Arcade1up Nintendo Switch MOD - UPDATE!

RetroRalph·video·6m 51s·analyzed·May 20, 2020

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.020

TL;DR

USB encoders now enable full Nintendo Switch joystick support in Arcade1Up arcade cabinets.

Summary

RetroRalph and Chris demonstrate USB encoder boards (Space Jam JX brand) that enable Nintendo Switch joystick functionality in Arcade1Up cabinets. The encoders are cost-effective and easy to install but require enabling Pro Controller Wired Communication in Switch settings. A limitation exists where Super Smash Bros. cannot be played since the encoders map joysticks to D-pad input rather than analog sticks.

Key Claims

Space Jam JX USB encoders cost approximately $40 for a pair and are available on Amazon
high confidence · Chris states: 'they about for the pair' and provides Amazon link in description
Pro Controller Wired Communication must be enabled in Switch System Settings for the USB encoders to function
high confidence · Chris explains: 'Once you go there, there's a part where it says Pro Controller Wired Communication. Make sure that that is turned on. That's what I was missing the first time'
The Space Jam JX USB encoders use a different button layout (X, A, B, Y order) than standard USB encoders
high confidence · Chris notes: 'It actually starts with I think X a B Y and then starts to go through that way. So it's a little bit different instead of starting with a'
Super Smash Bros. cannot be played with these USB encoders because joysticks are mapped to D-pad instead of analog input
high confidence · Chris explains: 'You can't move the characters in Super Smash Brothers with the D-pad. You have to use the analog' and 'the mode button on this particular USB encoder only brings up the home button'
The USB encoders enable Nintendo Switch play on arcade titles including Mortal Kombat 11, Street Fighter 2 Ultra, Streets of Rage 4, Cuphead, and Double Dragon
high confidence · Chris demonstrates gameplay footage and lists compatible titles

Notable Quotes

“There's a company called Space Jam at JX and they're on Amazon and now they start making USB encoders for the Switch. Oh my gosh that a game changer”
Chris@ 1:29 — Identifies the specific product solution being showcased
“That's what I was missing the first time, and that's what made it very frustrating after getting everything rewired up and nothing worked.”
Chris@ 3:11 — Highlights the key troubleshooting step that frustrated the modder initially
“Just buy the encoders just like you normally would for a normal Arcade1Up and you just go with it.”
Chris@ 6:15 — Emphasizes simplicity and ease of installation compared to previous workarounds
“Although ironically the one game that USB encoders cannot play is Super Smash Brothers”
Chris@ 5:05 — Notes a critical limitation given the context that his original Switch arcade was Smash Bros themed

Entities

RetroRalphpersonChrispersonSpace Jam JXcompanyArcade1UpcompanyNintendo Switchproduct

Signals

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community_signal: RetroRalph and Chris providing detailed technical troubleshooting and setup guidance for community members interested in Switch arcade integration
high · Chris addresses common mistakes, documents button layout differences, provides step-by-step Switch settings configuration, and emphasizes ease of installation for broader community adoption
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product_strategy: USB encoder solution addresses longstanding limitation in existing Switch arcade mods where joystick functionality was unavailable
high · Chris states: 'the one thing that's always bugged me, always bugged me about the Smash Bros. Arcade was the fact that you couldn't use the joysticks for the Switch' and now 'The joysticks actually work for the games now'
?
technology_signal: Space Jam JX USB encoder boards represent a simplified hardware solution for Nintendo Switch integration in arcade cabinets, eliminating previous workaround complexity (X-Arcade components, wireless joystick rewiring)
high · Chris explicitly contrasts this approach with prior methods: 'I know I have been getting a lot of emails about how I put my original Switch arcade cabinet together...before it was putting a lot of different connector pieces together from like X-Arcade...This you don't have to do that'

Topics

Arcade1Up hardware modification and customizationprimaryNintendo Switch integration into arcade cabinetsprimaryUSB encoder technology for arcade controlsprimaryDIY arcade cabinet projectssecondaryArcade-style game compatibility with Switchsecondary

Sentiment

positive(0.85)— Chris is enthusiastic about the product quality and ease of use. The 'game changer' characterization and emphasis on simplicity convey strong approval. Minor frustration expressed about the initial setup issue and Super Smash Bros. limitation, but these are presented as solvable problems rather than deal-breakers.

