USB SS Gamepad

This project remakes your memorable SS Controller (aka Saturn pad) into a usb gamepad:video_game:
Let's make a USB SS Gamepad and play retro games as well as recent games distributed on Steam.

日本語のサポートページはこっち:crossed_flags:
https://geekyfab.com/support_ss_gamepad
You can read more details there.

I also made a USB SFC(SNES) Gamepad here.

Demo

Features

In this project, I share circuit, BOM and firmware.
I will share the PCB gerber data as soon as it is ready...

You order your PCB with the gerber data, buy the materials on BOM, burn the firmware and assemble all, then you can get your USB SS Gamepad. Though you need to use a driver and a soldering iron, it is fun and worth a try.

PCB

Tested OS / hardware

• Windows 10
• Windows 11
• Raspberry PI 3
  • Raspberry Pi OS
  • Recalbox for RASPBERRY PI 3
  • RetroPi 4.7.1 for RASPBERRY PI 2/3
• Raspberry PI 4
  • Raspberry Pi OS
  • Recalbox for RASPBERRY PI 4/400
  • RetroPie 4.7.1 for RASPBERRY PI 4/400
• Retro Freak

Usage

Windows

In a Windows environment, USB SS Gamepad runs with standard driver.
You don't need to install additional drivers.

Raspberry PI OS

In a Raspberry PI OS environment, you need to install 'joystick' package like this

sudo apt install joystick

It is also good to install 'jstest-gtk' for operation test.

sudo apt install jstest-gtk

Recalbox and RetroPie

In Recalbox and RetroPie, you don't need to install 'joystick' package.
Maybe Recalbox and RetroPie install it automatically.

Manufacturing

To make a PCB you need to download the zipped gerber files and upload them to a PCB manufacturer like AllPCB.
When you order the PCB, it is better to select "gold-plating" option so that conduction between pads of the PCB and rubber buttons of your suturn pad keep well.
...Having said that, I also manufactured a "tin-plating" version and it just work in the beggining:clock1:
(I sometimes felt that the "tin-plating" version didn't response.)

Assembly

1. Remove the five screws and uncover your saturn pad.
   

2. remove the original PCB and put in the USB SS Gamepad PCB.
   

3. Cover the saturn pad and tighten the screws.
   

Author

• Takusan = GEEKY Fab.

License

The software files of "USB SS Gamepad" are under Apache license 2.0.
The hardware files of "USB SS Gamepad" are under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.