Build Your Own Arcade Controls FAQ

Questions

What's my goal?

A desktop controller? A stand-up arcade cabinet? A console controller adapter? Should I build something small first to practice, then work up to a bigger project? Do I have a PC to spare for this project, or will it have to do double duty as the family computer?

Do I want to build or buy?

Build something to my specifications? Do I have the time, skill, and energy? Spending the money to get half-way and then abandoning it would be a waste.
Buy? Will I be satisfied with someone else's design? Are they reputable? Will they support me after the sale? Do they answer my questions before the sale? What kind of reviews do they have on the reviews page?

What controls do I want to have?

What kind of joysticks and how many? Do I want a trackball or spinner? Do I have the skill to build or the money to buy them? Am I building a one player project, or do I need enough controls for two? Four?

What game software will I be using?

Emulators? PC Games? What controls do they support, that will help me determine what I need.

What interface(s) do I want to use?

Keyboard? Mouse? Joystick? Other? The controls I want to use will help determine what interface works best. The software I want to use will also. If I want DOS games then USB isn't the way to go.

What's my goal?

Can I write down a description of what I'm intending to do now? I should be able to:

Draw a sketch of what my project might look like.
Identify the controls I want to use on the drawing.
Note how each control is going to be connected to the computer.
Know what type of software I'm intending to run.

There are probably many other questions to ask yourself. Before you begin to purchase a thing, you should be able to answer these questions and draw yourself a gameplan to follow.
A goal without a plan is but a dream . . . :)