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C64 Joykey

tebl·C64-JoyKEY·C64 Joykey/C64 Joykey.kicad_pcb

C64 Joykey PCB layout, top view — open source AVR/Arduino board by tebl

About the C64 Joykey PCB

C64 Joykey is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by tebl, published on GitHub under the CERN-OHL-1.2 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 99.7 × 74.9 mm, with 61 components from 36 distinct parts.

Its main chip is the Arduino_Pro_Micro, from the AVR/Arduino family. By type, the board carries 21 resistors, 12 switches, 11 diodes, 9 jumpers, 5 modules and 2 connectors.

It belongs with the retro computing, keyboards and test & measurement designs in this gallery.

From the project

WASD-style joystick for vintage computers. With an added Arduino Pro Micro you can use it as a USB-keyboard, so if you wanted a DIY streamdeck or Macro-keyboard - then the C64 JoyKEY can do that as well.

With options to handle multiple types of systems comes complexity, you'll have to make a few decisions on what you want out of the C64 JoyKEY. Do I only want to use it as a joystick replacement on vintage systems, ideally with 2-3 fire buttons where supported? If so, then you won't need the Arduino Pro Micro.

Want to use it on a modern system as a WASD-style keyboard or a gamepad, then install it - a common use of these types of devices is as a macro-keyboard or a stream-deck. Note that compared to many similar solutions, the microcontroller is not required for use with any of the vintage…

C64 Joykey, from the project README
From the project README

Main components on the C64 Joykey

Arduino_Pro_Micro

C64 Joykey bill of materials (BOM)

61 components, 36 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.

QtyPartRefs
1
Arduino_Pro_Micro
A1
4
Mounting
M1, M2, M3, M4
1
2N3904
Q1
1
Port_1
J1
1
Port_2
J2
1
F2_POL
JP1
1
F3_POL
JP2
1
FIRE3_SEL
JP3
1
DEFAULT_FW
JP4
1
LED_SEL
JP5
1
DEFAULT_FW
JP6
1
KEY_LED
JP7
1
VCC_EN
JP8
1
ARD_EN
JP9
1
P2_FIRE1
SW1
1
P2_FIRE2
SW2
1
P2_FIRE3
SW3
1
UP
SW4
1
DOWN
SW5
1
LEFT
SW6
Show 16 more
QtyPartRefs
1
RIGHT
SW7
1
RESET
SW8
1
P1_FIRE1
SW9
1
P1_FIRE2
SW10
1
P1_FIRE3
SW11
1
P1_FIRE4
SW12
1
PWR
D1
1
1N5819
SYS
D2
1
1n5819
D3
1
1n4148
D4
7
LED
D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11
1
270
R1
1
470
270
R2
9
330
R3, R4, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 +1
9
10k
R5, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20 +1
1
1k
R13

C64 Joykey design files

The KiCad project lives in the tebl/C64-JoyKEY repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.

C64 Joykey: common questions

What microcontroller does the C64 Joykey use?

The C64 Joykey is built around the Arduino_Pro_Micro, from the AVR/Arduino family.

How big is the C64 Joykey PCB?

The C64 Joykey measures 99.7 × 74.9 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.

How many components are on the C64 Joykey?

61 components, from 36 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.

Where can I download the C64 Joykey design files?

From the tebl/C64-JoyKEY repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.

Can I use the C64 Joykey design in my own project?

Yes, under the terms of its CERN-OHL-1.2 license, which tebl chose for the repository.

Can I test firmware for the C64 Joykey without the hardware?

Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.

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