Game Controllers

This instructable will teach you how to construct homemade game controllers for personal games, education aids, or anything you want.

This system uses 4 controllers which send signals to a central hub which holds an Arduino.

It was designed for use with a game called Fraction Smash that my group was developing for a class. Students would enter a fraction using the keypad to re-size their character and then hit the smash button to break through the door if they are the right size.

More info here:
http://pdi-studio5.wp.rpi.edu/fraction-smash/


Parts:

Keypad (3.95)
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8653

Buttons (1.49)
http://compare.ebay.com/like/120554574811?var=lv

Ethernet Keystones (1.24)
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10513&cs_id=1051308&p_id=5371&seq=1&format=2

Arduino (29.99)
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Buy

Breadboard (5.95)
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/137

Wire
Ethernet cables
Super Glue

Step 1: Cut out pieces

The first step is to cut out all the pieces to be used. In my design I used a CNC waterjet cutter for all the parts. You could also use a laser cutter for precision parts. If you don't have access to either a waterjet cutter or laser cutter you can cut the parts out of wood by hand. If that is your choice, I would recommend skipping the tabs and just using nails or screws instead.

The .DXF files are attached for automated processes.

All of the CAD files and assemblies can be found here:
http://pdi-studio5.wp.rpi.edu/files/2011/12/Fraction-Smash-CAD.zip

Comments

[Specautomatics]

Good idea!

[DeusXMachina]

Oh hey, you go to my (former) school! Just graduated in May, degree in Chemistry. Never touched the PDI classes, but I have engineer friends who did.

[cornboy3]

It would be cool if the host was a teensy rather than an arduino because it would have usb hid support

[boris_1981]

GREAT JOB!!

I think you can save up some money ($23.8 to be exact) and space if instead of using the bread board, the resistance are soldered directly to the keypad.

[matthanson12]

Haha, I did not actually pay for them, I borrowed them from our classroom.

If you look at this instructable you can see what I based the circuit off of:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-3-wire-Matrix-Keypad/

As you can see it is not just one resistor to each pin but a connected resistor ladder. It needs either a breadboard or a pcb to hold the circuit together. I am planning to make pcbs for them so I can return the breadboards :)

[farmerboyk]

Good idea!
I can see how this could be used for a (fake phone numbers) phone number guessing game, or math game! Favoriting!