Finally did the D-Pad mod on my PSP

I finally managed to get the proper tools to do that D-Pad mod for the PSP (link).

I actually did a variation of it that involves no hot glue whatsoever and is even easier to do. You basically paste five or six strips of masking tape on top of each other, cut a circle of that with a hole puncher and just put the sticky side of the little circle directly underneath the D-Pad for each of the 4 directions and that's it. If you change your mind later on, this can be removed with zero effort I assume.

I've only tested it for a few minutes, but already I can see that diagonal jumps are much easier to do. Shoryuken motions also work like a charm (I think Howdoin was having problems with them, just like I was). I haven't tried it with other games but I'm expecting similar results with Darkstalkers. Hopefully it won't break any of the other games somehow.

I admit that the circle motions are a little bit rougher on my thumbs now, but I may have put too much masking tape underneath the D-Pad. I still want to try some tweaking and I got dust inside the screen somehow so I'll have to open it up again anyway.

Bottom line is, if you don't care about the warranty and want to play fighters with much better controls, this mod is a must.

Easy as hell, cheap as hell and the results won't disappoint.

I'll play some Darkstalkers now.

Sounds good, but wouldn't it have been easier to get the Street Fighter Alpha 3 since it comes with a D-pad you can just stick on and it works as well?

kobylka68 said:

Sounds good, but wouldn't it have been easier to get the Street Fighter Alpha 3 since it comes with a D-pad you can just stick on and it works as well?

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Well, the SFA3 D-Pad goes on top of the PSP, whereas this mod required you to open your PSP up and add those little things underneath it.

Like I told BIG, the SFA3 D-Pad sounded like a patch job to me while this mod seems like a true solution to the problem.

How is this any less of a patch job? Infact its even more of a patch job. You even lose your waranty in the process.

First of all, good job hermegildo. I don't understand why others here are complaining (even if its out of empathy) of what you did. If you have the skill, the means, and the tools, all the more reason to modify any piece of equipment to your liking.

Complaining like this... on a website that is full of hardware modders...

J0e Musashi said:

How is this any less of a patch job? Infact its even more of a patch job. You even lose your waranty in the process.

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Patch job in the sense that you're covering up a mistake as opposed to trying to figure out why the mistake happens and deal with that. From what I undestand, this mod actually deals with why the D-Pad doesn't work properly (contact and sensitivity) and manages to provide a nice fix for it that solves the problem. Yes, it is technically a patch job, but it deals with the root of the problem and the results are worth it.

As for the warranty, I never cared about it anyway. I've never needed any kind of warranty for anything electronic that I have and I doubt this is going to be the first time, especially now that I've had my PSP for close to a year now and it's been running without a hitch.

If my PSP breaks down two weeks from now you'll be the first to know.

Electroman said:

First of all, good job hermegildo. I don't understand why others here are complaining (even if its out of empathy) of what you did. If you have the skill, the means, and the tools, all the more reason to modify any piece of equipment to your liking.

Complaining like this... on a website that is full of hardware modders...

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The mod is extremely easy to do though.

It requires no serious hardware skill whatsoever, that's why it's so easy for me to recommend it to people.

Electroman said:

First of all, good job hermegildo. I don't understand why others here are complaining (even if its out of empathy) of what you did. If you have the skill, the means, and the tools, all the more reason to modify any piece of equipment to your liking.

Complaining like this... on a website that is full of hardware modders...

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I wasn't complaining. I just wanted to know how this wasn't a patch job compared to using the d-pad. Great stuff if it works better I guess.

Electroman said:

First of all, good job hermegildo. I don't understand why others here are complaining (even if its out of empathy) of what you did. If you have the skill, the means, and the tools, all the more reason to modify any piece of equipment to your liking.

Complaining like this... on a website that is full of hardware modders...

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I wasn't complaining I was just curious as to why he went this way rather than using the D-pad that came with Street Fighter.

kobylka68 said:

I wasn't complaining I was just curious as to why he went this way rather than using the D-pad that came with Street Fighter.

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Because no d-pad is included with the North American release.

Must find time to mod psp !!!

jro said:

Because no d-pad is included with the North American release.

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I believe if you order from Capcom it is.

This sounds cool,but I don't think I'll be opening mine up anytime soon.

Breaking the vacuum seal is like opening the floodgates for dust to accumulate

B-

I need to get a D-pad thingy to play my Darkstalkers Chronicles game alot better.

Nice to hear it worked out for you hermegildo. A friend of mine also did his and is having a blast with it. I personally would have done one of my PSP systems already BUT I have those expensive warranties preventing me from doing it. Maybe next month when one of my warranties goes dead I will attempt it.

O.

buttasuperb said:

I believe if you order from Capcom it is.

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Dammit! Oh well, I'm not having any major issues with A3.

Darkstalkers, though...

I'll probably try the 'gildo mod on my JP PSP as soon as I get around to buying a US PSP to replace my rapidly-aging JP launch unit.

jro said:

Dammit! Oh well, I'm not having any major issues with A3.

Darkstalkers, though...

I'll probably try the 'gildo mod on my JP PSP as soon as I get around to buying a US PSP to replace my rapidly-aging JP launch unit.

Click to expand...

Just get the nub.

I've never had any problem with SFZ3's controls.

Could it be the fact that I'm playing it on my CW PSP?

These are supposed to come with better buttons and d-pad.

B-