I finally built my DREAM Kerbal Space Program controller 🤩

I finally got one! After years of wanting one, I finally got my very own Kerbal Space Program custom controller! These things are so much fun, and make the game so much more immersive. I can't wait to show you all how it came out!
👕Buy my Merch!!.............►bit.ly/3fM2BKs
😎Join the Channel!..........►bit.ly/3sPu0ld
🐱‍🏍My Subreddit.................► / mattssubreddit
📷Instagram......................► / mattlowne
🔥Twitter............................► / matt_lowne
💬Discord...........................► / discord
💕Patreon...........................►goo.gl/lLDt79
🚀Second channel.............►goo.gl/cww3Ik
The circuitry, modules, and panels were created by the much more electronically-literate-than-me Codapop, check out his website and subreddit to commission your own!
🔸 / untitledspacecraft
🔹 untitledspacec...
My PC specs:
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core Processor
64 GB RAM
3840 x 2160, 144Hz
This video is intended for audiences 13+ years old.
The song used in the intro is by the awesome Approaching Nirvana!
Check them out:
/ @approachingnirvana
The song used was Sandbar, and you can stream it on Spotify:
open.spotify.c...
Song attributions that played during the Plushie Ad:
Approaching Nirvana:
/ @approachingnirvana
The song used was Myopia, and you can stream it on Spotify:
open.spotify.c...
"Take a Chance" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...

[@MattLowne]

Only 2 weeks left to buy the Plushie and then it's gone forever! www.makeship.com/products/in-thrust-we-trust-plush The circuitry, modules, and panels for the controllers were created by the much more electronically-literate-than-me Codapop, check out his website and subreddit to commission your own! 🔸 www.reddit.com/r/UntitledSpaceCraft/ 🔹 untitledspacecraft.com/

[@M-HACK]

I’ll try to get it

[@CooperSchmidt-pg3mj]

Me too

[@eekee6034]

@Tetra _amv It would make first-person much easier as it has SAS controls. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if one of these modules could display apoapsis and periapsis height and time. One of the modules Matt didn't use had a display on it.

[@spotteduav3511]

Play football/rugbe with the plushie

[@Tyler-dm9jw]

Ok.

[@Codapop_KSP]

Happy to see you enjoying your controller! It was a pleasure building it for you. Thanks again, Matt!

[@wyimaginowany5404]

🍔

[@techny3000]

🍕 Wait you built it???? It looks amazing!

[@skyethecat7366]

🐐🐐🐐

[@lunathecrusader]

Thanks for the lunch guys

[@Codapop_KSP]

@@techny3000 Thank you!!

[@jackie.p6891]

I'm gonna need a full cockpit like this to play in first person xD

[@Recyclops]

With real GForces

[@mastershooter64]

@@Recyclops Time to bring out the ol'hydraulics from Jebediah Kerman's Junkyard and Spacecraft Parts Co

[@CoffeeKnife]

Which cockpit from the game tho?

[@1mariomaniac]

​@@CoffeeKnifehmm, good question, I think the Mk1 cockpit because it's simple but still cool.

[@joge2]

@@1mariomaniac but smoll and the screen are at the left and right so ou got just 2 and in very uncorfirmy place

[@MedicMainDave]

I'd like to see a full blown Mission with this, with a camera for the controller ofc

[@spaceflight001]

Nice!

[@chrisakaschulbus4903]

And another cam for the feet. Doubling viewers easily.

[@worldprop4314]

@@chrisakaschulbus4903 LOL

[@calvingarbacik272]

This, the VR mod, and a rumble chair would make an insanely immersive experience

[@chrisakaschulbus4903]

The vr mod has like no interactivity with buttons. You can't even use the throttle.

[@daniel_of_jersey4775]

Except theres no point of having any of these controllers in vr since you cant see anything. You're literally fumbling blindly on the buttons

[@jonathanfairchild]

@@daniel_of_jersey4775this is one of the major flaws of VR. If you mod controllers then you need the virtual representation to make them worthwhile. Not all games are compatible with those kinds of visual mods either. Unless you get really precise with making your real world mods match the virtual space you will be in. I did that with American Trucking Simulator and it was pretty good!

[@roadkillraker]

Needs augmented reality like the 3ds.

