Let’s talk about the Chinese gamepad. We will talk about the model YCC-XB9002 from YCCTEAM. What made it interesting? Next!..
Probably the stupidest thing you can do to promote a blog is to write about little-known/unnecessary things. But I want to write about what inspires me, and it just so happens that right now it’s… cheap gamepads.
A short “educational course” about gamepads
Currently, there are many options for various controllers for game consoles in the world. Most of us are used to using the original ones. But it so happened that now the original controllers that we can use on a computer have either lost their relevance (gamepad from Xbox 360) due to their age, because they are relatively expensive (gamepad, respectively, from Xbox One). My experience with third-party manufacturers (Razer Onza, which had a cracked case) showed that the name and brand are not always a guarantee of quality. So choosing, in the language of South Park, between an “enema” (the original controller beaten by life) and a “shit sandwich” (an unknown gamepad of an unknown brand) – I decided to choose the second.
I already had experience servicing and repairing my Xbox 360 gamepads, and I was partially involved in repairing Xbox One controllers (which is why I don’t order them anymore), so I have an understanding of how much a controller can be repaired and how long it will last. Therefore, each post about gamepads will include photos of the insides and my comments on the originality of the design. Let’s go?
Condition
It would be appropriate to start by telling about the condition of the controller. He arrived like this:
And if it’s just dirt from behind, then from the front…
There was a pretty big crack. Why did I even take this gamepad? Well… it cost me 52 hryvnias or about $1.18. Probably the same amount in China now costs a set of sticks for it. In general, all reviews will be on models that cost me up to 150 UAH/$3.5. Just compare this with the prices of controllers in your city and you will understand what the whole point is. At the same time, this does not mean that this is a controller for one day and it cannot be repaired. Moreover, I will tell you a terrible secret – in places it is a more interesting controller than the old one from Xbox 360.
Within
Let’s unscrew the 8 bolts and look inside.
The first thing you notice is the fixed connectors. I haven’t encountered a single case where the vibration motor disconnected from its connector (although…it seems like it happened once or twice on very old controllers), but here they are securely fixed. Interestingly, the cable is also connected to a removable connector. When I repaired the cable on the original Xbox 360 controller, I had to solder the connector myself for the convenience of future repairs. So the score is 1:0 in favor of the Chinese gamepad.
On the back side, we can observe a rather strange picture. The D-pad is made out as a separate module. I think there is no need to look for any big secrets here, because the manufacturer either simply did not want/could not make the wiring on the original board, or decided not to do as Microsoft did, and simply put this block higher. It is difficult for me to attribute this to the pros or cons, since since the days of gamepads on the Syubor (aka Dandy, aka Nes clone) I have not encountered problems with such buttons. The LB and RB buttons are made in the same way as on the original gamepads. The click is clear. At the bottom of the gamepad there is a headphone jack, which I even checked and was pleasantly surprised – a convenient way to play games at night and not disturb anyone.
When I took off the stick covers, a flashback caught my eye. I’ve seen something like this before. And it really is.
On the left is the stick that was ordered for the Xbox One controller in China. On the right is the stick in the gamepad. They are fully compatible in size, so there should be no problems with replacement. Moreover, this means that the type of sticks is the same as in the Xbox One. Someday you will remember why I focused on this, but not today.
I won’t say anything about the stick covers. On the right is a copy from China. The quality is clearly lower, but they are, again, fully compatible.
I was a bit surprised to see magnets in both handles. I started researching this issue and this is what ChatGPT told me:
“Yes, the photo shows a typical magnetic trigger sensor (Hall sensor).
What exactly is here:
A microcircuit marked U13 is the Hall sensor.
A small black part in the plastic part of the trigger is a neodymium magnet.
When the trigger is pressed, the magnet moves relative to the sensor → the magnetic field changes → the output voltage changes.
This is not a digital sensor, but a regular linear analog Hall sensor (typically with 3 pins):
VCC (3.3V or 5V)
GND
OUT (analog ~0.5–2.8V depending on the position)What type can it be?
Similar gamepads usually have something like:
SS49E
A1302
A1324
The case is usually SOT-23 or a small SMD with 3 legs.”
So, you get the idea, right? This controller uses a magnetic trigger instead of the classic trigger from the Xbox 360, similar to the one on the Xbox One. I had a few problems with this part in my old controller, so this is a definite plus.
There are a couple of dampers under the button, and if you’re talking about what would fail first, they’re probably the ones. But I think a couple of pieces of double-sided tape should solve the issue.
Overall, the gamepad looks pretty serviceable. But what about its performance in games?
Testing
As they say in such moments – all coincidences are coincidental, and the similarity with the real point of view is not intentional, so… the gamepad came to me. Although the case is quite typical, it has an interesting element.
These little dots on the back surface allow you to comfortably hold the controller in your hand. It would seem like a trifle, but when you are excited and your hands are sweating, this can really decide the moment in the battles of some fighting game. At the same time, the weight of the controller is slightly less than the weight of the wired gamepad from the Xbox 360, and this can be a little annoying. Well, at least it always seems to me that the gamepad should be moderately heavy. The buttons are pressed pleasantly, I did not feel any differences compared to the original controllers. The movement of the sticks is smooth, everything is in its place. The vibration also works without complaints within the capabilities of the classic motors installed in this gamepad.
If you want me to dig into something – ok. The case materials are not premium, but there are no complaints about the assembly either – there are no creaks in the case even after someone banged it. On the contrary, a crack in the case without a chipped part shows that the case is monolithic and the design is well thought out.
The price of this gamepad on the Internet is around $20. This is a completely normal price, considering that a used original controller will cost you no less. I think it will be enough for a year of average use without any problems. It does not have any chips like backlighting or additional bonuses, but the basic functionality works for every penny. Of course, this is not the thing you will take to a tournament with, but playing fighting games with friends or running through a few roguelikes will not be a problem for it.
Author: Sa Crea
Hellmin
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