Gizmodo: ben heck

One-Handed Guitar Hero, So Pirates Can Rock Like Ninjas

Mark Wilson — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Modder Ben Heckendorn is more than a little obsessed with playing games one-handed (giggle, chuckle, milk through the nose, etc.) and his latest creation takes aim at Guitar Hero. It's a pedal that plugs into a modded guitar and replaces the controller's strum and whammy bars, requiring hand use only for the chords.

While stomping your way around DragonForce's Through the Fire and Flames doesn't sound anatomically correct, the pedal actually allows you to, for lack of a better term, foot-double-strum (both the up and down motions count as a string pluck).

To activate the whammy, the user lifts up on their heel to release the spring-loaded rear of the pedal. Yeah, it sounds a bit confusing, but Heckendorn makes it look pretty normal in this example video. Well, as normal as geeking out to Guitar Hero will ever look, at least. [Ben Heck]

Ben Heck's PS3 Laptop Charity Auction Starts, Already Tops $3700

matt buchanan — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:49:30 EDT

The charity auction for Ben Heck's magically modded PS3 laptop is up and running on eBay. Proceeds go to the National Cancer Coalition. If you want in, be prepared to open your wallet up pretty wide for the good cause: With six days and 22 hours left, it's already zoomed past $3700. [eBay via Engadget]

Ben Heck's Latest Wonder Project: PS3 Laptop

matt buchanan — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:45:00 EDT

It looks like the PS3 is finally getting some hot mod love from console modding's reigning wizard, Ben Heck. We don't really have all the details since he hasn't announced the project yet, but the display looks like it's the one he used for the Xbox 360 Elite laptop, for a true 720p picture. He's obviously been leveling up his already formidable powers though, 'cause this is one of his most polished projects yet. There's another shot from the side after the jump. Update: Turns out, we stumbled onto a special project for Engadget to auction off for charity! If you'd like to own this bad boy, more details are here, or at Ben's site. [Ben Heck, Thanks Wallop]

Home Modder Idol Ben Heck Gets Profiled

Jason Chen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

You've seen Ben Heck's homemade gaming devices featured here a lot, and there's a reason for it: Adam Frucci loves him. Which is why he slathered much praise on the hardware modder in this Reuters profile. What would you want to know about the guy that turns two handed controllers into one handed ones? How about that he used to work for a sign-making business and doesn't actually play a whole lot of games, despite the love he gives to the accessories. [Reuters]

One-Handed Xbox 360 Controller (Take 2)

Mark Wilson — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:45:40 EDT

Ben Heck, maker of the most incredible video game hardware mods on the planet, has made another version of his one-handed controller for the Xbox 360. Looking a lot easier to hold, it requires the use of your leg to control the right analog stick (and idea that sounds weirder than it probably actually feels). But the oddest design choice? A PlayStation d-pad was actually stuck in the unit, meaning that in time, the controller could cause a paradox destroying the entire Universe. [benheck]

Xbox 360 Elite Laptop

Mark Wilson — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:08:51 EST

Benjamin Heckendorn (aka Ben Heck) is known to most of the geek world as a console modding god. And his latest accomplishment, squeezing an Xbox 360 Elite into a laptop, is his best revision yet. Because while he's made 360 laptops before, this is his first based upon the newer 65nm chipset (plus it features the Elite's larger 120GB hard drive). And we especially appreciate that the 17" screen Heck installed uses a 1280×720 resolution (as opposed to 1280X768) for true 720p picture. Yes, we really are mega geeks. Hit the jump to watch Heck's demo video as he loads Halo 3.

Hotness. [benheck]

Ben Heck Sticks an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller into an Original Xbox Controller

Adam Frucci — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:30:10 EDT

Console modder Ben Heck generally takes formerly gigantic things and crams them into small packages. For his most recent project, he did the opposite: He stuck an Xbox 360 wireless controller into an original Xbox controller, which is monstrous in size. While yes, he added batteries and wireless capabilities to the original Xbox controller, it just doesn't feel as exciting as, say, an Xbox 360 laptop. I mean, who wants to go back to that terrible controller, anyways? [Ben Heck via Technabob]

Ben Heck Stuffs an NES and an Atari Into a Handheld

Adam Frucci — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:35:00 EDT

Ben Heck, everyone's favorite video-game modder, has gone and done it again. This time, he's gone and stuffed an Atari AND an NES into a handheld portable, and dubbed it the NEStari. As usual, he goes through plenty of detail showing how he did it, and as usual, it's way too complicated for 99% of us to attempt on our own. [Ben Heck]

Benjamin Heckendorn's eDimensional Product is a 5.1 Headset

Jason Chen — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:45:48 EDT

Remember that mystery product Benjamin Heckendorn was creating with eDimensional? Turns out it's a 5.1 gaming headset. The gadget, an AudioFX Pro 5+1 gaming headset, is a USB headset with a mic that has an integrated subwoofer and integrated 5.1 surround sound decoder. There's force feedback in there as well if you really like your head to vibrate.

