wiring joystick and arcade buttons to original xbox

[orbytel]

Hi All,
Ive been commissioned by the in-laws to repair an arcade cabinet, which I originally built using a pc running mame, but it was messed with by a couple of kids who decided to continuously bash all the buttons together at once.

The system uses two arcade joystick and 16 buttons (plus a 1p and 2p button) wired to a keyboard controller board.

The problem I have with it, is that my inlaws arnt overly computer literate, and if anything goes wrong with the system- i get a call to fix it.

I figured I would make it a little more user friendly, by replacing the pc with a modified xbox, running mame-x, so that it can play both arcade games, as well as xbox games (always a bonus). It wont require a keyboard and mouse for any repairs, and they cant really do much damage.

The question I have is, can I use the pcbs from two controllers to wire up the arcade buttons and joysticks? the buttons and controllers all have individual microswitches, so i cant see an issue, just wanted to confirm if it was just a matter or blobbing on a little solder to each point on the button contacts on the pcb to a jumper on the microswitch? (if that makes any sense)

I can either use the buttons and joysticks I already have, and purchase a chipped xbox with two controllers for $100, or fork out cost of xbox + $189.00 for an xarcade two player arcade bundle with xbox adaptor...

Im just not sure if I can justify $189.00 for something that I could do myself.

[Valium]

Just solder the arcade buttons to the controller pcb, it'll work perfectly.


Jeez, $189? Must be some damn good buttons.

[orbytel]

Jeez, $189? Must be some damn good buttons.

thanks mate, ill give it a go.

Yeah, check it out Here

[project_failure]

Don't buy those crap x-arcade controllers.

Use this site for making the controllers.
http://nuclearplayground.com/joysticks/