Guitar Hero DS Mod- Update- Whole new direction.

[Super Cameraman]

I've hinted at this project a few times before, but here's the official progress thread because it's officially happening!

What it is:

It's a Guitar Hero controller with a Nintendo DS inside it and the DS's touch screen replacing the strum bar. The fret buttons will replace the action buttons on the DS. As you can imagine, Jam Sessions will probably be the only playable game. But it should be more playable on this then on a regular DS.

I ordered a DS phat with a broken hinge/top screen on eBay for around 30 dollars. Maybe I payed too much, but it works.

I also ordered a broken PS2 Guitar Hero controller (SG style) for 5 dollars. It's in very good condition, looks new, I say it was a good deal. Not sure how it's broken because I don't have a PS2!


Pictures:


The Guitar Hero Controller ($5)


After opening it up and getting rid of the electronics. (Whammy bar potentiometer was disconnected, maybe that's how it broke)


After destroying most of the screw posts and seeing if a DS fits. This isn't the DS I'm using. This one broke... Somehow...


The top fits on perfectly with the DS inside lined up with the strum bar hole. (The final hole will be the size of the screen, of course.)


The neck doesn't fit back on the guitar with the DS inside. I'll probable cut the neck and glue it somehow.


The DS. The eBay description said the top screen worked... It lights up, but I don't think that's what I'd call "working"...


Classy.



So any suggestions, tips, comments, would be very nice!

Also, what's the best way to cut ABS plastic?

[Negative_Creep]

I can't give you advice, but I can say I love the idea.

How will you displaying the game?

[Super Cameraman]

How will I displaying the game? You mean how will I display the game? The strum bar will be replaced with a DS screen. (No top screen, just touch screen)

[Negative_Creep]

Hmm I think I see.

Jam Sessions doesn't need a top screen at all?

I have a good idea for you though! Make a plectrum into a stylus, considering the game works that way.

[khaag]

Hmm I think I see.

Jam Sessions doesn't need a top screen at all?

I have a good idea for you though! Make a plectrum into a stylus, considering the game works that way.

WTF is a plectrum? If you mean pick, don't you think that's a given?

[Super Cameraman]

If you mean pick, you can just use a pick to play Jam Sessions. You don't need to modify it or anything.

Jam Sessions does use the top screen, it shows what chords are assigned to each button, but I don't have a top screen, and there's no room in the guitar for one, so I'll just deal with memorizing.

[nitro2k01]

In that situation, I would've just used the DS for DScratch.

[Super Cameraman]

I'm making this because the DS has one screen, I bought the DS specifically for this project.

I have tried DScratch, I like it, but it gets boring after a while.

[Negative_Creep]

Hmm I think I see.

Jam Sessions doesn't need a top screen at all?

I have a good idea for you though! Make a plectrum into a stylus, considering the game works that way.

WTF is a plectrum? If you mean pick, don't you think that's a given?

A plectrum is a pick. It's what some people call them lol.

I thought you might make a uber leet DS-to-TV mod for top screen or something lol.

[Super Cameraman]

That would be nice, but it's probably not cheap. Also, I saw a picture of some kind of mod kit thing from Taiwan and it adds a lot of thickness to the DS. I'm not sure if it would fit inside the guitar.

[khaag]

A mod kit thing to do what exactly?

[Negative_Creep]

@Khaag: TV-Out

This mod is still cool though.

[Super Cameraman]

So close! So close! All I need to finish (or start) this is a triwing screwdriver! I ordered one a week ago, and I just received an envelope with a big hole in it... The seller said he'd (or she'd) send another. So when I get that, I'll actually start doing this.

I did pretty much hollow out the guitar hero controller. I can fit a whole fat DS in there now. Plenty of room!

[Super Cameraman]

BIG UPDATE!

It's almost done, and it all works! The fret buttons have successfully replaced the D-pad, on the the pictures!


When I opened up the DS, I was expecting those copper contacts like on most game controllers, but this is what I found instead. Turns out, they're just very thin tact switches.

I pried the B button off to see what was underneath- four contacts, just like a tact switch. The top two are ground, the bottom two are the leads to the B button.


You probably can't tell, but the first fret button works! For some reason, solder wasn't sticking to the DS's mobo, so I decided to hot glue all the wires.


When I was done glueing, I put the guitar back together to try it out, with the DS taped onto the front, for now, until I cut the hole for the screen, then the DS will be inside the guitar. Only the first and third buttons were working, so I knew hot glue wouldn't do.

The next day: (Today)


$2 for a new soldering iron tip, and 10 minutes later, and the soldering iron works perfectly and everything is soldered in place and working. Color coded even!


Put the guitar together again, until I cut the screen hole (need a dremel or something) and all five buttons work, and it's a lot of fun to play!


Close-up on the DS. Note to anyone: Electrical tape leaves no residue on plastic. I would have used duct tape here, but I'm glad I didn't. (I used it on the neck once, and the residue is still there.) Also in this photo, a 1/8 phono jack in the headphone port with wires running to...


... a 1/4 inch audio jack, for use with a guitar cable and amp! This also means that any effects pedals used for guitars, can be used on this!


I'll try to get a video of me playing it on YouTube soon, but I'd rather just wait until the case is all finished and looks good.

Also, big thanks to Khaag, who helped me a lot over MSN.

[khaag]

Awesome Max! You're not going to leave the mobo on the outside like that though right?

Good job so far!