Making a Bluetooth controller from a Fisher Price toy

I convert a Fisher Price kids controller into a working Bluetooth controller! See how I did it and if it's any good.
#fisherprice #microcontroller #bluetooth
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[@muskop42]

imagine showing up to a street fighter tournament and your opponent absolutely curb stomps you using this

[@DarkTails256]

Mind as well quit the game at that point

[@comfort-dose4547]

I would die on the inside and never play another tournament for abt 4 years

[@Ditchedd]

@@comfort-dose4547better than me, is completely retire

[@mattinscratch]

They’d be too distracted by the flashing lights, colors, and activities the controller has to offer.

[@TcuNation247]

LMAO!!!💀🤣🤣🤣

[@crumblyairship]

i'm so glad someone actually did this

[@Aydenitro]

Now, go to the titanic in a submarine using this as the controller.

[@Durrutitv]

NGL, I'd take this over a logitech

[@Aydenitro]

@@Durrutitv I'll get you one for Christmas son, love you.

[@monhi64]

⁠@@Aydenitrothat’s uhh a unique reply lol

[@Aydenitro]

@@monhi64 and you're uniquely charming. Love you, son. Merry Chrisma

[@user-ee6lk1pb6w]

​@@Aydenitrome too daddy! Get one for me!

[@nikosweetwolfyuwu]

Would be very cool if you change the "start" button with an actual joystick, like a 3d printed one, and even the shoulder buttons, but i know you don't want to add a lot of stuff cause you are not gonna like use it its for your daughter, but still its great that someone actually turned a toy to a controller

[@Ambedge]

Imagine seeing a player at a Super Smash Bros. Tournament with this controller

[@Bathtub_Sodium]

imagine them WINNING the whole tournament with it😭😭😭

[@Elliottlikeshistory]

Ferb, I know what we’re going to do to today

[@ThisIsPete]

Anything electronics-related feels like black magic to me, but this was particularly impressive. Fine work!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! Hoping to keep upping the electronics I do trying to relearn it.

[@TheBasementChannel]

I liked the way you casually show off your extensive farming estate. Oh, and great work on the controller! What an epic project.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! Yeah I thought I may as well record something as I go around surveying the land.

[@thepeternetwork]

"She'd rather play with unicorns instead." Girl has her priorities.

[@CmdrMartinThompson]

"Backed up roms" eh 😉

[@Envexity207]

Legally obtained games

[@inceptional]

Genuinely, as a 48 year old man, this makes me so joyful. It's innocent and childish and just fun! :D

[@davewilliams8962]

Great job! love how it all fits in the original case. Also loved the easter egg at the end glad I hung around for it. I wonder how many people will miss it!!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks!! I think you may be the first to have seen it!!

[@mogwaay]

Lol that really cracked me up, so much effort, so little return (well from the little one, it looks like you had a blast!). Double plus points for the 4 handed multimeter shit!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! Always the way with kids, one minute they're interested, the next they're not, then they are again, then they're just embarrassed their Dad's on KZbin.

[@GIRGHGH]

I think it would be interesting to go the other way and reskin a modern controller like an X Box or Switch Pro controller to look like one of these.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Maybe I’ll put my painting skills to the test!

[@monhi64]

But why? The only context I see is if you think it’s funny to have a baby controller but can only half commit to the bit.

[@Lemerksiscool]

I think you are the most british guy i've ever heard

[@RachelWolfe]

I love this so much. It taps into several of my interests, electronics projects, weird game controllers, and early gaming! 💜

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! We share a lot of interests!!

[@pixlluv]

I might just cry (': you want your daughter to feel included and bond with her, my dad never let me play with him and usually just got upset if i was in the room while he was playing. You are a sweet man, loved this

[@thejordanfcompany3355]

This controller also has the Komani code as a special Easter Egg for the Adults.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Yeah they also added it to there gameboy-esk toy. Who ever decided that at fisher price should get a pay rise!

[@XinmingChen]

Great project! This was my first thought when I see this toy gifted to my kid, glad you turned it into reality!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Yeah it would have been great if it came built in as a different mode for it. Then they really could say it grows with your child!

[@Bane_Amesta]

Fisher Price NEEDS to make an actual controller, all the buttons and stuff, it would be awesome! Too bad your daughter wasn't in the mood for gaming tho, lol And now I think the next challenge should be turning the Fisher Price gameboy toy into an actual gameboy...

