For a game jam I definitely spent too much time on the controller. The game suffered more than a little.
Built for Global Game Jam 2019 (theme: Transmission), Communication Cube was a collaborative effort between Dayna, Ryan, and myself. The game itself is a simple straightforward, fast-paced "aim and shoot" arcade experience. But the real magic isn't on the monitor—it's the custom-engineered cube controller resting in your hands.
Instead of moving a mouse or jiggling an analogue stick, you control your targeting by physically tilting, twisting, and rotating a bespoke, wireless cube, using a massive arcade button on the face to fire.
Inside the Tech: The Cube Controller
We wanted the controller to feel responsive and natural, so we packed it with some seriously cool hardware:
- The brain of the movement is an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). By combining an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer, it tracks its exact position in 3D space with high precision (exactly like the tech packed inside your smartphone).
- The current prototype uses a Wi-fi-enabled micro-controller to blast orientation data and button presses directly to the game engine with minimal latency—though the architecture is modular enough that we could easily swap this out for Bluetooth in a future revision.
- The Fire Button: A single, satisfyingly chunky arcade button mounted right on the face for tactile firing feedback.
The Build Log
Every piece of this controller was built from scratch. Here’s a quick look behind the workbench:
- The Prototypes: Wiring up the core tech stack—the microcontroller with its integrated Wi-Fi chip alongside the IMU breakout board.
- The Housing: Planning out the custom enclosure. We needed something durable enough to handle frantic gameplay, deep enough to house the electronics, and shaped perfectly to form a comfortable cube.
- The Final Polish: Slapping on a clean, custom vinyl wrap to give the finished controller that premium, sleek aesthetic. (Because if your custom hardware doesn't look cool, what's even the point?)