[NintendoSwitch-FanProject] Crazy idea

[Vrafter21]

HELLO RetroPie, Iam Vrafter ^__^
I am new here" im just for some general tips for this new project that im starting on school.

So i (probably foolish) decided to make a Nintendo (sort of) Switch for a final School project.

And i decided to make a: Portable Console/Emulator with Detachable Controllers just like (You gueesed the Switch)

Not exactly like the Switch tho, it Wont need the dock, just a Display/Screen, the detachable (from the screen) inputs and It be able to run SNES Games.

My Teacher told me that it was an idea worth, But it would be hard.
I've done some research and saw some vids. I think it would be best to use a Raspberry Pi Zero, and a Tontec 7' inch but i probably way off on somethings that im dreaming, for example how the heck am i gonna do the audio :(

So if You guys could give me a rough guide and some tips I Would be extremly Happy!

[-Thanks! And sorry for my bad english-]

[DarkWolf]

@Vrafter21 Sounds like a awesome project!
But you will need some things though (for e.g.):

• Rasberry
• Display
• Small controller parts (generic)
• Some speakers (I guess using the audio jack would be the easiest)
• Akku
• Solder skills
• Cabels
• Materiall for the case and the things to produce it
  and some more stuff

Oh and there are quit a few projects like this out there, so keep an eye out and search this forum and youtube for some video materiall

[lilbud]

I wanna see how you will get the detachable controllers to work

[mediamogul]

@lilbud

I wanna see how you will get the detachable controllers to work

I was brainstorming with someone here a few months ago about a similar project. From the software side of things, I suggested that two sets of joystick configurations could exist for all the emulators and be scripted to switch places when the controllers are slid into place with a low-profile toggle button residing in the sliding track. That way the wireless controllers could exist as a single set of player one controls when attached and separate into two player controls when detached. Of course there are going to be many ways to approach all this, which makes it a great project to mull over. I hope you continue with this and keep us updated @Vrafter21.

[Capeman]

Here's how you do the controllers so they can be separate. Put an Adafruit Bluefruit EZ-Key into each one and set your controls to keyboard input.

The EZ-Key has 12 inputs that correspond to keyboard buttons. In the retropie configs, set the directionals, start and left shoulder button to A,B,C,D, E and F for example. Then set the action buttons, select and right shoulder to G,H,I,J, K & L on the keyboard (obviously the defaults on the bluefruit will be different, but you get the idea).

When you connect both bluefruit EZ Key's via bluetooth, each will act as a keyboard with the exact same inputs, but you will have half of each one set to different controls, so you can install each one on a separate side and use both at once in separate hands and still have the inputs work.

Only issue is both will have to be powered on to work no matter what. But still, its a neat conceptual idea.

https://www.adafruit.com/product/1535

[backstander]

You could probably make a pretty cool case if you have access to a 3D printer.

I don't know if the Joycon's work with RetroPie but I've seen some great 3D printer projects here:
http://www.thingiverse.com/search/page:1?q=joycon

[mediamogul]

@Capeman

That's a great idea. Once separated, software like RetroArch and the like would still need to have their control schemes altered on the fly so that the unified player one setup could then become a separate two player setup, but all that could be handled with some light scripting.

@backstander

You could probably make a pretty cool case if you have access to a 3D printer.

I wouldn't be surprised if the files don't already exist to print the case components. Still, it would be much more fun to design it yourself and add some personal touches.

[backstander]

@mediamogul

Still, it would be much more fun to design it yourself and add some personal touches.

...and then upload your designs to Thingiverse lol

[obsidianspider]

Why not just have the controllers be connected via Bluetooth all the time, and just powering them/recharging their batteries when docked? It solves the connect/disconnect issue.

[mediamogul]

@obsidianspider

Why not just have the controllers be connected via Bluetooth all the time

That's what I originally had in mind myself and then map the controls to keyboard keys in order to make them behave reliably when switched between unified and separate player control schemes. @Capeman's idea is particularly keen as it seems to handle both in one available product.

[Vrafter21]

THANK You so much for all these answer!!
Right now I'm thinking of this:: { http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/graphics-display-development-kits/8997466/ } Since it's not that expensive (for Them to pay xD) and seem like The Best Starting point for what I'm trying to do!

@lilbud * Me too xD..

@DarkWolf Ok..Ok I Think the case parts im Probably gonna need some 3D print, thankfully that's not a problem..

• I would like to ask you what you mean by "generic small controller parts" you mean like rubber buttons and that kind of shit?
• Could you specify what is the Akku component you've talked about?

@obsidianspider

• I Agree with you.. In fact I suggest that the joy-cons be always Bluetooth powered, the Attach and Detach would be just a mechanism to hold the controllers still... It's easier like this XD

@Capeman * For the controllers I'm just going to place A and B Buttons (more like the original nes) and a D-Pad and then Tweak/Map it to work with some games.

