Modify PSX Controller for Vectrex Games Console

Step 2 Buttons

First thing to address is the button order. The buttons on these controllers are numbered, just like the original Vectrex. However, the numbering is not quite right. Most Vectrex games use button 4 for the fire button (or whatever is most used), and 3, 2 and 1 become the secondary buttons (as far as I know anyway).

As you can see in the pic, buttons 2 and 3 are in the prime locations on the PSX controller. I decided to swap 2 and 4 over to make the order a bit more suited to the Vectrex. This entails opening up the controller by removing the 6 screws form the back.

Inside, there is one more screw holding down the board with the analogue sticks, and LED. Remove this and the board flips over on it's ribbon cable. The main board now just lifts out revealing the rubber contacts behind the buttons.

Each button has a different pattern of tabs at it's base. Luckily button 2 will drop straight into hole 4. However, one of the tabs must be removed from butotn 4, and one other files down to make it fit in the remaining hole. The plastic is very soft and can be easily nibbled away with a pair of wire cutters.