Worklog Custom GC Controller

[Aurelio]

Hello. This is a project on which I've been working for the past few weeks. It is a custom GC controller (no Nintendo components have been used).
I've implemented the whole protocol, but I've also included a couple of special features. First of all it can handle perfectly the 3DS sliders without needing any external converter. To do that it must be configured (one time only) through a custom Wii/GC homebrew that will allow to scale the range to fit perfectly the preferred sliders/sticks.
The homebrew will probably also allow to set the rumble intensity
The board is just 20.02x19.51 mm (but this is just a prototype board and the dimensions might change on the final revision).

Please notice that this project is still a WIP. As of now I only have to finish the custom homebrew, but besides that everything is working as it should

 

[bentomo]

Will you be open sourcing this?

 

[Aurelio]

Will you be open sourcing this?

Sorry, but no. I'm planning to sell this

 

[trevor403]

I guess the Homebrew would send custom signals to the PIC and then it would save the config in EEPROM?

You could always make a no config version that uses a jumper to pick between analog stick and sliders. But that isn't as cool as a configurable product.

 

[Aurelio]

I guess the Homebrew would send custom signals to the PIC and then it would save the config in EEPROM?

You could always make a no config version that uses a jumper to pick between analog stick and sliders. But that isn't as cool as a configurable product.

Yeah but why should I do that?

 

[trevor403]

Yeah but why should I do that?

Plug and play solution? But you're right it might be counter intuitive.

 

[Aurelio]

Plug and play solution? But you're right it might be counter intuitive.

Everyone that might use this will have the possibility to run the homebrew, and it has to be used one time only.
Also even if it is configured for full scale sticks, 3DS sliders would still work, they will just have a reduced range

 

[JacksonS]

This would be fantastic to use. I've always had to worry about 3DS sliders working correctly.

 

[Aurelio]

Almost done:
Sorry if the video really sucks, I had to use a crappy webcam to record it.

 

[bentomo]

Wicked sick! So did you have to do anything with the handshake between the controller and console? Or just throw the controller info back when it gets the 24 bit signal?

 

[Aurelio]

Wicked sick! So did you have to do anything with the handshake between the controller and console? Or just throw the controller info back when it gets the 24 bit signal?

It works exactly as an original GC controller, it's completely plug & play. It handles all the known commands and also can understand a custom one that allows me to set the analog ranges

 

[trevor403]

It works exactly as an original GC controller, it's completely plug & play. It handles all the known commands and also can understand a custom one that allows me to set the analog ranges

The custom commands thing seems awesome! I'll assume it sends the identifier of a first part GC controller.

 

[Aurelio]

The custom commands thing seems awesome! I'll assume it sends the identifier of a first part GC controller.

Actually is the one of a clone controller, but I think it should be the same

 

[Ratchet Russian]

Assuming this is fairly priced, I'll be buying this in an instant.
Really awesome work.

 

[Aurelio]

Assuming this is fairly priced, I'll be buying this in an instant.
Really awesome work.

Thanks. I'm trying to make it so that I can sell it at a fair price

 

[ghostavel]

Really nice work, definitely interested in one of these

 

[Aurelio]

Sorry about the vertical video. Few days ago I got in the mail the final revision of the board with rumble support. In this small video I show it rumbling when I press A+B (I was testing it with GC Controller Test).
I've got parts for a bunch of boards. They will be deeply tested to be sure that they work perfectly (so far I haven't run in any problem) and then they will be available

 

[cheese]

They will be deeply tested to be sure that they work perfectly (so far I haven't run in any problem) and then they will be available

Awesome! This is gonna be super handy for almost any portablizer!

 

[Gman]

Would it be possible to program the double-tact method into the PIC and have two pads on the board for the analog and digital tact. Both tacts would be activated with a common ground so we can use those camera buttons easily. Currently the analog pad is switched with 3.3v and the digital pad with ground. The analog pad needs a 10k pulldown resistor too. It would be convenient to eliminate all that.

 

[Aurelio]

Would it be possible to program the double-tact method into the PIC and have two pads on the board for the analog and digital tact. Both tacts would be activated with a common ground so we can use those camera buttons easily. Currently the analog pad is switched with 3.3v and the digital pad with ground. The analog pad needs a 10k pulldown resistor too. It would be convenient to eliminate all that.

Not quite. The PCB has two optional pulldown resistors for the dual tact mod, but the analog switches need to be connected to 3.3v. This has been done to keep compatibility with analog sliders