• Putting a small batterie on each "joy-con" would be the easiest best for me even if it only last for 20 minutes, The idea of using a Bluetooth is probably the best one.
• 1 Question how exactly can I make the Adafruit EZ-Key on each Joy compatable with the central core Raspberry Pi Zero.. Will I need to do some tweaking, exactly what.. Is the Adafruit the simplest and easiest way to make this? :/ Am I just making dumb questions?
• Some have suggested already that 2 Arduino NANO would do the trick that for the Joys...So I guess that's an option too.

@backstander

• It would definitely made my life easier And Less time-consuming to just 3D print something from the WWW but I really don't have an exact idea of how shaped and structured of the controllers will be so.. Yeah.

[DarkWolf]

@Vrafter21

I would like to ask you what you mean by "generic small controller parts" you mean like rubber buttons and that kind of shit?

That was quit an overkill right there, so, ähm... Yeah, I mean just use some smaller controller parts so it doesn't look wierd :'D

---

Could you specify what is the Akku component you've talked about?

The console should be portable right? So you will need some kind of power supply which would be a rechargeable battery pack (huh, forgot that there are some different words, I guess, I'm from germany)

[Vrafter21]

@DarkWolf

That was quit an overkill right there, so, ähm... Yeah, I mean just use some smaller controller parts so it doesn't look wierd :'D

The console should be portable right? So you will need some kind of power supply which would be a rechargeable battery pack (huh, forgot that there are some different words, I guess, I'm from germany)
--

• Yeah! I think for the controller parts I need to figure what exactly am I going to use As a Bluetooth, power supply and core chip which I almost have no idea....
  Do you have any deeper suggestion on that (controller) matter?

• As for the power supply I think Maybe simply get the power from a computer when connected through a cable through the Raspberry would best (sacrificing the portability of course)..
  -Maybe a regular old 9V batterie would be enough, no?? I'm seriously asking right now!??

[johnhenry]

@Vrafter21 said in [NintendoSwitch-FanProject] Crazy idea:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/graphics-display-development-kits/8997466/

I'm working on a very similar project using a a Pi3 instead of a Zero.
I'm using this screen:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013JECYF2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and this battery pack:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VT2Y59H/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I initially tried a Zero and another screen, but these parts all fit together really nicely :) (though i'll have to re-arrange them/shave them down once I'm ready to put them into a case).

The main issue that I'm trying to solve is with the controllers:
I initially wanted to use a pair of these:
https://www.amazon.com/8Bitdo-Wireless-Bluetooth-Controller-Indicator/dp/B01N9DQXTL/ref=sr_1_2?srs=9176188011&ie=UTF8&qid=1493938675&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+bluetooth,
but that particular brand has some issue connecting to RetroPie. So I "bit the bullet" and bought a set of official JoyCons. They connect fine, but combining them into a single controller is turning out to be harder than I i initially thought. (https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/5867/trying-to-make-two-bluetooth-controllers-act-as-player-1/5)

Once I figure that out, I'm looking into building my own bluetooth controllers according to the tutorial here: https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-bluetooth-gamepad?embeds=allow

Good luck! Hope to see it when you're done!

[Vrafter21]

@johnhenry
Hey! Thanks for your input!!

The rearrangements and shave-ments will be a real bummer to me.. I think I will probably just leave it like that (Unfortunately) xP

• So I found this Li-ion Power Bank [PB-B28] Slightly less powerful than your Kuman.. 1A, 5V dc, 2200mAh ..What do you think?

• As for the NightmareCons'' Could you kindly further explain what are your exactly thoughts and How exactly will you use the Adafruit Pieces to put everything together, besides that tutorial-website of course?

• • And BTW @johnhenry , How Different would this controller setup be if I Just made the controllers wired, (I mean in terms of parts) ?

Thanks in advance Dude!

[Vrafter21]

@DarkWolf said in [NintendoSwitch-FanProject] Crazy idea:

@Vrafter21 Sounds like a awesome project!
But you will need some things though (for e.g.):
... ... ... ...

• Some speakers (I guess using the audio jack would be the easiest)
• Cabels

When you talk about "Cabels" you simply mean 'some Copper Cabels' right? ( Just to get that out of the way :)

As for the Audio Jack you've suggested, Could you give some insights on how could I sneak it up on a Raspberry pi zero (specifically) and what would the Pieces and solder skills needed.

Thanks, in advance btw!!

[DarkWolf]

@Vrafter21
Yes, "cables" just means some cabels, haha
The solder skills and the cables are for moving some of the ports to the side of the case (I never looked at the Pi Zero, now noticed that it hasn't got any ports to move) if you're using a pi (that is not a zero)...

There is a tutorial for a speaker using raspberry pi zero, you could change it (I don't know if retropie supports gpio sound output)
https://www.hackster.io/fvdbosch/raspberry-pi-zero-airplay-speaker-d99feb
(The problem here could be the pHat board)

And as you're using a larger touchscreen I woud recommend using a raspberry pi 3 and unsolder some ports you don't need to save some space

[Vrafter21]

@DarkWolf
Alright im looking into it....

Just a another quick question what if I would just use a Jack audio Port and then link it up to a Sound column?
-- How could i Solder-that-up on the raspberry zero ( If even possible!? )