I did this because I knew that the PS3 controller worked...but it didn't have the same feel as an old school arcade controller.

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And when I looked online, you could buy them sure...but damn they were expensive.

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By the end of this though...probably could have bought one...but it was fun to make it work.

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The basic premise is as follows

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1. I'm ignoring analog sticks

2. The arcade buttons and joystick all have 2 pin connectors and a total of 12 actions

   1. 4 directions​

   2. 8 buttons

3. The PS3 controller has a total of 15 actions

   1. 4 directions

   2. 8 buttons

   3. 3 extra buttons (Start, Select and PS)

4. I've mapped each of the arcade buttons/directions to corrosponding PS3 controller buttons/directions​

5. I've mapped the 3 extra buttons to completely different buttons I picked up at Jaycar.

6. All mappings happen via 2 PCBs

   1. First PCB contains a strip connector and 20 soldering ports for each point on the strip connector​

   2. Second PCB is wired to the first, but takes each of the 20 and maps them to either corrosponding buttons or resistors or commons

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Things to note

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1. ​The PS3 controller has a plastic/rubbery membrane that operates like a like a conductor for pressing buttons. I didn't physically incorporate this, but it was perfect to help me understand where all the buttons map to on the strip output thing.

2. I don't show the removable and replacement of the battery for the PS3. You'll have to work that out, but I stuck a switch in between the battery and the controller so I could disable the charging when I leave this thing off for a long time.

3. The last picture below shows the reference I found to understand what each part of the PCB strip thingee needed to talk to

4. My soldering is horrible. I have fat pacific islander hands.

5. I gave up on my own PCB because ironing them on (you need a laser printer) is painful to get right when the lines are so tight.

6. In one of the mess photos there is a usb cable running from the PS3 controller board out. That is going to my macbook where I used software to test each of the buttons triggered a response.

7. I highly recommend Element14 to buy your stuff for this. Fast and sooo much stuff there.

8. If you have a lady in your life, get them to help with the aesthetic. My wife helped me be patient with the art work and leaving it set with a lot of mod podge.

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