Hacking the XBox controller.

Nucklez · Post by **Nucklez** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:33 am

I'm wanting to hack a controller for a new project that I'm working on. I had thought about simply hacking the little USB duel shock looking controller that I have now, but it's really cheaply made and it currently isn't working on any computer. I'm wondering what the inside of one of these XBox controllers look like. I've never owned an XBox so i don't have one to take apart. Would it be hard to split the PCB? Say, I want the buttons on the right side of my screen, and the D-Pad and an analog stick on the right. Just like everyone else does with their portables.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:17 pm

Depends on your definition of hard. If you're steady with a soldering iron and you can confidently solder surface-mount components, then there should be no problem. If not, it may be a little tricky, in which case I recommend simply relocating the analog pots and just soldering tact switches down to the pads on the controller board.

CTFan

Nucklez · Post by **Nucklez** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 6:45 am

I went by my local game store, and picked up a used Xbox Controller S. I opened him up, and oh boy! The tact switches may be the way to go. I have some ideas of how to mount some tact switches to my faceplate, then I'll reroute the switches to the controller's PCB. I think that will be the easiest way. The controller uses tact switches for the back and start buttons already, I thought that was cool.

*Edit: I just got my first look at the back of DKap's XBoxp front panel. It has inspired me to look further into cutting the controller in half. I <3 Dkap!!!!