Fancy Joystick for Atari 2600, Commodore 64, VIC-20, 128...

Using an analog joystick and Arduino Nano to create a fancy joystick for Atari 2600, Commodore 64, VIC-20, 128...

Nov 10, 2022

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Components and supplies

D Sub Connector, DB9

Modulo Joystick

Arduino Nano R3

General Purpose Transistor NPN

Slide Switch

Pushbutton Switch, Momentary

Project description

Code

Arduino code

arduino

I tried to make the code as clear as possible. I also opted for not optimizing the code, leaving it easier to read and understand.

1/**********************************************************************************************************
2  * 
3 * ARDUINO BASED, ATARI 2600 COMPATIBLE JOYSTICK - SUITABLE FOR COMMODORE  64 & VIC-20 (TESTED ON C=64)
4 * 
5 * Schematics:
6 * 
7 *-------------------------------------------|
8  * Joystick port [1] | Arduino Nano/Uno/etc. |
9 * ----------------- | ---------------------  |
10 *    1 up         [NPN]   D2                | [NPN] means one NPN transistor  like BC547 (see below)
11 *    2 down       [NPN]   D4                |
12 *    3  left       [NPN]   D6                |
13 *    4 right      [NPN]   D8                |
14  *    5 paddle Y     |    (Not Connected)    |
15 *    6 fire       [NPN]   D10               |
16 *    7 +5v 100mA    |     +5V               |
17 *    8 GND          |     GND               |
18 *    9 paddle X     |    (Not Connected)    |
19 *                   |                       |
20 * Analog Joystick   |                       |
21 *   (movement)      |                       |
22 *  ----------------- |                       |
23 *     Y axis        |     A0                |
24  *     X axis        |     A1                |
25 *     Switch        |    (Not  Connected [2])|
26 *     +5V           |     +5V               |
27 *     GND           |     GND               |
28 *                   |                       |
29  * Momentary switch  |                       |
30 *  (fire button)    |                       |
31  * ----------------- |                       |
32 *     1             |     A2                |
33  *     2             |     GND               |
34 *                   |                       |
35  * switch 2 way [3]  |                       |
36 * (autofire on/off) |                       |
37  * ----------------- |                       |
38 *     1             |     D12               |
39 *    COM            |     GND               |
40 *     2             |    (Not Connected)    |
41 *-------------------------------------------|
42 *
43  * Notes
44 * [1]: DON'T CONNECT THE JOYSTICK PORT DIRECTLY TO THE ARDUINO PINS  (EXCEPT FOR +5V AND GND)!!!! 
45 *      Every connection (up, down, left, right,  fire) is driven by an NPN transistor (see below)  
46 * 
47 * [2]: at first I  connected the analog joystick switch to the other switch, parallel, So there were  
48 *      two switches doing the same thing. Ufortunately it didn't work fine  for me: it often had 
49 *       strange behaviors and returned wrong values to  Arduino, so I decided to leave it unconnected.
50 *       
51 * [3]: if you don't  need an autofire switch, simply doesn't connect any switch and the autofire 
52  *      will be disable by default 
53 *      
54 * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     
55 * 
56 * You can't connect the joystick port directly to Arduino, it doesn't  work. You need to drive it 
57 * using an NPN transistor (I used five BC547) connecting  it as shown here. 
58 * Note: you must to replicate it for every connection between  the joystick port and Arduino;
59 *       it means you will need 5 BC547 transistors  (2N3904 should be ok too, but I didn't test them)
60 * 
61 *                                         NPN  transistor
62 *                                               
63 * Commodore  64 Joystick pin 1 (UP) ---- ----C-.   .-E-->  -------- GND
64 *                                              \ /
65 *                                             --B--
66 *                                               |
67  *  Arduino pin D2 ------------------------------+
68 *       
69 *      
70 *********************************************************************************************************/
71
72//defining  where any input and output is connected on the Arduino pins
73
74//analog ports  for the analog joystick and the fire button
75#define JOY_Y  A1  
76#define JOY_X  A0
77#define JOY_B  A3
78
79//autofire switch (optional)
80#define JOY_AUTOFIRE  D12
81
82//digital output, to the C=64 joystick port (through transistor)
83#define  JOY_UP     D2
84#define JOY_DOWN   D4
85#define JOY_LEFT   D6
86#define JOY_RIGHT  D8
87#define JOY_FIRE   D10
88
89int joy_x_value = 0;
90int joy_y_value =  0;
91int joy_b_value = 0;
92
93int internalledstatus = 0;  //this is just for  the Arduino onboard LED (that will blink at every movement of fire)
94
95//declaring  the threshold as int value (instead of a #define constant) so we can add a calibration  function later
96//these values are the thresholds for the X and Y values and the  button. You can change them in case your
97//joystick doesn't work in some position  or the axis or the button activate too soon.
98//in the setup() and loop() function  there are some code lines you can activate to read these values
99//using the serial  monitor. Search for "CALIBRATE" inside this code
100int joy_x_l_ths = 600;  //low  X threshold
101int joy_x_h_ths = 4000; //high X threshold
102int joy_y_l_ths =  600;  //low  Y threshold
103int joy_y_h_ths = 4000; //high Y threshold
104int joy_b_l_ths  = 10;  //analog button threshold
105
106//autofire variables
107float autofiredelay  = millis();
108bool autofiretoggle = false;
109int  autofirespeed  = 50; //millisec
110
111
112//===================================================================================================================================================
113
114void  setup() { 
115
116  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);      //setting the Arduino LED  as an output
117  
118  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   //switching the Arduino  LED on 
119  delay(4000); //before to do anything, just wait some time for the Commodore  64 / VIC-20 boot sequence (without it, the C=64 doesn't boot if the autofire is  on... strange...)  
