Just Wondering...

[Xilleto]

I'm making a video game console (very basic) with modded Linux for my Science Fair Project. Might sound stupid, but I'm doing it just for the hell of it. How much will I have to fork over? How much will a case cost? How does analog work? Thanks.

[timmeh87]

you mean you plan to make a video game system from scratch with basic electronic components?

'how does analog work' is far too vague a question. control sticks? video signals? audio? start here and refine your question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_signal

[Xilleto]

thanks for the wikipedia link i woulda never looked there. I want to build a controller for the demonstration including Control Sticks, Buttons, and triggers. thanks.

[timmeh87]

haha. clearly i didnt read your post before. where you said "with modded linux"

anywhoo.

controllers with analog sticks usually have a potentiometer (variable resistor) for each axis on each stick - thats two pots per stick.

a IC inside the controller converts the voltage from the variable resistor into a binary number with an analog-to-digital converter, and then sends it to the system via a serial data link (or parallel, in the case of older controllers... NES, SNES, playstation)

making one of these yourself to hook up to a computer would be no easy task.

however, hooking a few buttons up to a parallel port is quite easy (although i have no idea how to do it myself), perhaps you should just have a D-pad instead of an analog stick.

[madc0w]

You could also hook it through the game port, as that allows for analog sticks and buttons.