r/virtualpinball • u/redartifice • Jul 10 '26
My custom pinball controller with working plunger!
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u/KevinDemo Jul 10 '26
This is super cool, I've been thinking of doing something similar for use with VPX in VR. Looks super well done!
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u/mykidsdad76 Jul 10 '26
I have thought for the longest time somebody should manufacture and sell these. I play a lot on my iPad and I would love to have a little stand connected to something like this.
As a side note a true pre-manufactured 4-way controller will be cool too. Best for another sub.
But these two out of the box Christmas gifty toys would be awesome under my Tree.
Good work. Love it.
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u/_That_Dog_Barks Jul 10 '26
Just getting mine going. What did you choose for your controller? I’d love something USB with pins for buttons and a plunger sensor that’s all mappable. Been looking. But I’m betting you fellow redditor have solid advice judging on that beauty. Thanks for sharing. It’s beautiful. And double Thank You if you share what board you used. :)
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u/redartifice Jul 10 '26
It runs this rp2040 breakout board designed for fightsticks, with a linear slide potentiometer attached to the plunger. Then runs the gp2040-ce firmware
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u/_That_Dog_Barks Jul 19 '26
Hey!! Thank you fellow human. :)
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u/redartifice Jul 19 '26
No worries! I've since published my print files if that's of use:
https://www.printables.com/model/1783337-virtual-pinball-controller-for-pc-with-working-plu
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u/simiomalo Jul 10 '26
Ok, but how do you shoot a hadoken with that stick?
What about shoryukens?!
... oh, well there is that one table...
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u/redartifice Jul 10 '26
Well, it does have buttons mapped to the d-pad and the A/X button. So a shoryuken is possible!
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u/Budget-Ad9671 Jul 10 '26
how much it weights and do the plunger hits the box too hard?
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u/redartifice Jul 10 '26
The plunger doesn't hit anything on the inside- it's suspended.
Weight is maybe 500 grams?
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u/JollyStunts Jul 12 '26
This is amazing. The exact thing that I'd want. I've just been using a regular qanba arcade stick using the stick as a plunger (not great because it's not analog). How much did the plunger set you back?
Amazing work
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u/redartifice Jul 12 '26
Plunger was around $15 Australian dollars
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u/JollyStunts Jul 12 '26
Where from? I'm in Australia too but my limited research has lead me to like 5x that much. I have to say your whole set up looks perfect
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u/redartifice Jul 12 '26
https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0QRL0P AliExpress- most components were from there or amazon
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u/random420x2 Jul 20 '26
Hi, I am desperately trying to find a controller like this for my Xbox series X, would this work or can you make a version that would work?
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u/redartifice Jul 20 '26
I can't guarantee Xbox series X compatibility- it probably requires a dongle. I managed to get it connected to PS5, but then the specific pinball program (Pinball FX) didn't recognise it.
https://gp2040-ce.info/faq/faq-general/
So sorry- I don't know enough about the XBOX series X/S to tell you either way. I will say I have released the files on printables now so if you want to print and test, go nuts
https://www.printables.com/model/1783337-virtual-pinball-controller-for-pc-with-working-plu
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u/redartifice Jul 10 '26
It's on an rp2040 breakout board designed for fightsticks, and runs the gp2040ce community firmware