[@chrisakaschulbus4903]

@@roadkillraker But more like jizzing in the rain.

[@bas2362]

980 dollars is a steal in my opinion. For something so intricate and as you mentioned not mass produced and handmade, this is a price much lower than I was expecting!

[@danem.9402]

@@verminlaza8186 yeah tbh the price is much too steep for me. But i hope others enjoy it if they are willing to dish out that kinda cash

[@RamenPoweredShitFactory]

@@verminlaza8186 I wouldn't call this 1k for no reason, Matt obviously has a reason for buying one and the fact that this guy can steadily produce them means other people are buying them for a reason.

[@acephantom903]

People pay $500+ for steering wheel/pedal set ups which are mass produced for racing games. This is an amazing deal.

[@feidry]

@@RamenPoweredShitFactory Don't forget that Matt is a content creator. He makes money from uploading videos. So the controller either has or will pay for itself, most likely, with just this video. Not that I begrudge Matt for it at all, very much enjoyed the video and it has me again thinking about making one of my own.

[@leflyxdvd]

@@RamenPoweredShitFactory well you gotta remember matt uses this for work/content for matt its a steal tbh, the orginal comment called it a "steal" in general, and i dont think an average bloke is willing to fork that cash for something novel.

[@patricks_music]

Matt’s heeeheeeheeehee laugh is just about enough to convince me to get a plushie

[@SabbaticusRex]

I liked it when he attacked the female . He asserted dominance with his plushie .

[@Dee-Eddy]

I make my own button boxes and throttle quadrants etc. for flight simulators and I gotta say, "bespoke" is an understatement. Those are beautiful. I could not believe the price you said. Each panel you pulled off was so impressive. GG's all around. Looking forward to some ksp1 FPV challenges.

[@cdz9400]

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen. Like, I'm speechless. I think this is every ksp player's dream.

[@RoseArtemis24]

I'd love to see a full mission video in your usual style with this, but possibly with added controller-cam! Such a cool setup

[@martinbruzek6383]

I love how joysticks are made for being able to do subtle input and Matt still decides to bop the joystick twice every second instead

[@pabloouvrard1919]

I am currently building one from scratch, and even if its not very easy to do, it's loads of fun! Very pleasing to see how many mods there are if you want to pull or inject data to the game. Anyway, gotta love this controller, much cleaner than my handmade one... Mine si a big spaggetti mess of cables! PS: sorry for the synthax errors, english isn't my native language.

[@MattLowne]

Good luck with your build! :)

[@Noidhole88]

I too ordered a controller. Great communication and easy enough to put together. Cant wait to see what he does for KSP2. I noticed he has added a few new interfaces. I love that this is modular and you can swap out with new modules in desired. The new throttle looks pretty nice. Also...docking with the actual analog sticks is a dream.

[@pseudocoder78]

I love how Matt is afraid to push the joystick and hold it, like he's using the keyboard keys that are either full on or off. You don't have to wiggle so much with analog controls! :)

[@-NxPx-Phoenix]

that giggle after launch abort so satisfying also I want one too

[@blockappella]

I would love to see a full series with this controller filmed similarly to what you've done in this video where we can see everything you're doing on the controller - it would be really interesting just to see it more in action

[@Napoleon_e2]

Almost did’nt notice he edited in the ksp footage instead of recoring his screen, nice touch

[@vladerplays6765]

Absolutely amazing setup, Matt! I'm wondering if you're experiencing any sort of input lag with this kind of a controller setup, specifically on launches that make the game lag as it is.

[@Codapop_KSP]

Shouldn't have any noticeable lag at all and is just as punchy as the keyboard!

[@MattLowne]

It's all super responsive, no lag!

[@vladerplays6765]

@@Codapop_KSP Wow, that's marvellous to hear. I've had past experiences with simple HOTAS setups that had noticeable input lag often times. I'm thrilled to know your (remarkably advanced) controller system doesn't struggle with input issues.

[@gordon861]

Very professional looking kit. I keep meaning to try and make myself a control box for the PC but not limited to one game. I have made up some really bad button boxes as a trial but never got around to doing a proper version. There are companies out there that will lasercut to order so if you create a DXF/DWG file with your button cutouts they can supply the final panel for you to add your switches and wire them up to a USB HID board. I have used ones from Leo Bodnar in the UK, they do a 32 button controller board for around £30, you just need to solder the wires to your switches. Once plugged in it just becomes another USB controller on the PC.

