Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
I have seen on YouTube a video where some guy built a "Game Gun". This device is a simple toy gun that has a LCD and a air-mouse attached on top and has a keyboard or game pad modified to fit inside of the toy gun. This makes the game play more realistic for first person shooter games. I doubt such a device would would be on the market anytime soon and the cost would be outrageous. However I have been playing with my own Game gun idea. Since im a avid airsoft player I have a few electric cheap-o rifles that do not work anymore.
My idea for my Game gun is some what simple. Use a game pad with a thumb stick to control forward, backward, jump and crouch. Button on the bottom of the clip to reload and a mouse scroll on the other side of the grip to change weapons and so on. Ofcourse the trigger would fire. Maybe use the safety as a alternate fire. The gun I have here to use for the game gun is a cheapy Stunt Studios AK-47. It's full length and can hold all of the electronics just fine. It's just the matter of cutting slots into the casing and such. The LCD is a SUPER 10 inch display. I'm going to try it with my iPhone and the air mouse app until I can find a reasonable price for a real air mouse.
Here is a picture of the AK-47 and the LCD.
I'm thinking to use a cordless game pad and another cordless mouse to control the functions. I can buy a bunch of push buttons from allelectronics.com dirt cheap for the rest. Hard part is securing the LCD to the gun. I think a simple L bracket should work.
Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
A little quick update.
I'm thinking to toss in a small rumble motor into the stock and fore-grip areas for added effect. Just use the rechargeable battery to the gun to power them and also to power the mouse.
Right now im looking into game controllers that will be small enough to fit into the gun. If all else fails I could look into a Wii Mote numchuck to hack up.
Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
Thanks,
I've been slowly working on this project. The gun can hold quite a bit but I'm trying to make sure everything is counter weighted so it feels like a real weapon. So far im just collecting the parts for it. Also im trying to figure out the best way to integrate a controller to fit inside. Might put the circuit board into the butt stock and just extend the buttons to the forgrip area.
Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
I started on figuring out my rumble system for the rifle. I put the bigger motor in the stock. The smaller motor fits perfectly towards the barrel end of the rifle.
Since the shell is more limited then I thought I'm going to use a wireless keyboard controller board. I'm planning to use the battery that came with the gun, it's a 7.2V 800ma battery but with a voltage regulator I can use the controller just fine and for added rumble fun i'll use the whole 7.2 volts. I'll even toss on a kill switch to the rumble system.
Some time this week I need to go hit up office depot on a cheap wireless keyboard.
Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
The push buttons I bought are too big. I can use a couple of them but I'll have to find some smaller ones for the directional pad.
So I'll use one for the reload and one for weapon select.
It would be nice to use a hall effect switch for the trigger but I don't want the battery to drain too quickly so I'll stick with a nintendo zapper style trigger.
Registered: 11/16/07
Posts: 1816
Loc: Florida, USA
I was playing around with some cardboard and the first set of buttons I bought. They do in fact work size wise. Instead of making up a D pad layout I have two buttons on each side. Thumb side controls forwards and backwards. Index side controls jump and crouch.
I spent the night drilling, mounting and soldering the buttons. I didn't have the correct size drill bit so I used the closet one I had then used a pocket knife to carve out the rest.
After work I need to stop at radio shack again for a few more buttons. I'll also post some pictures later.