Build Idea: A remote control for gaming on Windows Computer for giant hands

Maybe such a build is not possible? If not, then I won't bring up the subject again.

Hi Igor,

Ben responds in a huge chunk on Mondays. Meanwhile, here are some ideas. At first glance it sounds like it should be feasible, by perhaps reusing the printed circuit board inside an existing controller but de-soldering the multi-way analog controls and maybe mounting them on a new custom PCB which would have them spaced further apart, and wires connecting back to the original PCB which would retain all the rest of the electronics.

In a similar vein, years ago I took a joystick and reused the PCB inside it but just soldered my own buttons in a custom case to suit my preferred ergonomics, to play games with a more keypad-like experience.

There could be better ways; I'm not familiar with what existing games controllers have as functionality that could be reused.

Another approach could be to implement a USB device on a microcontroller for a totally custom solution - might be more difficult.

Regarding the case, there may be several ways, e.g. 3D printing nowadays (and then sanded/polished), or some more traditional method such as carving and sanding some custom creation out of balsa and then painting :-) just as an idea. Probably Ben will have a more experienced 'tried and tested' opinion.

Custom PCBs are quite fun to get into, there is software like EAGLE that allows the design of it, and many vendors can accept the design files and manufacture a blank board with that layout for very low cost. The case may be more difficult.

Thank you for your answer Shabaz, and thank you for all the details.

I will await an answer from Ben. Maybe I'm just too excited to ask a question of Ben, I'm just such a huge fan of his work.

Me--> <--Ben

Is the original Xbox 1 controller even too small? That's the largest commercial controller I can think of.

We could certainly help you out, perhaps as a build later this year? Xbox 360 controller is much easier to work with than PS3, and can easily connect to a home PC with a cheap dongle.

Might be cool to 3D print a giant Xbox 360 controller replica!

WOW! Woot Woot! Ben replied to my post!!

I found my old xbox controller, and you are right it is bigger than the PS3 controller. But it's still too small. The ABXY buttons are still too close together, I end up smashing a few buttons at a time many many times. And the handles... or I don't know what else to call them...are too short, it's hard to hold the remote, as the bottoms of the handles poke into the middle of my palms, causing numbness after a little bit. 

I think we are missing the obvious solution to this problem, Ben needs to create new hands for you :-)

well holy crap... genius. Colecago, if I ever meet you, the beer is on me, or whatever beverage you enjoy.

P.S. Ben, I would like hands that have gadgets built right in, a can opener, corkscrew, exacto-knife, pocket knife, phillipshead and flathead screw driver tips, USB 3.0 256 Gig memory stick, and the rest...well let your creativity run wild. Maybe Colecago has good ideas.

Hello Ben. i have an update for you. This last weekend I found someone who has a few different models of PC remote controls, I tried using 3 of them, all he had, all were about as big as the PS3 controller, one was even smaller. So, I still haven't had any luck finding anything in my size.

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

you can custom make a controller like what Ben suggested or an arcade style version.

I can't make anything as I explained in the original thread. This was made as a post for a build idea for Mr Ben.