Homebuilt Controller Goodness
Okay, so I'm just a sucker for this Bemani stuff. I've bought up all the styles, mixes, and versions that I can, and have continued to try to get the best experience possible (even though I'm not nearly as good as the savants I've seen frequenting the fan sites). So, having only limited play skills, but an interest in building stuff, what's the best avenue of expansion? DIY controllers, of course. First target was a controller for Pop'n Music, which is pretty straightforward. Nine huge buttons, sacrificial Playstation controller, a wooden box, some stain and poly later, and behold:
So, that went rather well. Just finished adding some sound dampening to the buttons, since before that you heard hot plastic-on-plastic-echoing-in-wood action far more than any music. A bit quieter now, and easier on the ears, plus a touch more sensitive if I'm not mistaken. And did I mention the buttons are LED-lighted?
So, that was fun and all, but really not nearly frustrating enough. Therefore, a new challenge was issued: Beatmania IIDX controllers must be constructed. This is a more difficult undertaking, as in addition to the mandatory LED buttons (genuine Sanwa) there's the pesky turntable. Most DIYers have used existing turntable controllers like the Konami original or the Rave Discman, but that somehow felt like cheating to me. So, at far more cost than I should have expended, I bought all manner of components and test rigs, and learned a lot about electronics. Finally, though, a working circuit meant I could finally get into the actual construction, which has yielded the following:
A couple of fun notes about my design: Not only can the key panels on either controller be flipped to put the turntable on the left or right, but the turntable itself can be flipped to move it a couple of centimeters closer or further from the keys. The distances approximate arcade placement and KOC placement so you can practice reaching, or just have it comfortably nearby.
Another new addition is better support for the PS1 beatmania games. If you aren't familiar, those games used five key controllers with the turntable always on the right. IIDX controllers work, but the rightmost two keys are dead, meaning if you put the turntable on the right, you have keys that get in the way but don't do anything. So, inside these controllers are a couple of cables linking the keypanel to the main PCB. Use one connector and the keys map normal IIDX style. Use the other, and the beatmania keys are shifted to the right so they sit right next to the turntable as expected.
About the only thing I need to do at this point is refinish the controllers with a little more paint and poly, but I'm not sure if or when I'd do that. It took many months of work and days of actual time in the shop to make these, so I don't relish the idea of taking them apart again, even though it would improve their durability and appearance. Someday, perhaps, but not right now. Right now, I will enjoy playing, because that's what I embarked on the project for.
As for how they play, I can't say I'm the best around, but I certainly can't blame my performances on the controller anymore. Even good-cool songs are perfectly full-comboable, no matter how many scratching sessions or jackhammers are in there. The controllers can handle; the question is just whether I can. Which is how games should be.
So, that went rather well. Just finished adding some sound dampening to the buttons, since before that you heard hot plastic-on-plastic-echoing-in-wood action far more than any music. A bit quieter now, and easier on the ears, plus a touch more sensitive if I'm not mistaken. And did I mention the buttons are LED-lighted?
So, that was fun and all, but really not nearly frustrating enough. Therefore, a new challenge was issued: Beatmania IIDX controllers must be constructed. This is a more difficult undertaking, as in addition to the mandatory LED buttons (genuine Sanwa) there's the pesky turntable. Most DIYers have used existing turntable controllers like the Konami original or the Rave Discman, but that somehow felt like cheating to me. So, at far more cost than I should have expended, I bought all manner of components and test rigs, and learned a lot about electronics. Finally, though, a working circuit meant I could finally get into the actual construction, which has yielded the following:
A couple of fun notes about my design: Not only can the key panels on either controller be flipped to put the turntable on the left or right, but the turntable itself can be flipped to move it a couple of centimeters closer or further from the keys. The distances approximate arcade placement and KOC placement so you can practice reaching, or just have it comfortably nearby.
Another new addition is better support for the PS1 beatmania games. If you aren't familiar, those games used five key controllers with the turntable always on the right. IIDX controllers work, but the rightmost two keys are dead, meaning if you put the turntable on the right, you have keys that get in the way but don't do anything. So, inside these controllers are a couple of cables linking the keypanel to the main PCB. Use one connector and the keys map normal IIDX style. Use the other, and the beatmania keys are shifted to the right so they sit right next to the turntable as expected.
About the only thing I need to do at this point is refinish the controllers with a little more paint and poly, but I'm not sure if or when I'd do that. It took many months of work and days of actual time in the shop to make these, so I don't relish the idea of taking them apart again, even though it would improve their durability and appearance. Someday, perhaps, but not right now. Right now, I will enjoy playing, because that's what I embarked on the project for.
As for how they play, I can't say I'm the best around, but I certainly can't blame my performances on the controller anymore. Even good-cool songs are perfectly full-comboable, no matter how many scratching sessions or jackhammers are in there. The controllers can handle; the question is just whether I can. Which is how games should be.