All posts by benheck

Video Games

For sale: amazingly modded Atari 2600

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Now you're playing with power!

Well sort of. I was cleaning my basement and realized I had a few extra Atari 2600’s laying around. Imagine that. So I slapped a composite video and stereo audio mod onto one of them, using a Playstation-style cord. Now both channels of the Atari’s audio go to separate speakers – it’s just like a 5.1 surround system, circa 1979. There’s also a potentiometer on the base of the unit to adjust the video, if need be.

This unit has been sold, but if you’d like to find out how to do the stereo audio mod yourself, please visit this site. Fairly simple diagram. For the video mod please see the book section of my site, specifically the bottom of this page.

Podcasts

Benheck Podcast Episode 27

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Are you not entertained????????

Well it’s our one-year anniversary of the Benheck.com podcast, and I didn’t get around to creating a cool intro! Sorry. Seriously I’m out of ideas. Anyway, today’s topics include:

  • Videogames as Art? Some say they are, some say they aren’t… What do WE say? Warning: contains more thrashing of Hollywood.
  • PC gaming VS Console gaming. Ben bought Bioshock for PC, Jones for 360, so this topic seemed appropriate. Is having a high-tech video card and processor worth it just for mouse controls?
  • Fanboy/girl/person-ism! We talk briefly about this amazing phenomenon and how it relates to the working man.

So have a listen and see what you think!

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 27

www.benheckpodcast.com

Video Games

The NEStari

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What happens when you take 2 great tastes and mix ’em together? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for one, and my new NEStari for another.

Half Atari, half Nintendo, all cop!
My NEStari portable. Click to enlarge and magically add a flashbulb.

I’ve been working on this unit for awhile now… you can read the full story after the jump. But yes, this is a combo NES and Atari 2600 portable that changes modes via a switch and uses a built-in rechargeable battery. How advanced is that? I’m sure you’re all amazed. Actually this probably the most difficult “small” portable I’ve ever done. Lots of crap to wire up. Oh and it also uses a hacked-up Flashback 2 (the Atari on a chip thing) instead of an original 2600. Been wanting to try one for a while now…

This unit has been sold, thanks for your interest! For the rest of the story click below.

Continue reading The NEStari →

Video Games

Improved heat sink found in new HDMI Premium Xbox 360

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OK by now some of you may be thinking “Ben is becoming the ultimate Xbox 360 fanboy with all these articles” and yeah, maybe you’re right. But is it really any different from any number of political blogs, or bumper-sticker-encrusted cars, where someone is screaming “Don’t vote for [whoever], it’ll be bad!” Well I think if the Wii won it’d be bad for gaming (the reasons for this being beyond the scope of this article, maybe later) so I’m promoting the 360 any way I can.

No, not a shot from inside the Titanic.
The new heat sink on an HDMI Premium 360, slightly highlighted. Remember, look for the copper “ball” on the side.

Picture aboved is a new heat sink found in a new HDMI Premium Xbox 360 by “Sloopydrew”. The manufacture date was 7-9-7, pretty new. So if you’re still on the fence about getting a 360 this fall, get off! The new ones seem to be locked, cocked and ready to rock. Still sucks GTA4 is pushed back, but plenty of other cool games are coming out this fall.

Podcasts

One Year of Podcasts (Episode 26)

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Yes we’ve cranked out a solid year of bi-weekly podcasts at this point. In this episode:

  • Things people don’t realize about their console. (It has motions controls, online and Blu-Ray?)
  • The recent wave of stupid anti-violent gaming laws, and the double standards when compared to movies.
  • Why is Gears of War becoming a movie but not Halo?

VAMPIRES!!!!

We’ll try to do something special in 2 weeks when we have the official year-anniversay episode. In other news, a new portable is very close – stay tuned! (You can download Possumus Man for fun in the meantime)

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 26

www.benheckpodcast.com

Movies

Possumus Man Special Edition Coming Soon

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Note: New portables coming soon – really.

Update: Possumus Man Special Edition is finished!

This battle will make your blood boil!
The newly remastered DVD cover

What is Possumus Man, you might ask? Well long before I was famous for doing whatever it is I do, my hobby was independent film. (A hobby I’d like to get back into) In 1995 I had a mad urge to make a “killer creature” movie, and one about a giant killer possum was the result.

Problem was, as a cocky 19 year old, I thought I knew everything about making a movie. Possumus Man was filmed fairly sloppily, with usually only 1 take for anything, and edited “in-camera” using the amazing Sony edit-search buttons. (Yes, even back then I was a Sony fan-boy) Making matters worse we had no real editing equipment, so it was all done camera-to-VCR, pause-record, and vice-versa. There were some primitive computer effects, done using CorelPaint on a 486 upgraded to a Pentium 90, but not much. All in all it was never the way I intended (coherent) and I’ve always wanted to re-edit the darn thing, if only to finally put it to rest.

Now in this brave year 2007 I have! Work is nearly complete on “Possumus Man: Special Edition” which is now fairly watchable due to non-linear computer editing, vastly improved sound and music, and of course 12 extra years of movie-making experience. DVD copies are being made for my friends, everyone else will be able to download it from this site. After cutting the fat it’s only 30 minutes long, so it won’t waste too much of your life.

Download an iPod video version now!