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doubledown's fancy new, Intellivision - Super Pro Arcade Controller


doubledown

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11 hours ago, IntvCasey said:

That looks nice! I can’t wait to see the night stalker version! 

 

I got about 90%  - 95% of the CPO artwork done last night.  Its tough for me, as I consider myself a forger, and not an artist.  I can copy & reproduce original arcade artwork for controllers very well, but as Night Stalker wasn't an arcade game, I have no true source material, and I'm having to design the artwork from scratch.  I am taking inspiration from the game screen, and the overlay for the overall design...while keeping in line/spirit with what CPOs from the Golden Age looked like.  The artwork on the front of the game box is of course very beautiful, but that's the type of artwork that would have been on the sideart of an arcade cabinet, not the CPO.  And while I'm finishing up the artwork, I also still need to modify the joystick's actuator to lessen the dead zones, and increase its sensitivity, and the buttons that I had to order from France (can't find a U.S. seller) hopefully will be here in a week or so.  

 

11 hours ago, cmart604 said:

Very cool. Now I'm wondering about one to go with the upcoming Tron Anthology, although I guess the 4/8 way controls wouldn't be ideal

 

Tron would be great to do, as there is an arcade cabinet (different game granted) and lots of source material (and Tron and Tron: Legacy are 2 of my favorite films), but like you say, it would need a 16-way joystick.  Someday hopefully I'll get that engineering figured out.

 

11 hours ago, cmart604 said:

The black/black or black/silver. Hmmmm. 

 

My friend decided on Black/Black for his (he opted for no side storage pockets, and a 35mm ball-knob):

 

sE6ncZ.jpg

 

We both liked the Black/Silver too, but we both thought that its look was more Atari, than Intellivision...wherein the silver rotary switch knobs looked too much like the silver switches on the Atari consoles.  

 

I did order and receive a Beige/Blue enclosure, plus a Black/Black enclosure, to create a Beige/Black enclosure for the SSVA variant.  Which then got me thinking...I can also make a Intellivision II variant too.  I originally wasn't goint to do an Intellivision II variant, as I really didn't want to paint the enclosure, but then once I remembered about the availability of the factory powder-coated beige enclosures, that opened that door for an Intellivision II edition.  I'll get that enclosure machined and ready for assembly at some point here in the near future, then decide on which version I make next with it...either the SSVA or the Intellivison II.  

 

I still either need to get, or to "borrow," a Super Video Arcade unit (technically all I need the front burlwood plate/sticker) so that I can closely color match the burlwood on those consoles.  Its one console variant that neither I, nor my friend owns unfortunately. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

So I finally got an update from my French supplier for the buttons I ordered for the Night Stalker controller.  I ordered them on Feb. 21st...and they were shipped on, wait for it, March 13th...apparently they were out of stock, with zero notification.  So hopefully within a week or so I'll finally get them.  The rest of the controller is (and has been) all finished and is just waiting for me to install and wire these 4 missing buttons.  Then it will be revealed, and I gotta say, I think its gonna look/play pretty sweet.  

 

Something else I got to thinking about the other day is...should I make a custom controller for the Mattel Aquarius?  I know the wiring is very different from the INTV, but it seems doable (at least 4-way / 8-way joystick and the 6 keypad buttons, and I'm not even sure if any Aquarius game could actually use the full 16-way disk), and why shouldn't the Aquarius have an arcade stick controller too!?!  I'll have to do so more research into this, and then maybe see about getting an Aquarius and a Mini Expander to play with...who knows.  Anyone got one for sale?

 

When I get some time one of these nights after work, I still need to machine the beige enclosure for what will be the base for either a SSVA or INTV II controller.  Although I will have to order more of my PCBs for it, as I only got 3 with my initial prototype order, and they've all now been used/installed.  It just depends on how many more controllers I think I'm going to make.  At a minimum, I want to make an AD&D controller, and a SSVA and/or INTV II controller(s)...then the rest would be dependent on if anybody else wants one or not.  

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26 minutes ago, AtariBrian said:

After reading through this thread, you should have sold quite a few of your controllers as I seen many people saying they want one, or two. What happened to all of those requests??

I can only speak for myself,but as incredible as these controllers appear to me,I had to back out when I heard the price point. 

It is probably twice what I could ever justify spending on a controller on my income.

But if I had the money,he'll yeah I'd buy one!😄

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18 hours ago, doubledown said:

So I finally got an update from my French supplier for the buttons I ordered for the Night Stalker controller.  I ordered them on Feb. 21st...and they were shipped on, wait for it, March 13th...apparently they were out of stock, with zero notification.  So hopefully within a week or so I'll finally get them.  The rest of the controller is (and has been) all finished and is just waiting for me to install and wire these 4 missing buttons.  Then it will be revealed, and I gotta say, I think its gonna look/play pretty sweet.  

 

Something else I got to thinking about the other day is...should I make a custom controller for the Mattel Aquarius?  I know the wiring is very different from the INTV, but it seems doable (at least 4-way / 8-way joystick and the 6 keypad buttons, and I'm not even sure if any Aquarius game could actually use the full 16-way disk), and why shouldn't the Aquarius have an arcade stick controller too!?!  I'll have to do so more research into this, and then maybe see about getting an Aquarius and a Mini Expander to play with...who knows.  Anyone got one for sale?

