Recently I was asked to build some single-handed Guitar Hero controllers to show at the Games for Health conference, and Red Octane was kind enough to donate some guitars for me to experiment with. Here are the results, I built two of them:

Click here for a larger version

These replace the strum and whammy bar from a standard guitar, allowing you to use a single hand for the chords. What you do is use your foot and click your toes up or down to strum or navigate menus. To perform a whammy you lift up your heel - the spring loaded plate is shown in the up (full whammy) position in the photo, but normally your heel compresses it (no whammy). The pedal plugs into a modified Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul wireless controller. You can still strum the modified guitar but the whammy is only on the pedal.

For more photos and info check the rest of the story below. This project also finally gave me an excuse to throw together a “music video” demonstrating its use, check it out here.

Read the rest of this entry »

I will be appearing at the annual Games for Health conference this week in Baltimore, to talk about my work with single-handed controllers, show the latest production model of the Access Controllers (pre-orders coming this month) and to demonstrate some new, unique controllers built specifically for the show.

The near-final prototype of the production model Access Controller from eDimensional. Please direct inquiries to access@edimensional.com

You can read more about the conference by visiting their site using this link. I’ll also update my site with the new items once they’ve gone live at the show. Stay tuned…Check out greatest website with huge movies collection, movie download, download movies right now.

Time for another podcast! Today we’re discussing conspiracy theories, specifically the moon landing, JFK assassination and of course the Madden curse. We also discuss Grand Theft Auto a bit, although we recorded this before getting our hands on a copy.

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 43

www.benheckpodcast.com

As an addendum, the main thing I’d say about GTA4 is that it’s a next-gen version of GTA - awesome graphics, amazingly deep (the fake internet is gut-bustlingly hilarious) but still retains some of the control / aiming issues of its predecessors. I’m sure we’ll discuss it in detail come next podcast.

Sifting around through files this evening, I had the notion to upload my independent film scripts to the “Movies” section of this site. You can now read the original text for “The Adventurous”, “Lizard of Death” and “Port Washington”. (My indies before those were done on this stuff I believe the ancients called “paper”…)

A 2007 behind-the-scenes photo from one of our many movie concept tests that haven’t come to fruition.

They might be of interest to anyone who has seen my films and would like an idea of the writing process that went into them. Warning: none of them are done in the correct screenplay formatting, something I didn’t get into until after Port Washington. Also - like my modding projects - no incomplete or work-in-progress scripts are available. So in their place I threw on the above photo, to confuse and confound you all.

Check out my interesting interview with GamingTrend! It goes more off-topic than usual, enjoy…

Here’s one with an Apple-based site.

My hack pick this week (not that I manage to do this weekly but whatever) is Richard DaLuz’s “Super Genintari”:

There was once a time when a person had to use separate consoles for playing their Atari 2600, NES, SNES or Genesis games… This filled the land with sadness, despair and an overabundance of power bricks, threatening the very fabric of the universe! (Or at least clogging up power strips)

But now, in this brave year 2008, Richard has come to rescue us all. The “Super Genintari” combines all these fine systems into one easy-to-use beast that goes great with any decor. (Includes giant glowing Pac-Man icon) I especially like the chunky solid selector buttons.

Click here to take a look at his site which contains more pics and a video of the unit in action. Swell work Richard!

Now’s your chance to get a one-of-a-kind Ben Heckendorn creation! Engadget is sponsoring an auction to sell the PS3 laptop I built, with all proceeds going towards the National Cancer Coalition. Click here to check it out, and place a bid if you so desire.

It’s for a great cause and it’s also a sure-fire way to get a Benheck product - without having to email me 79 times that is! Happy bidding…

We’re back! In this episode (which has nothing to do with gaming) we discuss:

1. Musical scores in movies - they aren’t good or memorable anymore. We need Jerry Goldsmith back!
2. The cost of Blu-Ray discs - too much!
3. Hollywood’s dwindling box office - what we think are the real reasons even though they’ll blame it on gas prices at year’s end.

Enjoy…

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 42

www.benheckpodcast.com

As many of you know I grew up during the 80’s and spent a lot of time with the fun 8-bit computers of those days. One of my favorites was the Apple IIgs, and when someone requested I build a portable version of it I jumped at the chance.

A custom-built Apple IIgs laptop. Click for larger version, suitable for framing.

Some quick specs:

• Large 15″ color screen. Much bigger than the ones on my other 8-bit computer projects (thus far)
• Uses an original Apple IIgs motherboard with RAM expansion.
• Custom acrylic keyboard. It uses the original keyboard PCB, but the buttons were custom made for a cool modern look.
• CompactFlash adapter inside unit functions as an original equipment hard drive.
• Glowing backlit “][” logo. Blue for on, with a bit of yellow during disk access.
• Built-in stereo speakers.
• Side port access for floppy drive, joystick and mouse.
• Can play Arkanoid II!

For more photos and details, see below. I’ll post a Making Of story in the near future… in the meantime you can also watch this amazing demo video I put together:

Small iPod Version
Larger MPG version

(Note: Music was the most “frolic-ey” that I could find)

Please note, as usual, this is a one-time custom project and thus I will not be making any more of these. It is a one-of-a-kind single project. But I am always open to new modding requests if you’d like to drop me an email. Variety is the spice of life!

Read the rest of this entry »

After about 14 months of on-again-off-again work I have finally finished a Playstation 3 Portable:

Wanna see more? Check out Engadget.com!

Some quick specs:

• Original 60 gig PS3 model with backwards compatibility.
• 17″ HDTV 720p screen, with HDMI connection. (Same as last Xbox 360 laptop)
• Built-in keyboard and stereo audio amplifier.
• Measures 17″ x 13.75″ x 3″ (actually thinner than a stock PS3) and weighs 16 pounds!

You can view more photos on the main story page at Engadget.com. In the coming weeks the “Making Of” articles will follow.

This unit was built by their request and is intended to be auctioned off for charity - more details to come. Since I am already busy with other things, I will not be making any more of these. Feel free to email and ask for other custom design work or inquiries, however!