Unijoysticle on RETRO.MOE

Introducing Unijoysticle 2 C64

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 01:55:46 +0000

Unijoysticle 2 C64 adds Bluetooth gamepad functionality to the Commodore 64/128.

For those familiar with the Unijoysticle 2+, this is the evolution of it.

Features:

One gamepad controls one Joystick
or two gamepads control two Joystick
or one gamepad controls two Joysticks (for Dual Stick games)
or use Wii Steering Wheel
or use Wii Balance Board
Supports gamepad rumble for certain games
Supports C64 GS buttons (2nd and 3rd button) for C64 GS games
Supports additional 4th and 5th buttons (Select + Start) button for certain games

Gamepad rumble support for the Commodore 64

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 19:29:53 +0000

I discovered a way to send 1-bit of data from the Commodore 64 to the Joysticks. And I use this one-bit of data to turn on/off the rumble in the gamepads through the Unijoysticle.

Note: Spanish version of the video is here

How does it work

Introducing Unijoysticle 2 A500

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 19:34:39 +0000

Unijoysticle 2 A500 is a device that enables Bluetooth gamepads and mice on the Commodore Amiga.

Bluepad32 v3.5 released!

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:52:50 +0000

TL;DR: Support for Amiga and Atari ST mice, USB console, and re-connect improvements.

I ’m happy to announce that Bluepad32 v3.5 has been released. It contains two new big features:

Mouse support
Console

and many fixes & improvements here and there.

Mouse support

Some of the supported mice.

Mouse support has been added both at the “core” level, and at a “platform” level.

By “core” level, I mean that all platforms (Unijoysticle, NINA/AirLift, Arduino, etc.) receive the mouse information: x & y movement and the Left, Middle and Right buttons.

Introducing Unijoysticle 2+

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 17:10:17 +0000

Unijoysticle 2+

For those not familiar with Unijoysticle 2, it is a device that allows you to use modern Bluetooth gamepads like Sony DualSense or Nintendo Switch controllers (to name just a few) on old computers like the Commodore 64 or Amiga.

What’s new in version 2+:

Case friendly: lower profile, LEDs & buttons are close the border and has mounting holes.
Looks nicer: Uses SMD components for almost everything
Supports buttons 2 & 3 in port #2. Some Amiga games might use them.
Cheaper to manufacture. I reduced the price from $60 to $35

Bluepad32: Gamepad support for ESP32

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 15:23:42 +0000

I’m happy to announce the release of Bluepad32: gamepad support for the ESP32.

Bluepad32 is a firmware that runs in the ESP32 microcontroller. It supports all the modern Bluetooth gamepads like Sony (PS5, PS4, PS3), Microsoft (Xbox One S) and Nintendo (Switch, Wii) gamepads.

Who is this for?

This is for:

Unijoysticle 2: Nintendo controllers and more!

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 07:19:03 +0000

Unijoysticle 2 Christmas 2019 update, with support for:

Nintendo Wii Remote
Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller
Nintendo Wii Remote + Nunchuk extension
Nintendo Wii Remote + Classic Controller extension
Nintendo Switch Pro controller
8BitDo family: all modes supported (Switch, Windows, Mac, Android).
iCade 8-bitty

It also supports:

Commando 2084 - a game for the Commodore 64

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 14:45:14 +0000

Commando 2084 is the mix between Commando and Robotron 2084: it is like the original Commando game, but using the Robotron 2084 controls.

Unijoysticle 2: modern bluetooth gamepads for retro computers

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:23:01 +0000

Announcing Unijoysticle 2:

Use modern Bluetooth controllers (gamepads, mice, smart TV remote controllers) in retro computers like the Commodore 64/128, Atari ST, Amiga and more.

For further info go here: /unijoysticle2

Long time no see: UniJoystiCle for all platforms

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 18:54:42 +0000

I’ve been busy. I still have no spare time to work on my retro projects, but I have a plan. And it can’t fail. I plan to port the UniJoystiCle + The Uni Games to the following platforms:

Commodore VIC 20: UniJoystiCle (single joystick) + The Uni Games
Commodore PET: UniJoystiCle in expansion port (single joystick) + The Uni Games
Commodore 128: UniJoystiCle (same as the C64) + The Uni Games in VCD mode using the Z80 CPU
Tandy 1000: UniJoystiCle + The Uni Games (graphics mode 320x200 16 colors)
Commodore 64: Add paddle support to the UniJoystiCle

The plan is that I have to live forever and my brain should not deteriorate.

