Hasta La Gadget!

It’s not that we haven’t seen a one-handed controller before — we most certainly have — but the only significant one on record was done by one Benjamin Heckendorn, the greatest modder of the modern era. In other words, whipping something like this up takes more than a strong will and a boatload of vacation days, making Hasse’s hack all the more impressive. As the story goes, his brother is incapable of playing video games due to needing two hands to work the controls; rather than chalking it up to tough luck, this guy completely re-engineered a GameCube controller for single-handed operation. After cracking it open and relocating a few bits and pieces, he then shoved an ATtiny44A, an accelerometer and a digital-to-analog converter within. Crazier still, he even included a toggle switch to select the analog stick or D-pad, depending on preference. Head on past the break to see this thing in action, and tap that source link to leave a handful of kudos.

Continue reading Modder, brother-of-the-year candidate crafts one-handed GameCube controller (video)

Modder, brother-of-the-year candidate crafts one-handed GameCube controller (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hack A Day  |  Hasse’s Hacks  | Email this | Comments

Say what you will about Nokia‘s strategy (or lack thereof), but there’s no denying that the N900 is one capable gaming machine. Thus, it makes perfect sense for the blokes at Game Gripper to mold a controller specifically for that very handset, no? We’ve already spent a fair amount far too much time with our made-for-Droid edition, and if you’re looking to boost your enjoyment level when playing NES ROMs, you can toss your pre-order in this very second. The company’s offering the complete Game Gripper N900 for €14.95 ($20), or the button set alone for €3.95 ($5), with initial shipments expected in around a fortnight. Head on past the break for a taste of that aforementioned Mario action.

Continue reading Game Gripper makes grand entrance on Nokia’s N900 (video)

Game Gripper makes grand entrance on Nokia’s N900 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Game Gripper  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft may have axed its Flight Simulator franchise a little while back, but it appears that there are still enough virtual pilots out there to keep Mad Catz abuzz with making new apparatus. In fact, the notoriously expensive Saitek Pro Flight range will be seeing an addition of three new products in October. First we have the self-explanatory Backlit Information Panel, which could probably double as a pricey mood light if you have $149.00 / £129.99 / €149.99 to spare. Next up is the identically-priced Throttle, Pitch and Mixture System box that’s supposed to replicate the controls found on the Cessna, Piper and Money Bravo light aircrafts. If these two modules fail to drain your piggy bank, you could always fork out another $199.99 / £179.99 / €199.99 for the F16 / F35-inspired, die-cast alloy Combat Rudder Pedals. Bundle these with the other Saitek hardware and you might get close to having the full cockpit.

Continue reading Saitek keeps flight simulation alive with new gear, no word on robot air hostesses

Saitek keeps flight simulation alive with new gear, no word on robot air hostesses originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Saitek (1), (2), (3)  | Email this | Comments

Wireless gamepads are more convenient, but for latency, copper trumps 2.4GHz. What to do? Build hybrid controllers that can instantly cut the cord. It seems that’s what Microsoft’s thinking, as the company applied for a patent on just such a controller in March, using infrared, Bluetooth or RF technologies alongside a wired (possibly USB) connection and switch between the two “without permanent disruption to an ongoing game.” Of course, dual-mode controllers have been around for months in a slightly different form — Microsoft’s own Sidewinder X8 and the Razer Mamba did the same for the high-end gaming mouse. It also doesn’t bode well that this particular application clearly describes the original chunky Xbox.

Note: As some of you have surmised in comments, this is similar to how the PlayStation 3’s controllers work, though they hardly perform the task seamlessly. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit doesn’t interrupt a game, but only uses the physical cable to charge a controller’s battery pack.

Microsoft patent application cuts controller cords, sews them back together originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Being Manan, SlashGear  |  USPTO  | Email this | Comments

We know you’ve been waiting on pins and needles, and at long last, the gap between announcement and “now shipping” has been closed. IK Multimedia has just revealed that its AmpliTube iRig adapter is shipping, enabling iPod touch, iPad and iPhone users to jack their guitar or bass directly into their iDevice and access all sorts of effects. From there, users can pipe the audio to a pair of headphones or a guitar amp, theoretically allowing your handheld to supplant your mess of pedals. We’re also told that the iRig can be used with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards or mixing consoles, so there’s that. It’s available as we speak for $39.99 (or €29.99 overseas), and users can expect an iPad-specific version of the AmpliTube app to be released in the near future.

Continue reading IK Multimedia ships AmpliTube iRig iPhone interface adapter

IK Multimedia ships AmpliTube iRig iPhone interface adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  IK Multimedia  | Email this | Comments