Introduction: Graphite Controller

By Women's Audio Mission
About: Women's Audio Mission is a San Francisco based, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in music production and the recording arts. In a field where women are chronically under-represente…

Introduction

Tired of gaming with a keyboard or a hand-held controller? Here's how to make a DIY paper and pencil controller. Follow the instructions below to make your own graphite controller!

What You'll Need:

  • One piece of paper
  • One graphite pencil
  • Raspberry Pi
  • MaKey MaKey kit
  • One gaming monitor

Step 1: Sketch It!

Using your graphite pencil, draw four large shapes on your paper. I prefer to use triangles or circles. You can draw anything you want! Just make sure that the shapes are completely shaded in and that you have drawn extended lines out of those shapes to connect to your MaKey MaKey alligator clips. Make sure the graphite sketches are heavy and dark. You might have to shade over your shapes a few times. Check out our example!

Step 2: Connect It!

After you have powered up Raspberry Pi and have it connected to some sort of monitor, connect it to your MaKey MaKey. Simply plug it in it to one of Raspberry Pi's USB ports. Take five alligator clips out of your MaKey MaKey kit. Connect one alligator clip to an earth connection on MaKey MaKey. Connect each of the remaining four alligator clips to one of the arrows on MaKey MaKey. Connect the other end to the extended line on each of your controllers. You will hold the other end of the earth connection in your hand.

Step 3: Play It!

Open up one of Raspberry Pi's Python games, such as Tetromino or Squirrel. To use the controller, simply hold the end of the alligator clip connected to earth. (Make sure you are touching the metal to make the connection.) Then touch each shape within your drawing to move in whatever direction you want. Now, you are free to play the game!