n64 Controller

[RPGillespie]

I was wondering if is possible to replace the n64 controller's small, jiggly, and downright uncomfortable joystick with a smoother, bigger, better one (actually, the whole controller is uncomfortable, but I digress). The joystick I had in mind was that in the gamcube controller joy - (jiggle free, extremely smooth and comfortable). Is it possible to replace the n64 joystick at all?

All I want is a comfortable n64 controller joystick  for my tired, goldeneye-worn fingers.

RPGillespie

[kendrick]

RP, please use the search function of the forum to check out previous posts on this subject. You may be interested to know that the first-party N64 controller uses optical sensors in the analog stick, which are uncommon and hard to replace. Third-party N64 controllers tend to use more traditional potentiometer or hall-effect analog sticks which can be replaced more easily with stock components.

-KKC

[NFG]

Kendrick: Do any 3rd party pads actually use Hall-effect sensors?  I thought it was solely Sega that did this.

[RPGillespie]

RP, please use the search function of the forum to check out previous posts on this subject. You may be interested to know that the first-party N64 controller uses optical sensors in the analog stick, which are uncommon and hard to replace. Third-party N64 controllers tend to use more traditional potentiometer or hall-effect analog sticks which can be replaced more easily with stock components.

-KKC

I actually did use the search feature and read the wiki on n64 controllers. I understand how they work, but I just wasn't sure if you could replace them with a better joystick somehow.

So what you're saying is, research a 3rd party n64 controller that doesn't use the optical-sensor/slotted-discs joystick and replace that?

[NFG]

I think what he's getting at is that it's a non-trivial job.  The original N64 pad is designed to transmit data to the N64 from an optical (ie: mousewheel) encoder, and 3rd party units use potentiometers.  Your job is to convert one kind of input to another, and that ain't easy.

Find a nice N64 pad that doesn't suck (Hori made some nice 2-legged ones) and use it instead, is my advice.

[kendrick]

This is the thread you should look at for reference:

http://nfggames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1767

-KKC