Published March 30, 2021 © LGPL

Arduino Game Controller V2

Gamepad Made from Arduino Pro Micro and Custom PCB to play all types of games, from Retro to triple-A titles.

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour11,455

Things used in this project

Hardware components

SparkFun Pro Micro - 5V/16MHz

Analog joystick (Generic)

SparkFun Pushbutton switch 12mm

Seeed Studio seeed Fusion PCB Service

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

Hey everyone what's up...

so this is my DIY Game controller

It uses an Arduino Pro Micro which runs with HID Function, this is actually the second version of my previous game controller which had buttons but this one has two joysticks.

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unlike the previous version, this one runs on the Joystick library which converts this pro micro into a proper gamepad controller...

fun fact, this controller can also run Retro games, like doom and donkey kong, by hooking it up with a Retro Pi/ or Recal Pi Setup...

more about that later.

In this Post, I'm gonna show you guys how you can build your own game controller in few easy steps so without any further ado, let's get started!

Material Required

these are the things that I used for this project-

Custom PCB
Switches
Verticle switches
Analog joystick
Pro micro
Female Header Pin

Project Preparation /PCB Planning

The Previous Joystick that I made was completely DIY, I designed its PCB layout and printed the TOP layer on glossy paper, and then etched that board by tone transfer method.

That controller did work but it had many flaws like the responding time was not good and its code was not based on the joystick library. also, it didn't have joysticks.

So to improve the Previous setup, I prepared a PCB that was similar to the old design, I added joysticks and made this cool-looking silkscreen on the board that resembles Pac man and then gave them to Seeed Studio for samples.

Getting PCBs From Seeed Studio

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For Getting PCBs, I used Seeed Studio's Service for both PCBs that are being used in this project.

Seeed Fusion PCB Service offers one-stop prototyping for PCB manufacture and PCB assembly and as a result, they produce superior quality PCBs and Fast Turnkey PCBA within 7 working days.

PCB Quality of this joystick PCB WAS SUPER!

When you prototype with Seeed Fusion, they can definitely provide Free DFA and Free functional tests for you!

Check out their website to know about their manufacturing capabilities and service.

https://www.seeedstudio.com/prototype-pcb-assembly.html

Assembly Process

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The assembly process of this board is pretty easy, we just need to add switches and joysticks to it as

this PCB doesn't have any SMD components which makes this project easy to make.

Here's the first mistake of this PCB!

I forgot to add mounting holes for the joystick in the PCB so I just drilled the holes manually with a 1.5mm drill bit.
Also, here's another mistake I did, I placed this verticle switch in an inverted position but the actual position was supposed to be this, so I drilled holes in the PCB and added the switch in the right order.

after adding the components, I soldered each of their pads and the project was pretty much completed!*

*only the hardware part, this controller needs a little software tweak.

CODE

Open the Attached Sketch file.

plug the controller to your computer
select the right board which is Arduino pro micro
select the right com port, and hit upload.
after this, open device and printer. you will see your Arduino micro with a gamepad icon.
Click on it and open its properties,
you will see the gamepad buttons layout.

Testing

Now, just press any button or move the joystick, you will see the button number which we have declared in the sketch.

There are two joysticks in this setup, one for movement and the other for X and Y. you can move the joystick and see whether the setup is working or not.

After checking each button, we can now plug this game controller into our gaming rig and start our gaming spree.

Running Games

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Now, this setup does work without any tweaks with most of the stuff like for example, I plugged this onto my Recal pi Setup to play some retro games,

I configure each key in the Recal pi settings and the controller worked without any issue.

Now, I wanted to play GTA5 with this controller, but unfortunately, it only supports the Xbox360 controller so this controller didn't work by default in GTA5...

BUT, I found this awesome x box360 emulator, because of this, I was able to connect my DIY controller with GTA5 without any hassle, I first downloaded the software and then extracted it in the GTA5 folder in C drive. after this, I opened the software and map the controller keys according to the X box 360 layout and hit save button after button mapping.

I closed this software and then open GTA5, and guess what, the controller worked without any issue.

Improvements

For improving this project, I will prepare a third PCB that will have more buttons and possibly an ESP32 board.

why esp32

well, I found this library which uses the BLE of ESP32 to connect it to any computer as an HID gamepad...

Leave a comment if you encounter any trouble!

