HardLabs

GameController

jblang·GameController

GameController PCB layout, top view — open source board by jblang

About the GameController PCB

GameController is an open source PCB design by jblang, published on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board measuring 99.1 × 49.9 mm, with 53 components from 24 distinct parts.

Other key parts include the 74HCT138, 74HCT00, 74HCT541 and 74HCT257. By type, the board carries 22 diodes, 12 switches, 6 connectors, 5 ICs, 5 capacitors and 3 resistors.

It belongs with the retro computing designs in this gallery.

From the project

Game Controller interface for RC2014

This board provides a DB-9 game controller interface compatible with Atari Joysticks, Sega Genesis controllers, and ColecoVision controllers. It uses the same I/O ports as the ColecoVision so it is compatible with unmodified ColecoVision games.

This board is based on the schematics I found for the ColecoVision and its controller, linked below.

Ready-to-Assemble Kits are available on Tindie. These are sold by Michael Kamprath with my permission. However, I offer no warranty or guarantee of support.

GameController, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the GameController

74HCT13874HCT0074HCT54174HCT257

GameController bill of materials (BOM)

53 components, 24 distinct parts.

QtyPartRefs
1
74HCT138
U2
1
74HCT00
U3
2
74HCT541
U4, U5
1
74HCT257
U6
1
Conn_01x39
J1
1
BTN/CTRL
J2
1
PLAYER 1
J3
1
PLAYER 2
J4
2
SEGA/COLECO
J5, J6
1
1
SW1
1
2
SW2
1
3
SW3
1
4
SW4
1
5
SW5
1
6
SW6
1
7
SW7
1
8
SW8
1
9
SW9
1
0
SW10
1
*
SW11
Show 4 more
QtyPartRefs
1
#
SW12
22
1N4148
D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 +14
5
0.1uf
C1, C2, C3, C4, C7
3
10K
RN1, RN2, RN3

GameController design files

The KiCad project lives in the jblang/GameController repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

GameController: common questions

How big is the GameController PCB?

The GameController measures 99.1 × 49.9 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the GameController?

53 components, from 24 distinct parts. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the GameController design files?

From the jblang/GameController repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout and the schematic; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the GameController design in my own project?

The repository has no license, so all rights stay with jblang. Use it as a reference, and ask the author before reusing the design.

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