VChar64 v0.2.2 released and other news

Sun, 08 Jan 2017 21:31:38 +0000

VChar64 v0.2.2 released

Download:

Mac: vchar64-0.2.2.mac.dmg
Win32: vchar64-0.2.2.win32.zip
Source code: https://github.com/ricardoquesada/vchar64/

Release notes here:

https://github.com/ricardoquesada/vchar64/releases/tag/0.2.2

UniJoystiCle news

I started working on the paddle/mouse support. I’m using an ESP32 instead of the ESP8266. Progress is documented here (spanish):

UniJoystiCle + Paddle/Mouse support progress

Commodore Home news

It was featured in Hack-a-day. Yay!
- https://hackaday.com/2016/11/20/commodore-home-your-smart-home-for-1983/
It won the 3rd prize in the Retro Challenge (winning Issue #1 of Eight Bit magazine). Yay!
- http://www.retrochallenge.org/

The UniJoystiCle v0.4 released

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 14:45:26 +0000

Christmas is coming. Treat yourself with The UniJoystiCle v0.4, and be the cool kid in the block by playing The Uni Games like a pro (that’s it with real unicycles!):

Highlights of v0.4

WiFi Device

Smaller real estate: Fits in all C64/128 models, including the C128D / SX-64 machines
Using Wemos D1 Mini instead of NodeMCU
Blue instead of red

Firmware

New WiFi modes: Station and WPS modes
Auto-reset joystick state after inactivity timeout
Online-firmware update
Stats:
- How many joystick movements
- How many seconds spent in joystick movements

Clients

Android Client: Yay, Android has its own client. Similar to iOS, but without the Gyruss mode.
- Supports any Android game controller like OUYA, Amazon Fire, Moya, etc.
Desktop Client:
- Supports Dpad, Commando and Commodore Home modes
- Windows version: Supports any Xinput game controller(like the Xbox 360 or newer controllers)
- Mac version: Supports any MFi game controller
iOS Client: Added Commodore Home mode
- Supports both MFi and iCade game controllers

Read the complete Changelog here.

UniJoystiCle v0.4.0-RC released!

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 08:52:02 +0000

UniJoystiCle v0.4.0-RC (Release Candidate) released. Mega update!

Download:

iOS client v0.4.6: App Store
Android client v0.4.10: Google Play
macOS client v0.4.0: UniJoystiCle Controller.dmg
win32 client v0.4.0: unijoysticle_controller.win32.zip
Firmware v0.4.5: unijoysticle_firmware.bin
Source code + schematic + layout:https://github.com/ricardoquesada/unijoysticle

Latest versions can be downloaded from here:http://ricardoquesada.github.io/unijoysticle/

Summary:

Use your Xbox game controllers to play C64 games! (from the Win32 client)
Use any iOS or Android game controller to play C64 games! (from the iOS / Android client)
Play games like Commando and Turrican II by only using your game controller. “Space” is mapped to button “B”. There is no need to press the “spacebar”.
Put your device in Station mode (share your local Wifi network).

Full Changelog:

RetroChallenge: announcing Commodore Home

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:13:49 +0000

Home automation for the masses, not the classes

We need to build computers for the masses, not the classes - Jack Tramiel, Commodore founder

A: Commodore 64 computer running the “Commodore Home” application
B: UniJoystiCle WiFi device connected to the joystick ports
C: Alarm sensor using a WiFi device
D: Smartphone running the UniJoystiCle Controller app with the Commodore Home plugin
E: Commodore MPS 803 printer
F: Pulleys + gears connected to the printer header + dimmer knot

About

Why pay hundreds of dollars to automate your home, when you can automate it for free with existing tools/computers that you might already have in your garage?

RetroChallenge: Building the C64 I.D.IoT.R

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 00:23:22 +0000

I started building the C64 I.D.IoT.R a few months ago, but never finished it. What better than to finish it for the Retro Challenge contest.

C64 I.D.IoT.R is a smart light controlled from a C64. Its name means:

C64: Commodore 64
I: Intelligent
D: Dimmer
IoT: Internet Of Things:
R: RRRRR

What I have done so far is this: (and is not part of the contest since I built it two months ago):

UniJoystiCle update #2

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:18:00 +0000

TL;DR

Station Mode (with or without WPS)
Inactivity timeout & Joystick statistics
Auto-firmware upgrade
Better ways to power the WiFi device

Station mode and other features

One thing that bothered me was that I needed to switch WiFi networks every time that I wanted to use the UniJoystiCle. Not a major issue, but not ideal specially if you use your phone both for the UniJoystiCle and for “regular” stuff.

UniJoystiCle Commando Mode, Game Controllers and other news

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 01:17:53 +0000

Since UniJoystiCle v0.3 was released back in July many things were added.

Android client: It has all the iOS features, except Gyruss mode which will be added soon.

iOS client: It is available on the App Store.

Gyruss mode: Allows you to control the direction (up/down/left/right) using gravity.

Linear mode: This was designed to control the header of the MPS-803 printer. More on this on a future blog post.

D-pad mode + Game Controllers: You can use any iOS or Android game controller to play any C64 game. You can even use button “B” to jump, or swap buttons “A” and “B”.

UniJoystiCle news #1

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 01:14:14 +0000

I’ve just released a new firmware version for the UniJoystiCle (v0.4.0). It supports the new Commando Mode.

The new Android client with Commando mode can be downloaded from here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=moe.retro.unijoysticle

The iOS client will be available as soon as Apple approves it (usually a few days) and will be available here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unijoysticle-controller/id1130131741?mt=8

In order to upgrade the firmware, please follow these steps:

DOCUMENTATION.md

The Commando mode allows you to play games that:

CommVEx XII and VCF West XI recap

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 02:20:54 +0000

Two weeks ago I attended the Commodore Vegas Expo XII, and last week I’ve been at the Vintage Computer Festival West XI.

