ABOUT PROJECT CONTROLLER

Project Controller is an interactive expedition to turn a Nissan QASHQAI into a Pro Evolution Soccer controller and drive football.

As you read this, our team of car engineers, gamers and UX designers are exploring the different possibilities for connecting the Nissan driving interface to a Sony PlayStation to create a new way to control Pro Evolution Soccer 2016. Project Contoller is here. Stay tuned.

PLAYSTATION
CONTROLLER HACK

The Hacking phase turned out to be quite a hassle.

Our initial idea was to hack the Bluetooth signals but that was way too tricky. After several failed attempts and moments of despair we decided to open up the controller and add our own cables to send signals from a microcontroller to simulate the button pushes. Now, after hours of hardcore hacking, everything is working more smoothly than we could possible imagine.

Next we need to connect the controller to the Nissan QASHQAI.

CONNECTING THE CONTROLLER WITH NISSAN QASHQAI

We successfully modified the PlayStation controller and now we are figuring out the best way to connect it to the Nissan QASHQAI.

First we read the signals from the car using the CAN-interface. Within this interface signals from all the electronics in the car are sent and can be picked up by a device called a Vehicle Interface, or VI. The challenge at the moment is to find out how to interpret the signals. Now that we understand the language of the car we are ready to drive football.

Technology Ready
to Kick Off

We have successfully connected a PlayStation and PES2016 game with Nissan QASHQAI's driving interface. Better still, it actually works! We're actually driving football! The Nissan Controller Prototype technology is now ready but we need lots of work on the user interface. Playing on it seems to be harder than we thought... We will hack that in the prototype live test on 10th of November.

GAMEPLAY
IMPROVEMENTS

The Technology behind The Controller is working like planned. Our biggest challenge at the moment is usability and intuitive interaction of gameplay. We are playing a game developed for four-axis movement while our input device – meaning the steering wheel – only has two axis, left and right. That's why the diagonal runs of the players are not smooth enough yet. We are convinced that we will fix that at the upcoming live test day on 10th of November. Stay tuned!

PROTOTYPE USER
INTERFACE LIVE TEST

It's time for the first prototype test!

We invited a bunch of world-leading gaming influencers - bloggers, vloggers, critics and hardcore gamers - to join our team for a one-day testing session. The main goal of our little pow wow is to improve the usability and gameplay of The Controller from a gamer's point of view.

LIVE TEST DAY RECAP

The inspirational and instructive prototype testing session is behind us now. We want to thank the awesome gang of gamers, tech heads, automotive experts and football enthusiasts who joined us from different parts of the globe to test the prototype. Much appreciated! We now have a great deal to take into consideration.

We are currently working on gameplay improvements based on the thoughts and input from our prototype test team.

GET READY FOR
THE ULTIMATE TEST

The Nissan Controller is ready for the ultimate test in Malmö! The event will take place at Malmö New Stadium, Sweden, right before the UEFA Champions League game between Malmö FF and Paris Saint-Germain 25th of Nov. We are going to give the fans of Malmö and PSG an exclusive chance to compete each other in a game before the game with the Controller.

Let's drive football!

THE ULTIMATE LIVE TEST

Today is the day Nissan Controller will be put to the ultimate test.

The Nissan Controller with four playable Nissan QASHQAIS will be at the Malmö New Stadium, Sweden, from 7 pm onwards.