[@MadalinCH.]

That controller looks so good, take good care of it.

[@darthmemeious9526]

that throtle switch could come in very handy, landing with minimal fuel... i actually have a 6 crew soviet style mun and minmus return craft without a parachute system... cause i forgot it the first time i used it... by the time i found out, i was landing it like ed baldwin on mars with no fuel at all... and you know what? forr 80m/s a second you really just need 4 engines and 6 tanks as crushing medium to survive

[@VaporizedKerbal]

I remember the post the guy made on Reddit of the first one. I wondered what happened after you commented, but finally it's here!

[@eekee6034]

This is awesome! :D There's so many cool things about this, even apart from its very existence. The modular design is a great idea. Controlling via a mod is also great because you can have feedback like the monopropellant gauge and more controls. If you can control SAS by keyboard, I haven't yet found out how. (I ought to check, actually.) The only thing I'm not too keen on is that there doesn't seem to be anywhere to rest your hands while using the joysticks. It could be a bother when doing some tricky flying. Good point that a recommendation isn't really required. The only reason I haven't built one myself is that, with my health being all over the place including severe fatigue and... my intelligence varies, and that damages my confidence because I never know when I'll be able to do stuff and when I'll just get frustrated. But I'm always looking for ways to improve my health. Did you know eating saturated fats slows your brain down? It's a temporary effect, but a scientifically proven one. It's probably not my biggest problem by a long shot... though I have been eating a lot of it lately. Hmm! Anyway, I just thought I'd mention it as it popped into my head. I'm more concerned with getting enough rest right now.

[@wyldbytes]

There is a mod called QuickSAS to allow you to use the num pad for SAS

[@eekee6034]

@@wyldbytes Thanks... but I don't have a num pad. :) I'll figure something out.

[@wizardpajamas6405]

I clicked on this knowing it would make me jealous. And now I'm jealous. Looks super fun! Great work Codapop, and Matt, hope you enjoy the heck out of it and show it off more.

[@TheGiamma97]

I work in a control center for a space agency and this is much cooler compared to what we have 😂

[@blvckbytes7329]

As somebody who loves building control panels with all my heart, I truly enjoyed this! :)

[@DistracticusPrime]

I used to work on aircraft. At the time, I was young and arrogant, and took for granted the engineers' style and design choices. Decades later I'm finally able to appreciate, but those people are gone. Getting a control panel to look professional and optimized while fitting into a limited space is really a work of art. If you're good at this, please visit your local airport avionics shop.

[@KeritechElectronics]

Ha! Thing of beauty, joy for ever. I love the modularity of the design, and it looks very elegant too. My ultimate KSP controller would be either some Apollo era mission control console, or a command module panel re-creation, with DSKY and all other stuff. CuriousMarc's team recently re-created that stuff using PCB as material.

[@PajamaPantsStudios]

This video is one of my favorites in the channel! It really shows how well KSP plays as a game, just seeing it laid out on a controller like that

[@techny3000]

Woah that's gonna be so useful! Love the subscriber counter btw

[@HighDefBNG]

Wow that is very awesome! I expect to hear those satisfying clicks in videos from now on :) This made me realise how my Heavy Machinery controller (Farming sim button box) would be amazing for Kerbal. Thanks for this great vid and god speed to your gf.

[@vincewa2142]

Im impressed i must say. This is a really cool set up and tempting to buy lets see maybe for ksp2. The price is deffinitly affordable. I was expecting well over a thousand for such a controller. I would have done a joystuck for the camera though. It just makes more sence to control a slow smooth and precise camera swing.

[@bag_o_chip]

A couple years ago I saw a tutorial by Make: on how to build a mission control desk. Seeing this years later gives me so much nostalgia!

[@amateuryoutuber]

I can definitely tell that this controller is going to be used for future KSP missions, or maybe the controller is only for special missions, who knows?

[@blackmarketyardsale]

You can definitely tell that you can’t tell?

