Omega-TI Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 << THIS LINK >> Has some great joystick case ideas for you guys who've not yet built one. One example I found really cool was the transparent case. Anyway check it out... it just might inspire you to build one... or another! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIO2 Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 Has a 4 way gate so now I finally have a propper Pac-Man stick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 << THIS LINK >> Has some great joystick case ideas for you guys who've not yet built one. One example I found really cool was the transparent case. Anyway check it out... it just might inspire you to build one... or another! I can kinda vouch for this method: Sanding and finishing can be a bit labor intensive however. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 IMG_20190111_192702.jpg Has a 4 way gate so now I finally have a propper Pac-Man stick. Congrats. Having a proper baffle for 4-way games such as Pacman is essential. Got a few too many extra buttons on that thing however! These are really great sticks if you need something you can convert easily in less than one minute with a Phillips head screwdriver. https://paradisearcadeshop.com/en/home/controls/levers/levers-paradise-arcade/672_paradise-black-top-joystick Cost far less than a Sanwa (Sanwas also feel a bit loose need tuning out of the box imo, which adds to the cost) and while they have similar appearance to the Zippy sticks, they are much better IMO. The switches are heavy enough that it gives you tactile feedback as you slide into the corners, pretty much goes where you want it and don't get as many unintended diagonals in 8-way mode. It's the only Japanese style square gate stick I can really game comfortably on. Happ/IL are also good for 8-ways if you want bats and round baffles. Better use a heavier box though as they are stiffer and extend further under the control panel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgabbard Posted January 12, 2019 Share Posted January 12, 2019 (edited) Here is one I did. Its a modified NES controller for use on a PC. Digital to Analog board consists of a few transistors and resistors. Wiring was done with a Ethernet cable (stranded, not solid core). It supports Analog 1&2, and 4 Buttons (Select=4 Start=3 B=1 A=2). Im looking at converting a SNES controller as well (can use analog 3&4 for use as HAT buttons) with a second converter board, but I cant seem to find any 10 wire cable that is small enough to fit the SNES hole. If anyone has a suggestion on cable selection, Id love to hear it. Edited January 12, 2019 by jdgabbard 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 A little late to mention this, but that joystick I bought from Groovy Game Gear has two settings for the restrictor gate. Loosen the screws underneath, then turn the gate and tighten them back up, and it becomes a quite competent fighting game stick. Apparently it must have had 4-way and 8-way settings, and I didn't even realize it. I haven't done much with the homemade stick since I, uh, home made it, but maybe over the summer I'll dive back into it, or transfer the buttons to a better box. The underside of the housing was shredded by my power tools and is rather uneven... I should put a thin piece of wood inside to reinforce it. Maybe that'll dampen the clunking it makes when buttons are pressed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (1) A little late to mention this, but that joystick I bought from Groovy Game Gear has two settings for the restrictor gate. Loosen the screws underneath, then turn the gate and tighten them back up, and it becomes a quite competent fighting game stick. Apparently it must have had 4-way and 8-way settings, and I didn't even realize it. (2) I haven't done much with the homemade stick since I, uh, home made it, but maybe over the summer I'll dive back into it, or transfer the buttons to a better box. The underside of the housing was shredded by my power tools and is rather uneven... I should put a thin piece of wood inside to reinforce it. Maybe that'll dampen the clunking it makes when buttons are pressed too. 1 - I've stopped using the Zippy sticks myself as they sometimes have QC issues with the restrictor gates and has swapped suppliers for the micro switches on multiple occasions. The levered switches from certain brands have a deeper throw to actuate the microswitch with the result that the lever is pitched rather than straight at the point of actuation. This can result in missed diagonals occasionally. For instance, moving from D to DL might actuate a down/left diagonal but moving from L to DL results in a miss for the D direction, because the tab may need to travel slightly beyond the square gate on one side before it actuates. The Paradise Arcade stick has a similar design to the restrictor plates compared to Zippys but you won't feel "bumps" on the edge of the square gate like the Zippy, and the restrictor plate is a superior plastic construction that won't curl upwards when over-tightened. Also the PAS switches don't have levered tabs on them as the round actuator presses the tab directly. 2 - Anytime you drill into wood with a spade bit, you gotta place a board underneath the control panel to prevent blowout. Especially true for ready made wood boxes with thin lids. Clamp a 3/4" piece of scrap underneath the lid before drilling. You may have to cut the scrap to fit under the lid. The same scrap can be used multiple times as well. As always, measure twice and cut once. It is possible to cut cleaner holes without need for a backing piece by using a Forstner bit, however these bits are designed for use in drill presses and may drift if used with a handheld drill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwantgames:) Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Not finished yet (needs paint and wiring) but here's my new computer controller I'm wiring it up for my MSX which uses the same plug as Atari, TI, ect. So with adapters it can be used with most of my computer's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwantgames:) Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Finished 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 IMG_20190111_192702.jpg Has a 4 way gate so now I finally have a propper Pac-Man stick. Where did you find that joystick case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Where did you find that joystick case?I think he drilled directly into a desk top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I think he drilled directly into a desk top. I was referring to the picture here 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I was referring to the picture here oh my bad. I thought you meant this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 I can kinda vouch for this method: wood.png Sanding and finishing can be a bit labor intensive however. That's kind of neat! I suppose you can also wrap the cord up inside when it's not in use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mr. Video Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Thought I'd show off my summer project. It works with the Atari 7800, Colecovision, and pretty much anything that supports an Atari 2600 joystick. It may also work with the Sega Master System and SG-1000, but I don't have a Master System or Power Base Converter to check. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share Posted August 5, 2019 Found something interesting on joysticks << HERE >> that might inspire others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtvic Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Some bits I've made for Vectrex recently. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 Ooooh dedicated Asteroids controllers! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I was about to ask how do you translate digital buttons to analog input, some kind of timer which charges a resistor? For that matter, those five button designs work perfectly well with just about any game, not just Asteroids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtvic Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 It’s just 8 resistors on some perf board. I’ll post up the diagram later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Perhaps short pulses of full stroke makes Minestorm just as playable as small movement in the analog realm. I know on other formats with digital controllers that is how you have to play Asteroids type games. Nice looking designs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 11 hours ago, virtvic said: It’s just 8 resistors on some perf board. I’ll post up the diagram later on. Yeah basically analog joysticks use a pot between vcc and gnd, or floating like atari paddles. The position of the pot changes as the stick moves, creating a voltage differential (modern sticks) or alters the time constant of an rc citcuit (atari paddles). The resistance of the pot is simulated by resistor networks connected to the joystick. So tilting the joystick increases or decreases the values of the resistance network. Most digital games don't need analog control so the sticks mostly work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtvic Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Another one I’m working on for someone - 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 46 minutes ago, virtvic said: Another one I’m working on for someone - That is a nice shell for a joystick project. Where do you buy\order those from if you don't mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtvic Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Any old component supplier sells the boxes. In all shapes and sizes. Digikey, RS, Farnell/CPC etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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