Making Custom Hardware

Ok /prog/

I want to build my own hardware for my computer but have no clue where to start.  My design will be simple game controller with 6 buttons (up, down, left, right, A, start).  I would LIKE a usb connection, but a serial port or parallel seems more simple.

I also need to program it.  What would be the best method for making custom drivers?

Are there any good tutorials for making simple hardware like this? (I'm running window XP)

>>54
I did that with a PIC 16F877 once, talking to its serial programming interface using my "clock thumb" and "data thumb".  Turns out if you speak the protocol too slowly it requires a reset after each instruction entered, after which you must send enough "increment address" commands to get back from 0 to the next position.  The effective program size was...somewhat limited.

I ended up hacking open my TI-86 link cable and writing a hex loader for it in machine code.  I hope you all liked my story.