Update! Both the design and build deadlines have been extended. Check the original post for details.
I’ve never built a stick before or played Starcraft but m really interested in thinking up something for this contest. I might end up trying to force a pilot stick for Left click, right click, shift, crtl, and space however.
The suggested button layout was designed around the grid hotkey system. You can play around with a different button configuration if you want. If you want to make a Zerg-only stick that uses just the default Zerg keys or add 10 control group buttons, go for it.
I haven’t played Stacraft in a while and no Stacraft II , but it seems like there’s a bunch of hot keys that might be missed on that layout like H (Hydralisk) P (planetary fortress, overlord speed), I (infestation pit) , L (lair/lift), N (Nexus/Nydus), M (Move/Mothership), O (unload, roach armor), Y (Cybernetics Core) and U (ultralisk/bunker), and Mr. M has already mentioned the missing control groups.
Another question, what’s the target user or audience here? Is this supposed to be an object d’art that gets put in a display case as a trophy, and only theoretically usable, or something that should be able to cope with player abuse like spilled soda and the occasional table flip? Is this supposed to be for a casual player who might want free button mapping, and macros, or for tournament competition where those things are frowned upon?
ooooooh its set to grid
no wonder
I’ve never used grid, just standard
I don’t play starcraft II, but is there a problem with a keyboard and mouse?
Yeah, I use standard too, but using grid captures all hotkeys across all 3 races in just 15 buttons. Like I said, this is just a suggestion. Builders can use their own button arrangement if they see fit.
Nope. In fact a mechanical keyboard + good optical mouse is pretty much the ideal SC2 controller. So why the contest?
[LIST=1]
[]Show off the stick builders to the SC2 community, at a time where they are already being introduced to fighting games through things like the IPL SFXT exhibition that went down last week.
[]It’s fun! Think of this as one of those contests you see on cable TV like “Ultimate Biker Buildoff.” It’s a chance for people to get creative on an outside-the-box project (no pun intended), and win some cash. If this works out maybe we’ll do more build-offs.
[/LIST]
That said, the controller has to be a pretty good SC2 controller. If it’s impossible to use, it defeats the spirit of the competition.
It’s primarily an art piece, but it will get occasional play in exhibitions. But this is not just about looks. Utility features that make it a better controller, like free button mapping, will be considered in the design.
It seems to me like a lot of people are not aware that you can now rebind all the hotkeys on your keyboard in the option menu, so there really shouldn’t be any major problem with the suggested layout. I’m a huge SC2 fan who just recently picked up fighting games and I really dig this contest, even though nothing beats mechanical keyboard, like inkblot already stated. But it’s all in good fun and I can’t wait to see some ideas rolling out.
Here is what I have so far, I have two different prototypes I am exploring. One with a wrist rest and one without.
The one pictured embedded in pine was my first prototype, the finished product would have a much slimmer profile and less pronounced wrist rest.
The second prototype is shown in cad, and would be smaller, and more portable. It would consist of an entire piece of aluminum to which the cherry switches would directly snap in to.
The wiring shown is merely for prototyping purposes, the finished product would accomplish the wiring matrix by a Printed Circuit Board.
http://imgur.com/r50eI,OjNUL,ve8Wi,ZpUDm,CW3Pt#0
Last thing, the key array is actually the guts from a ps2 wired dell keyboard. I chose this because of the improved performance ps2 has over usb, it can be converted to usb with a simple adaptor. However if it becomes an issue I can simply redesign it to use a stock usb keyboard array.
That’s some impressive work for just a few days lemonparty, kudos!
But to be perfectly clear, we’re looking for a design that brings the style and feel of custom built fighting-game arcade sticks to Starcraft. A big part of that is the buttons.
Also, ps2 or usb is fine for the design.
Also, a reminder to everyone that there’s not need to build anything yet! Only the final winner needs to build the stick. If you want to build something go nuts, but it’s not a requirement.
As of right now, I’ll sleep on it. I could get some help from aircraft engineers, but, as of right now and what’s happening in the Middle-East, that’s probably not going to happen. 
Still, I’d like to see stuff that people come up with. Hope that this goes down well. Good luck to everyone who’s participating! 
Ok, so basically the same idea, it’s going to be used to play starcraft, but it needs to have the look and feel of the arcade fighting stick style right? Do you have any links to suppliers who have the types of buttons you’re talking about for purchase?
Yup. http://focusattack.com/ has a lot of parts, including the 24mm and 30mm buttons in the template linked from the contest rules. And remember, you don’t have to build the stick yet. Just design one for now. 
Might take a shot at designing something for this; been meaning to get back in the lab with a laser cutter.
PS2 interface ain’t a bad idea, since it’d potentially allow for NKRO, but finding a control board might be tricky (esp. if you want to be able to do on-the-fly bindings). If I get some free time I might try my hand at prototyping such a board, for whoever does end up winning (wouldn’t be me), in case they’re not up to snuff.
I’d think that Seimitsus (at the very least) might be a better option over the feather-weight of Sanwa switches… with such a big key field, mis-presses on Sanwa buttons would be almost inevitable as you traverse it to hit another key. I’d have to mock it up to get a feel for if this layout would feel feasible with the lighter weight switches (I don’t know how my hand would sit).
- Extended dead line date on design and build/completion…
- $1000 + cost of parts used for the build…
…MUST… RESIST…TEMPTATION
(Do it…)
So again, congrats to b15 for his $1000 :P.
A new challenger enters the Ring