[@Xenro66]

Damn, this absolutely looks like a dream come true. I've messed around with using my RC transmitter to fly aircraft before and it adds a whole different feel. I bet this absolute monster of a unit makes the game feel so much more immersive. Will be interesting to see this in use when KSP2 is supported! :D

[@polygondon]

Having a picture-in-picture view of staging and other actions would add something extra to your videos. This is neat.

[@rover5689]

Congrats Matt I hope you really enjoy using this

[@thetakburger7928]

Looks fun ! I would have thought a joystick for the camera would have allowed for smooth camera tricks

[@windwalker5765]

This is really cool! And depending on the exact setup, you really could do a sort of couch co-op. I'm really excited to see how this could eventually apply to KSP 2, with proper multi-crew missions...

[@Codapop_KSP]

I never thought of it that way, but I love it!

[@TChapman500Gaming]

KSP 1 needs an input update, where they replace Unity's Input Manager with the much better Input System (which is what my game, Solar Lander, uses). Input Manager supports up to 20 buttons per joystick and up to 80 buttons spread across 4 joysticks, but KSP 1 doesn't distinguish between Button 1 of Joystick 1 and Button 1 of Joystick 2. Input Manager also only supports up to 16 or so axes per joystick with up to 8 joysticks supported. Input System on the other hand supports an unlimited number of Joysticks and an unlimited number of buttons and axes per joystick.

[@AlexSchendel]

JLCPCB is honestly incredible for getting custom PCBs for cheap and then even getting SMT pick n' place along reflow/wave soldering assembly completed for a good price as well. Shipping times are not the best when you live halfway across the world from them, but the price competition isn't even close. $70 for 15 custom PCBs printed and fully assembled with several complex component placements versus well over $100 for just the PCBs if I try to go anywhere else... And then I'd have to pay even more to have someone else assemble it haha. I can handle some SMT and THT soldering, but not the tiniest components and certainly not hundreds of them haha.

[@BekoPharm]

Yes, that's totally crazy and over the top. And yet you're only scratching the surface here. The name for this decease is "SimPit" for simulated cockpit and no matter how deep you are into that particular rabbit hole: There is always someone waving from below. Congratulations on that purchase because this is one of the best glorified joysticks I've see so far o7

[@DistracticusPrime]

I'm so fortunate to have accidentally encountered the antidote. I somehow landed a job repairing commercial flight simulators. The FAA "level D" certified ones have mostly real flight equipment. I got so spoiled and jaded hanging around those things, no project will ever be "good enough", so I don't even try. That said, I fully appreciate the effort, planning, art, design, skill, research, and huge globs of money that go into making these. Maybe I was lucky to avoid the trap, or maybe I missed a lot of fun achievement. Hmm!

[@BekoPharm]

@@DistracticusPrime I hear marriage works also in some cases. Not in all cases tho 🤪

[@butterkirby1]

This panel CONTROLS THE FLOW OF TIME

[@DistracticusPrime]

I think we might be under-utilizing this.

[@tasman9696]

$900 was actually cheeper then I was thinking. I was thinking you paid almost $2.000 for this product. This looks amazing. Great work to the creator!

[@user-ri4hy1qw4l]

Agreed, doesn't seem unreasonable for what it is at all.

[@Dodger24]

For a fully loaded setup it'd take 3 modules and totaling $1,280. Definitely not a bad price at all for what it is

[@FlavourlessLife]

I love that the panel has quick save and quick load...

[@catdragon1313]

So cool! Zoomed controller cam overlaid on a mission vid would be sweet

[@thebobelux1479]

Hey Matt ! Your setup is soooo cool. You should do a camera showing your hands and your control panel while doing KSP videos. It would be very nice !

[@ndlsjk]

$980 is cheap for what it can do, I was really into DCS for a few years and to get the replica controls for any single plane you are looking at $500 MINIMUM for a HOTAS then around $800-$1000 for the up front displays that have all the buttons. Then add a couple hundred for rudder pedals. If you want a set up for flying helicopters with a side collective add $300 for a cheap decent one. Oh and DCS is much, much better in VR so add the cost of a headset and if your computer needs upgrades....its a snowball effect thing at that point though and you're halfway down the mountain to just buying a full cockpit with motion...I stopped playing DCS.

[@soul-candy-music]

The modular design and price is SO deng consumer-friendly. Big chonky shoutout to Codapop.