120  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);  //switching the Arduino  LED off so we know when the joystick starts to work
121    
122  pinMode(JOY_AUTOFIRE,  INPUT_PULLUP);  //the autofire switch 
123
124  //declaring the output pins
125  pinMode(JOY_UP     ,OUTPUT);  
126  pinMode(JOY_DOWN   ,OUTPUT);
127  pinMode(JOY_LEFT   ,OUTPUT);
128  pinMode(JOY_RIGHT  ,OUTPUT);
129  pinMode(JOY_FIRE   ,OUTPUT);
130
131
132  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
133  //CALIBRATE - activate the following lines, compile and run the Serial Monitor  from inside the Arduino IDE (menu Tools -> Serial Monitor or Ctrl+Shift+M)
134  //Note:  if the Serial Monitor doesn't work (shows garbage, etc.) check the serial speed  in the Serial Monitor is set to 115200 
135  /*
136  Serial.begin(115200);   
137  Serial.println("Start --- ");
138  */
139  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/-  
140}
141
142//===================================================================================================================================================
143
144void  loop() {
145
146  //reading the analog values from the joystick axis and the button
147  joy_x_value = analogRead(JOY_X);
148  joy_y_value = analogRead(JOY_Y);
149  joy_b_value  = analogRead(JOY_B);  
150
151  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
152  //CALIBRATE - activate the following lines, compile and run the Serial Monitor  from inside the Arduino IDE (menu Tools -> Serial Monitor or Ctrl+Shift+M)
153  //Note:  if the Serial Monitor doesn't work (shows garbage, etc.) check the serial speed  in the Serial Monitor is set to 115200 
154  /*  
155  Serial.print("-- joy_x_value  = "); Serial.print(joy_x_value); 
156  Serial.print("-- joy_y_value = "); Serial.print(joy_y_value);  
157  Serial.print("-- joy_b_value = "); Serial.print(joy_b_value); 
158  Serial.println("");
159  delay(100);  
160  */
161  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/-
162
163  
164  
165  //reset the internal led status. It starts with a zero value that  will be incremented at any joystick movement or fire.
166  //at the end of the loop  function, if the value is >0 we will switch the internal led on.
167  //NOTE: the  internal led is only used as feedback to know the joystick is working.
168  internalledstatus  = 0;  
169
170  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
171  //fire button.  
172
173  //-autofire OFF - begin --------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
174  if (digitalRead(JOY_AUTOFIRE) == HIGH) {  
175     //if the autofire is off, we  just fire if the button is pressed.
176     if (joy_b_value < joy_b_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,HIGH) ; internalledstatus++; }   
177     else                           { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW); }         
178  }
179  //-autofire OFF - end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------/-
180
181  //-autofire ON  - begin --------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
182  else { 
183        
184     if (joy_b_value >=joy_b_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW); autofiretoggle = false; }  //the button is not pressed. 
185     
186     else  {  //fire button pressed  -- //sequence: ON - 50 millisec - OFF - 50 millisec -  ON
187                
188          if (!autofiretoggle) {
189            if (autofiredelay  + autofirespeed < millis()) {  //at least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from  the last change of status (ON to OFF). Time to switch ON
190                autofiretoggle  = true;             //at least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last  change of status (was ON to OFF). Time to toggle the switch ON
191                autofiredelay  = millis();          //resetting the milliseconds counter
192                { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,HIGH);   internalledstatus++;  }   //fire ON!
193            }           
194          }
195          else {
196          if (autofiredelay + autofirespeed < millis()) {   //at  least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last change of status (OFF to  ON). Time to switch OFF
197                autofiretoggle = false;           //at  least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last change of status (was OFF  to ON). Time to toggle the switch OFF 
198                autofiredelay = millis();         //resetting the milliseconds counter
199                { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW);  }                           //fire OFF!
200            }
201        }               
202     }    
203  }
204  //-autofire ON  - end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------/-
205  
206  
207  if (joy_y_value < joy_y_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_DOWN ,HIGH); internalledstatus++;  } else { digitalWrite(JOY_DOWN ,LOW); }  //the Y value is below the lower  Y threshold,  activating the DOWN  movement  
208  if (joy_y_value > joy_y_h_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_UP   ,HIGH); internalledstatus++; } else { digitalWrite(JOY_UP   ,LOW); }  //the Y  value is above the higher Y threshold, activating the UP    movement
209  
210  if  (joy_x_value > joy_x_h_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_RIGHT,HIGH); internalledstatus++;  } else { digitalWrite(JOY_RIGHT,LOW); }  //the X value is below the lower  X threshold,  activating the RIGHT movement
211  if (joy_x_value < joy_x_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_LEFT  ,HIGH); internalledstatus++; } else { digitalWrite(JOY_LEFT ,LOW); }  //the X value  is above the higher X threshold, activating the LEFT  movement   
212
213
214  //if  you don't want the internal led blinks, just comment the following line.
215  if  (internalledstatus > 0)   digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); else digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN,  LOW);   //activating the Arduino internal LED if there was some movement / fire
216  
217
218  delay(50); //some little delay. You can try to remove it and test in  your own environment; but in my case the joystick seems to work better (the C=64  is quite slow compared with an Arduino...)
219  
220}
221

/**********************************************************************************************************
  * 
 * ARDUINO BASED, ATARI 2600 COMPATIBLE JOYSTICK - SUITABLE FOR COMMODORE  64 & VIC-20 (TESTED ON C=64)
 * 
 * Schematics:
 * 
 *-------------------------------------------|
  * Joystick port [1] | Arduino Nano/Uno/etc. |
 * ----------------- | ---------------------  |
 *    1 up         [NPN]   D2                | [NPN] means one NPN transistor  like BC547 (see below)
 *    2 down       [NPN]   D4                |
 *    3  left       [NPN]   D6                |
 *    4 right      [NPN]   D8                |
  *    5 paddle Y     |    (Not Connected)    |
 *    6 fire       [NPN]   D10               |
 *    7 +5v 100mA    |     +5V               |
 *    8 GND          |     GND               |
 *    9 paddle X     |    (Not Connected)    |
 *                   |                       |
 * Analog Joystick   |                       |
 *   (movement)      |                       |
 *  ----------------- |                       |
 *     Y axis        |     A0                |
  *     X axis        |     A1                |
 *     Switch        |    (Not  Connected [2])|
 *     +5V           |     +5V               |
 *     GND           |     GND               |
 *                   |                       |
  * Momentary switch  |                       |
 *  (fire button)    |                       |
  * ----------------- |                       |
 *     1             |     A2                |
  *     2             |     GND               |
 *                   |                       |
  * switch 2 way [3]  |                       |
 * (autofire on/off) |                       |
  * ----------------- |                       |
 *     1             |     D12               |
 *    COM            |     GND               |
 *     2             |    (Not Connected)    |
 *-------------------------------------------|
 *
  * Notes
 * [1]: DON'T CONNECT THE JOYSTICK PORT DIRECTLY TO THE ARDUINO PINS  (EXCEPT FOR +5V AND GND)!!!! 
 *      Every connection (up, down, left, right,  fire) is driven by an NPN transistor (see below)  
 * 
 * [2]: at first I  connected the analog joystick switch to the other switch, parallel, So there were  
 *      two switches doing the same thing. Ufortunately it didn't work fine  for me: it often had 
 *       strange behaviors and returned wrong values to  Arduino, so I decided to leave it unconnected.
 *       
 * [3]: if you don't  need an autofire switch, simply doesn't connect any switch and the autofire 
  *      will be disable by default 
 *      
 * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     
 * 
 * You can't connect the joystick port directly to Arduino, it doesn't  work. You need to drive it 
 * using an NPN transistor (I used five BC547) connecting  it as shown here. 
 * Note: you must to replicate it for every connection between  the joystick port and Arduino;
 *       it means you will need 5 BC547 transistors  (2N3904 should be ok too, but I didn't test them)
 * 
 *                                         NPN  transistor
 *                                               
 * Commodore  64 Joystick pin 1 (UP) ---- ----C-.   .-E-->  -------- GND
 *                                              \ /
 *                                             --B--
 *                                               |
  *  Arduino pin D2 ------------------------------+
 *       
 *      
 *********************************************************************************************************/

