What's inside an Ion iCade?

**RetromanIE** · 09-12-2011 07:07

I'm currently in the process of modding my iCade and making some sort of guide for people to do the same.

It's in the early stages right now but I thought it might be of interest to some to see exactly what's inside the thing.

Ok, so to begin with we have our iCade:
(click any image for the high resolution version, very large image warning)

In my case the iCade is assembled so I need to remove the control panel to start.
It's very easy and you luckily don't need to disassemble the main wooden section.

You need to remove the 2 front screws and will need the tool that came with the iCade or another one that will do the job.
(most multi tool kits have the required screwdriver bit).

Then remove 2 more screws from the back of the iCade.

And that's the iCade control panel separated from the main wooden section.

Now we need to remove 16 screws from the base.

And we're in.

As you can see it uses standard enough looking arcade parts (more on that in the mod article to come).

And that's it.
When I have the mods done I'll post a better article on how I did it and what parts I used.

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**nomster** · 11-12-2011 14:45

I guess a more responsive joystick would be the most obvious thing (although I wonder if years of using playstation controllers has caused me to forget arcade joysticks were really like that.

Funnily enough my initial temptation at modding was by not assembling the iCade 'cabinet' in the first place - always wanted a remote bluetooth controller - might do this eventually (esp' for landscape games as my iPad case props up that way already)

Will check back here / or on TA

**RetromanIE** · 11-12-2011 15:05

Originally Posted by nomster

I guess a more responsive joystick would be the most obvious thing (although I wonder if years of using playstation controllers has caused me to forget arcade joysticks were really like that.

Funnily enough my initial temptation at modding was by not assembling the iCade 'cabinet' in the first place - always wanted a remote bluetooth controller - might do this eventually (esp' for landscape games as my iPad case props up that way already)

Will check back here / or on TA

The controls are ok on it but yes a proper arcade joystick would be very nice indeed.
I have a couple of new joysticks on the way for my real arcade machine so I'll see if I can install one of the old ones in the iCade as well as some new buttons.

The joystick I'm going to install is a Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT by the way in case you want to check it out.

I'll post pics and a guide of some sort here when its done and maybe a link on TA if its ok with the mods. They didn't seem to mind my last post so I don't see any problem with it.

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**nomster** · 11-12-2011 19:57

Originally Posted by Retroman

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I'll post pics and a guide of some sort here when its done and maybe a link on TA if its ok with the mods. They didn't seem to mind my last post so I don't see any problem with it.

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Cheers - I'm getting used to feel of the orig joystick but something with more subtlety or less travel before 'kicking-in' would probably be good

**Vector** · 19-12-2011 11:19

My girlfriend just got me an icade this morning (in Peats i think)

I dont think the default buttons or joystick are bad at all. but then again I dont have an arcade machine myself so cant really compare the controls.
I did have a quick go on Retroman's arcade machine a while back but you probably have to play these a lot to tell the differences between the controls on them.

anyway I'm happy with the icade at the moment but maybe later on i'll want to mod it

**RetromanIE** · 03-11-2012 01:05

Additional iCade tear-down pictures:
(Google Drive link at the bottom of post to the full size images.)

**brianon** · 19-02-2013 14:45

Oh. Haven;t been here in ages. I got an iCade this morning and jailbroke my iPad... happy days.

Very impressed with the iCade. Ok so the buttons are pretty crap and the joysticks not great but it looks great and functions great with Snes9x EX and Gridlee (a Mame by any other name).

I've a load of sanwa and seimetsu sticks/buttons around which will find a new home tonight

**RetromanIE** · 30-05-2013 22:16

Decided to upgrade the iCade buttons again as i was a bit bored earlier.
I'd already stuck proper Happ buttons in instead of the crappy generic happ style ones that it comes with as it was a direct replacement.
But to fit the proper Sanwa's in I had to dremel the case a little and do a bit of rewiring inside to get everything hooked up.
So far its so much nicer to play and I just need to come up with a plan for the stick now.

So, from this:

To this: