Controller

diy

Amazing Wii-Like 3-D Controller Interface Built With Foil, Wiring, Resistors and Arduino

What you're looking at here is an actual Wii-like 3-D controller interface that can track objects like your hand in real time. It may look a little shoddy, but what's amazing is that this very functional 3-D interface was built by a hobbyist with parts most DIYers can find in their couch cushions—six resistors, aluminum foil, wire, a cardboard box, and an Arduino microprocessor to crunch the numbers. That's it. It couldn't be more simple. But how'd he pull it off? More »

5:17 PM on Wed Jul 23 2008
By John Mahoney
2,372 views, 15 comments

Latest by markarian: I find microcontrollers and custom software in my couch cushions all the time. more »

nintendo

Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller and GameCube GamePad Getting a Temporary Ban on Sales

As a result of Nintendo's loss in court to a Texas-based company called Anascape, the judge ruled that all sales of the Wii Classic Controller and the GameCube controller need to be temporarily halted until funds can be placed into an escrow account. What's the impact on you, Joe or Dan Consumer? Starting today, July 23, all sales of those controllers AND GameCube systems will be placed on hold, meaning that you should really try and find a place to buy these accessories now if you need them soon. On the bright side, Nintendo's Nunchuck controller isn't affected by this ruling about analog sticks, so you're safe if you just want to play Wii games. [1up via Kotaku]

1:00 PM on Wed Jul 23 2008
By Jason Chen
2,738 views, 14 comments

Latest by n/a: They still seem to be available? Might as well pick up some now since I was putting it off. [www.amazon.com] more »

diy

DIY NES USB Controller Plays Games, Contains Emulator For Playing More Games

This DIY hack does what modders have been doing with NES controllers for years, and then adds an awesome twist. First of all, it's a USB controller that lets you play classic Nintendo games on your laptop. The cool part is there's an emulator crammed inside the controller and it contains all the software and ROMs you need to have a pretty intense retro Nintendo party all by yourself. So far designer Jay Kaye has made three; how about a couple thousand more? More »

5:00 PM on Sun Jul 20 2008
By Jack Loftus
5,967 views, 19 comments

Latest by Bokusatsu_Tenshi: Very nice. Expecting the Wi-fi/Bluetooth version... "Missed a secret" more »

Rage guitar controller

Mysterious Wireless Guitar Hero Controller For Wii Surfaces

A reader in Michigan sent in this image he snapped at his local Wal-Mart of a hither-to unknown controller for Guitar Hero for the Wii called the Rage. None of us have heard of it, a Google search turned up nothing, and there's nothing on Wal-Mart's website about it, so it's a mystery. But it's a sweet looking one, with the box stating it's got the most realistic action yet, light-up LEDs on the fretboard, and a realistic looking wood-toned neck. Pretty sweet, though with the $54.78 price tag, you pay for the good looks. Thanks, James!

7:38 PM on Mon Jul 14 2008
By Matt Hickey
7,764 views, 13 comments

Latest by peerpul: @Dynasty: There is a cover in the back that you pop open to put the wiimote in, it has a plug just like the nun-chuck does. I got one of these, tried it on rock band with no success. It's also more »

demolition

Floor-by-Floor Demolition Blows Minds, Saves Environment

Kajima's floor-by-floor slow demolition is one of those rare things in life that leaves you truly speechless, mouth wide-open, and pinching yourself to be sure this is real while you mutter "what the frak." After all, seeing the video of a 20-floor building submerging into the asphalt as if it was liquid is something that belongs to a sci-fi movie. The stunning process—called daruma-otoshi—is not only almost surrealistic but it helps to reduce the environmental impact. Seriously, I can watch this for hours: More »

1:00 PM on Mon Jul 14 2008
By Jesus Diaz
58,018 views, 83 comments

Latest by atomicafro: Tokyo-3 here we come! more »

motion control

PCs Get Wiimote-esque Motion Controller: The Stix

Motion-controller fans who don't want to get into Wiimote modding now have a way of playing interactive internet games on their PCs with the Stix. No, not the '70s band...it's a new and very Wiimote-esque controller from GoLive2, touch sensitive and launched with a companion website that has hundreds of "free Web-based games," whatever they may be like. The Stix 200 works with these games, while the 400 version looks like it also works with normal PC games. Available in August, press release below. More »

