My tester controller

Mindl3ss

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Threw this together today.

I'm still working on what it plugs in to, but this is the controller I'm going to use. I did the button layout like a Neo Geo MVS, because I think it should work well with most JAMMA games.

Sure the buttons are lined up 100% straight, but I think it will work well for testing.

tester_top.jpg

tester_inside.jpg

What do you guys think?
 
That's funny, I just built something very similiar to test the DK harnesses I was building so I didn't have to drag a cp off a game...... - Barry
 

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i got tired of the buttons on my test rig so i hacked an snes controller. Took a little scraping to get the wires all connected to the traces, but it works great. For the end i used db25 connectors i picked up at the dollar store some time back that were originally printer extension cables (i used the cable, too).....
I'd take pics, but i think everyone knows what a snes controller looks like.
 
I'm going for compact. almost portable. I think it would be nice to be able to take along with me so I can test boards wherever I am.

Now I just need to work on getting a small enough power supply. I've got some ideas of parts I can use around my house, but until I find my DMM, I can't do much else...
 
I think you should have hacked a SNES or Genesis pad instead.
Maybe you would have to cut a bunch of traces and solder to very fine spots on the board...... but the end result would have been way more elegant. If you really want to do it right... just go on ebay and buy a couple of these and wire up the 25 Pin connector how Superguns are done.

neo_cd_pad.gif
 
Thanks for the comments, all are welcome

I think you should have hacked a SNES or Genesis pad instead.
Maybe you would have to cut a bunch of traces and solder to very fine spots on the board...... but the end result would have been way more elegant. If you really want to do it right... just go on ebay and buy a couple of these and wire up the 25 Pin connector how Superguns are done.

I hear where you're coming from. Elegance isn't really what I'm worried about. I was going to use a mini 5 way stick (similar to what that controller has, or the Neo Geo pocket) but I figured I would just use what I found locally. And I love the idea of building it myself.

I have an arcade style controller for the Playstation 2 (see, shadowblade) that has really cheap arcade style buttons and a joystick. I was planning to use it, and still may use it. But I am pretty satisfied with how it turned out. Sure it's not the prettiest thing (I hate that I got some of the buttons a little bit off), but it's nowhere near the ugliest. (in my opinion)
 
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I'd go with a neo-geo stick/pad....

But if you are going custom, you might also want to include Test/Service buttons.
 
Thanks for the comments, all are welcome

I hear where you're coming from. Elegance isn't really what I'm worried about. I was going to use a mini 5 way stick (similar to what that controller has, or the Neo Geo pocket) but I figured I would just use what I found locally. And I love the idea of building it myself.

I have an arcade style controller for the Playstation 2 (see, shadowblade) that has really cheap arcade style buttons and a joystick. I was planning to use it, and still may use it. But I am pretty satisfied with how it turned out. Sure it's not the prettiest thing (I hate that I got some of the buttons a little bit off), but it's nowhere near the ugliest. (in my opinion)

Never called it ugly, that would be a sucky thing to say. I know it's just for testing but you can't hit a diagonal and test real gameplay on some stuff.

Like if I test a board and say that I test it... for Capcom Fighters I would at least throw some moves out. I couldn't do it on these buttons.
 
I'm gonna just use a DB15 connector and an PC gamepad.
Some buffering for isolation and you're good to go.
 
Never called it ugly, that would be a sucky thing to say. I know it's just for testing but you can't hit a diagonal and test real gameplay on some stuff.

Like if I test a board and say that I test it... for Capcom Fighters I would at least throw some moves out. I couldn't do it on these buttons.

Yeah, I know you didn't say it was ugly, I knew you weren't bashing it.

Good point about the fighters... I know I would be trying to pull moves off too. I had thought of it but figured it wasn't too big a deal, since I'm doing it cheap just for testing... I can consider this a prototype, I guess...

If I end up building another one, I will use a more universal plug for the wires. I considered a DB connector, but the ones with high enough pin numbers were all solder connectors, and I didn't feel like soldering... although I guess I have become WAY better since I originally tried them many years ago.
 
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