How to hack an xbox controller into a pc gamepad

Any person that has ever used console emulation software on their computer knows how much they wish they had the original controller and a way to interface it with the computer. Even just average PC games come to life with the use of a gamerpad. Now there isn't any need to worry! Everything you need for your own cheap, reliable controller to be used for all of these purposes are right here included in this article.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• old xbox controller
• or, new USB WIRED xbox 360 controller
• spare usb wire (you can cannibalize any usb wire you don't use)
• soldering iron & solder
• shrink wrap
• electrical tape

1. Start off with cutting the connector off of the end of the xbox dongle, in which manner you avoid destroying the controller and would only have to replace the dongle to make it xbox compatible once more (a 4$ part).

2. 

   This exposes four wires which are directly compatible to the USB format of connectivity.

3. The usb wire must now be cut, with the wires exposed to be matched up to the gamepad's wires.

4. 

   Match up the colored wires and solder them into place, but not before slipping a piece of shrink wrap tubing over one of the wires so it can simply be pulled down and heat shrunk onto the connection. Solder the wires into place.

5. This connection is very important so unless you enjoy intermittent controls, make it count! Heat shrink the connection and wrap with several layers of electrical tape to make it more structurally stable.

6. install xbcd driver software on your computer FIRST, then connect the controller and watch windows recognize it as a valid usb device :)

7. happy gaming! map the controls out to the buttons, and play any pc game with the pad, especially emulators.

Tips & Warnings

• MAKE SURE you do not connect the gamepad to your pc before you install the xbcd device driver software it will try and recognize the device on its own. This is bad.

Resources

• xbcd device driver software download

[veryirie]

on 11/13/2008 Dang it! I can't solder! ARRRRRRRGG! This is techie smart, but with simple instructions. Thanks!