Ultimate Intellivision Controller

[intvnut]

BTW, if you need any sort of tweaks to jzIntv to make it easier to get raw events in there (or raw GPIO), I'm happy to help. I should probably get another RPi here I can use for development. (Right now, my main RPi is serving Spatula-City from inside an Intellivision cartridge shell.)

[mr_me]

Intellivision controller to gpio support would be great for anyone doing an ultimate flashback type thing. But you still need a way to control the front-end. Something like this; this one is for atari/genesis and nes type controllers.

https://github.com/retropie/retropie-setup/wiki/GPIO-Modules

The other thing is to quit and restart from the controller we had to create extra virtual buttons. Its okay but it would be nice if that could be taken care of in jzintv. Not a big deal since the virtual buttons work.

[+fdr4prez]

I am in the the starting phase of a project that I am going to be trying out that db9_gpio_rpi module with. It isn't an Inty based project.

 

If such a module could be made for Inty controllers, then that'd be great.

 

There are enough GPIO for both controllers, or even 4 controllers.

 

And I'd imagine that the combo button support could be added.

Edited October 29, 2016 by fdr4prez

[+intellivotion]

that is such a cool item!

 

Go ahead with it

[mr_me]

I am in the the starting phase of a project that I am going to be trying out that db9_gpio_rpi module with. It isn't an Inty based project.

 

If such a module could be made for Inty controllers, then that'd be great.

 

There are enough GPIO for both controllers, or even 4 controllers.

 

And I'd imagine that the combo button support could be added.

The source code is here, so it shouldn't be too hard to modify it for Intellivision controllers

https://github.com/imam-i/db9-gpio-rpi

 

The Raspberry Pi GPIO only has 26 pins usable for input/output. We would need 4x8=32 for four Intellivision controllers. And yes combo buttons, virtual buttons, and easter egg support can be included.

[+fdr4prez]

The source code is here, so it shouldn't be too hard to modify it for Intellivision controllers

https://github.com/imam-i/db9-gpio-rpi

 

The Raspberry Pi GPIO only has 26 pins usable for input/output. We would need 4x8=32 for four Intellivision controllers. And yes combo buttons, virtual buttons, and easter egg support can be included.

 

Yes, I miss counted. I mistakenly thought there was 28 GPIO and I mistakenly did 4x7 instead of 4x8.

 

There are 26 GPIO on the board itself, which is enough for two controllers, but the Pi can be expanded to support 64 GPIO

 

It is explained more here (or many other sites):

https://learn.adafruit.com/mcp230xx-gpio-expander-on-the-raspberry-pi/overview

 

I'd say two controllers to the board and the other two can be optionally connected with a little bit of work.

[BBWW]

I love going back and reading things I thought I had only dreamed about...to find that no indeed it was done. You folks amaze the hell out of me.

[+fdr4prez]

I've updated my first post showing my newly added Ultimate Intellivision Controller boot splash screen. My thanks goes out to Byte Knight and mthompson for helping me with this.

 

And equally important is that I've rebuilt this beast using the newly released Pi Zero W that has built in wifi, so now adding new games is very easy.

 

I continue to look for solutions for specially modified miniHDMI cable

 

One alternative is to use composite video out, but I'd have to make a circuit for the audio out. Doesn't sound too appealing, does it?

[juancho]

Looks cool. I would be happy to buy one...

[+fdr4prez]

Looks cool. I would be happy to buy one...

 

Thanks, I would gladly make them for sale, but the issue with the specially modified mini-HDMI cable that is needed is preventing me from making more.

 

The composite output doesn't look too good, either, and no audio outputs for the Pi Zero unless you use a DAC circuit

[wolfy62]

Great work FDR, I hope this project pans out for you as you planned it!

[+fdr4prez]

Thanks, Wolfy.

 

I am hoping to complete my Atari paddle project within the next month, and I have my next project in the planning stages already.

 

I'll be able to make and sell the Ultimate Atari Joystick and the Ultimate Atari Paddles, or help others make their own, but the Ultimate Intellivision Controller is a bit of a challenge.

[BigO]

This is pretty cool. Even in person.

[+fdr4prez]

This is pretty cool. Even in person.

 

Thanks, BigO

 

And there is more goodness to come later this year

[BBWW]

I really want one of these. LOL Just because. I could never build one...I'm too old and afflicted. :-)

[+fdr4prez]

I really want one of these. LOL Just because. I could never build one...I'm too old and afflicted. :-)

 

I really wish I could make the modified mini-HDMI cable en masse, otherwise I'd be selling these.

