Heck crams a Sixaxis into an Xbox 360 controller

by Kevin Kelly on Apr 16th 2007 8:28AM

Is there anything Ben Heckendorn can't do? It wouldn't shock us to read tomorrow that he's managed to build a combination Xbox 720 / PlayStation Quattro / Nintendo Hologlobe into one case, using only the interior components of a Casio watch and a Texas Instruments graphing calculator.

For now, he's content to put a PS3 Sixaxis controller into an Xbox 360 controller shell, and make it look good. While it might be blasphemy to some and a slap in the face to others, there's no denying that the guy does great work. Check out the amazing pictures here, and find out how the surgery was performed.

For just a few other Heck miracles, check these out:
Amazing Wii laptop
Stupendous Xbox 360 laptop
Retro-tastic portable Atari Jaguar

[Via Engadget]

Source

Tags: benheck, PS3, SIXAXIS, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (35)

I would buy it. The Sixaxis is annoying at FPS.

demon child! this just isn't right! it's like rosemary's baby in the form of a game controller! *shutters then smashes own face in with bat*

I hate the ps3 pad, just like i hated the ps2 pad and just like i hated the ps1 pad. It like they are all the same. Hold on a second..........

@ kris

they were all the same because most people liked them... and they were better than the boomerang.

you guys have been really lacking in your coverage this weekend...1 post all day yesterday..

get on the job!

@ David. I was just always a bit bitter that they basically took a look at the revolutionary N64 Pad and went "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, we better get one of those, in fact lets tack two on".
Kind of like they have done with the siaxis controller only more effectively. Your right though, most people adore that controller. I just found the two 3d sticks two close together for FPS, not that u needed to worry about that on the PS 1/2/3!!

more copying: the 360 controler's button spacing is near exact that of the PS controllers...

Meh, MS designed the 360 controller to play Halo3 (which is why you guys dont get it).. just like Nintendo designed the wiimote (as well as N64 and GC pads) to play Nintendo games.

SixaxiS is the most universal controller out there.

@7

That couldn't possibly be because there are only so many different thumb configurations on the planet, could it? I mean, I have trouble because my thumb is about 9 inches long and two inches wide. I hate both controllers personally. Microsoft should release a Super Duper Elite, mutant primate edition brown controller for all of us special people with completely odd thumb configurations that don't quite fall within the realm of the 99% of the rest of the planet's humans whose thumbs fit just fine within that spacing interval. No, Microsoft copied, right? That's like saying every single pencil manufacturer copied off the other because their pencils are nearly identical in thickness.

Yes, but does it have rumble? I don't think so.

BRING BACK THE DUKE!

@glitched

The original Xbox had a different diamond config rather than the 360's and PlayStation's square config. They changed because people whined. People don't necessarily desire innovation everywhere.

@Kris: Er... Are you high? The n64 controller was stupid. To make it so you can either use the joystick and Z, or the dpad and L, but not *both* is a horrible idea. Not Revolutionary.

@rockintom99

agreed

I'm sure the idiots at SONY are wondering how come they didn't think of that... Montion sensor AND rumble...

They're too busy moderating negative wii commenting to worry about video game news.

should have been black if it was for PS3.

cool though

@ rockintom99 and AirIntake. Ok then guys please direct me to the control pad that came out BEFORE the N64 that had a 3d Stick that we all take so for granted nowadays. Please, I want to know. I'm not saying it was the best and i don't think if it came out now it would be very popular but it was revolutionary!!

I agree with kris,

The games that came out for the N64 predominantly utilised either the D-pad & L button OR the Stick and the Z button.

No it wasn't the best configuration, but there were not many games that needed the constant use of the Z button, L button, D-pad and Control stick.

And, the N64 control pad is still the most comfortable I've ever used!

Its actually happened to me that I was walking around the house with the N64 pad and not realised it.

While Im at it I prefered the GC pad over the XBox & PS2 for the majority of game types. And right now holding unto a "normal" control pad feels weird and ancient compared to the Wii remote.