//defining  where any input and output is connected on the Arduino pins

//analog ports  for the analog joystick and the fire button
#define JOY_Y  A1  
#define JOY_X  A0
#define JOY_B  A3

//autofire switch (optional)
#define JOY_AUTOFIRE  D12

//digital output, to the C=64 joystick port (through transistor)
#define  JOY_UP     D2
#define JOY_DOWN   D4
#define JOY_LEFT   D6
#define JOY_RIGHT  D8
#define JOY_FIRE   D10

int joy_x_value = 0;
int joy_y_value =  0;
int joy_b_value = 0;

int internalledstatus = 0;  //this is just for  the Arduino onboard LED (that will blink at every movement of fire)

//declaring  the threshold as int value (instead of a #define constant) so we can add a calibration  function later
//these values are the thresholds for the X and Y values and the  button. You can change them in case your
//joystick doesn't work in some position  or the axis or the button activate too soon.
//in the setup() and loop() function  there are some code lines you can activate to read these values
//using the serial  monitor. Search for "CALIBRATE" inside this code
int joy_x_l_ths = 600;  //low  X threshold
int joy_x_h_ths = 4000; //high X threshold
int joy_y_l_ths =  600;  //low  Y threshold
int joy_y_h_ths = 4000; //high Y threshold
int joy_b_l_ths  = 10;  //analog button threshold

//autofire variables
float autofiredelay  = millis();
bool autofiretoggle = false;
int  autofirespeed  = 50; //millisec


//===================================================================================================================================================

void  setup() { 

  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);      //setting the Arduino LED  as an output
  
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   //switching the Arduino  LED on 
  delay(4000); //before to do anything, just wait some time for the Commodore  64 / VIC-20 boot sequence (without it, the C=64 doesn't boot if the autofire is  on... strange...)  
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);  //switching the Arduino  LED off so we know when the joystick starts to work
    
  pinMode(JOY_AUTOFIRE,  INPUT_PULLUP);  //the autofire switch 

  //declaring the output pins
  pinMode(JOY_UP     ,OUTPUT);  
  pinMode(JOY_DOWN   ,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(JOY_LEFT   ,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(JOY_RIGHT  ,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(JOY_FIRE   ,OUTPUT);


  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
  //CALIBRATE - activate the following lines, compile and run the Serial Monitor  from inside the Arduino IDE (menu Tools -> Serial Monitor or Ctrl+Shift+M)
  //Note:  if the Serial Monitor doesn't work (shows garbage, etc.) check the serial speed  in the Serial Monitor is set to 115200 
  /*
  Serial.begin(115200);   
  Serial.println("Start --- ");
  */
  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/-  
}

