This is a simple design for a 4-button digital joystick, to be made out of arcade parts, that can be connected to old PCs with game ports, or old computers and consoles with ATARI-style joystick ports, like the SEGA MegaDrive, and the Amiga.
Copyright (C) 2026 John Tsiombikas <nuclear@mutantstargoat.com>
All hardware designs in this project are free, released under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3, or at your option any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
Download digjoy release 1.0 with all the necessary designs to create the device. Includes PCB design files, schematic, and a simple 3D-printed case.
Download printable PDF schematic
Other than the PCB and components to populate it, you'll need some kind of arcade stick, four buttons, a fully wired DE-15 male-female cable for the gameport connection, a fully wired (straight through) DE-9 cable for the ATARI-style connection, and the 3D printed case (included in the release archive) or other suitable enclosure.
Grab the gerber files and send them to your favorite PCB manufacturing facility to order blank PCBs, and check out the interactive BOM for the necessary electronic components, and their placement.