[@RetrogradeScene]

Yeah it wouldn’t have taken much for them to add it as an extra option to the controller. Then it really would have grown with them. I do have one of the gameboy toys. Not sure if I’ll convert it though. Thanks for watching

[@Bane_Amesta]

@@RetrogradeScene I assume they thought adding more buttons would be too much for kids, but honestly I disagree lol In any case they have the chance to modify the original and customize it to add the missing buttons. Even as a toy I'd love to have one lol

[@ukulelepichu4484]

i'd just make the gameboy one another controller also

[@DoNotCareAboutAccount]

Friend: Yo, I want to play. can I have a controller? Me: Yeah. Take this extra controller. The Extra Controller:

[@ByRoow7]

My nephew had this a couple years ago and i pondered about this concept every time I saw it. Im glad that someone has the knowledge and capability to actually do this.

[@guestIdk-ni9hb]

had this idea randomly today. Checked if someone already made it, and here I am. Nice work! I'm going to look into getting an esp32.

[@MazTheMeh16]

1:32 british doc-core

[@RoseTintedSpectrum]

Enjoyed that! Always enjoy a daft project just for the sake of it.

[@RetrogradeScene]

That’s just my style! My work loves it!

[@Meoiswa]

"I fear for my (50$~90$) controllers, so I'm going to spend many man-hours of research, development, prototyping, to build a hacked-together one from expensive parts that has limited functionality" This man's an engineer alright. Snarkyness aside, great job! For version 2 maybe you can loom into co-pilot functions so you can help your daughter play more complicated games by assisting with your own, fully featured controller. Maybe by having the prototype controller act as a bluetooth host that pairs to a real controller, and pipe its inouts through via the guest bluetooth connection to the "game console" its paired with? 🤔

[@RetrogradeScene]

Great idea! I can teach her to play driving instructor style!! I’ll look in to it. Thanks for watching!

[@Meoiswa]

@@RetrogradeScene Xbox has this function built-in, its part of their (rather impressive) accesibility functions. But, I mean, how cool would it be to have it on the device itself

[@RetrogradeScene]

@@Meoiswa well something existing has never stopped me before. I keep thinking about keeping an Xbox, I can pretend it’s research now!!

[@BinglesP]

I wish more controllers nowadays went all out with their style like these. Granted, probably not with things like D-Pads intentionally skewed off at a tilted angle, but the button shapes and color scheme give it character even more than the quite literal characterization of the added face.

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Just a brilliant video! Also a great hack of the controller. Great work all round!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks Lee! And thanks for the thumbnail suggestions!!

[@ctrlaltrees]

Some fantastic editing in this and such a cool project too!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks Rees! Handy to, the kids are always hading the remote.

[@charliebrown1006]

Don’t know much about hardware but the leading lines in the field scene are on point!

[@TheNightThatCrawls]

1:00 bro has multiple arms

[@ls190v2]

Thank you for making the controller itself, Fisher-Price. And for making this, Mr Retrograde Scene, you get a gold star. ⭐

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks!!

[@seanoconnor1702]

Found this from Gizmodo, thought “hm wonder if I can do this with ours”. Watch video. Not even close. Great job though, A+ KZbin and dadding

[@RetrogradeScene]

Wow can’t believe it’s been mentioned on Gizmodo! Thanks for watching

[@alpha-kappa-de]

What a great idea! Would be funny to do this with something that has buttons but doesn't look like a controller, like a broken camera or a bluetooth mp3 speaker xD

[@RetrogradeScene]

I’ll be keeping an eye out in the charity shops for something funny to convert now! Thanks!!

[@thesillyboi1112]

now im just thinking about playing doom with that controller

[@addambelmont3050]

Is it educational? We want to ensure a good learning environment for the player.

[@sparkle_on]

DOOM 2016 on ultra nightmare

[@cryptiongmz]

@@sparkle_on💀

[@iuopunderstandyourjokes9914]

Please remove your edits about you great fulness for the likes

[@thesillyboi1112]

@@iuopunderstandyourjokes9914 nahh i aint doing $hit

[@evelynflynn]

Clicked on this purely my mistake but stayed the whole time! Was so captivating loving the content

[@playinginthepodcastroom8365]

Why doesn't *8bitDo* make a conversion kit for this controller? 😅 For real, gamers (and gamer-parents) would buy them!

