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EVE BOX - Custom Keyboard and USB Controller
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Pandora Tau
Instant Stealth Killers
#1 - 2012-07-27 17:52:33 UTC  |  Edited by: Pandora Tau
So, just to briefly lay down the why of this: I enjoy watching Street Fighter streams on Twitch and am a bit of a fairweather follower of the pros, and I like how they have custom sticks and such. I noticed that someone had done a custom Starcraft II fighting stick in a similar fashion to what the SF fighting sticks look like. After some Googling I found that nothing is out there for EVE, but there is for WoW. Por que? Something like this could save you a ton of time when in combat, or just present ease of access when playing the game in any way shape or form.

Here is a mockup

The whole entire unit can be made with clear plexi and can have a nice graphic slapped on the top for extra sex appeal. LED lights on the sight, illuminated buttons, backlights, I mean the possibilities are endless with something like this.

http://imgur.com/UxqQM

What now? I made this just to get it out of my system. I wanted to just lay it out with some fellow players and come up with something real nice, but as far as execution goes, I'm sure that if this were put into professional hands this could be produced quicker than I could possibly do it. But if feedback is positive, and someone with a ton of money and time doesn't step forward then I'll be happy to take this as far as I can with the time I have. For me, excitement and enthusiasm are perfect motivators.

Things like Kickstarter are great for projects like this, so we could go that route to produce a prototype. I'm definitely down for that.

Step 1: We need feedback. Button locations, organization, shapes, sizes, everything. Whatchu got?

For right now, that's all the steps we need. Let's just get some discussion going and see if we can't make this thing a reality, because I know I would love to slap a big red target button before I pop a sucka.

Update: This could potentially be made into a tablet app. I'm fishing for programmers to discuss the feasability of such a thing. Since my background is front end design, I'm pretty excited at this idea. Thoughts?

:)
Grandpa Bill
Twin Lakes Retirement Home
#2 - 2012-07-27 18:06:47 UTC
Assuming that you are in the US, Keep in mind that ventures in kick starter and indigogo are not tax free ventures unless you are with a non profit with 501c3 status. All money given to you is considered earned income not donations. You can partner with a non profit to get the tax free benefits but it might be hard finding to support your cause unless someone on here can help you do down that route. I would advise you talking to a tax professional to know how much you need to withhold for taxes and to make sure you have enough cash on hand to create your prototype and to create the items that the people are giving money for.

Now im off fer a bit... soaps are on.

Grandpa Bill
Sid Hudgens
Doomheim
#3 - 2012-07-27 18:07:19 UTC
I love it.

Put me down for two of them. One black and one ... Either navy blue or white, whatever is easier. Lol


Whatever you do, please for the love of god use mechanical key switches.

"....as if 10,058 Goon voices cried out and were suddenly silenced."
Turifica
Doomheim
#4 - 2012-07-27 18:41:37 UTC
nice touch with the buttons arranged like the ccp logo. you do this sort of thing professionally?
Pandora Tau
Instant Stealth Killers
#5 - 2012-07-27 18:54:06 UTC
No, I'm in school studying finance. I prefer to design for hobby. I do killboard banners, wallpapers and stuff too if you check my sig's link. But yeah, I'm trying rock and roll with this controller. I'm starting to map the logistics of manufacturing one of these guys right now.

:)
dexington
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#6 - 2012-07-27 19:05:28 UTC
Try looking for a local hackerspace, there is a good chance you can find someone willing to help you with the input hardware, they may also have access to hardware needed to prototype the casing.

I'm a relatively respectable citizen. Multiple felon perhaps, but certainly not dangerous.
Abon
Pandorum Research Incorporated
#7 - 2012-07-27 19:11:56 UTC
OH GOD i love buttons!
Pandora Tau
Instant Stealth Killers
#8 - 2012-07-27 19:28:08 UTC
dexington wrote:
Try looking for a local hackerspace, there is a good chance you can find someone willing to help you with the input hardware, they may also have access to hardware needed to prototype the casing.


Never heard of Hackerspaces. One Google search later and yeah, this thing is getting built. I have a large and organized Hackerspace community in my city.