 

I will be bringing it with me to PRGE, so you can check it out. I do like showing off my unit...Just ask Tarzilla and cmart

 

I will also have my Ultimate Atari Joystick with me and if I can get the time to get my Ultimate Atari Paddles completed, then I will be bringing that, too. I just returned home from a 10-day business trip, and I've still got a fairly full plate to chew thru

[BBWW]

Showing off our units has become a right of passage at PRGE!

[+cmart604]

Lol!

[Gernot]

[donjn]

Do you do upgrades that include a composite output and audio as well? I would love to run this on my Commodore monitor. Trouble is your menu system is all widescreen.

[mr_me]

I figure composite output would squeeze the picture to 4:3.  If that's not the case, emulationstation has resolution settings.

[+fdr4prez]

12 hours ago, donjn said:

Do you do upgrades that include a composite output and audio as well? I would love to run this on my Commodore monitor. Trouble is your menu system is all widescreen.

Sorry, I am unable to build these for sale.  It uses a custom modified miniHDMI cable to allow it to fit inside the bottom of the controller.

 

But if you want to use a Pi Zero, it does have composite video pins, so you can solder in the needed pins:

 

 

But it does not have audio out.

 

For audio out, you can get it out of GPIO header and make a little circuit.  There are plenty of google hits that you can follow on how to do it.

 

So overall I would not recommend using a Pi Zero is you are interested in composite and audio outputs.

Edited July 18, 2020 by fdr4prez

[+halfiepint]

On 10/19/2016 at 9:19 PM, fdr4prez said:

Were you disappointed in those Intellivision 10 and Intellivision 25 direct to TV video game systems?

 

How could these be an Intellivision plug and play system when they don't even look like an Intellivision controller?

 

 

 

Let me introduce my Ultimate Intellivision Controller

 

Looks can be deceiving... This is not just any ordinary Inty controller. This is the ultimate Intellivision direct to TV, or plug-n-play system

 

One cable for power and one for the HDMI cable is all that I need to have my Inty ROM collection at my finger tips. But more importantly - playing using a real Intellivision controller for that genuine retro feeling.

 

The miracle of it all is hiding in the backside of the controller.

 

There is a Raspberry Pi Zero and a Raphnet adapter hiding in the recessed cavity of the controller that makes all the magic happen.

 

Everything fits in there except for the bloody mini-HDMI plug. They don't make a low profile 90-degree cable. So after a long and hard search, you can see that we had to do a special modification on one, and even then it is a tight fit.

 

I'd like to make and sell these, but due to the mini-HDMI cable issue, I fear that this may end up being the only Ultimate Intellivision Controller. I am always looking for alternatives and solutions for the video cable, so we'll see what the future may hold.

 

I do a fair bit of traveling for work, so I wanted to make a small and inexpensive system to carry with me. If you do a lot of traveling, you soon learn that you don't want to carry around too many extra things. I don't think I can get much smaller than the Inty controller itself.

 

I have been working on this for many months, and I really need to thank pimpmaul69, intvdave and mr_me for all the help they've provided in this endeavor.

 

I have two upgrades planned:

1) The clear plastic undercover needs to be rounded a bit, and the area near the side buttons should be notched in a bit, but I don't think it is that bad as it is.

 

2) I will be adding a microSD extension cable so the SD card would be accessible without disassembling the underside. With the hopeful release of many homebrew ROMs in the near future, having the SD card readily available will come in handy.

 

UPDATE (April 2017):

There is a new model of the Pi Zero, called Pi Zero W, that includes built in wifi, so I have rebuilt my Ultimate Intellivision Controller to use this new model.

 

Now it is very easy for me to add in new ROMs.

 

Also, I've added a new RetroPie splashscreen (thanks Byte Knight and mthompson)

 

 

 

oh my frigging god, do you still  do these?  Please say yes, and if so, how much does it cost?

[+fdr4prez]

6 hours ago, halfiepint said:

oh my frigging god, do you still  do these?  Please say yes, and if so, how much does it cost?

Sorry, I am not able to sell these.

 

For everything to fit within the recessed cavity under the controller, the 90-degree mini-HDMI cable needs to be custom built - or custom modified - to fit in there.

 

so unfortunately there is only one of these in existence.

[BigO]

On 11/24/2024 at 11:03 PM, fdr4prez said:

For everything to fit within the recessed cavity under the controller, the 90-degree mini-HDMI cable needs to be custom built - or custom modified - to fit in there.

Is there any chance that a custom, 3D printed controller back piece could accommodate the needed space?
Maybe a 2nd printed part as a protective cover to replace the acrylic (unless the "clear" is a feature to you).