Building a Universal Atari 2600 12-button "Star Raiders" Controller

In this video, I demonstrate how to build a universal Video Touch Pad / Keyboard Controller / Kids Controller for the Atari 2600, and talk a little bit about "Star Raiders" -- the motivation for doing so. We review the controller's schematic and how it works, then put together a circuit board and house it in a suitable case. Please use the following time-code index to jump to relevant sections in the video. 0:00 Intro and Overview 1:33 Equivalent Atari 2600 Controllers 2:20 How the Controller Works 6:58 Required materials 8:34 Push Button Switch Installation 11:12 Screw-down Terminal Installation 12:13 Correcting poorly-installed terminal 13:56 Creating stand-offs for project box 14:49 Switch connection - part 1 of 3 16:27 Soldering error and correction 17:32 Switch connection - part 2 of 3 18:45 Intermediate connection testing 20:10 Switch connection - part 3 of 3 22:44 Intermediate connection testing 24:27 Resistor installation 26:29 Final connection testing 27:46 Template for drilling holes 32:20 Drilling holes in project box 35:18 Labelling cable pins on board 36:37 Cable preparation and installation 39:54 Controller test and game-play Music: "Hawaii" by JCH & Morten Kristensen (MSK) of Vibrants (1990) http://deepsid.chordian.net/?file=/MU... "Trible Speed Tune" by Morten Kristensen (MSK) of Crest (1992) http://deepsid.chordian.net/?file=/MU... "Indiana" by Morten Kristensen (MSK) of Crest (1992) http://deepsid.chordian.net/?file=/MU... Photos: Atari Age: https://atariage.com Avon Fox: http://www.the-liberator.net Products and components used in this video: Kaiweets Digital Multimeter https://amzn.to/32mJxvy https://ebay.us/vEjuTr DB9 Atari/Sega/Commodore Extension Cable https://amzn.to/33H4DWe https://ebay.us/pkXT2o 6x6mm Momentary Push-button Switch (6x6x15mm used in video) https://amzn.to/2z6hgPk https://ebay.us/nTwqdH Electronics Project Box (85x50x21mm used in video) https://amzn.to/35v6ONi https://ebay.us/hfCkCL PG7 Cable Gland https://amzn.to/2Yx9QPQ https://ebay.us/575eY7 Screw Terminal, 3.5mm pitch https://amzn.to/3cd4ZYh https://ebay.us/jnhOZ4 5x7cm Protoboard (Double-sided used in video) https://amzn.to/2Sxd95P https://ebay.us/LTBHqj 4.7k resistors https://amzn.to/2Sxd95P https://ebay.us/JoyvaY