:)
Hongus Gwag
Doomheim
#9 - 2012-07-27 19:32:40 UTC
Grandpa Bill wrote:
Assuming that you are in the US, Keep in mind that ventures in kick starter and indigogo are not tax free ventures unless you are with a non profit with 501c3 status. All money given to you is considered earned income not donations. You can partner with a non profit to get the tax free benefits but it might be hard finding to support your cause unless someone on here can help you do down that route. I would advise you talking to a tax professional to know how much you need to withhold for taxes and to make sure you have enough cash on hand to create your prototype and to create the items that the people are giving money for.

Now im off fer a bit... soaps are on.


Even accountants wouldn't find this paragraph interesting.
Wingmate
Perkone
Caldari State
#10 - 2012-07-27 20:04:46 UTC
Hongus Gwag wrote:
Even accountants wouldn't find this paragraph interesting.


yeah, posts that attempt to contribute to the community instead of cussing at each other are totally boring.

i make spreadsheets for pretty cheap. contact me for more info.

https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=197433
Karash Amerius
The Seven Shadows
Scotch And Tea.
#11 - 2012-07-27 20:17:58 UTC
I would buy one...especially if they used Cherry switches.

Karash Amerius Operative, Sutoka
MotherMoon
Tribal Liberation Force
Minmatar Republic
#12 - 2012-07-27 22:00:47 UTC
love it. but you know...

Zboard has this cool system where you can swap in and out other mo set ups. the mmo boards only cost 10$. Maybe you should take your idea t them? try to prove there is a market for it? They made one for city of heros and no one plays that,

http://dl.eve-files.com/media/1206/scimi.jpg
Virgil Travis
Non Constructive Self Management
#13 - 2012-07-27 22:04:36 UTC
That looks a bit useful, I'd be tempted to spend some money on the keyboard definitely, maybe the controller too.

Unified Church of the Unobligated - madness in the method Mamma didn't raise no victims.
Cutter Isaacson
DEDSEC SAN FRANCISCO
#14 - 2012-07-27 22:22:11 UTC
I'm thinking of customising my wireless keyboard and possibly my laptop as well, does anyone know what kind of paint can be applied to the plastics used to construct these items?

"The truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination." Elim Garak.
Cutter Isaacson
DEDSEC SAN FRANCISCO
#15 - 2012-07-27 22:22:49 UTC
Karash Amerius wrote:
I would buy one...especially if they used Cherry switches.



Also this Cool

"The truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination." Elim Garak.
Pandora Tau
Instant Stealth Killers
#16 - 2012-07-27 23:03:16 UTC  |  Edited by: Pandora Tau
Keep it coming.

I would need to get in touch with CCP before even thinking about going to anyone like ZBoards. For now this can turn into a well polished, shiny toy with tons of button. No need to think about mass producing it quite yet.

Couple of things: Why Cherry switches?

K, it was just 1 thing.

:)
Lilith Amunet
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#17 - 2012-07-27 23:17:33 UTC
I want it.
MotherMoon
Tribal Liberation Force
Minmatar Republic
#18 - 2012-07-27 23:18:49 UTC
Lilith Amunet wrote:
I want it.

awww you look so sad and upset that you can't have it, lol

http://dl.eve-files.com/media/1206/scimi.jpg
Cutter Isaacson
DEDSEC SAN FRANCISCO
#19 - 2012-07-27 23:19:30 UTC
Pandora Tau wrote:
Keep it coming.

I would need to get in touch with CCP before even thinking about going to anyone like ZBoards. For now this can turn into a well polished, shiny toy with tons of button. No need to think about mass producing it quite yet.

Couple of things: Why Cherry switches?

K, it was just 1 thing.



Cherry switches produce a very satisfying and tactile "click" when a button is pressed, unlike the "soft press" keyboards so prevalent today. On a personal note I would prefer Cherry MX Black switches as the activation and release points are the same, making for easier double tapping.

"The truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination." Elim Garak.
Pandora Tau
Instant Stealth Killers
#20 - 2012-07-27 23:37:08 UTC
OK, so as far as this stuff goes, keys and whatnot--

The keys would need to be small. This is the manufacturer I'm looking at right now for everything else that's not the target switch:

http://www.solutionsinplastic.com/keytops.html?gclid=CJWV7LSCu7ECFQKEnQodvX8Arw

So, it'd just be like a keyboard. If I could get switches that were small enough not make this too big, that'd be awesome. I found a plexi solution today, so that's good.

When you guys offer suggestions, please don't hesitate to drop URLs of images or info, and whatnot.

:)
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