durable soft pad Idea.

[wathomas777]

It seems the biggest issue with soft pads is internal bunching and slipping on the floor. I was wonder, how hard would it be to create a pad using two large pieces of "wet suit" material, like on most mousepads or scuba diving suites.

The idea would be simply this.

Cut two single sheets of neoprene material. One would be the top and one would be the bottom. The "contact" layer would be laid out taut and sandwiched between the neoprene using a high quality adhesive.

if you wanted more "spongy material, you could make the bottom layer thicker, and if you wanted raised arrows, you could glue 4 small panels on top of the top layer (mouse pads would work pretty well)

Since the neoprene is not subject to bunching, this type of neoprene sandwich would prevent the internal bunching of the foam seperating the contacts.

The neoprene is also very pliable so that the controller could literally be rolled up like a sleeping bag.

The only downside I see would be cost. Neoprene could cost upwards of 50 dollars a yard, and each "pad" would require two yards of material.

Still I would think with high quality contacts and neoprene, you could develop a very durable soft pad which would combine the comfort of a soft pad and the durability of a high quality metal pad.

Any thoughts?

[v4]

sounds interesting. I just wonder how sensitive the material would be to light press.

[wathomas777]

Sensitivity could cause a problem so you could use a real thin neoprene layer on top. I don't know the thicknesses it comes it, but the cost is probably prohibitive

[v4]

now the only problem is why there isn't one of these in stores yet. It would be nice to actualy see a soft pad that could take over a years worth of everyday play that would be substantially cheaper than the konami dx pad. Which is hard to find and costs the same as a metal pad. Oh and what material would the contacts be made of hopefully not the budget material that starts causing ghost steps after a while.