End

OK, a little perspective here. Building a "combination Xbox 720 / PlayStation Quattro / Nintendo Hologlobe into one case, using only the interior components of a Casio watch and a Texas Instruments graphing calculator" would actually be pretty cool, but so far, all the guy does is cramming systems into smaller cases and making them portable. It's the same process over and over again: gut, add battery and an LCD screen, stuff into an ugly wooden case. Time after time after time. Anyone with a well equipped shop and too much free time on their hands would be able to do this. "Heck miracles"? Give me a break. I think we need a little more to start an organized religion here...

@Kris

Actually the Saturn had the first 3D Analog stick, which was packed in with...wait for it...wait..

NiGHTS!!!!

@ jojo29

Did Nights really come out before the n64 was released? Was if fully motion sensitive too? The saturn is pretty much the only console i didn't buy during the 90's so i don't feel educated enough to argue!!

Firstly I don't want to sound like a twat, but really it isn't that hard to do as they two controllers are really identical. Now if the rumble worked with PS3 games then that would be impressive.

Plus the Playstation controllers are great, just a bit small and with prone to sticking shoulder buttons, and I love the 360 controller, great for the type of games I play.

@unholy:

Not only does he gut it and puts into new cases, Ben actually designs and makes the new case and takes apart the PCB to fit it. And with the Xbox 360 Laptop, he actually added watercooling to it.

"stuff into an ugly wooden case. Time after time after time."

You obviously are not familiar with Ben Heckendorn's work. If you're gonna flame, get your facts straight.

@ jojo29

I was thinking the exact same thing, but sadly it is not the case. The N64 was released in Japan on June 23rd 1996, just before NiGHTS on July 5th.

Who copied who is anyones guess.

Kris, this is the analog joystick I used to have for my Apple II+ for gaming, before the console wars - the Kraft:

http://www.atarimagazines.com/cva/v1n1/joysticks2.jpg

No denying that the N64 brought the trend of analog control in widespread-console madness, however - it was so cool how you could creep along the edge of a 3D precipice or break into a run in Mario 64 - nothing like it before.

Hopefully Sony will take this "Adding Rumble Back In" opportunity to beef up the shape of the Sixaxis to make it more ergonomic. I think I'm the only person I know who doesn't mind the light weight, but the triggers are awkward now compared to the 360's controller.

nice- maybe i'll play ps3 now.

and i'm on board with anyone who loved the n64 pad. until the 360 pad, it was my favorite.

troop,

the lightness of the sixaxis was one of those "it's a feature not a bug" things.

Sony claimed it was a design decision, but the inner shell still has all the grooves for the (heavy) rumble motors.

when it comes back, expect it to be just as heavy as the DualShock again, if not more (battery?)

.

Sony really needs to sit down and pay attention to that controller.

no more aftermarket "bolt-ons". thing looks like a pimped out (10 yr old?) PS1 controller, not a brand new year model exotic which everything ELSE about the PS3 is supposed to be..

redesign the entire thing, take all the edges off, and give us some real triggers. keep the proportions and general profile if you must, to keep it in the series (wonder why it's so small? think japanese hands). but Sony you really have to EVOLVE.

.

RougeStorm: Your thumb is NINE INCHES!!? Holy crap, your girlfriend must love you.

The first analog controller was made by Atari for the Atari 5200. It was a very poor design, which was a non-centering style fo joystic, and the overall poor quality of the build.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_5200

@E.J.

OK, so occasionally it's an ugly plastic case with a faux-wood finish. Big deal

This guy seems like a whiz. Perhaps he could make the 360 d-Pad work right? That'd be impressive.

can't believe no one here mentioned doing this with the Elite controller...

weird.

.

Ew, look at that ugly faux-wood case /sarcasm

http://www.benheck.com/Games/VCS_projects/rev51/51hero.jpg

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Heck crams a Sixaxis into an Xbox 360 controller

Reader Comments (35)

Posted: Apr 16th 2007 8:34AM (Unverified) said

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