Controller modding

[Mark E]

I've noticed some talk around about swapping out sticks and such in GC controllers so I thought we might want to start a thread where people can post questions and suggestions. I know nothing about the subject but some of our members seem quite adept at it, so if they don't mind fielding some questions that would be awesome.

 

Relatedly, how hard is this to do? I have a GC controller right now that has a busted b-button on it, basically it works if you push it but it's in a constant state of depression (no I cannot give it Prozac before somebody makes that joke ) and I think I might be able to fix it internally. But I have no sweet clue what will face me when I open the back of the controller.

 

Modding seems very dicey to me, particularly in my own individual case since I am rather a bit of a clutz at these things...

[Starhawk]

I had a link to a page where a guy described how he modded his Cube controller to have 2 grey sticks instead of 1 grey and 1 C-Stick. I think there was other info on taking the controller apart and adjusting the B Button. This was around the launch of the Cube, so it's been about 2 years since I visited the page. I'll have to see if I can find it when I get home.

[Solitice]

I switched the led in my platinum Wavebird to a superbrite blue one, looks a lot better now. Next is some UV paint and leds for the inside of the Cube itself. As for how hard it is, I didn't find it too bad in there actually my logitech wireless mouse was much worse to mod. Sounds like the contacts in your pad need a good cleaning with a white erasure.

 

Here is a good guide for modding the main LED in the Cube

[Solitice]

 

Here is a good picture of the main board of the controller, I would take that white rubber piece off of where the buttons are and see what is happining under the B button area. When taking apart the controller leave it upside down at first and remove the bottom.

[JFo]

I couldn't wait for adamsapple's response to my question in this thread, so I went ahead and tried doing the control stick modification.

 

To be honest, the process is extremely easy, particularly if you have a tri-wing screwdriver for removing the screws holding the controller together. I just so happened to have one on me, leftover from when I performed the Afterburner mod on my GameBoy Advance.

 

Basically, you just remove the two pieces of the plastic casing. The main board of the controller will be pressed up against the top half (the half facing you when you hold the controller. Gently pull the board out of the casing, and with two hands, pull on the C-Stick at the base. It should come off fairly easy. Then just remove the gray stick from another controller in the same fashion and stick it where the C-stick was. Put everything back together and you have a modded controller!

 

How are the results? Quite nice! I can now see myself enjoying a FPS game using the GCN's controller. I just need to find one I'd like to play on the Cube to try it out.

[adamsappel]

Sorry, J.Fo, I took apart my controllers, snapped a few pix, then found I'd lost my ftp programs in my recent computer hiccup. As you found out, not a difficult mod. Metroid Prime and TimeSplitters 2 are good FPS on the GC. Starhawk, I got the idea from that same source as you, I'm sure, but I no longer have the link.

[JFo]

Originally posted by adamsapple:

Metroid Prime and TimeSplitters 2 are good FPS on the GC.

 

I actually have both of those games. However, TimeSplitters 2 is the Xbox version. I don't consider Metroid Prime to be a good test of the modded controller since it doesn't utilize a dual analog control scheme the way a game like TS2 or Halo do.

[adamsappel]

Die Hard:Vendetta, Red Faction II, Jedi Outcast, Ghost Recon or Medal of Honor:Frontline, then. A game with a lot of camera control, like Super Mario Sunshine, is a good tester as well.