Transcript

youtube_groq_whisper · $0.021

Hey guys, welcome back! Today we got a really exciting episode for you. We actually have Chris returning to the channel. That's right. Chris has been making videos for the channel for about a year and a half, and he is most well known for his Super Smash Bros. mod. But he's got some updates to it that are pretty cool. He found some new encoder boards that you guys are going to find really exciting, they're cost effective, and they allow you to put a Nintendo Switch into your arcade cabinet and get the full functionality out of your Nintendo Switch. So without further ado, I'm kicking it over to Chris. Thanks, Ralph. Hey, guys. Long time no talk to you. You know, it's been over a year since we've started modding all these arcade one-ups, and I know you guys in the community have been doing amazing jobs. I love watching all these videos, especially Ralph modding up all his stuff and even seeing stuff going on on Facebook. Now, as you guys know, the very first video I ever did for Ralph's channel was based on my Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Arcade. And, you know, it's interesting because what I tried to do with that was basically put in a Pi, a PC in there, and also I mounted a Switch dock on the side of it so you can switch between all three and play all three. Although, the one thing that's always bugged me, always bugged me about the Smash Bros. Arcade was the fact that you couldn't use the joysticks for the Switch. And that's a huge problem, right? I mean, it's a Switch arcade and you can't even use the joysticks for it. So, but I will say this, there's a fix for that now. There's a company called SJ at JX and they're on Amazon and now they start making USB encoders for the Switch. Oh my gosh that a game changer So as soon as I saw that they had those I had to get two of them And they about for the pair I do note that we put the link down in the description below but make sure you order one set and not two It easy to say oh I need two of those And they do come in sets of two, so make sure you watch out. On Amazon, the pictures show not only pictures of the USB encoder itself, but it also has a diagram for each where the button layouts are. So when you plug them in, you'll get the chance to be able to put them in the right order. I do want to note that a couple things if you're going to do something like this Please make sure that you note the actual buttons layout on the USB encoder It is different than the normal USB encoders It actually starts with I think X a B Y and then starts to go through that way So it's a little bit different instead of starting with a for some reason it starts with X So just make sure you make note of it So one of the things you definitely need to watch out for also is that once I got everything wired up and I got things plugged in Nothing worked. At first I thought maybe there was some miscommunication with the particular USB encoders that I got, but that's not the case. I emailed the company that makes them, and they emailed me back pretty quick. I'll show you exactly how you set them up. So in order to set up these USB encoders, what you have to do is you have to go down to where it says System Settings on the main menu. Once you go in there, you go all the way down to the Controllers and Sensors. Once you go there, there's a part where it says Pro Controller Wired Communication. Make sure that that is turned on. When you do that, that allows the USB encoders to work. That's what I was missing the first time, and that's what made it very frustrating after getting everything rewired up and nothing worked. Check this out. The joysticks actually work for the games now And it really amazing because now you guys can do it and it very easy to do easy to set up It just like setting up any of the other arcade one So if you guys want check out some of the footage we got of some of the games we played. So with the USB encoders installed, you can get to play games just like Mortal Kombat 11, Street Fighter 2 Ultra, Streets of Rage 4, Cuphead, Double Dragon, and the list goes on and on. There are a ton of arcade style games you can get for the Switch, and having these USB encoders makes it all the more fun to play. Run! Come on! Get out of here! Ow! Woo! Ow! These guys are tough! There you go. Yeah! You got it. Woo! Not yet. Hey, you want some of this? Not today. Close Almost there Behind the walls You got it Woo Although ironically the one game that USB encoders cannot play is Super Smash Brothers Oh boy. So the reason why you can't play Super Smash Brothers is because the USB encoders, the joysticks, are mapped to the D-pad. And you can't move the characters in Super Smash Brothers. and you can't move the characters in Super Smash Bros. with the D-pad. You have to use the analog. There is a mode button on the USB encoder that you can map a button to. In normal USB encoders, it would allow you to swap between digital and analog for the joysticks. However, the mode button on this particular USB encoder only brings up the home button. So if you're looking to add a Switch to your arcade lineup, doing it this way is extremely easy. I know I've been getting a lot of emails about how I put my original Switch arcade cabinet together and before it was putting a lot of different connector pieces together from like X-Arcade if you wanted to get something like this done or maybe you'd have to like take apart one of those wireless joysticks and try and rewire it and things like that. This you don't have to do that. You just buy the encoders just like you normally would for a normal arcade one up and you just go with it. So if you like what John Youssi in here give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel. Also hit the bell for notifications if you want to see more Retro Ralph and we'll see you guys on the next one. See ya.