 

When I get some time one of these nights after work, I still need to machine the beige enclosure for what will be the base for either a SSVA or INTV II controller.  Although I will have to order more of my PCBs for it, as I only got 3 with my initial prototype order, and they've all now been used/installed.  It just depends on how many more controllers I think I'm going to make.  At a minimum, I want to make an AD&D controller, and a SSVA and/or INTV II controller(s)...then the rest would be dependent on if anybody else wants one or not.  

Sorry I'm out of the loop I guess, but you are making a controller just for the game Night Stalker? That's pretty sweet... How is it going to differ from the regular inty disc controller? I would assume you are making it so you can run and shoot same time? 

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16 minutes ago, Rickster8 said:

Sorry I'm out of the loop I guess, but you are making a controller just for the game Night Stalker? That's pretty sweet... How is it going to differ from the regular inty disc controller? I would assume you are making it so you can run and shoot same time? 

Yes.  Because of Night Stalker's unique control scheme, which I don't find to be enjoyably playable with the original hand controllers, nor do I find it super fun to play, even with my arcade stick, (using the small keypad buttons for shooting), this custom controller will be an imagining, from the "what if world"...as in, what if Night Stalker was originally an arcade game, what control scheme might it have used.  I had originally thought about making it a twin stick controller, like one of these:

 

2wZO47.png

 

But then I thought, well in Night Stalker you're not constantly shooting with auto-fire (like in Robotron: 2084 and/or Space Dungeon), and to shoot shot after shot with a joystick, you would need to manipulate it in the direction you wanted to shoot, release to center, and then manipulate it again...which in concept I think works better with manipulating pushbuttons rather than a joystick, kind of like/how the Vanguard control panel was:

 

ELlXxa.png

 

So my build will have a 4-way joystick on the left hand side for character movement, and a full 12-button keypad with overlay frame in the center for game selections in Night Stalker & Ms. Night Stalker...which will be wired to 1 cable, to be plugged into the left controller port.  Then on the right side, there will be 4 arcade pushbuttons for shooting (similar, but different, to the Vanguard CPO pictured above), which will be wired to a 2nd cable, to be plugged into the right controller port...so that I can move and shoot simultaneously.  

 

Of course this Night Stalker controller project is not necessary, in any way, and its game compatibility is severely limited (might also be able to play Frogger with it)..., but I like arcade games, (and arcade-like games), and I like designing & building custom arcade controllers...and sometimes, I just like to treat myself!  😁

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I spent the time after work today and got the CNC machining done on the beige/almond enclosure top half, that will be used for a Sears Super Video Arcade and/or Mattel Intellivision II themed arcade controller:

 

EmZl64.png

 

I don't have any of the parts to build it yet, so its not going to be finished any time here real soon, but at least this portion of it is done, when I am ready for it.  

 

Also, when checking the tracking info on my buttons for the Night Stalker controller, they've cleared customs today and are currently in New York...so hopefully early/mid next week I should get them, and be able to finish this controller.

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3 hours ago, Steve Jones said:

not sure why but your pictures never show up for me.  using safari on a MacBook.  yours seem to be the only ones on this forum that don't work. weird

No idea.  My images are hosted on ImageShack, with their direct links copy/pasted into my posts...and not "attached" files.  Might have something to do with it...or perhaps it's big brother Apple deciding what you should or shouldn't see!  🤣

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My buttons arrived today, so here it is, my Night Stalker Edition - Enhanced Controller:

 

b8CVn6.png

 

w/ Night Stalker overlay:

 

jbkZ7t.png

 

Built into a Hammond Mfg. 14" x 8" aluminum sloped-top enclosure, which has been braced, reinforced, & weighted...and features:

 

**VVG SuzoHapp Ultimate 4-way joystick (custom actuator), w/ Cherry (ZF) microswitches, w/ 35mm Sanwa yellow ball knob

 

**VVG INTV PCB w/ Keypad (w/ C&K keyswitches, w/ red keycaps & custom legends), w/ VVG overlay frame

 

**Sanwa OBSF-24TR Triangular pushbuttons, yellow

 

**Custom Night Stalker inspired artwork CPO

 

**Twin 10' controller cable set, Cable 1 to connect to the left controller port (MOVE & SELECT functions), and Cable 2 to connect to the right controller port (SHOOT functions)...allows for simultaneous moving and shooting

 

**Rear-mounted cord cleats for cable management

 

 

So finally, 40+ years after its initial retail release, an arcade quality controller to properly play/enjoy Night Stalker with!

