to scratch away the coating and you will be left with some nice pads to solder to. Just run a wire from each side of the gap to each side of the microswitch.
There is a guide somewhere out there. I'll try and find it. Hope this helps any specific questions just ask.[/QUOTE]

If anybody has anything else to add, let me know.

[Jonlee]

Hey I just stumbled across this thread and thought I would show you this Joystick from X-arcade that I am using right now. I don't have it mounted in an arcade front or anything, I just use it when I play arcade games. All the joysticks and buttons are real buttons and stuff and can be programmed however you want. It has an adapter that you can get for any system (pc, xbox, ps2, etc) and one comes with it when you buy it. You might be able to just mount this in your cabinet, or maybe take it apart and use all the hardware and wiring and just set the joysticks and buttons how you want them. It plugs into the 1 and 2 player ports on the front of your xbox.