CommVEx XII

As the name describes it, it was a Commodore Expo in Las Vegas. But the format is a mix between conference and expo. It is a real expo, but with the social part of a conference. It is friendly and casual.

People give talks in a very informal way. I gave a talk + live demo about the UniJoystiCle. Everything went well except that in the middle of the demo my phone’s glass broke. But that wasn’t an issue since the accelerometer kept working.

UniJoystiCle v0.3 released!

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:26:23 +0000

Yeaaaaaaaaaah! UniJoystiCle v0.3 was released!

It includes:

A beautifully designed PCB
A realistic Unicycle game for the Commodore 64
A the iPhone application which can be downloaded from the App Store

The new PCB

Either you can:

Build one yourself (the instructions are here:https://github.com/ricardoquesada/unijoysticle)
or order one from OSHPark:

But if are really interested in getting one, contact me and I’ll send you a fully assembled one for free. Just convince why you deserve it.

UniJoystiCle v0.2.1 released

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:05:01 +0000

v0.2.1 powered from a battery. Can be powered from USB as well.

Changes in v0.2.1:

Commodore 64 works Ok when the UniJoystiCle board is unpowered. The issue was that the 4066 chips were in an unknown state when they were unpowered. In v0.2.1 the 4066 ICs get power from the C64 Joy #2 port.
Smaller holes for the DC Jack making it compatible with “common” DC Jacks.

Unfortunately, v0.2.1 has a bug, and the way to fix it is to cut the 3v3 trace that comes from the NodeMCU.

UniJoystiCle v0.2 released

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:31:38 +0000

Download(firmware, iOS client and schematics + board):

https://github.com/ricardoquesada/unijoysticle

Changes in v2.0:

[NEW] - ESP8266 Schematic: PCB board version. Protoboard version deprecated
[NEW] - ESP8266 Schematic: Added EAGLE board and schematic files. Fritzing diagrams deprecated
[NEW] - ESP8266 device: supports 2 joysticks (uses three 4066 ICs instead of two
[NEW] - ESP8266 firmware uses AP mode by default. Uses SSID “unijosyticle” + last 2 bytes of mac address
[NEW] - iOS Client: Can be configured to use either joystick port
[NEW] - iOS Client: Auto-discover ESP8266 firmware using mDNS
[NEW] - iOS Client: UniJoystiCle mode also supports up, down and fire (jump)
[FIX] - iOS Client: Uses correct aspect rations in all iPhones: 4, 5, 6 and 6+
[FIX] - iOS Client: D-Pad mode uses arrows + circle instead of colored squares
[FIX] - iOS Client: D-Pad mode highlights buttons when they are pressed
[FIX] - Name: Renamed project from Uni-Joysti-Cle to UniJoystiCle (easier to search, shorter to type)
[FIX] - ESP8266 device: replaced NodeMCU LoLin with NodeMCU Amica since it is breadboard friendly.
[FIX] - Sophisticated Glue Material: Uses gaffer tape, instead of duct tape

UniJoystiCle: Giving Eagle a try

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 19:57:46 +0000

I like Fritzing. I think it is great for small projects and it is very easy to use. But it has its limitations when creating the PCB, mostly because its component library is not very complete.

Eagle, on the other hand, is more difficult to use. But its component library is very polished. Also, companies like Adafruit and SparkFun create components for Eagle, so that is a big plus if you purchase components from them.

UniJoystiCle v0.2 coming soon

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 01:37:29 +0000

UniJoystiCle v0.2 coming soon.

Changes in v0.2:

[NEW] - ESP8266 device: supports 2 joysticks (uses three 4066 ICs instead of two
[NEW] - ESP8266 firmware uses AP mode by default. Uses SSID “unijosyticle” + last 2 bytes of mac address
[NEW] - iOS Client: Can be configured to use either joystick port
[NEW] - iOS Client: Auto-discover ESP8266 firmware using mDNS
[NEW] - iOS Client: UniJoystiCle mode also supports up, down and fire (jump)
[FIX] - Name: Renamed project from Uni-Joysti-Cle to UniJoystiCle (easier to search, shorter to type)
[FIX] - ESP8266 device: replaced NodeMCU LoLin with NodeMCU Amica
[FIX] - Sophisticated Glue Material: Uses gaffer tape, instead of duct tape

Announcing the Uni-Joysti-Cle™

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 16:02:10 +0000

The Uni-Joysti-Cle™: The first and only solution to play Commodore 64 video games with your unicycle. Unique immersive experience, much better than VR.

It consists of five beautifully designed parts:

The _Uni Games_video game for the Commodore 64
The Uni-Joysti-Cle™ WiFi receiver, and its firmware
The Uni-Joysti-Cle™ smartphone application
A unicycle
Sophisticated glue material

Find all the information about this revolutionary device here: unijoysticle