We're looking forward to seeing this product, because if Ben Heckendorn's track record of making controllers, handhelds, and Xbox 360 laptops shows one thing, it's that he knows audio. – Jason Chen

Product Page [eDimensional via Ben Heck via Kotaku]

Ben Heck's Portable Emulator

Adam Frucci — Tue, 29 May 2007 16:40:00 EDT

Everyone's favorite game console mad mod genius, Ben Heck, has a new project, and it's something that you and I might actually get a chance to play with for a change. Instead of a one-off like the Xbox 360 Laptop, he's designing the case for the GamePort, a handheld emulator designed to play retro games.

So he's designed it for a reputable company rather than just for fun, so we should be able to buy it, right? Well… maybe. According to the GamePort site, "the company that would have distributed the GamePort in stores perished after legal problems. Several other options are being discussed, including selling directly online." Awesome. Not exactly something to fill us with confidence, but who knows, maybe it'll go up for sale at some point. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via Ben Heck via Engadget]

eDimensional and Ben Heckendorn to Release Product

Jason Chen — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:15:35 EDT

Not content on making Xbox laptops that nobody but him can actually build, Ben Heck is teaming up with eDimensional (see our review of their PS2 SIXAXIS-ish gamepad) to release some kind of mystery product.

So far the page doesn't say what the product will be, but hopefully Ben will make enough money to buy some shirts that aren't schwag from trade shows and maybe get a non-combover haircut. You know, standard fare for electrical engineers. We should know—we're one too. – Jason Chen

Product Page [eDimensional]

PS360: Microsoft Controller, Meet Sony Controller

Mark Wilson — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:25:20 EDT

No, the world is not ending. But modder Ben Heck has taken the innards of a PS3 controller and magically fitted them into the Xbox 360 body. This includes the battery and USB charging port, making this "PS360" controller completely functional on your PS3. After once opening/destroying a Dual Shock with the hopes of fixing it, we appreciated this line from Heck himself:

It may not look like much but there was a good deal of finangling to get everything to fit and work correctly, especially the right analog stick.

Something about the SIXAXIS triggers force my hands into a constant state of almost dropping the controller. There would be a decent market if only Heck would sell this beautiful mod.

Hit the jump to see the process.

– Mark Wilson

Hack Page [via gearfuse]

Ben Heck's VCSp Rev 5.1 Portable Atari System

Travis Hudson — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:50:13 EDT

Benjamin Heckerdorn has been making consoles portable for a while, but who knew that he has been getting his paws dirty with console parts for seven years now. In honor of the sevenyeariversary of console modding he created a new revision to his Atari-playing VCSp portable, but it is a bit different this time around because you can actually buy it! Ben will be creating between 20 and 30 of these devices and selling them for around $300 each. –Travis Hudson

VCSp Rev 5.1 Prototyped at 7 Year Mark [Via Gadget Lab]

Ben Heck Creates Atari 2600 Hand Held

Travis Hudson — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:52:27 EST

That man, the myth, the legend, Ben Heck, is at it again. Now he managed to cram the Atari 2600 into a somewhat small, handheld, portable device. Heck went a little old-school with this mod. It may be a little bulky, buy how else can you enjoy some Pitfall anywhere in the world. He also made ran a little Thurderdome action between the portable Atari 2600 (named the VCSp Rev7) and the other clamshell, handheld console, the Nintendo DS. This guy can churn out new console mods quicker than Jason Chen can put them down his pants. – Travis Hudson

VCSp Revisions 7 [Via Kotaku]

One-Handed Xbox 360 Controller .. For Multitasking

Travis Hudson — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:18:47 EST

If you are still trying to figure out that potato-chip conundrum like us, console-modder extraordinaire, Ben Heckendorm, has the solution. For some odd reason he decided to take the already near-perfect Xbox 360 controller and adapt it for other one-handed uses. Come on, the ladies in Dead or Alive are pretty sexy, but this is just ridiculous. Nevertheless, good job Ben Heck, quality work as always, even if it is for an odd purpose. – Travis Hudson

Project Page [Via SCI FI]