Ben Heck's one-handed Xbox 360 controller refined

49 Comments by Ross Miller Mar 19th 2008 1:00AM
Filed under: Hacks, Microsoft Xbox 360

Since not every game can pass the, erm, one-handed test (DOAX2 does), hacker extraordinaire Ben Heck has one-upped himself (pun intended) in recreating the one-handed Xbox 360 controller he originally concocted in December 2006. The whole thing puts all buttons in easy-to-reach locations and the nice camcorder-style handstrap helps you hold onto it. The bottom joystick is intended to be played against your lap.

More details can be found at his website; stay tuned for more information on Heck's upcoming commercial project, the "Access" one-handed controller.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: ben-heck, one-handed

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

willie: Mar 19th 2008; 1:09AM

awesome

ben has yet to disappoint!

Frank: Mar 19th 2008; 1:17AM

I've yet to reach the lesbian scenes in Mass Erect, er Effect. This controller could come in handy.

mike: Mar 19th 2008; 1:42AM

The lesbian scene(s) are non interactive, so you wont be controlling anything while they are happening.

Skittens: Mar 19th 2008; 1:44AM

heh....handy...

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 19th 2008; 2:24AM

Trust me Mike, Frank WILL be controlling something.

Just with his other joystick.

(PS: Frank's comment is full of win)

mundox: Mar 19th 2008; 4:57AM

I vote for this comment to get a "WIN OF THE YEAR" award.

LOL!

riggs: Mar 19th 2008; 9:00AM

he will truly effect his mass

Yuccadude: Mar 19th 2008; 1:19AM

Time for some backwards-compatible DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball?

Kujel: Mar 19th 2008; 1:21AM

I really like the idea but I wonder how well it works? I would love to be able to play games one handed so I could smoke and play at the same time.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 19th 2008; 9:49AM

I think the design is for gamers who've lost an arm due to accident or war.

Kujel: Mar 19th 2008; 1:45PM

Oh I realize that but just because I'm not missing any limbs doesn't mean I can't benefit from such a controller.

David: Mar 19th 2008; 1:21AM

Is that a Sony D-pad? BLASPHEMY.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 19th 2008; 2:26AM

Are those SNES buttons? MADNESS.

WiNG: Mar 19th 2008; 8:29AM

Please nobody end this meme.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 19th 2008; 9:50AM

Is this Sparta?

tcc3: Mar 19th 2008; 10:02AM

No, the crappy 360 dpad is whats blasphemy.

ehisforadam: Mar 19th 2008; 10:08AM

Are those Duracells? Inconceivable!

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 19th 2008; 11:34AM

I don't think this word means what you think it means.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Mar 19th 2008; 1:25AM

nice d-pad.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!): Mar 19th 2008; 1:30AM

i wonder if he could make a Dualshock 3 with 360 analog sticks and concave triggers. that would be the perfect controller IMHO.

honestly it probably wouldnt be too hard to switch the analog sticks in theory. i might look into that...

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 19th 2008; 2:29AM

It'd be nice (two extra triggers/shoulder buttons can't really hurt), but there's a design problem with that.

Knowing that one of the analog sticks/nubs has to be on an adhering surface in order to control motion/camera, how would it be able to detect accelerometer motion-control input (since you can't lift it up in the air at the same time)?

the_insider: Mar 19th 2008; 1:27AM

technically his stuff is great, he just really needs to team up with a product designer though...

Kye NFC: 7016 - 9552 - 1191 - 8991: Mar 19th 2008; 6:43AM

I am a product designer.

This guy is, in my opinion, as good a designer, engineer and ergonomist as he needs to be.
He's my new idol.

Wish I could start my own company just to hire him.

Jansperus: Mar 19th 2008; 1:41AM

Rumble Roses XX, here I come!

mike: Mar 19th 2008; 1:45AM

This is a great invention. I dont want one or need one of course but I can imagine all the disabled people who could use this. Its nice to know If I ever lose an arm I can always hire Ben heck to craft me one of these bad boys instead of being forced to game with the wii :p.

Kujel: Mar 19th 2008; 4:03AM

Sorry to break it to ya bub but all the good games one the Wii take two hands, in fact nearly all the games require two hands.

Morisato: Mar 19th 2008; 2:20AM

Awesome... now I can play my left hand against my right!

Morisato: Mar 19th 2008; 2:21AM

Who else is up for playing with themselves?

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring): Mar 19th 2008; 8:32AM

'Proof that I'm a girl: First thing I think, "Wow, what a great opportunity for disabled people!"'

Damn, thanks. Now I have to question my masculinity because that's the first thought I had too.

Asher: Mar 19th 2008; 2:29AM

Haha, People playing with themselves. Because this has no benefits for gamers that don't have all their hands.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 19th 2008; 2:30AM

My bag of chips begs to differ.

Saria the Cat: Mar 19th 2008; 2:35AM

Proof that I'm a girl: First thing I think, "Wow, what a great opportunity for disabled people!" Only until after reading comments do I realize the more humorous usage. I'm so naive sometimes. :P

Kye NFC: 7016 - 9552 - 1191 - 8991: Mar 19th 2008; 6:46AM

*squints*

You're a girl? On Joystiq? As in, like, a real life female??

*headasplodes*

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring): Mar 19th 2008; 8:33AM

'Proof that I'm a girl: First thing I think, "Wow, what a great opportunity for disabled people!"'

Damn, thanks. Now I have to question my masculinity because that's the first thought I had too.

***Reply System Defeats Me Again***

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 19th 2008; 2:31AM

Ben Heck's a freakin genius, and he demonstrates that over and over again.

Arturis: Mar 19th 2008; 1:12PM

I'm surprised that Ben hasn't been hired by a peripheral company like MadCats - Then instead of making poorly designed, cheaply produced, first party knock-off controllers, they can make intelligently designed, cheaply produced, original controllers. Sounds like an upgrade to me.

Richie: Mar 19th 2008; 2:36AM

Looks like garbage WAAAAY too much buttons.

Robotic Earthling: Mar 19th 2008; 2:56AM

I'd like to see you play with less.

riggs: Mar 19th 2008; 9:11AM

he does so most nights...

joystiq where masturbation jokes happen.

Saria the Cat: Mar 19th 2008; 3:18PM

That's what she said!

License to ill: Mar 19th 2008; 8:39AM

Sorry it looks kinda lame to me...

Mills and Boom: Mar 19th 2008; 9:16AM

Yea I've tried one of these and it's not really a useful replacement for a proper 360 controller.

Poisoned Al: Mar 19th 2008; 10:19AM

See that sharp, tapered thing over there? You're failing to hit it.

Dick: Mar 19th 2008; 10:54AM

Wheres the other analog stick? all movee, no lookee?

Dick: Mar 19th 2008; 10:55AM

oops, NM, missed the purple/grey looking anal plug.

xFenixKnightx: Mar 19th 2008; 10:56AM

This whole thread is full of lulzies!!! =D Goofy Joystiq posters FTW!!! Keep em comin'

AaronMD: Mar 19th 2008; 2:09PM

Beautiful!

geekazine: Mar 21st 2008; 12:51AM

I like the design. It's always cool to see new ideas.

hvnlysoldr: Apr 12th 2008; 3:48PM

My dad commented on using Wii machines and specially designed software for rehab. Yeah I'm interested in his one handed wiimote/nunchuk combo.

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