[@freestargaming2865]

1:05 How did gain two extra arms!? O.O... ALIEN!!! XD

[@GenerationPixel]

That was nothing less than Sorcery to me 🤣 congrats on the YTOTM nomination and good luck 😎👍

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! I was surprised to get the nomination, it’s a great way to highlight small channels I’ve been enjoying watching them!!

[@aleatory.mp3]

you are a good father and a cool people congratulations

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks!

[@jishan6992]

I am surprised this is such a small channel given the quality of the content, hope you make it big

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks I appreciate that! I hope so too!!

[@MemesNick]

Great one! Really enjoyed the process and surprised to how good it worked, I liked the app design also. Great selection of games to test it also ;)

[@Flintknock]

i would play genuine money for this

[@RetrogradeScene]

Yeah I think they missed a trick not including it as an option

[@LordMooshroom]

This is so sweet

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks!

[@monarchofrymden]

best dad ever

[@DiceRobo]

Great work on this, for me I would just cheat slightly and use an 8bitdo Zero2 board since it does all the bluetooth, battery, and system compatibility stuff in the same size package as this board.

[@VoidHalo]

Ugh, looking at the thumbnail, I can just SMELL the caked on gunk that is inevitable with anything a toddler touches. Random sticky patches, dried up who knows what, random bodily fluids (those fingers get everywhere they can). The one thing nobody mentions about having a kid is how everything you own will be covered in a layer of this crud for at least the first 3 years of your kid's life. Usually twice that. Especially if siblings are involved. ESPECIALLY WITH TWINS. Do not miss that.

[@DarkKirby8976]

I would love to see someone play a more competitive game with this controller

[@Gestersmek]

I would love to see a version 2 of this just to know what you would do with the scroll wheel and toggle switch they put in for shoulder buttons.

[@Achampnator]

Great Video!

[@narwhaldriften1423]

Those 2 small solder pads at 10:07 are for a tiny 5.1kohm smt resistor I bought those same connectors and they work if you solder on the correct resistor

[@RetrogradeScene]

I tried that and a few other combinations but couldn’t seem to get it to work. Maybe it was just a bad solder joint. I’ve got a similar thing in a new project so hopefully I’ll have more luck with it.

[@jameyboyofficial5511]

Legit gonna crank 90s on it

[@shrippie-4214]

just saw one of these at the store imagine showing up to a fighting game tournament wity this controller lol

[@colpies110]

Friend: wait I don't have a controller me: I gotchu (pulls out this)

[@leesmithsworkshop]

Great video and well worth the wait.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! it felt like a marathon to make!

[@leesmithsworkshop]

@@RetrogradeScene you do have a lot of very nice editing so I can see why.

[@denizk0461]

super interesting video! I've recently been thinking about trying something similar as well, so this is really cool to see! and btw, for reference, 9:38 the USB-C port should still work for data if you're connecting it using a USB-A to USB-C cable - if your laptop doesn't have USB-A (like my tablet) then using an adapter to USB-A will work too. I used the exact same method of cutting up a microUSB cable for a project of mine just a few weeks ago! Nevertheless, I bought the very same USB-C ports recently, and I'm hoping to get them working with pulldown resistors~

[@promaster424]

I want to be that kind of dad when I have a kid

[@Gu5A2]

I always heard about this I’m kinda surprised the company didn’t start actually make this in collaboration with someone else

[@DandragonDe]

That is what Madcatz was for..

[@EyemachineStudios]

Imagine asking your friend for the controller and he gives you this shit

[@MinistryOfWalks]

Where do you order the second pair of hands from? Seems incredibly handy… I’ll see myself out

[@RetrogradeScene]

Yeah you really need them some times!

[@mogwaay]

Just to prove I am a dad, I'll make this sacrifice: "did you get them from the 2nd hand shop" ... ... ...

[@RetroMango]

james channel collab when? also love your content

[@Cedalus]

2:50 testing on the best Kirby game 👀

[@Floydpink68]

5:58 So I tried this at home and cut myself to pieces 😂😀 Just kidding of course. Great video my man!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks! When watching back what I recorded I thought I best not advocate my bad habits!

[@NetRa1n]

Imagine playing project diva on these💀

[@RetrogradeScene]

Maybe I’ll give it a go! Thanks for watching!

[@AirPodprosgen2]

You did the unthinkable

[@Josuh]

Penny snapcube would love this

[@sverrikarason3307]

This was so cool, but please make a v2 with a working joystick and shoulder buttons.

