Category Archives: Video Games

Possumus Woman now 91% complete

A few production photos from this last weekend’s filming:

Only a Ford can stop a possum!
Doing a test run for the “drive through a wall of fire” shot.

Yes, the movie starts like Spider-Man 3, who cares?
Night filming (ug) the scene where an escaped convict becomes the Possum Woman!

"It's time for her to paaaaay!!!"
Rustic Resort survivors making a last stand to stop the possum in a scene with enough gunfire to make Charlton Heston blush.

This was probably the biggest shoot we’ve ever had on Ben Heckendorn film, mostly for the number of people involved for a single weekend. Nobody got hurt, we had enough pizza to go around and no fires got out of a control – what more could you ask for?

We now only have a couple scenes to go, which will hopefully be knocked out in the next week. My original “completion target date” is looking more likely than ever, you can learn more when the newest podcast comes out tomorrow, in which we discuss Xbox Live Achievements and the filming of Possumus Woman. See you then!

Where’s the podcast?

Just a quick update for everyone, we’ll probably get the latest podcast out next week. This week is a bit busy so we’re having to push it back.

I am working on a “How To Hack the Access Controller” article that will go live once we have a shipment date. Stay tuned!

Win a Benheck Xbox 360 Laptop from THQ

I’ve partnered with THQ to provide a prize in their Darksiders sweepstakes – an Xbox 360 laptop, built by myself and painted by Joe Mad, based off the game.

Subject to change, but I hope not

Concept drawing of the design. But instead of white, imagine art painted all over it…

Not only that, but this will be the best Xbox 360 laptop yet! The design features a dock for a full-size, unaltered Xbox 360 hard drive, so you can share data with your home console. Astounding. Additionally, both memory card slots are accessible, should you need those for some reason. Other features include the usual built-in WiFi and Xbox Live Vision camera. One big change is lack of keyboard – it’s useless 99% of the time anyway and they have those chat pads for the controllers as it is.

Contest ends in October I believe, so by all means head on over to their site, take a look around, and get entered. Thanks to Adam King at THQ for providing myself and the community this opportunity!

Click here to get in on the action:community.darksidersvideogame.com

(This should explain why I cracked open a 60 gig Xbox 🙂

Mod of the week – Multi-platform portable

My mod pick this week is a multi-platform portable built by John Grayson, aka “Bacteria”.

No, it's not a delicious cake, but a super portable!

The deal with this portable is that the controls, screen and battery are “general purpose” and work with any system. Then, to play a specific system, you plug a “module” onto the back, such as a Nintendo 64, or PlayStation.

There’s a good demonstration of this in his video, you can see that and the rest of the project using the link below. Good work John!

Link to Bacteria’s Website

Benheck.com Podcast Episode 46

Sorry we’re late – much of my free time these days has been spent on Possumus Man 2!

Includes tracks from Barry Manilow and Jim Croce
This game would PRINT MONEY

In this episode we discuss other “music hero” games Activision could try making, both some ridiculous ones and others that might actually sell. We then move on to the validity of movie critics and if they even matter, which turns into a long discussion about WALL*E. Enjoy…

Listen to Benheck.com Podcast Episode 46

www.benheckpodcast.com

Atari 7800 Portable

I thought about doing one of these years ago, right after my first Atari 2600 portable actually, but after taking a look at the motherboard (which is a lot more complex than the Atari 2600’s) I got cold feet.

My feet are much warmer now and thus here is an Atari 7800 portable I’ve done by request. For some reason I am just not that intimidated by “complex looking” electronics anymore, I don’t know why! The 7800 motherboard is a bit larger than the 2600, thus the unit is larger, but I slapped on a bigger 7″ widescreen to make up for it. (Kind of like the iPhone ads that allegedly use giant hands) Quick specs:

  • Rechargeable batteries built-in
  • Combination driving / paddle controller
  • Weighs less than a gallon of milk
  • A/V output jack, like all my old portables used to have
  • Black paint

For the making-of story and more pics than I usually post, click below. There’s also a video where I describe the functions. Now that this is done I can allot more of my time to “Possumus Man 2: Possumus Woman!” (Working title)


Unfortunately the flashback scene in Possumus Man 2 now takes place in the 60’s, rendering my bumper sticker props useless.

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