Recreating the Analog controller -w- current parts

[woodentulip]

I drew the schematic for the Breadboarded version of a replacement Analog Vectrex compatible controller.

I also will be including a followup post with the Youtube Videos for the same.

I have an origional controller but do not wish to mess with the cable since it is all origional and the Coil-ly Cables had a nasty tendency of getting crimped and shredded by being inadvertently being caught when the controller was being stowed.

Mine has always had this issue, but I created a Sega Genesis compatible circuit board analog controller about 14 years ago for a friend of mine. (Used the Radio Shack TRS-80/CoCo Analog Joystick and sega bits, and some PVC plastic re-work to make it all fit together.) I used this for a period of time, the joystick did not auto-re-center, and it worked in a basic format. I gave it to my friend since his Vectrex had No Controller at all.

Knowing that there was good schematics and manuals, and that I did not wish to mess with the origional controller, and I had the Arduino Student Kit (with included Breadboard...) I decided to wire up one of my own.

I found out that the PS1 Dual-Shock analog controller (PS1, PS2, PS3 inclusive) all use a COMPATIBLE 10kOhm Analog joystick.

Great! I used it and figured out the anomalies with hooking it up to the vectrex, and didn't blow anything up.

The Videos show both the breadboarded version and the "Handheld" version with the plastic enclosure and bigger buttons.

I still need to scavenge another Genesis Cable, but that is looking pretty feasable too.

I tried attaching the schematic, it is my hand-drawing and it is Creative Commons attribution compatible.
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-sean

Attachments:

[woodentulip]

In Case anyone is wondering what [P5] switch is, this is the switch contained in the PS1 Analog stick. This is then jumpered as an {OR} connection to allow the joystick to be used as a "fire" button. (or Trans-Warp in Minestorm...) To any of the 4 standard buttons.

-sean

[TrekMD]

Cool! Looks like that took you a bit of time to do!

[woodentulip]

As Promised, the video links for the Bread Boarding project.

youtu.be/nSNKn7iKWXM --- Vectrex SpinBall with old Controller vs new Controller

youtu.be/kiOlPO5JTu0 --- Vectrex PS1 Analog Breadboard

youtu.be/GjRkMssgEOw --- Vectrex PS1 Analog Controller HammondBox II

youtu.be/H9yW-xTNQks --- Vectrex PS1 Analog Controller HammondBox I

youtu.be/D9WM1B0WLeg --- Vectrex Game Scramble with BreadBoard Controller

-sean

[woodentulip]

Indeed TechMD.

When I was prototyping it was sooo fun to feel the dissapointment that I was "That Close" to getting the circuit completed. I was missing only one 4.7kOhm resistor.

As it was, I needed to get really good quality 10kOhm trim-pots since the one I had from the Arduino Student Kit was -- in a word: JUNK.

-sean

[krupkaj]

Hi,

I also would like to build new controller. I am not sure what layout of buttons I should use. The box I have is not big enough to hold the buttons in the row as in the original controller. I see you have buttons in square shape. But there is so much possibilities. For example:


1  2
3  4

or

1  3
2  4

or

 1
2   3
 4



What do you think? Which shape suits the Vectrex games best?

[xefned]

In the case of Mine Storm, I'd say

1     2
3     4

I'm still hoping to find a suitable enclosure wide enough to put the buttons in a row. Probably reflects my inability to commit to an alternate scheme.