Making a PS3 stick for PixelJunk Sidescroller

[ThePatternsChange]

Hello everyone.

I'm here hoping to gather as much information as I can to make or purchase a quality stick for this PixelJunk Sidescroller.

The game got my interested in the idea when it said "Insert quarter" at the start.
I figured, this is like an arcade game, I wonder if I can get an arcade type stick to compliment it?

From what I know, I'll need:

-a near non-existent throw range (so i can react faster. accuracy can come with experience, like the ps3 controller)
-an "insert coin button", which will naturally just be the start button, wired to the right side if possible
-and a pressure sensitive stick, so i can move slowly or quickly, depending on how far I tilt the stick.


I searched for Pixeljunk, ps3, and sidescroller, with "stick" in all 3 searches for results.
i could not find information that was very helpful yet.

I hope for any information you can provide.

Regards
----

~The patterns Change...~

[shmuppyLove]

Building a custom controller with a true analog joystick? Hats off to you.

Better option IMO is to get a high quality mass produced model that allows you to switch the stick function between LS/DP/RS modes so you can "emulate" the thumb stick with the joystick. I think this is pretty standard on PS3 sticks these days? I know the Hori ones do anyway.

You won't get true analog control, but it will be more compatible with games that may not support the DP for movement controls. I haven't tried PixelJunk Sidescroller so I don't know whether it does or not.

Generally, analog control in a shmup is not desirable -- you want to be able to make crisp, snappy movements as quickly as possible, and to have consistent movement speed.

[ThePatternsChange]

I've recently learned more about typical shmups having digital controls, after making this topic.


I've tried all modes on the Hori v3. The switches on the top for LS/DP/RS don't work the way I hope they did.
The stick registers movement completely when it clicks, instead of having a lot of movement data being registered.
I figure, due to this, all digital sticks work this way as well.

I've seen analog stick designs by Seimitsu brand, (I think, but am not 100% if they are yet.)
If the Seimitsu sticks doesn't register smaller speed movements, and higher speed movements, then I will buy many parts and begin to create a controller for this purpose.

It's discouraging to hear that shmups also use digital sticks.
My beacon of hope begins to cover in snow.

But I will find a way, if its humanly possible, to make a pressure sensitive stick.

If anyone else has more information to add, please help me.
Thank you.

[beatsgo]

Good luck finding an analog arcade stick dude. Dunno if you found this out already, but the component that allows an analog stick to register different movements is called potentiometer. Basically a varying voltage component which has a voltage range of 0 to 5V, 2.5V being the dead center. Typically analog sticks have two to register up and down, and left and right.

The only arcade stick I can found with some potentional for your controller is this Analog Joystick from HAPP:
http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50287600.htm

Interestingly there was a joystick called the 49-way joystick made for Midway's Gauntlet and NFL Blitz Arcade series that registered more than a typical 8 way joystick:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Joy ... _Joysticks

[ThePatternsChange]

Good luck finding an analog arcade stick dude. Dunno if you found this out already, but the component that allows an analog stick to register different movements is called potentiometer. Basically a varying voltage component which has a voltage range of 0 to 5V, 2.5V being the dead center. Typically analog sticks have two to register up and down, and left and right.

The only arcade stick I can found with some potentional for your controller is this Analog Joystick from HAPP:
http://na.suzohapp.com/joysticks/50287600.htm

Interestingly there was a joystick called the 49-way joystick made for Midway's Gauntlet and NFL Blitz Arcade series that registered more than a typical 8 way joystick:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Joy ... _Joysticks

I didn't know of this information yet. Thank you.

I heard from another person that an analog joystick won't be compatible with a fight stick controller casing that is made for digital sticks.
You do know if this is true?
If so, I wonder where to search for a fight stick controller to house this analog stick?
If not, can I just swap this with a madcatz tournament edition controller, and place this in?
Perhaps you know what other things I may need?

I will also continue searching for sticks with compatible PCB's on my own.

Thank you for any more help you can give.

[shmuppyLove]

No you can't swap an analog stick with a digital one, they're completely different.

I have no idea exactly how you would go about it, but you're most likely going to have to use a PS3 controller PCB and somehow replace the thumbstick with the analog joystick.

This is not going to be easy, and finding information on how to do it will be difficult as well.

[SolderFace]

I was actually planning this out since a few months ago. I have the technical knowledge to do it. the parts DO exist. most analog sticks in game controllers are 100k or 10k. that happ has 5k pots but I already know what brand they are and where to get them. its not exactly easy or direct drop in to swap those 5k pots for 100k pots but its not impossible. if your gamepad comes with 10k pots, the 5k happ will most likely drop in with no adverse affects. like someone else on here said. it a voltage divider that outputs 0 to 5v for each axis with 2.5v at dead center. but its irrelevant really. as long as the resistance is the same on both sides, it will divide the input voltage in half when the stick is dead center. it does not matter if there are 4 10k resistors or 4 5k resistors in parallel on your power rails. it changes current consumption slightly but its nothing to worry about.

http://www.boenamusement.com/product.ph ... gory_id=11
the seimitsu LS-64 has 10k pots. get out your multimeter and desolder one of the sticks from your ps3 pads. thats the only way to be sure. if you measure resistance while its on the board your not getting the real number cause of all the parallel resistors on the board.

I was seriously thinking about building a double analog stick just for geometry wars and geometry wars 2 on xbox360. there are lots of similar games for download on PSN. if your on ps3 I suggest a used sixaxis thats covered in potatoe chip grease and/or broken sticks for cheap on ebay. I would not use a third party PS3 controller and I would not use a D-pad or joystick PCB if analog is what you really want.