[@Foaklore]

I honestly wish more games came with unique controllers designed to fit the game itself! So many possibilities...

[@nulltan]

KSP MLG FTW Price point wise this is "resonable" considering the market. There are pricier steering wheels or hotas. The modules and modularity of it is soo f-in neat. Hope from now on there'll be a controller cam in videos.

[@justinwortham]

The price is actually a lot better than I expected.

[@natefriis4295]

Controller cam for a full mission vid would be a cool idea

[@little_forest]

An interesting video to me would be any simple mission together with a top view of the controller as you use it.

[@MrKrimson]

just.. wow even if u dont use this for every play session its just AWESOME to have

[@juanlemod]

I think by the mere fact of this having analog control to fine tune the steering and throttle instead of quickly bashing and unbashing certain keys would make this superior.

[@twt3716]

Lovely bit of kit. Looks magic.

[@dem0nchild610]

That's honestly not that bad of a price I would have expected about 3-400 more for something that niche

[@tonitackerx9790]

You should consider swapping the executive actions panel with the main controls. You steering the ship with your left hand did not look comfortable. With the main controls left you'd have a better palm rest. Looks fantastic though.

[@ianwhitworth3264]

Why? like I don't have enough things to buy, you go and show me the coolest thing ever... geez. Now I've got something else to save up for. But serious... thank you for showing me that this is even available. One day when I'm old and grey I will be able to play KSP and feel like I'm in the Apollo days. Thank you!

[@Recyclops]

For your next video can you do your favorite mission with the controller? Mun Lander maybe?

[@toddgriffin6069]

"In plush we thrust" is now Matt's catchphrase 5:32

[@raymondarrington5339]

I was looking for this comment 😂

[@philipkyriacopoulos3384]

I just started building my own custom controller, this one looks fantastic though

[@andreaslusti4018]

Great hand modelling, Matt!

[@aleopardstail]

these things are great fun, watched some of Coda's dev process for this and its waaaay better than mine, and more robust that the mess of wires I have. really helps with fine control stuff

[@Fallub]

Amazing piece of technology. I am jealous. Great video as well. Thank you.

[@Chromaz]

I too spent a lot of money on something similar but its a virpil setup for star citizen and the clicky switches and buttons do make the game so much more fun

[@bsavage5128]

I have driving sim setups, I have flying sim setups, I have never thought of a setup for Kerbal 😍

[@RadiantCataclysm]

this is an incredible controller, great job matt, and great job codapop. And it really is not very expensive compared to what i myself expected.

[@hurpaderpp]

Matt can you do an updated graphical mods video? Those clouds are looking amazing. I have blackracks volumetric clouds but it looks nothing like that lol

[@streemd]

Looks great! It’d have been funny to have a MASSIVE launch button; like the size of your fist! But I understand lifting the cover on the abort must’ve been very satisfying as well.

[@DistracticusPrime]

Version 1.01 might have a "Launch" button made out of a Staples "Easy" button.

[@Wzrd8]

KSP is the kind of game I would consider retrofitting an old xbox steel batallion controller for just to use it for making a working mech in the VAB.

[@demonic477]

all I can say is Fancy now you need a cardboard cockpit to bring it all together . get some light weight wood a bunch of panels and get to building. I know that with you being you your going to need a bit of help to design the damn thing as well as building it but it would make for one hell of a fun to watch live stream

[@mr.g4tero781]

This content and idea is completely new for me to simulation in general how hobby, of course : - ) I don't see anyone show similar content to DIY in KSP 1 and 2 Greetings Simulators DIY'ers : - )

[@SgtBurned]

I'm buying your plushie just for you yeeting it at her face! haha I'd argue that the controller is better because you're less likely to accidentally hit a button. I'm sure we've all hit space before when resting our hands.

[@Codapop_KSP]

The best part is you can unmap space in the keybinds in KSP if you use this controller, so there's zero chance of an oopsie.

[@tarrynweigand981]

I was expecting in the thousands and you come out with $ 980, I think we as the consumers are robbing him😂

[@Nonamusthethird]

When Matt thrown the plushie on his wife was so hilarious 🤣

[@bigiron4018]

That price is reasonable, for the effort involved. This as an industrial control panel would be 4x the price

[@infinite2246]

Looks awesome!

