Ergonomic Game Controller

In early 2018, a close friend developed repetitive stress injuries in his right ulnar nerve, largely due to overuse during gaming. Traditional gamepad controllers became prohibitively painful to use, forcing him to decide between a passion and the risk of permanent injury. Luckily for him, keyboard-style controllers were beginning to become popular in the competitive meta due to their increased precision and ergonomic design. That summer, I set out to build him a custom controller that would allow him to play video games once again.

I first designed the button layout in SOLIDWORKS using ergonomics input from my friend. I built a prototype controller housing using power tools and simple materials from the hardware store. To create in-game commands, I followed a guide* that outlined the required electronics, which included an Arduino Mega and a bi-directional logic level converter. I soldered the circuitry and programmed the Arduino to complete the prototype.

*Click here to view RedDelta11’s Arduino guide

The first prototype was completed in September 2018. The controller worked beautifully, and my friend was once again able to play games without discomfort. While the controller works great at a functional level, the visual design certainly suggests it is in a prototype stage.

In early 2020 I began working on an updated version of the game controller. I hoped to address a few issues with the first prototype, namely the unsightly state the controller was in. I also envisioned a small screen on the controller that would allow the user to control lighting effects, which also had the side benefit of expanding this project to include a bit of UI design.

I designed a new version of the controller in SOLIDWORKS, continuing to use my friend’s input to guide the process. My goal is to construct this updated version using Northeastern University’s makerspaces, but the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily put a halt on progress.