//===================================================================================================================================================

void  loop() {

  //reading the analog values from the joystick axis and the button
  joy_x_value = analogRead(JOY_X);
  joy_y_value = analogRead(JOY_Y);
  joy_b_value  = analogRead(JOY_B);  

  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
  //CALIBRATE - activate the following lines, compile and run the Serial Monitor  from inside the Arduino IDE (menu Tools -> Serial Monitor or Ctrl+Shift+M)
  //Note:  if the Serial Monitor doesn't work (shows garbage, etc.) check the serial speed  in the Serial Monitor is set to 115200 
  /*  
  Serial.print("-- joy_x_value  = "); Serial.print(joy_x_value); 
  Serial.print("-- joy_y_value = "); Serial.print(joy_y_value);  
  Serial.print("-- joy_b_value = "); Serial.print(joy_b_value); 
  Serial.println("");
  delay(100);  
  */
  //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/-

  
  
  //reset the internal led status. It starts with a zero value that  will be incremented at any joystick movement or fire.
  //at the end of the loop  function, if the value is >0 we will switch the internal led on.
  //NOTE: the  internal led is only used as feedback to know the joystick is working.
  internalledstatus  = 0;  

  //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
  //fire button.  

  //-autofire OFF - begin --------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
  if (digitalRead(JOY_AUTOFIRE) == HIGH) {  
     //if the autofire is off, we  just fire if the button is pressed.
     if (joy_b_value < joy_b_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,HIGH) ; internalledstatus++; }   
     else                           { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW); }         
  }
  //-autofire OFF - end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------/-

  //-autofire ON  - begin --------------------------------------------------------------------------\\-
  else { 
        
     if (joy_b_value >=joy_b_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW); autofiretoggle = false; }  //the button is not pressed. 
     
     else  {  //fire button pressed  -- //sequence: ON - 50 millisec - OFF - 50 millisec -  ON
                
          if (!autofiretoggle) {
            if (autofiredelay  + autofirespeed < millis()) {  //at least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from  the last change of status (ON to OFF). Time to switch ON
                autofiretoggle  = true;             //at least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last  change of status (was ON to OFF). Time to toggle the switch ON
                autofiredelay  = millis();          //resetting the milliseconds counter
                { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,HIGH);   internalledstatus++;  }   //fire ON!
            }           
          }
          else {
          if (autofiredelay + autofirespeed < millis()) {   //at  least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last change of status (OFF to  ON). Time to switch OFF
                autofiretoggle = false;           //at  least <autofirespeed> milliseconds passed from the last change of status (was OFF  to ON). Time to toggle the switch OFF 
                autofiredelay = millis();         //resetting the milliseconds counter
                { digitalWrite(JOY_FIRE  ,LOW);  }                           //fire OFF!
            }
        }               
     }    
  }
  //-autofire ON  - end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------/-
  
  
  if (joy_y_value < joy_y_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_DOWN ,HIGH); internalledstatus++;  } else { digitalWrite(JOY_DOWN ,LOW); }  //the Y value is below the lower  Y threshold,  activating the DOWN  movement  
  if (joy_y_value > joy_y_h_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_UP   ,HIGH); internalledstatus++; } else { digitalWrite(JOY_UP   ,LOW); }  //the Y  value is above the higher Y threshold, activating the UP    movement
  
  if  (joy_x_value > joy_x_h_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_RIGHT,HIGH); internalledstatus++;  } else { digitalWrite(JOY_RIGHT,LOW); }  //the X value is below the lower  X threshold,  activating the RIGHT movement
  if (joy_x_value < joy_x_l_ths) { digitalWrite(JOY_LEFT  ,HIGH); internalledstatus++; } else { digitalWrite(JOY_LEFT ,LOW); }  //the X value  is above the higher X threshold, activating the LEFT  movement   


  //if  you don't want the internal led blinks, just comment the following line.
  if  (internalledstatus > 0)   digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); else digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN,  LOW);   //activating the Arduino internal LED if there was some movement / fire
  

  delay(50); //some little delay. You can try to remove it and test in  your own environment; but in my case the joystick seems to work better (the C=64  is quite slow compared with an Arduino...)
  
}

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