Okay, so by “controller” I just mean a specialized mechanical keyboard. Endless Sky is a spiritual successor to the Escape Velocity games. EDIT: I also realized this pic is from before I wired it up, but the only differences are four screws in the corners and the Micro USB cord from my long-gone Nexus 10 tablet semi-permanently coming out the back.
- Gateron Black for most of the keyboard switches
- Also got momentary toggle switches and a light duty aluminum push button, because Millennium Falcon and Top Gun.
- “DSA” and “F10” profile keycaps
- laser cut (painted Masonite) and 3D printed (PLA)enclosure
- Layout built around the in-cockpit control mapping
- Hand-wired (aka “Dead Bug”) keyboard matrix
- QMK/VIAL programmable firmware on my last Promicro with a Micro-USB cable.
- Dymo-style embossing tape labels!!!
That’s an amazing piece of work! I enjoyed playing Endless Sky a lot in 2018 (I only remember the date because it was on a Fedora 28 PC). Cockpit controllers really give the feeling of immersion when playing.
You should try it again. They’ve added a lot of content, a few QoL features, and made a few balancing tweaks, but even back then the engine was pretty simple and solid.