One option for a digital joystick / alternative to a D-pad

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:02 am

Although many console projects use an analogue joystick, some systems only use a D-pad.

When playing some games, like shoot-em-ups, you need to move diagonally easily, you can do it with a D-pad but it isn't that easy to get diagonals.

I had a hunch at a car boot sale I visited recently - I saw this plug and play tv game controller, haggled the seller to about Â£1 ($2) for it. The games on it are bad, however that wasn't why I really bought it.

I opened it up, and my hunch was right - the joystick on the controller has a plastic circle at the base which connects directly to the 4 contact pads (like a D-pad). This in effect is a digital joystick - 8 directions from 4 contacts.

nightwheel · Post by **nightwheel** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:30 am

Ironicly enough bacteria, I have the same pad excpet mine was from Polaroid. The camera manufacture. And mine is sliver instead of see through blue. And I too have had thoughts about using it's joystick in a simular fashion bacteria. And no complex rewiring of the joystick either.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:27 am

nightwheel - Yup, no messy wiring; and interchangeable with a D-pad!

PS - Irony is an opposite comparison with a sting in the tail - for example, Alanis Morisett's track "isn't it ironic" had no irony at all in the lyrics, the English said "ah, Americans, they still don't get irony, it is a British thing", that is ironic in itself because Alanis is Canadian!

now THAT is irony!!

Ecksem Diem · Post by **Ecksem Diem** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:30 am

bacteria wrote:nightwheel - Yup, no messy wiring; and interchangeable with a D-pad!

PS - Irony is an opposite comparison with a sting in the tail - for example, Alanis Morisett's track "isn't it ironic" had no irony at all in the lyrics, the English said "ah, Americans, they still don't get irony, it is a British thing", that is ironic in itself because Alanis is Canadian! now THAT is irony!!

:: head explodes ::

nightwheel · Post by **nightwheel** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:16 pm

bacteria wrote:nightwheel - Yup, no messy wiring; and interchangeable with a D-pad!

PS - Irony is an opposite comparison with a sting in the tail - for example, Alanis Morisett's track "isn't it ironic" had no irony at all in the lyrics, the English said "ah, Americans, they still don't get irony, it is a British thing", that is ironic in itself because Alanis is Canadian! now THAT is irony!!

Yea, I should of said: Oddly enough instead of Ironicly enough. Shouldn't of I?

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:48 pm

Sorry, I was being pedantic

PS nightwheel, love your avatar! (I like Mario).

nightwheel · Post by **nightwheel** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:53 pm

bacteria wrote:Sorry, I was being pedantic

PS nightwheel, love your avatar! (I like Mario).

Yea I thought it was time for a change.
That avatar was part of a Picture link to some site. But I saved it becasue I thought it was cool. So if you see a cool pic(check first to see if it a picture not a flash anamation). But it's used as a link to some site. Save the picture.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:08 pm

A while ago I saw an avatar of mario behind Peach "having fun" with "1up" constantly showing (you get where I am coming from), saved it as it was amusing, however it isn't appropriate as an avatar!

I have kept my logo for a couple of years now, it evolved to what it is now and is like a "brandname"; so I don't intend to change it, it has meaning and memories...

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:39 pm

Dunno if anyone remembers this, but there used to be a kit for the original Gameboy that gave it an overlay, complete with light, magnet, bigger buttons, and an "analog" stick overlay that snapped on top of the d-pad, giving it essentially the same features as this thing. It was fairly comfortable, too!

CTFan

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 12:48 am

bacteria wrote:A while ago I saw an avatar of mario behind Peach "having fun" with "1up" constantly showing (you get where I am coming from), saved it as it was amusing, however it isn't appropriate as an avatar!

I have kept my logo for a couple of years now, it evolved to what it is now and is like a "brandname"; so I don't intend to change it, it has meaning and memories...

iI have the same. Sometimes it's like a curse.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:30 am

jeroen wrote:
bacteria wrote:A while ago I saw an avatar of mario behind Peach "having fun" with "1up" constantly showing (you get where I am coming from), saved it as it was amusing, however it isn't appropriate as an avatar!

I have kept my logo for a couple of years now, it evolved to what it is now and is like a "brandname"; so I don't intend to change it, it has meaning and memories...
I have the same. Sometimes it's like a curse.

Rather off topic at the moment!

I think it a good idea to keep the same avatar on sites, people can identify with a visual reference (logo) better than a word.

Do you mean your avatar is like a "brandname" (as in instantly recognizable), in which case how did your avatar come into being? or do you mean:

(makes me smile!). Thinking about it, it is probably fine, after all someone on the site has a picture of Mario having his throat slit! If anyone doesn't like this pic I will remove it - it is fun and tongue in cheek rather than anything else.

I also like some others I have seen:

Anyway, back on topic:

Tried one of the new pic uploaders, nice and fast!!

CronoTriggerfan - in essence, it is the same thing yes, however the one from the gamepad I used looks like an analogue stick even though it isn't.

jeroen · Post by **jeroen** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:24 am

bacteria wrote:
jeroen wrote:
bacteria wrote:quote

the brandname stuff. Ontopic nice find on the joystick.

Fat D · Post by **Fat D** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:14 am

Somewhere I have seen a Wiimote extension to give it an "analog" digital stick

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:31 am

Yes, the principle is the same of course. The benefit of the one I found is that it is secured to the mobo itself, complete with the stick and housing. You can easily make one of these of course, you just make a circle slightly bigger than the D-pad connections, put a stick on it and a top from an analogue type joystick top; encase the mechanism so it doesn't slip - however it is easier if you have a pre-made one of course. I go to car boot sales most Sundays, I will look out for another one (or two) on my travels, if I can get them for a very cheap price. Handy for modding!

I remember there were a couple of threads asking how to make a joystick work for the "C" buttons on the N64 - this would do it!

nightwheel · Post by **nightwheel** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:34 am

Fat D wrote:Somewhere I have seen a Wiimote extension to give it an "analog" digital stick

That would be the Nunchuk. It a Controller attachment made by Nintendo. Because some Wii games just can't only use the Wii-mote.