[@Jakewake52]

Honestly- while I could make the completely missing the point statement that you shouldve just gotten her a gamecube controller (or the nyxi warrior) I think it would be really cool to try fit an 8bitdo gamecube replacement board into one of these, it would give you the sticks needed and triggers- youd only need to add a start button and a single bumper (two buttons if you wanted a dedicated select as well but youd have to do further modding for that anyway)

[@Obeledobel]

I wana see someone play scratchin melodi with this

[@GeilerCapibara]

Ocean gate titan

[@watercat1248]

On the next insertion you plan to make the analon scroll wield and the top button to work?

[@ArzolaMX]

Awesome!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks for watching!!

[@nathanwilkins6107]

You should show up to a fighting game tournament with that

[@raine6813]

next you should try making a fidget cube into a game controller

[@sauldavalos3053]

Buen trabajo

[@RetrogradeScene]

¡Gracias por ver!

[@superboy98-ie4im]

The way the controller spawned in 5:16

[@iuopunderstandyourjokes9914]

Playing doom with this would be crazy

[@HeihachiChaolan]

7:00 could someone explain why cutting the tracks solved the issue of the button not triggering?

[@Ly3x437]

YOUR 1000TH SUB

[@RetrogradeScene]

Amazing! Thanks you! I kept checking back as I knew it was close

[@mrcoolandcutedude]

can you update us if he struggles when he moves up to a PS/xbox controller

[@fly123321]

Followed along but had a quick question on the wiring/programming. Did you use the debounce function in the ESP32-Gamepad library? And/or use the ESP32 built in pull-up resistor for the inputs before just cutting the traces? Not like I'm trying to save the sounds (trying to save my sanity!) but mostly for my own understanding. Thanks!

[@RetrogradeScene]

Hi I did write a version using the debounce but was having issues with it so the version that’s on there doesn’t use it. I did mean to go back and try it again as I’m sure it was something I didn’t have quite right. I also tried using the built in pull up resistor as I was hesitant to cut the traces. But I couldn’t get it to work and in the end didn’t thing it was worth the time to play around with to save the board, like you I was secretly glad to loose the sounds. Also it would take much to fix the traces if needed. I did consider adding in my own sounds but felt I needed to work on something else for a bit. Thanks for watching and good luck with yours.

[@fly123321]

@@RetrogradeScene thanks so much for the reply. I know a configuration that works now at least! Haha I'll solder things up and see how we do this weekend

[@Thundawummbo]

This is the remote you give your little cousin at the family reunion

[@LuckslyMeleeyt]

Did she walk in on u building this? cause it be funny that shes like: Dad whats that?

[@milesgerschefske6231]

Funnily enough the glow that shows it's charging might also be a catastrophic failure too

[@Saver310]

What the hell this has only 60k views?

[@Fruglefrogface]

I use mine to pilot my sub 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@dslsurferboy]

Can you post the complete instructions on how to do this? Thank you

[@SpartanMangoo]

How long did it take you to make this?

[@Foxcoon297]

Now trying to play Nintendo switch game with this controller

[@ހެލޯ]

0:01 I thought he speaking chinese😭💀

[@TheJokimazi]

What table is that?

[@RetrogradeScene]

What my desk? It’s just a corner desk I’ve stuck a strip light to the back off.

[@FatFiber8096]

My parents got this for my little brother because he kept trying to play games with us. We’d give him the controller and he’d pretend to play

[@hakusonata]

Hey any chance i could possibly buy one of these off of you? I bought a FP not too long ago and started attempting to put it together but i just dont have the resources to out it all together

[@hawkeyepearce1066]

Hi, @RoseTintedSpectrum sent me, and I'm glad he did! Looking forward to checking out your DIY tech-hacking vids over the Xmas break.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Thanks!! It was amazing to be mentioned in his video, some great creators in that list! I’ve got a few more tech hacking / build videos planned for next year too!

[@BackForwardPunch]

I’d love to make one of these just as a fun project. You don’t happen to have your code available do you?

[@nd-julian929]

are we not going to talk about how he made a whole app for the controller 😭

[@MasonAlex-f9p]

My baby sister had one of these

[@AlonsoLopezmora]

That modified controller could be used to troll someone

[@renaaliyeva7432]

whats name this controller

[@UberMicroRepairs]

Latest PS5 Controller from SCUF!