Goal: To have a stick for use on PS2, PS3 (through converter), Dreamcast, and PC (through converter) - custom art, Japanese buttons, Japanese stick but with an American style grip, American buttons for start/select.
I like working with my hands, but I’ve never really done anything that involved wiring. I have read this and this, both of which give me a really good idea on how the project is going to go. What I am looking for help on is someone to review my parts checklist and then the steps I have listed, as there are some technical issues I am really in the dark about.
Parts Required
-Dreamcast Agtec Arcade Stick x1
-Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons x6
-Sanwa JLW-UM-8 Bat Handle Joystick x1
-Two cheap “man from bathroom sign” buttons for start/select
-A Playstation Dual Shock Controller (model “A” to allow for solderless hack)
-Suitable printed material for artwork, Lexan or other clear material
Steps
-Take the stick apart completely
-Trim/drill where appropriate to fit in the new buttons and stick (the guides are quite detailed on this, I think I can handle it)
-Use metal cover as a guide to cut the Lexan that will go over the art
-Print out art (is there a specific high quality material to print on for best results?) and screw the Lexan over it
-The wiring, which is the part I need the most guidance on, done exactly as it is done here
-Close it up
On that page about the wiring, the link to the solderless Dual Shock hack is down but I found it through Google’s cache. It is very easy and I will have no problem doing that. As far as PCB’s and stuff goes, I have no idea what I am doing. I would like to make it like the sample one where it can be used as a PS2 or DC pad without needing a converter, so I know I’m missing some parts on my checklist. I assume for the Dreamcast button wiring I can just reconnect everything how it was, but after getting the Dualshock wired properly I’m not sure how it works into the stick itself.
Can I pull this off with my obvious limited knowledge? The handywork parts involving sanding and such I can accomplish with ease (and I look forward to it), but I’m worried about how the wiring is going to turn out. What do I need to add to my ordering checklist? Am I forgetting any other steps? Are the parts I have picked out of high quality and recommended use? (I’ve never really used Japanese buttons before, but I can tell just by looking at pictures that they are more comfortable).
Thanks for any input and advice, and hopefully I end up making something good.