Xbox Retro controller hacking

[Jayson]

... So hopefully those PS2-Xbox controller adapters from China on eBay work alright. But even with out this "RetroCon" controller, I think the Playstation controller is a LOT better for emulation of older consoles than the Xbox controller.

I bought one of those cheap adapters from ebay and while there isn't too much lag, there is a weird instance where it will only detect really hard button presses. I assume it is ignoring any analog input from the PS2 controller and just recording a full button press. Annoying when you are playing and are hitting a few buttons and having to press a second time.

I'm sure there are better ones out there. I am thinking about finding a PS1 dual shock and trying it with that. Since the buttons aren't analog, I think it might alleviate most of the problem there. Hopefully, since I would just love to use a Playstation controller over the shitty knock off S pads that I have been using.

[Ziggy]

Well if you come across any PS2-Xbox adapters that are cheap Chinese ones, be sure to let me know!

[Jayson]

Well if you come across any PS2-Xbox adapters that are cheap Chinese ones, be sure to let me know!

This is the one I got (from the same seller too): http://cgi.ebay.com/PS2-XBOX-CONVERTER- ... 1750wt_939

As soon as I get my hands on a PS1 pad, I will let you know how it works with that.

[Ziggy]

Thanks, I'll really appreciate the feedback on that item.

I was thinking more about hacking the retro controllers. Looking over the links, it seems like a pretty straight forward mod, nothing hard at all. I was thinking, if the RetroCon PS2 controller works out OK, I could just use that for NES and SNES games. I have a spare 3rd Genesis controllers, so I wouldn't mind making that into an Xbox controller.

But I was thinking, I'd really want an N64 controller to use on the Xbox. This creates a problem because of the joystick. If any one remembers, I had a thread about wanting to mod a Gamecube joystick onto a 3rd party N64 controller, then fit the entire thing into a 1rst party controller housing. I guess I would have to do this in order to get a N64 controller (and the joystick) working off an Xbox controller. Also, I think the VGA cable would be out because the N64 controller has way more buttons than wires in the VGA cable. I think there would have to be 18 wires so I guess a parallel cable would work best for this.

[samsonlonghair]

^ Yes, but apparently that doesn't work because the Xbox doesn't have the drivers for it.

I do plan to hack some retro controllers for the Xbox, but I don't have the time for that project right now, so I've come up with a temporary solution in the mean time.

I picked up one of these on the cheap...



It's a PS2 controller. So hopefully those PS2-Xbox controller adapters from China on eBay work alright. But even with out this "RetroCon" controller, I think the Playstation controller is a LOT better for emulation of older consoles than the Xbox controller.

I have one of the Mad Catz Retro controllers. It's absolute crap. The D-pad is unresponsive and some of the buttons stopped working in less than a year.

[Ziggy]

Mine just came in today and I like it. The worst part about the controller is the D-Pad, but it's not too bad. I think it would be perfect for NES/SNES games. I just hope my doesn't break down the road.

[Ziggy]

Time for a little reviewing of some of the things I just bought...

The PS-Xbox adapter:

I got the one that was linked about. It works great. It has an AC input, though I have no idea what it's for. I tested my PS1 (no joysticks) and PS2 pads with it. Works perfectly. I used the controllers to play various emulators on the Xbox and I see no problems with it. No delay or anything. The buttons are all mapped to what you would assume they'd be. Even the R3 click works to bring up the options in emulators.

The RetroCon:

Seems like a real solid controller. I tested it on my PS2 and it works perfectly. Unfortunately, it doesn't work with the PS2-Xbox adapter for some odd reason. It worked for about 2 seconds and then it started pressing buttons on its own! The controller loaded itself into an emulator and was browsing the menus for me. Too bad, because it seems like a really nice controller. It would be great for emulation, I don't see myself using it as a PS2 controller though.

NeoGeo Pad 2:

I sold my NeoGeo CD recently and realized that I will miss those controller pads, so after I found out that these existed I just had to pick one up. It's a pretty solid controller, and unlike the RetroCon it works with the PS-Xbox converter. I was using it to play my NeoGeo emulator.

One thing about using a PS-Xbox adapter that I just realized though, some controllers (like a PS1 or NeoGeo) don't have a right stick to click to bring up the option menu in emulators. With out it, there's no way to change ROMs or exit the emulator, so you have to have an Xbox controller around anyway.

For this reason, I realized that modifying a retro controller to work off an Xbox controller is a much better option. If you're using an NES pad (for example) you still have access to everything from the Xbox controller.

[eSPy]

was looking into different controller solutions for xbox and found this for the 360
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19969
"Adds 2 x USB ports, 2 x PS/2 ports (for keyboard and mouse), and 1 x PlayStation PSX controller port to your Microsoft Xbox 360"
very expensive though...

also the standard PS2 to xbox http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.24856

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I happen to have run the gambit across pretty much everything in this thread, so let me clear some things up and explain some things.

NES to Xbox - Easy to do, simple padhack requires you to remove the 4021 control chip and replace it with wires, and solder them to buttons on the Xbox pad.

Female USB to male Xbox adapters:
These adapters allow you to use some keyboards and certain USB devices such as small memory cards, but not PC controllers. The Xbox requires a special set of controller drivers only Xbox controllers have. You cannot use any PC controllers on the Xbox or Xbox 360.

Retrocon -Is junk. Don't buy it.

PS2-Xbox adapters from China - The one I have is off brand and seems to work fairly well, so I guess its trail and error.

Xbox to PS2 adapter - Personally I think the controller S is much nicer than the DuelShock 2, so I bought this adapter to enjoy all my PS2 games with the comfort of an Xbox pad. It's made by Mayflash, and Mayflash products are EXCELLENT, but sometimes harder to find. Check out play-asia for the Mayflash PS2-Xbox adapter. It allows you to flawlessly use any Xbox pad on the PS2 and also works for PS1 games. How awesome is that?

Mouse/Keyboard/PS2 to Xbox adapter - I've bought one of these and it works well, but finding the right balance of keyboard and mouse is difficult since games weren't made to be played this way on consoles. It's a great solution for PS2 arcade sticks though.

[dogman91]

I bought one of those cheap adapters from ebay and while there isn't too much lag, there is a weird instance where it will only detect really hard button presses. I assume it is ignoring any analog input from the PS2 controller and just recording a full button press. Annoying when you are playing and are hitting a few buttons and having to press a second time.

I'm sure there are better ones out there. I am thinking about finding a PS1 dual shock and trying it with that. Since the buttons aren't analog, I think it might alleviate most of the problem there. Hopefully, since I would just love to use a Playstation controller over the shitty knock off S pads that I have been using.

Did you ever figure this out? I have the same problem with the same adapter; light button presses don't register at all and makes it unplayable IMO. Does the PS1 controller happen to record all the button presses for you or did you find another adapter that works better?