Standalone with Bluetooth GamePad
I have several request previously to make a 2-Player console but things aren't as simple as enlarging the Yappy console to make it into the 2-player console. I have build a 2-player console before but it is just not acceptable as
It's flimsy structurally
The internal framework is not there
Aesthetically unpleasing
This got me thinking "Hey, why not build a just build a box that hooks up directly to the TV with Joystick attached to it" (i.e. just like PSP, XBox etc). In the early part of the month, I started on experimenting on it at about the same time as I did for the PiBoy. Instead of a wired joystick, I decided to try out the bluetooth versions to see how that would work out.
The first pair of joystick that I tried out was the Mocute. The build and design of the Mocute gamepad is nice and very pleasing. I particularly like the fact that it have the "Joystick" type as a controller versus the 4 arrow type. Also, there are 4 modes available for the controller and it being
Android
iOS
iCade
OSx
You would image that a joystick is a joystick is a joystick right? Well, not necessary so... A Joystick is NOT just a Joystick. Internally, they are all mapped differently. Example:
The "A" key might be mapped to number "1", and "B" key might be mapped to number "2", etc whereas another brand of Joystick "A" Key might map to "A" and "B" key to "B".
So, what's the issue here? We can adjust the different mode to correctly mapped it to the right key. Well, it's not as simple as that as we have the hardware mapping, and also the software mapping. Think of it as driver.... without the proper driver, the software (i.e. Jessie version 3.7) wouldn't know what to do with it. Moreover, you are trying to use 1 Joystick to work with more than 10 different types of gaming console (i.e. Xbox has it's own type of Joystick, Nintendo has it's own type of joystick etc).
Having spent countless days on trying to configure the Mocute GamePad, I then decided to try out another brand known as 8Bitdo. I got the Mocute to the point where it can play most of the games but it was still unacceptable and moreover, the software keeps thinking it's a keyboard that is connect to it and not a GamePad or Joystick.
Well, there go another 3 weeks before the 8Bitdo came and after a couple of sleepless days, I manage to get it to work the way it should. My choice of the 8Bitdo bluetooth controller is the model "zero". It is relatively smaller than the Mocute but easy to hold. There is a left and right trigger on the top of the JoyPad which is great for some of the shoot-em-up games. In the end, I decided to go with the 8Bitdo Zero.
As always, getting the standalone is just one of the many problems but the next task was the "housing" issue. How do I house this standalone and get everything to work together?
Having thought through this and putting many design onto Sketchup 3D models, I decided on this look... reminds you of something.... yes, there we go =)
The problem with using acrylic for this design is being able to bend the acrylic consistently to get this shape of mould over and over. Another thing that I have to decide was to use the 5.0mm acrylic versus the 3.0 mm mould. The diagram above on the left (i.e. black mould) is the 5.0 mm mould and right (i.e. white mould) is the 3.0 mm. The 5.0 mm actually have some weight on it which makes it pretty nice to hold but a lot hard to mould consistently. The 3.0 mm bends a lot more consistently.
Well, after some thoughts and work, I finally decide to go with the 3.0 mm. The final look of the standalone console.