Schematics

Code

code

#include <Gamepad.h>

int rightXcenter = 500;
int rightYcenter = 500;
int leftXcenter = 500;
int leftYcenter = 500;
double multiplierRX = 0.254; //127 / 500
double multiplierRY = 0.254;
double multiplierLX = 0.254;
double multiplierLY = 0.254;

Gamepad gp;

void setup() {

  pinMode(A0, INPUT);
  pinMode(A1, INPUT);
  pinMode(A2, INPUT);
  pinMode(A3, INPUT);
  pinMode(14,  INPUT_PULLUP); //UPPER RIGHT
  pinMode(15,  INPUT_PULLUP); //UPPER LEFT
  pinMode(1,  INPUT_PULLUP); //LEFTBUTTON
  pinMode(0,  INPUT_PULLUP); //RIGHTBUTTON
  pinMode(4,  INPUT_PULLUP); //UP
  pinMode(5,  INPUT_PULLUP); //DOWN
  pinMode(6,  INPUT_PULLUP); //LEFT
  pinMode(7,  INPUT_PULLUP); //RIGHT
  pinMode(8,  INPUT_PULLUP); //Y
  pinMode(9,  INPUT_PULLUP); //X
  pinMode(10,  INPUT_PULLUP); //A
  pinMode(16,  INPUT_PULLUP); //B  
  
  calibrate();
}

void loop() {
  int lx, ly, rx, ry;
  lx = analogRead(A3);
  ly = analogRead(A2);
  rx = analogRead(A1);
  ry = analogRead(A0);
  //we need to convert a 0-1000 to -127 - 127
  lx = floor((lx - leftXcenter) * multiplierLX);
  ly = floor((ly - leftYcenter) * multiplierLY);
  rx = floor((rx - rightXcenter) * multiplierRX);
  ry = floor((ry - rightYcenter) * multiplierRY);
  if(lx > 127) lx = 127;
  if(ly > 127) ly = 127;
  if(rx > 127) rx = 127;
  if(ry > 127) ry = 127;
  gp.setLeftXaxis(lx);
  gp.setRightXaxis(rx);
  gp.setLeftYaxis(ly);
  gp.setRightYaxis(ry);
  
  int UPLEFT, UPRIGHT, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHTBUTTON, LEFTBUTTON, X, Y, A, B;
  UPLEFT = digitalRead(14);
  UPRIGHT = digitalRead(15);
  RIGHTBUTTON = digitalRead(0);
  LEFTBUTTON = digitalRead(1);
  UP = digitalRead(4);
  DOWN = digitalRead(5);
  LEFT = digitalRead(6);
  RIGHT = digitalRead(7);
  X = digitalRead(8);
  Y = digitalRead(9);
  A = digitalRead(10);
  B = digitalRead(16);
  
      
  
  if(UPLEFT == LOW)    //
    gp.setButtonState(0, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(0, false);

  if(UPRIGHT == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(1, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(1, false);
 
  if(UP == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(2, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(2, false);

  if(DOWN == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(3, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(3, false);    

  if(LEFT == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(4, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(4, false); 

  if(RIGHT == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(5, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(5, false);     

  if(RIGHTBUTTON == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(6, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(6, false);   

  if(LEFTBUTTON == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(7, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(7, false);     

  if(X == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(8, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(8, false);

  if(Y == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(9, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(9, false);

  if(A == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(10, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(10, false);  

  if(B == LOW)
    gp.setButtonState(11, true);
  else
    gp.setButtonState(11, false);       

  delay(20);
}

void calibrate()
{
  int lx, ly, rx, ry;
  int i = 0;
  while(i < 13)
  {
    lx = analogRead(A3);
    ly = analogRead(A2);
    rx = analogRead(A1);
    ry = analogRead(A0);
    bool validLX = lx > (leftXcenter - 100) && lx < (leftXcenter + 100);
    bool validLY = ly > (leftYcenter - 100) && ly < (leftYcenter + 100);
    bool validRX = rx > (rightXcenter - 100) && rx < (rightXcenter + 100);
    bool validRY = ry > (rightYcenter - 100) && ry < (rightYcenter + 100);
    if(validLX && validLY && validRX && validRY)
    {
      i++;
      //nothing to do here!
    }
    else i = 0;
    delay(20);
  }
  leftXcenter = lx;
  leftYcenter = ly;
  rightXcenter = rx;
  rightYcenter = ry;
  multiplierLX = (double)127 / (double)lx;
  multiplierLY = (double)127 / (double)ly;
  multiplierRX = (double)127 / (double)rx;
  multiplierRY = (double)127 / (double)ry;
}

Credits

Arnov Sharma

310 projects • 310 followers

Just your average MAKER

Arduino Game Controller V2

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Material Required

Getting PCBs From Seeed Studio

Assembly Process

CODE

Testing

Running Games

Improvements

why esp32

Custom parts and enclosures

Gerber data for PCB

Schematics

sch

Code

code

Credits

Arnov Sharma

Comments

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Arduino Game Controller V2

Arduino Game Controller V2

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Material Required

Getting PCBs From Seeed Studio

Assembly Process

CODE

Testing

Running Games

Improvements

why esp32

Custom parts and enclosures

Gerber data for PCB

Schematics

sch

Code

code

Credits

Arnov Sharma

Comments

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