Category Archives: Video Games

Video Games

Wanted – Xbox 360 Slim (Found!)

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Argh! They’re just taunting me with all the 360 Slims sitting around doing nothing! Unfair! Cruel!

I know what you’re thinking. “Why didn’t you buy one already? Didn’t you get a PS3 Slim before Best Buy even put them out on the floor?” Yes, true. But ironically, I was at E3 all last week and by time I got home, they were sold out.  Security at E3 let me pick one up and look at the bottom, but that was about it.

So now I’m looking for one, very interested in analyzing it to see if I can make a cheaper / better Xbox 360 laptop, or Pelican unit for use by troops overseas.

Thanks to Bradley Metrock for digging one up for me! He’ll have first crack at whatever I build with it…. 🙂

Video Games

Games for Health Conference 2010

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Just a quick note, if you’re in the Boston area next week you should consider joining the Games for Health Conference 2010.

It’s an amazing event where industry professionals, health advocates and researchers get together to discuss how gaming can help with the health and rehabilitation of people. Accessibility is also discussed and I’ll be taking part in a workshop to come up with new ideas in that field.

Check out their website here, and we’ll see you there!

Video Games

New PS3 Slim Laptop

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Making a PS3 laptop really wasn’t an “uncharted” course for me.

Here it is, a new PS3 Slim laptop and this time it’s black! With blue accents. Specs:

  • 17″ widescreen 720p HDMI display.
  • Built-in stereo speakers & headphone jack.
  • Compartment to store power cord. (left side bottom of unit)
  • Stylish pin striping to make games run at blast processing!
  • More air holes than a stock Slim, not that it really needs them (cough cough Xbox 360)

You can check out more pictures and video below. Remember, if you have a crazy idea and the money, I can make the time!

Continue reading New PS3 Slim Laptop →

Video Games

10 Year Anniversary of the VCSp

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Photo credit: Kim Keyes Photo.

Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since I completed my first portable the VCSp but it’s true. Many things have happened since then, including the Xbox 360 laptop, Commodore 64 portable and of course, Possumus Woman.

In honor of this momentous occasion I’ve prepared some fun stuff for our visitors to enjoy:

The Atari 2600 Portables Site – Explore the site as it appeared back in the olden days. Most of the navigation works, so have fun!

VCSp Making Of – The very first story about portables I ever published to the web

SNESp Making Of – A classic, completely overdone ‘making of’ from 2001.

Plus you can check out a bunch of classic Benheck videos after the break. Enjoy…

Continue reading 10 Year Anniversary of the VCSp →

Video Games

Come to the Midwest Gaming Classic this weekend in Milwaukee!

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Where else can you walk by a car and see this in the passenger seat?

Now while I know a lot of you are going to PAX East, I would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone in the Midwest to come to the 2010 Midwest Gaming Classic.

It is being held at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel which is on the west-ish side of Milwaukee, right off the interstate. And within range of the MKE airport shuttle. Sweet.

There is all sorts of cool stuff to do including my favorite – loads of free pinball. And arcades too. You can buy all sorts of videogame stuff, hang out with other enthusiasts oh and course… play Bill Paxton Pinball. We’re going to log scores (if you wish) and have a “Best of 4” playoff at the end of each day (via the 4 player mode). Winners will appear on this website and… I dunno… get a signed copy of Possumus Woman or something.

Benheck.com has an entire room this year so be sure to come on down and check us out. Saturday we’re doing a live podcast, then on Sunday I’ve got a panel to discuss the creation of my pinball.

See you all there!

Video Games

Bill Paxton Pinball

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Click here for large version

Since 2005 I have been working on building my own custom pinball machine and now it is finally finished. It is based off the endlessly quotable films of Bill Paxton and thus is called… get this… Bill Paxton Pinball. (Very creative, I know)

Aside from “stock” items such as flippers and solenoids it has been completely manufactured from scratch. Most of the artwork is from his movies and has been assembled in stylized montage form as is typical for a pinball machine. It is controlled by a single Parallax Propeller CPU which runs PCM audio music & voice clips as well as handling game logic, I/O and driving the custom LED display. I did the mechanical design, layout, construction & programming all myself, except for the sound player libraries that I got off the Parallax Object exchange website.

I’ve prepared all sorts of stuff for people to check out, so please check out the links below. Also, I did consider creating a “Virtual Pinball” version of this machine but ultimately didn’t have the time. If anyone is well versed in that tool and wants to take a crack at it, let me know, I can supply with you specifications.

“Making Of” Story
A four part article that describes the making of the machine in great detail. Includes photos of the guts, making of video links and source code.

Bill Paxton Pinball Photo Gallery
Contains lots of photos of the machine and its various parts (finished condition).

Demonstration Videos
See the machine in action, and check out descriptions / demos of the specific modes and toys.

Bill Paxton Pinball Evolution
A downloadable video demonstrating the process from start to finish.

Notice: Bill Paxton Pinball is a personal project and therefore is not for sale or duplication. All music / images / audio used on it are owned by their respective copyright holders.