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4 hours ago, doubledown said:

My buttons arrived today, so here it is, my Night Stalker Edition - Enhanced Controller:

 

b8CVn6.png

 

w/ Night Stalker overlay:

 

jbkZ7t.png

 

Built into a Hammond Mfg. 14" x 8" aluminum sloped-top enclosure, which has been braced, reinforced, & weighted...and features:

 

**VVG SuzoHapp Ultimate 4-way joystick (custom actuator), w/ Cherry (ZF) microswitches, w/ 35mm Sanwa yellow ball knob

 

**VVG INTV PCB w/ Keypad (w/ C&K keyswitches, w/ red keycaps & custom legends), w/ VVG overlay frame

 

**Sanwa OBSF-24TR Triangular pushbuttons, yellow

 

**Custom Night Stalker inspired artwork CPO

 

**Twin 10' controller cable set, Cable 1 to connect to the left controller port (MOVE & SELECT functions), and Cable 2 to connect to the right controller port (SHOOT functions)...allows for simultaneous moving and shooting

 

**Rear-mounted cord cleats for cable management

 

 

So finally, 40+ years after its initial retail release, an arcade quality controller to properly play/enjoy Night Stalker with!

Wow! That is fantastic. Now I'm wondering what a Cloudy Mountain one could look like.....

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8 hours ago, cmart604 said:

Wow! That is fantastic. Now I'm wondering what a Cloudy Mountain one could look like.....

My initial thought for an AD&D: Cloudy Mountain controller, controls-wise, would be similar to the Night Stalker version, but with 8 black triangular buttons for shooting (matching the arrows on the overlay), delete the keypad and in that space (or lower), install 3 buttons (of some type/shape) for the keypad C/0/E functions.  I forgot that a Side Button is also needed for running, so I'm trying to figure out where best that might work for use in gameplay.  I assume somewhere where you're right hand would activate it (maybe right thumb activated, down/left of the arrow/shoot buttons), as your left hand would be busy manipulating the joystick, but then it could be very hard to "run" and shoot at the same time...depending on where the run button ends up.  Then artwork-wise...I've got a few ideas, but nothing started yet.  I'll play around with the AD&D layout/artwork when I have time.  Next I've got a couple of Astrocade controllers I want to make, and a few other things going on.  

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Don't know when I'll get to the 16-way joystick.  Its on the list, but down on the lower half of it right now, as I was most concerned with getting myself a quality 8-way arcade controller for my Intellivison gameplay needs.   I'll have to, at some point, order some sub-miniature and/or ultra-miniature microswitches for size/fitment testing, engineer a mount for them, and then probably modify stage 2 of my actuator for their operation.  I've got a few other projects that I want to get to first, before I attempt to finalize this design.  

 

Tron: Deadly Discs is one of the Intellivison games that can make use of all 16 directions, along with a lot of the sports games, and I'm sure there are others.  Do you have to have a 16-way controller to play it...probably depends on who you talk to.  The same goes for how "necessary" an analog joystick is for the library of 5200 games...depends on who you talk to.    

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  • 1 year later...

Cool controller. What do you think of the idea of making one that can also house the Intellivision I or II board itself, making it an all in one type of thing? 

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3 hours ago, 7800 said:

Cool controller. What do you think of the idea of making one that can also house the Intellivision I or II board itself, making it an all in one type of thing? 

I suppose its possible, but its just not something that I would be interested in.  

 

52 minutes ago, donjn said:

Great work. It pains me that no one has made a small USB Intellivision controller.

Intellivision consoles don't have USB ports!  😁 But, assuming you're referring to something for emulation (which is evil)...there are INTV to USB adapters sold...for such a purpose.  

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7 minutes ago, doubledown said:

I suppose its possible, but its just not something that I would be interested in.  

 

Intellivision consoles don't have USB ports!  😁 But, assuming you're referring to something for emulation (which is evil)...there are INTV to USB adapters sold...for such a purpose.  

Well yes. I am waiting for Atari to make an Intellivision + console!

Intellivision is the hardest system to play right now. There are a million ways to play Atari right now.
I don't have old TVs or CRTs, so options are very limited.
Those adapters you mentioned are not being made anymore except for Retrosonic, and those don't play nice with Mister FPGA.

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22 minutes ago, donjn said:

Well yes. I am waiting for Atari to make an Intellivision + console!

Intellivision is the hardest system to play right now. There are a million ways to play Atari right now.
I don't have old TVs or CRTs, so options are very limited.
Those adapters you mentioned are not being made anymore except for Retrosonic, and those don't play nice with Mister FPGA.

There's definitely a possibility for an INTV+...timeline...who knows, but I can see it making its way to shelves...the Intellivison Flashback was already a thing once upon a time.

 

As a strong proponent of "hardware", myself...I really don't deal with any emulation at all...personally.  Obviously with tons of old Intellivision consoles around, and for sale, the console probably wouldn't be an issue, but your tv may be...as it would need to have an analog tuner to accept the native RF output, or you would need some sort of converter/device that can convert the RF to some input that your tv/monitor has.  Of course there are lots of ways to do this...depending on your budget, and passion for the console.  I have 5 or 6 CRTs, and probably 5 or 6 older LCD tvs, all with multiple analog input options so I can play anything natively, as I want, but I understand that not everybody has the necessary room for such things.  

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2 minutes ago, fdr4prez said:

Send Raphael an email. 

Meh, not sure if I am going to be using overlays anyways.
I need reading glasses for anything close and having to need them to look down but not up at screen might be an issue.
I will email him and see however.

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