[@Ale-bj7nd]

I've built a similar thing with integrated mechjeb program launcher. You can actually launch a ship and send it to redenzvous with a station without monitor. I like to use it with hullcam to get some realistic probe launch.

[@Codapop_KSP]

I'd love to add that as a module option! What did you use to integrate it with mechjeb?

[@Ale-bj7nd]

@@Codapop_KSP I use krpc in combination with krpc.mechjeb plugin. It is always a fight to get everything working well when there are updates, thought.

[@Codapop_KSP]

@@Ale-bj7nd Ah thank you. kRPC gave me lots of headaches before I switched to Simpit lol.

[@Ale-bj7nd]

@@Codapop_KSP yeah, it's not particularly intuitive or efficient. And it tends to break on every update.

[@crazy8chief]

Absolutely love it. Thanks for sharing!

[@adamsakauye1395]

Oh man that controller is so sick, I'm green with envy

[@nicolaj9510]

I'm strongly considering bying this. But I'm not sure it's worth it considering how little I play KSP. It's not like I don't have the money. But it's still a lot. Thanks anyways for showing this really cool option I didn't know excisted.

[@peger]

Dude thats badass. Kudos for constructor

[@MartinDlabaja]

Pretty neat Matt!

[@nickheidenreich9005]

Congrats Matt hope you enjoy it. I can’t decide if I want it or not looks cool but I don’t think I’m good enough at both games for it yet

[@MrKrimson]

the button for all the SAS looks so cool in real life

[@backlog2389]

Omg this is so nerdy. I am a little jealous. 😍

[@lardbarth5180]

Dude okay the plushie plug had me dead. Dope controller tho my guy 🙏

[@max2themax]

Honestly just below 1000 dollars doesn't even seem that bad... I was expecting it to be more like 2-3k just because of how niche the product is. Especially considering the usual price of things like flight and si m racing rigs.

[@GrimnirLaguz28]

Honestly, I was expecting for you to say that it cost like 2k$+. Not that bad, really. Really cool stuff.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Thanks for sharing and I would to see them more often maybe when you have a stressful moment where us seeing over your shoulder would be fun?

[@TheActualJae]

That throttle knob is.....choooonky. LOVE IT!

[@DistracticusPrime]

I think he should've used a big chrome fader, like in a TV studio from the 80s. Just an extra $1000 or so, what's the big deal?

[@AFNacapella]

ML: "this setup costs 900" me, also watching (modular) synth channels and knowing DAW-controller prices: "only 900?!" tbc Matt got at least 12 modules, a big and a small frame, the USB-converters in those, and power. all designed and hand-made to order by one person, if I got that right. the hardware looks good quality from here, those joysticks must cost quite a penny, and the work looks tidy, too. for this specialty boutique luxury thing, that's totally reasonable.

[@Codapop_KSP]

Thanks. A lot of people think they can build one for cheaper, and they probably could, but would it arrive at the customer's house on the other side of the planet and still work?

[@AFNacapella]

@@Codapop_KSP ikr the parts cost alone! then you have to add the workhours and know-how, and think careful soldering and troubleshooting is fun... if there's something to DIY here, it's the mounting, like modding a chair to fit your modules in the armrests.

[@Codapop_KSP]

@@AFNacapella Definitely! In my materials on my subreddit I have offered to give people the magnets and dimensions so they can build their own containers for the modules to slot into.

[@FlyPVTarzan]

Haven’t watched in awhile! Definitely caught my eye with this one

[@ZeNex74]

Your passion and videos is enticing and pushing me to buy this game soon and start learning..

[@5calambres]

As a new arduino enthusiast i am now so tempted to create my own controller. What material is the panel cover made of?

[@poiu477]

Coming from someone who does flight simming, like DCS and stuff, you should see the price of some of the nicer flight setups lol, 980 is pretty cheap comparatively

[@sortaspicey9278]

I was expecting it to cost more, really cool!!

[@wollinger]

i think that based on the amount of controls it gives you plus the customization level and that it is hand made, 1K is a fair price.

[@nsp265]

Seriously cool. Is there anything you still need to use the keyboard for? Quicksave/load??

[@Codapop_KSP]

For Matt's two controllers, maybe just EVA construction buttons. Also he'll need the keyboard in the VAB.