Custom Controller for FPS Games - Lecture Notes

Introduction

Presenter: Charlie Patt
Objective: Create a custom controller optimized for first-person shooters (FPS).
Motivation: Has a long-standing interest in custom controllers since childhood.
Key Goal: Combine the advantages of mouse aiming with the compactness of a gamepad.

Mouse Aiming: Offers a competitive advantage in accuracy.
Analog Stick: Difficult due to need for anticipation in acceleration/deceleration.
FPS Mechanics: Comparable to pointing and clicking an icon on the desktop.
Keyboard Limitation: Movement restricted to 8 directions.
Gamepad Benefits: More intuitive and precise movement controls.

Combining Track Ball and Gamepad: Aim with track ball; movement with analog stick.
Historical Attempts: Valve Steam controller prototypes; research paper from 2010 on similar concepts.
Current Pursuit: Questioning why such a product doesn't already exist.

Input Configuration: Maintain functionality of normal gamepad; remove right analog stick; add track ball.
Button and Scroll Wheel: Maintain left/right mouse buttons and a scroll wheel.
3D Modeling: Use Fusion 360 for placeholder inputs and physical layout adjustments.
Clay Sculpting: Ensuring comfortable hand positions and enabling access to both front and rear of the track ball.
Final Physical Model: Scan the clay model to create CAD files for 3D printing.

**Tools: Rhino 3D for mesh cleanup; Fusion 360 for precision design.
Cleaner Surfaces: Conversion to nerb surface patches for cleaner modeling.
Component Placement: Align buttons/track ball placements in digital models based on physical positions.

Goals: Wired controller; recognized as an Xbox controller and USB mouse on PC; use off-the-shelf components.
Challenges: Xbox controller PCB too large; solution is external breakout box for electronics.

Design Theme: High contrast parts; independent track ball element for intuitive design.
Button Mechanics: Calibration for precise tactile switches; various brackets and supports for internal components.

Wiring Strategy: Extension lines connecting contact points to main board via multiconductor cable.
Dryfit Testing: Successful button and track ball functionality; adjustment for button resistance and motion sensitivity.
Painting and Finishing: Primer coats and final color coating using rattle can finishing paints.
Final Assembly: Ensuring all parts fit correctly and operate smoothly.

Testing Overview: Compared standard gamepad, mouse, and custom controller using AIM Labs.
Testing Scenarios: Spread aiming, cluster aiming, and dynamic aiming.
**Results: Custom controller consistently outperformed standard gamepad but still lagged behind mouse.

Effectiveness: Custom controller demonstrated competitive performance; room for skill improvement.
Industry Implications: Potential challenges with industry adoption; blurring lines between input schemes.
Future Prospects: Custom controller beneficial for PC casting setups; glimpse into future gaming setups.