make a game, get a controller for it. yes, making a game on roblox does count.
take the finished pcb and place the components into their corresponding holes. start with the buttons, then install the vertical buttons, analog joysticks, female header pins, and arduino pro micro. make sure each component is oriented according to the markings on the pcb and that the pins are fully inserted through the board.
once all of the components are positioned correctly, solder each component to the pcb. make sure every pin has a solid solder joint and that there are no accidental connections between neighboring pads. and remember, if it smells like roasting chicken, you're doing something wrong.
connect the controller to your computer using the pro micro's usb connection. open the arduino ide and install the gamepad library. open the provided game controller sketch, upload it to your pro micro.
after the sketch has been uploaded, open your computer's game controller settings and check that the pro micro is being recognized as a gamepad. open its properties and use the test screen to check the buttons and joysticks.
if the controller is not detected at all, check the usb connection and make sure the pro micro is installed and oriented correctly. if individual buttons or joystick axes do not work, inspect the corresponding solder joints and pcb connections. if a joystick moves in the wrong direction or the inputs are mapped incorrectly, check the pin assignments and declarations in the sketch.
once every button and joystick has been confirmed to work, test it in a game. configure the controls in the game's settings if necessary, then use the controller normally. happy gaming!
once you get your controller working, you can go beyond by designing and printing a custom enclosure for it for better ergonomics. you can also consider replacing the pro micro with a board that supports wireless hid functionality.
make a game. any game. you can choose any language, any platform. simple beginner project or the next big thing. share it with the world or keep it locked up in your computer. left open-ended so have fun with it!