Adafruit
Adafruit PC Joystick to seesaw I2C Adapter - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
Bring your classic PC joystick back to life. This adapter board takes any legacy DE-15 game port joystick and converts its analogue X/Y axes and two buttons ...
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Bring your classic PC joystick back to life. This adapter board takes any legacy DE-15 game port joystick and converts its analogue X/Y axes and two buttons to I2C via an onboard ATtiny816 running the Adafruit seesaw firmware. No analogue inputs needed on your microcontroller — just plug in a STEMMA QT cable and start reading.
With two STEMMA QT / Qwiic ports for daisy-chaining and an onboard 5 V power generator (since classic joysticks expect that voltage), this adapter makes retro controller integration completely non-destructive — no cable cutting required.
Key Features
- DE-15 Game Port Socket – Plug in any classic PC joystick directly
- Seesaw I2C Interface – ATtiny816 converts analogue joystick axes and buttons to I2C data
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Two ports for solderless I2C connection and daisy-chaining
- Onboard 5 V Generator – Powers the joystick at its expected voltage from a 3.3 V I2C bus
- No Analogue Pins Required – Read joystick X, Y, and two buttons entirely over I2C
- Breadboard Compatible – Header strip included for optional breadboard use
Reads
- Joystick X axis (analogue)
- Joystick Y axis (analogue)
- Button 1 (digital)
- Button 2 (digital)
Ideal For
- Retro gaming projects with classic PC joysticks
- Adding analogue joystick input to I2C-only boards
- Interactive exhibits using vintage controllers
- CircuitPython and Arduino game projects
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit PC Joystick to Seesaw I2C Adapter, fully assembled and tested
- 1× Header strip for optional breadboard mounting
Resources
- ATtiny817 Seesaw Guide – Seesaw library and I2C interface documentation
- What is STEMMA QT? – Introduction to the STEMMA QT connector system
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
Find this product in
Brands
adafruit attiny817 seesaw
Document · 4.9 MB · Click any page to view full size
introducing adafruit stemma qt
Document · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
