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Designing a Handheld Game Controller (Gamepad)
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Kyre:
As the subject suggests, I wish to design a custom handheld controller, similar to common gamepads.

To actually make the design itself I am thinking of using Google SketchUp (with which I am currently not familiar, but it seems powerful and easy to use).
I already have a basic idea of how I want it to look and what should be inside, but there are two main issues that have me stumped:

* I don't really know how to design something that is comfortable to hold.
* I have no idea how to bring the design to fruition, once I have it.
I have tried to look up similar ideas here on the boards and on the web in general, but my searching has yielded little to no useful results.
I know this board centers on the construction of arcade machines with built-in control panels rather than controllers, but I'm hoping someone here can offer some assistance, or at least point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.
crumptinite:
When it comes to actual control panels like simple fight pads can be found at the shoryuken forums.
yotsuya:

--- Quote from: Kyre on March 17, 2012, 04:38:37 pm ---As the subject suggests, I wish to design a custom handheld controller, similar to common gamepads.

To actually make the design itself I am thinking of using Google SketchUp (with which I am currently not familiar, but it seems powerful and easy to use).
I already have a basic idea of how I want it to look and what should be inside, but there are two main issues that have me stumped:

* I don't really know how to design something that is comfortable to hold.
* I have no idea how to bring the design to fruition, once I have it.
I have tried to look up similar ideas here on the boards and on the web in general, but my searching has yielded little to no useful results.
I know this board centers on the construction of arcade machines with built-in control panels rather than controllers, but I'm hoping someone here can offer some assistance, or at least point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

--- End quote ---

Well, let me ask this question- WHY do you feel compelled to build a custom handheld? I hope it doesn't sound like I'm shooting down your idea, but if you want to reinvent the wheel, it should fit a need. What customization are you looking to do?
Kyre:

--- Quote from: yotsuya on March 17, 2012, 10:52:28 pm ---Well, let me ask this question- WHY do you feel compelled to build a custom handheld? I hope it doesn't sound like I'm shooting down your idea, but if you want to reinvent the wheel, it should fit a need. What customization are you looking to do?

--- End quote ---

A valid question, of course.
I'm actually building a very simple gaming console, which is going to be comprised of a central piece and two controllers that connect to it via cables.
The central piece is going to be a simple box, so I'm sure I'll manage to find a way to make it (though there are some considerations regarding that part of which I am also uncertain, such as ventilation to keep the contents cool enough).

I can't use standard controllers, because I need them to contain buttons that connect to a Mini-PAC in the central piece, rather than use a standard protocol meant to communicate with a host device such as USB or PS/2.
Unless you know of a controller with 16+ buttons which does precisely that...?
bkenobi:
If you want to go with a wired controller, there is another option that you might consider.  Many people have hacked gamepads to connect to buttons in there CP's to use the board as a poor man's ipac.  But, I don't see any reason you couldn't potentially go the opposite direction.  This may be very complicated, but you could potentially find a controller that had the physical controls you want and then hack into the board to add your own harness (with 17 wires presumably for 16 controls + 1 ground).  You would then run that wire from your hacked controller to the control box where the mini-pac would be located.

Alternately, if the controller was large enough, I suppose you could locate the mini-pac inside the controller and just run a USB cable.

I see what you are trying to do, but unless this controller needs to be extremely unique, I'd personally just use an off the shelf controller.  Good luck!    :cheers:
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