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Converting a PSX Controller for PC Use
BigMan writes "Anyone that has ever used a Playstation pad will think they are great, but I long ago stopped using my Playstation and haven't touched a console in a while. I much prefer the gameplay and graphics of PC games, but a keyboard just doesn't cut it on driving games. So I set about converting my Playstation pad to work on a PC. There are several converters that cost around $6 to $15, but being a student in search of a part time job I am reluctant to spend the money and it's more satisfying to do the mod yourself."
There's tons of PC joypads these days that emulate the look and feel of a Playstation controller very well these days. They're usually around the same price or cheaper, and they come with well-written software drivers and other goodies like keyboard emulation for games that don't directly support gamepads. (Which, fortunately, aren't that many anymore.)
For example, I have Belkin's N45, which buy.com has for just $16. Been working great for 2 years now, no complaints, and I don't really notice any difference switching between it and a PS2 controller. Plus it plugs in out of the box, no rewiring skills required :) I'm sure there are many other brands that are just as good.
A quick check says Playstation controllers cost about $25 out of the box these days. This article seems like a cool HOW-TO and an interesting hack, but the article is more about the "geek factor" than being a cost-savings device.The bold print giveth, and the fine print taketh away
There a ton of controller clones at almost every decent computer store.
They are very cheap.
If you are dead set on hacking this thing, you may want to check out www.arcadecontrols.com
I've gotten used to playing games with the xbox controller. It works great for playing any emulator and I've used it with GTA:VC for the PC and Midnight Club 2 for PC also (not to mention on the Xbox). All you need is an xbox controller, an xbox extension cable, and a usb cable. Strip the cover off the extension and usb cables and match up all the wires. The xbox has one extra wire that won't match up with the usb but other than that it's a pretty straightforward hack.
Once you have the cable made, you just have to locate the driver for the xbox controller (I had a hard time finding it... can't think of the link right now - anyone want to post it here?) and voila! A usb xbox controller. If you've got a memory card for the xbox i think it shows up as a removeable drive since the xbox controller has a usb hub built-in.
Of course, you could probably save some $ and pick up some el cheapo PC controller... but it's not quite as cool as using an xbox controller to play some mario kart 64 on your PC.
This is my United States of whatever.
Just buy a cheap extension cable and a couple of diodes. It takes about 10 min of soldering.
Hello. There's a driver for PS-PC parallel port adapters in the Linux Kernel (2.4 at least). The file 'Documentation/input/joystick-parport.txt' contains a schematic for an adapter and mentions that it's DirectPad Pro compatible. The DPP web site doesn't appear to be there any more, but there's a mirror.