After shutting down its US - establish repair centers over two months ago as a result of the pandemic , Nintendo is starting to reopen them again , which is good news for Switch owners still dealing withJoy - Con drift . Hacker Matteo Pisani came up with a different solvent : a substitution without control stick is a Switch that never experience impulsion trouble , so heupgraded his consolewith a touchpad instead .
It ’s an idea that was not only revolutionize by an embarrassing computer hardware gaffe from a fellowship otherwise have sex for tone consoles , but by the unorthodox approach to gamepads that Valve take with itsnow - deceased Steam Controller . In addition to a undivided joystick , the Steam Controller featured a pair of vibrating tactile touchpads that Valve assure provided as much precision as a computer mouse and keyboard . The Steam Controller did n’t take the gambling world by tempest , but it did show that using a tactual sensation - sensitive command strategy for action at law game was n’t a completely awful estimation .
Pisani had n’t in reality experienced the Joy - Con drift problem with his Switch yet , but he figuredthis hack — which he’sexhaustively detail in a Medium berth — would ensure it was a problem he ’d never play if he managed to extract it off . Starting with a filmy unripe Joy - Con trapping ( an unneeded acclivity but one that certainly contribute some retro charm for those who own the lime fleeceable Donkey Kong 64 - theme N64 ) he graft the intestine of his Switch ’s left Joy - Con while removing the joystick components in the process .
Photo: Matteo Pisani (Medium)
The electronics were upgrade with a digital potentiometer , a capacitive touchpad wrapped in a custom 3D - print enclosure , and an Arduino Pro Mini ( among other bit ) which is used to translate the digital signals from the touchpad to analog joystick signals the Switch is expecting . The hacked Joy - Con is n’t as pretty as Nintendo ’s original hardware , but Pisani plans to optimise and miniaturise the added electronics so that everything fits inside the Joy - Con natural enclosure , allowing it to be used either confiscate or detached .
Gamers used to the tactile experience of ramming a joystick in all directions will belike twist their nose up at this one , as will anyone who ’s skin to play an legal action game on a touchscreen twist like a smartphone using virtual joysticks . The one advantage Pisani ’s hack has is the touchpad ’s circular conception which ply tactual limit so you’re able to feel when your finger has strain the border , preclude it from unintentionally moving out of range as often pass with virtual on - sieve control . It ’s not perfect , but one thing ’s for certain : it ’s never going to experienceannoying trend .
GadgetsGamingHacksNintendoNintendo SwitchSwitchVideo games
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