pc gaming controller with keyboard input

[prpledoggxii]

i would like to design a custom gaming controller for pc that has a built in qwerty keyboard and also a few keys in specific areas to add more buttons to the controller itself. i have the general idea of what i would like the final product to be but im having difficulties figuring out the best way to make the controller completely operational. my general concept is to take a wired xbox 360 pc controller and add a custom qwerty keyboard below the joysticks in a comfortable manner. also i would like buttons to be placed behind the controller where your fingers rest when gripping the controller. maybe 4 or 6 per side. another consideration of mine is completely rebuilding the whole design of the controller using my cad program and printing it out with a 3d printer. but still it must use the xbox controller hardware. another few ideas im flirting with are wireless compatibility, rotary knob for racing games(steering wheel), lit up controller and buttons, pressure sensitive buttons and triggers, a built in fan to cool your hands while playing, and maybe even a small trackball to use as an alternative to the joysticks. just so you know im also quite new to electrical engineering but im good with mechanics and a soldering iron and i build computers as a hobby. if you have any ideas or can point me in the right direction that would be great.

[Broadmonkey]

I suggest you find what specific components you want to implement first and then a µcontroller. It sounds like what you want to make is going to be pretty large and expensive and hard to make, but also very ambitious!
If you have a build computers you would also know that cables and routing cables needs its space, so keep that in mind when you design the shell.

[prpledoggxii]

thank you. and yes it will be a hard build but its something ive always wanted to do. i always enjoyed the idea of having the best of both worlds when it comes to gaming such as the simplicity of a controller and the diversity of a keyboard. im completely new when it comes to working with circuit boards themselves. so is there any good sites i can go to, to learn the basics? specifically with what im trying to accomplish.