3:46 AM on Wed Jul 2 2008
By Kit Eaton
3,558 views, 13 comments

Latest by n/a: @Human Bomb: GlovePie, you sure can!!!!! [wiibrew.org] more »

xbox 360

Pro First-Person Shooter Xbox 360 Controller Mod Won't Actually Help Your CoD4 Skills

We've seen a couple Xbox 360 controller mods that supposedly make it more first-person shooter friendly by shoving extra buttons on the back. F00 f00 at Acid Mods goes a step further and actually moves the buttons to the back, making for a butter smooth front and action-packed back, the theory being you never have to take your thumb off the joystick. (Still no substitute for a keyboard and mouse.) Yes there's a video of this thing working. No, it won't actually help you beat me in a Domination match in Call of Duty 4. More »

1:40 PM on Tue Jul 1 2008
By matt buchanan
12,465 views, 29 comments

Latest by n/a: @typoink: Agreed. 360's owns PS3's- thats why there's more retrofits with a 360 controller to work on a PS and not vice vera. lol @ goofball more »

gaming

Novint Falcon Force Feedback Controller Gets Valve Support

The long-in-development force-feedback PC game device Novint Falcon is a good idea in theory, but without actual support from games there's not a whole lot you can do with it. Good news though, since Valve just announced support with the controller for PC versions of The Orange Box, Counter-Strike: Source, the Half-Life 2 series, Team Fortress 2, Portal and Left 4 Dead. With the pistol grip accessory it'll be fine for every game, but what we really have hopes for is fiddling around with that gravity gun and feeling the force feedback with it. [Novint via Crunchgear]

3:40 PM on Wed Jun 25 2008
By Jason Chen
8,380 views, 19 comments

Latest by n/a: This thing looks like a lot of fun. I wonder how something like this would fare with games life X-Wing Alliance... more »

concepts

SPult Universal Remote is Sleekly Simple by Ditching Most Buttons

Designer Yurii Smitana Perfilov clearly took a look at the chaotic button-fest that is the usual universal remote and thought "uuuugleee." So the first thing you notice about the sPult remote is its gorgeousness, like a retro-futuristic digital dagger. The second thing is the lack of buttons: that scroll wheel does volume or channels, selected at a push, and there's a favorites selector, mute and power function plus a simple display. I thought the back-lit Moto RAZR-like universal remote I just bought was attractive, but if sPult were more than a concept, I'd ditch that silver laser-keypad nastiness in a heartbeat. [Yanko design]

8:19 AM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Kit Eaton
3,741 views, 22 comments

Latest by Pyao lyang shen: @recklessinoz: yes, for the toe inclined, I can now use my toes and harness the power of the universal remote while I am beating eggs. more »

bluetooth

BluePointer Bluetooth Headset-Laser Pointer Mashup Won't Make You a Borg

I mean "Locutus of Borg" rather than the "Bjorn" variety of course... but admittedly, having a Bluetooth headset that you can whip off and use to fire red laser beams around is pretty sci-fi. It's the BluePointer from Brando, and I suppose it's a multipurpose gadget for professionals with little room in their briefcases: it's also got an ultra-bright LED torch and it can be used to flick through the slides in your presentations. You simply pair it with a notebook supporting HID profile and away you go. It's got a talk time of six hours, standby of 120, and does Bluetooth v2.0+EDR class 2. Available now for $90, assimilation into the collective not included. [Brando]

6:15 AM on Mon Jun 16 2008
By Kit Eaton
2,633 views, 16 comments

Latest by Maxwells_Nylon_Hammer: Hmm, sounds Swedish. more »

ps3 controller

Sony's Splittable PlayStation 3 Controller Sounds Very Wiimote-Like

According to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony's in the middle of working on a PlayStation 3 controller that splits into two units, giving the player motion-sensing functionality much like the Wiimote + Nunchuk combination on the Wii. Their source knows of no official announcement timeline, but working units have been given to developers to test and integrate into future games. More »

3:10 PM on Fri Jun 13 2008
By Jason Chen
4,124 views, 16 comments

Wii Spray

Wii Spray Wiimote Hack Breaks Up The Family Fun With a Little Virtual Vandalism

Check out this Wii controller prototype from Bauhaus-University design student Martin Lihs. The spray paint can-styled casing contains a hacked up Wii controller that's used to manipulate virtual graffiti on a monitor. And since this is an art project, you can bet there are a wide variety of colors, spray caps, and tagging techniques built into the thing. Eventually, Lihs plans to integrate the device into a communal wall as part of his final thesis. It will be a sort of social media/public tagging spectacle that will enable users from around the globe to work on the same piece of art. Best of all, there are no Friend Codes. [Wii Spray via Core 77]

