[Dave Nunez] desired arcade quality controls when gaming at home. The problem was he couldn’t decide on just one console to target with his build, so he targeted them all. What you see above is a single controller that links to lots of different gaming rigs.
He took a simple-is-best approach, keeping the main goal of top notch inputs at the forefront. To start, he developed the face plate out of thick MDF to make sure it wouldn’t flex or bounce as he mashed the buttons. To keep the electronics as basic as possible he soldered connections to actual controller PCBs (well, reproductions of controllers), breaking each out to a separate DB9 connector on the back of the case. These connectors interface with one of the three adapter cables seen to the right. This lets the controller work with NES, SNES, and an Atari 2600 system.
To pull the enclosure together [Dave] designed the rounded corner pieces and cut them out with a CNC mill. These connect with flat MDF to comprise the sides. To give it that professional look he filled the joints with Bondo and sanded them smooth before painting.