Editing Controller modification

{{ArticleIcons|series=y|competitive=y}}
[[File:ModifiedController.jpg|thumb|A modified [[GameCube controller]]; the left analog stick has been replaced with one from a Nunchuk, and the bottom shell has been replaced with that of a black controller.]]
A '''controller modification''' (commonly known as a '''controller mod''') is a cosmetic or functional change to a stock [[controller]].

Cosmetic mods focus on changing the physical appearance of the controller, such as by recoloring the casing or merging two different shells together to form a two-toned controller. Although rarer, other methods of cosmetic changes can also involve placing LEDs into the casing or changing the physical appearance of individual buttons.

Functional mods involve physically altering aspects of the controller, as to improve its function. Motives for modding controllers in these fashions include repairing an aging controller or creating a more customized experience by replacing individual components like buttons or analog sticks. While most players generally replace components with those from identical models, combining pieces from different controllers is not an uncommon practice, and those from non-Nintendo controllers, such as {{iw|wikipedia|DualShock}} controllers, can be featured. Another category of mods include removing components, such as cutting springs or severing the [[rumble]] motor to either reduce weight, improve tactile functionality, or remove features the user finds undesirable. On the most extreme end of the spectrum, players will essentially design entirely different controllers from the ground up to meet very specific needs, either to make a design optimized for a certain game and playstyle or to overcome restrictions caused by physical disabilities.

While it is entirely feasible for someone to modify a controller themselves at home, doing so is typically not recommended to inexperienced users, especially with more complex modifications, due to the risks of damaging the controller. There is a market of professional modders that will modify on demand a user's controller for a monetary compensation. Certain modders also sell premade modified controllers online. 

==Common modifications==
===Cosmetic===
*Swapping part or all of the shell with one of a different color/design
*Painting the shell
*Recolored buttons
*Engravements/embossments
*Installing internal lights
*Tactile or "clicky" buttons

===Functional===
*Fixed/mitigated manufacturing errors
*Control stick/C stick notches (best angles for Sweetspots, [[Fire Fox]], wavedashing, [[Shield platform drop#In Super Smash Bros. Melee|Shield dropping]], and drifting.)
*Removed or cut trigger springs
*Trigger plugs
*Recessed buttons/perforated pads
*Replacement of parts with equivalent parts from a different brand/kind of controller
*[[Rumble]] motor removal
*Snapback reduction
*Snapback module
*Improved button tactility
*Adapters to use a controller on an otherwise incompatible system
*Design overhauls for accessibility purposes
*Add-ons for accessibility purposes
*Latency improvements
*Wireless firmware improvements
*Motherboard swaps to Phobs
*Z-jump (or "zump")
*{{iw|wikipedia|Hall effect}} sensors
*Prefab notched faceplates, such as [https://www.sparkplatemelee.com/ Sparkplate]

==In competitive play==
Controller modifications have become a popular discussion in the competitive ''Smash'' scene, particularly in recent years. This is due to growing frustrations of commercially available controllers often having specific design perks and flaws that are not present in other controllers and vice versa. Fans savvy in mechanical engineering and carpentry eventually decided to come together and develop a "perfect" controller that combines many of the benefits found among available controllers while removing as many drawbacks as possible. Since everyone has a different interpretation of perfection, this has led to many different controller designs over the years. These include models that excel at specific actions as opposed to the jack of all trades store bought controllers, as well as models designed to overcome motor function restrictons caused by permanent injuries and physical disabilites. Major corporations have also gotten into the business of hyper-specific controllers, using their resources to make high-quality versions of what fans were already making. This has all led to a steady increase in modded representation at tournaments that has opened the door for those otherwise unable or unwilling to play, overall increasing the diversity of ''Smash'' players.

In 2022, two new custom motherboards designed to replace standard stock motherboards for use in competitive play would release, [[Phob]] and [[Goomwaves]]. The use of these custom motherboards running custom software would receive high popularity in the community, convincing many top competitors to replace their stock GameCube controllers, though Goomwaves would fall out of favor due to being closed source and some dishonest practices. Phobs functionally acting as a perfect GameCube controller with features such as magnetic Hall effect sensors, digital snapback filtration, and notch calibration.

===Legality===
In general, modifications are [[Tournament rulesets|tournament-legal]] as long as said modifications do not perform actions that could not feasibly be done by an average human or perform actions that "break the rules" of the game. For example, Fire Fox notches are legal, whereas an autofire function or the same action mapped to multiple buttons would not be. However, there is no unanimously accepted list of legal mods, so legality is on a case-by-case basis depending on the [[tournament director]].

The topic of the Z-Jump is a particularly controversial debate within the competitive ''Melee'' community. The Z-Jump in its simplest form involves mapping jump to the [[Z button]] of the GameCube controller as opposed to the standard [[X button]] and [[Y button]]. Many players consider the Z-Jump layout superior to the standard due to the button's placement having preferable ergonomics that lead to better reaction times. Every game from ''Brawl'' onward allows players to map jump to the Z button and equivalent buttons on other controllers in the [[controls]] menu, and the layout has for the most part been freely allowed without issue. The difference is that ''Melee'' does not allow native button mapping, forcing players who wish to use this layout to resort to modded controllers, restricting what is commonly believed to be a significant advantage with no efficient method of being reigned in to those with the technical expertise and/or money to acquire it. Currently, there is no consensus on how much of an advantage the Z-Jump actually provides, with some arguing that opponents are overestimating its effectiveness provided its inoffensive reputation in other games, and are not considering the accessibility the layout provides to players with hand problems, meaning there is no unified ruling on if the practice is allowed in ''Melee'' tournaments.

With the rise in popularity of controller modifications, [[arcade controller]]s, and phobs, a [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1abMqoatAGh_ZhQD1qJaQx6YqFAppCjU5KyF3mgvDQVw/edit?tab=t.0 unified Melee Controller Ruleset] would be proposed in 2024 by the Controller Ruleset Team with the aim of establishing regulations to reign in these alternative controllers and be more in-line to with stock controllers. The proposal received wide adoption within the community.

==See also==
*[[Controller]]
*[[Arcade controller]]
*[[Tournament rulesets]]

==External links==
*Where to buy:
**[https://customg.cc/vendors CGCC public vendor list]
**[https://dol-003.info/modders DOL-003 modder directory] 
**Through searching for a seller on [https://www.etsy.com/ etsy], on a search engine, relevant [[discord]], or ask in your local community for a local seller.
*Guides and resources:
**[https://phobgcc.com/ PhobGCC Documentation Hub] 
**[https://gccontrollerlibrary.com/guides/gamecube-controller-internals-guide/ GameCube Controller Internals Guide – The GCC Library] - 
**[https://firescc.com/mod-guides Guides and resources from Fires Custom Controller]
**[https://compendium.dol-003.info/index DOL-003 compendium]
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6pWAoIx7KY GUIDE: How to Open a Gamecube Controller]
**[https://smash64.net/guides/controllers Nintendo 64 controller guides]
*Custom controller communities:
**[https://customg.cc/ The custom gamecube controller community social hubs]
**[https://discord.com/invite/eNJ7xWMvxf Phob controller community discord]

{{Controller|notbutton=yes}}

[[Category:Controllers]]
[[Category:Technology]]
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