5:30 PM on Sun Jun 8 2008
By Jack Loftus
6,636 views, 16 comments

Latest by superbryant: "ow " @OtakuboyT: do you mean "jet set Radio"?? more »

gaming

eDimensional's Ben Heck 1-Hand New Access Controller Now Available

Ben Heck of modding fame follows up his 5.1 headset for eDimensional with a one-handed PS3/PS2/PC controller. Although it's made for disabled gamers to play games they otherwise couldn't on a standard DualShock gamepad because of the swappable control modules, it's also very useful for regular gamers who need something they can handle with one hand while eating. More »

1:50 PM on Thu Jun 5 2008
By Jason Chen
2,281 views, 26 comments

Latest by robinandtami: I don't see myself being able to play hardcore shooters like Shadowrun with even a tenth of my current proficiency using this controller, but many arcade games, casual games, RPG's, etc would probably be very doable. Good job Ben! Now will more »

mods

PSP Plays Better With DualShock

The PSP controls are not horrible—though that analog nub leaves something to be desired—but the DualShock is a far more comfortable controller. Now the fine citizens at AcidMods have hacked the PSP hardware to work with the DualShock. Requiring no changes to the firmware, all functions but the brightness and volume are mapped to the controller. And it seems to work perfectly: More »

2:30 PM on Fri May 30 2008
By Mark Wilson
9,089 views, 21 comments

nyko

Nyko's Charge Base 360 Xbox 360 Controller Charger Ships Now

Nyko's Charge Base 360 is finally shipping, acting much like the Charge Base PS3 they released last year. The 360 version is slightly different in that it comes with two special rechargeable battery packs with contacts that charge when docked into the charge base. If the $39 is slightly too expensive, you can go the cheaper route with Nyko's Charge Station 360, which just takes in packs instead of whole controllers. Order on June 2 and you'll be able to get their black and gold model, which looks like a original Star Trek series prop. [Nyko]

2:00 PM on Thu May 29 2008
By Jason Chen
1,949 views, 17 comments

Latest by majeskyb: compaired=compared more »

diy

Midiator Kit Converts a PS2 Controller Into a MIDI Controller

Yesterday we came across a DIY hack that helps you turn your Guitar Hero instrument into a MIDI controller and today we have a kit that will help you covert your old PS2 controllers (standard, knockoff, or wireless) for a similar purpose. When hooked up, it will allow you to do things like control pitch bend with the analog joysticks or trigger notes / toggle controller signals with the buttons. It can even work with Guitar Hero, albeit only partially at this point (improvements are on the way).You can pick up the entire kit for $79.99 assembled or $59.99 stock. A demo is available after the break. More »

7:40 PM on Tue May 20 2008
By Sean Fallon
1,383 views, 8 comments

Latest by Crashproof: ...or you could just use GlovePIE or Rejoice + MIDI Yoke software, and save yourself the $59.99. more »

modding

The NES Controller Apple Remote Hack

An amazing coffee table, a mouse... now an Apple remote? Is there nothing the classic NES controller can't be modded into? Well, probably many things. But this one is at least simple to do and rather neat, involving a minimum of fiddling with solder and wires inside the NES. And you end up with a still fairly small Apple controller with added retro gaming chic. Are we witnessing a new modding culture to rival steampunk, I wonder? Controllerpunk? [Hacknmod— Thanks Joe]

5:30 AM on Tue May 20 2008
By Kit Eaton
2,215 views, 7 comments

Latest by Reilaos~: @madcow3417: Not necessarily IR, I'm thinking. more »

diy

Turn Your Guitar Hero Guitar Into a MIDI Controller

I can't tell you how many times I have looked down at my Guitar Hero guitar and wished that it could be used like a real instrument. The only problem was that I lacked the ability to build one. Oh, and I have no musical ability whatsoever. Fortunately, it appears that someone with skills has done the dirty work for me by figuring out a way to turn a Guitar Hero guitar into a full-fledged MIDI controller. More »

8:20 PM on Mon May 19 2008
By Sean Fallon
6,564 views, 8 comments

Latest by vote Obama: Switch it on at the F mains. This must be the Spinal Tap version - I can hear the sustain. (and breath controller) more »

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