number of joysticks

you may want to check out this post about converting an xbox contorler. Its pretty much out of the question, unless you completely gut the entire thing. (which our team may actually do this year )

On a quick sidebar, consider a PS2 controller unless you've really got your heart set on an Xbox controller. We found that to convert it all you need to do is cut the plug off and solder the pins into the corect config. for the OI plugs. Word of advice though, having driven all four of our robots, I prefer a joystick to a gamepad. (That the KoP joysticks are only for right-handed people and I am..erm..was left handed is a completly different story).