Game Controller Project

Brief

Project Title

A project to understand game controllers visual design and the code it runs on.

Project Goals

A list of objectives for completing the procedure.

Project Constraints

Focal points to ensure the proper output of craftsmanship and an engineer's best practices.

Research

Two classic controller types, both with designs that are very comfortable to the grasp. With each of my designs I wanted to make sure the grasp of the controller is both interesting as an aesthetic and very comfortable.

Idea Development and Brainstorming

Four Controller Ideas

With each of them I wanted to create a design comfortable to the grasp that I was certain I could construct, and with two of them an unconventional alignment of buttons. With the 超能力ゼロ (Supernatural Zero) you lay your fingers in a line to use each button, whereas with the 棒ゼロ(Bo Zero) sort of resembles a Wii remote being a rectangular prism, yet you control the D-Pad with your thumb and the two action buttons with your Pointer and Index fingers. The Bo Zero is the design I originally chose as the prototype.

First Draft Drawing

FINAL DRAFT DRAWING

PROTOTYPING

First Prototype Controller

With my first prototype, I actually did not advance beyond working on the electronics because I had painfully realized that the use of the wires we were originally given would not operate properly inside of a design. They tore way to easily after being bent to align parallel to the board. I started deliberating if I could possibly use just the bare copper and still cause the controller to function. Yes it can, but even there of course the wires won't stay.

(I didn't take a photo of the controller, so I drew a sketch that accurately shows the same phenomenon)

PXL_20210521_154050770.mp4

Video Of Your Controller Working

Here I play the snake game with the controller design halfway through production to reassure that the wiring was done correctly before progressing.

TESTING

Self Assessment 1

I had actually created a prototype that I did not document which only had the D-Pad. The electronics were working properly, but I needed to rethink the wiring and placement of the buttons in order to fit it within a design that fulfilled the elements of design we were striving for. I also desired for it to have an amount of buttons sufficient enough for me to actually be able to use the controller with an basic game or function on my computer. Therefore the original design lacked uniqueness and comfort in the grasp of my hands. My new goal was to both optimize on the idea that the controller could actually be used to play any game as any function controller would and fit nicely within the hands of the general user. Aka, making its genuine usability its unique vantage point at least amongst the other students.

EVALUATION

Final Model Self Assessment

At my current status my final model is incomplete. Its peak point is it's genuine usability. It has a D-Pad for arrow keys, and a button for the spacebar and the enter key, and currently a nice board behind it to make it comfortable to grasp and play. With the success in fully operating electronics, I am able to operate Youtube, Basic Games on The Internet, etc. As far as additions to the electronics, it'd be nice to have to other buttons that are easily programmable to be any key on the keyboard depending on what it is set to. That way, I'd be able to access and play more games at will.

Downfalls are of course the incompletion of the design. I actually had a packed week and failed to finish and have to take accountability for that. Issues as for the actual process, include finding different wires to use for the electronics so that they could bend to make way for the buttons to be used comfortably and not tear apart by excessive movement. Otherwise, the production went smoothly as I always enjoy dealing with electronics.

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