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How to Make a Professional Arcade Stick

Many people recall spending long afternoons in video arcades playing the games that were the latest and greatest at the time. Today, most people will never have that experience. Video games are now played on phones, in homes and on small devices that do not provide much in the way of feedback. However, you can recapture a bit of the intensity and fun of arcade-style gaming by building your own custom arcade joystick out of an existing controller.

Things You'll Need

Non static-producing gloves
Screwdriver
Xbox 360 controller
Connection wiring
PCB mounting plate
Instant adhesive, such as Super Glue
Screws
Arcade stick case
Joystick with wiring harness
6 30-mm arcade buttons
3 24-mm arcade buttons
Soldering gun
Soldering wire

Instructions

- 1
  Put on non static-producing gloves. You should do this before working with the internal parts of any electronic device.
- 2
  Remove the bottom of the Xbox controller with a screwdriver. Locate and remove the PCB chip inside the unit. The chip will look like a small circuit board and will be green.
- 3
  Attach the PCB unit into the proper slot on your Xbox 360 console. Tap the different paths on the PCB chip, and take note of where to attach each button on the PCB chip.
- 4
  Solder a power wire to the "A," "B," "X," "Y," "Right Bumper," "Left Bumper," "Start," "Back" and "Home" buttons. Solder the the wiring harness of the joystick to the D-pad wire on the PCB chip.
- 5
  Attach the PCB chip to the PCB mounting plate with instant adhesive. Mount the PCB plate inside the joystick case with screws.
- 6
  Determine what the button layout will be on your arcade joystick, and run a wire from each button into the joystick case.
- 7
  Solder power wires from each button to the PCB chip inside the joystick case, and snap each button into the joystick case.
- 8
  Install the joystick into the joystick case, and connect the wiring harness for the joystick into the inside of the case.
- 9
  Attach the bottom plate for the arcade stick case with screws.

Video Game Accessories