How to make a custom game controller

I've made a dancemat once before for the PC - to be used with Stepmania. This time around though I wanted to make a controller for Frets on Fire or Freetar (Guitar Hero simulator) and thought of sharing how it all actually works and how you make the actual controller. The electronics that is.

You can use this instructable to make most kinds of controllers for most systems - Dancemat, Guitar Hero, Pop n' Music - you name it, your imagination is the limit. :)

Step 1 What you need and some extras

1. A gamepad. The procedure is the same no matter if you make this for PC, PS2, XBOX, XBOX360 or whatever. The controllers are just layed out in different ways and have some extras in them.

2. Soldering tools or a glue gun. I'm not going to go into soldering. Check the soldering group instead.

The glue gun is good if you don't know how to solder or don't have money for soldering tools. The contact between the board and cable won't be as good though. The glue gun is also good if you want to secure the cables after you've soldered them in place.

3. Cables. The thinner the better. These types of fine electronics cables usually exists in most stores selling microswitches and the like. When I bought my pair of cables they were below the microswitches rather than along with the rest of all cables available in the store.

4. Microswitches. This isn't a must but it's helpful. You can create your own switch in several different ways. Just connecting the ends of the cables is sufficient for a switch.

Comments

[sIDsleeper]

I'll make something like this, instead of hardwiring the new controls, I'll add a connector, so if I want a guitar style controller, I'll make a guitar modul, hook it up to the connector on the gamepad, and if I want an arcade style, all I have to do is change the attached control unit, using the same gamepad to interface my circuit to the USB port! xD It's simple! I've now seen your instructable, this is as cool as it could get, so I hope my project will work out just as good as this one!!

[zakvok]

Sick instructable....i was just wondering if the switches would be affected over a distance of like 2 feet...the signal is strong enough coming from the controller right?

[InAction]

I think you can have a pretty long distance as long as the cables are fine enough. I've had 2-3 meters of cable from the controllers while trying to do my own dance mat, I didn't notice any glitching nor slow responce.

[zakvok]

Great :D i'm going to be building a racing seat with an xbox 360 forcefeedback racing wheel, so something like a shifter would need slack of like 2 feet. i hope it works :D

[THE_LEGEND_x7x]

hey mann.. .sick instructable... I have usb gamepad that I'm trying to turn into a retro arcade gamepad, with like big push buttons... But, I'm kinda electronic iliterate, soo.. I dunno if you could help me out much, cuz I don't really know what to do!... thanks bro

[turbochardged]

some web sites i use to find any electrical toy and odds&ends stuff
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/
http://www.allelectronics.com/
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/home.asp
http://www.wiringproducts.com/

[corl45]

anyone know a good place to get some microswitches, i cant find any at radioshack, could anyone point me in the direction of a website, mabey?

[InAction]

Radioshack do have them, but not just listed as microswitches. Check the links below, it's the exact ones I used. (both are the same, only difference is that one has a wheel)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049718
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049719

[corl45]

just one more question, do you think this will work? http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/SMS-228/MICROSWITCH-W/-ROLLERTIP-LEVER-SPST-N.O./-/1.html

[InAction]

The best answer would be; yes, it will. A switch is just a way to reroute the current, a microswitch is just a small one. So it's just about how it does it simply.

[corl45]

alright! thanks man!

[frosty1433]

omg it's so ghetto but it's cool.

[jayro707]

yeah kinda--GHETTO

[mainlinx]

MAN...I praise you. If it wasn't for your video at the end of this instructable, I would've never learned about frets on fire and still woulda been playing that trash freetar hero instead. A million Thank You's and now my next instructable will be to make a universal guitar for 360 and ps2 to enter in the mashup contest.

[InAction]

You're more than welcome!

[insomnios]

really good instructable.any idea how can i convert the port of the Playstation 2 controller to a USB port without having to buy a converter/adapter?send me an email.thanks.

[InAction]

You really can't, not that I know of. They use completely different signals, hence why you have to use a converter. Either you build the controller around a PS2 controller or a USB Gamepad.

[vonage]

Hey, can you give me some details on how you did your strum bar? I am making mine and have the frets done but i dont know how to make a strum bar.

[InAction]

To be honest my strum bar is just a pair of buttons - so not much of a strum bar so to say. I really can't help you with it. :/ Remember, you can improvise. All a button needs to work is + and - connecting so I think you can find some way. :)

[locofocos]

Do you still have the sticks from the PS2 controller? You can make little nub replacements for a PSP by just grinding down on pat of it.

[InAction]

I didn't have one to begin with. But yes, I still have the sticks, my PSP works fine as it is though. ;)

[locofocos]

I'm talking about doing this-

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/211/62/