Two joysticks and 40 buttons: Steel Battalion controller as VJ tool
by JC Fletcher 
{ Nov 18th 2009 at 9:00PM } 
One "visual performance unit" called Bonsajo rigged up one of Capcom's indulgent Xbox controllers to control an audiovisual display. It turns out that with all those crazy, light-up buttons, the controller is well suited to use for VJing in dark environments! And it also looks really cool, in a way that we wouldn't expect of a mech game controller at a party. See the controller in action after the break.
[Via Kotaku, GSW]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
psych7111 @ Nov 18th 2009 9:05PM
Very nice. Just got one from hunting them down from GameStop. I had one shipped to the store I work at after calling all 6 places in the U.S. The others just took the game itself with no controller. Seriously, taking a game for $50 with no controller, come on. I am really considering this mod though. Game is very blah.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 9:06PM
You know, there was a third title that would have used this controller.
First person to guess it gets a Dark Side Cookie.
Young_Nastyman @ Nov 18th 2009 9:12PM
Steel Batallion 2: Electric Boogaloo?
Young_Nastyman @ Nov 18th 2009 9:12PM
*Battalion
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 9:13PM
Wrong!
Electro Poof - ATDF Secret Agent. @ Nov 18th 2009 9:14PM
If I don't know what game it is, can I still get that Dark Side Cookie?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 9:15PM
No.
Here's a hint: The game was never actually released.
aristokrat @ Nov 18th 2009 9:48PM
A Star Wars ATAT game?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 9:51PM
NO! NO! YOU ALL FAIL!
It's Pimps At Sea!
The Pimpwheel! ARGH!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEjUOz-fbAY
Josh L @ Nov 18th 2009 10:41PM
Funfact: Pimps at Sea was released as Age of Booty by Certain Affinity, which was founded by ex-Bungie employees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Booty
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 10:44PM
It was related, yes.
But it's not PaS. There wasn't 'mermaid sea bitches'.
Edog Lost @ Nov 18th 2009 9:07PM
Finally something I can do with this huge controller I keep in my garage.
ill trooper @ Nov 18th 2009 11:03PM
Hey, at least you have a garage! Mine's here in my home office in my apartment, sitting at an angle on some boxes... Too epic to throw away, too outdated to use.
Edog Lost @ Nov 19th 2009 1:55PM
I agree, the thing is too epic to just trash.
Before I got my new house, I actually drove around with the thing in my truck for like 6 months.
Anytime I had to open the trunk with someone around I had to explain what it was, and why I had it in my trunk. If I said, "Oh, it's a DJ interface" I might have had a better reaction.
logic meme @ Nov 18th 2009 9:07PM
Freakin sweet! Damn that controller is bad ass, I always wanted to try one but never had the chance.
ripslymemc @ Nov 18th 2009 9:09PM
video games + art = win
Hyperion45 @ Nov 18th 2009 10:52PM
But... video games = art
So therefore by your statement we also have the following:
art + art = win
video games + video games = win
Personally I agree with all the above.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] ATDFs Financier and Batman @ Nov 18th 2009 9:20PM
I have still not become re accustomed to spelling joystiq with a ck
please @ Nov 18th 2009 9:30PM
Or it can be used by MS to give money to the religion bashers in Washington. Like they did last month
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith-ATDF Co-Founder @ Nov 18th 2009 9:36PM
How the hell is this related?
ill trooper @ Nov 18th 2009 11:01PM
'Please' go away.
Candlejack @ Nov 18th 2009 9:35PM
Best. Game. Ever. Oh if only it were ported to the 360 I'd pay full price for it. Not the controller of course, but the game+adapter.
AoF-Squall @ Nov 18th 2009 10:16PM
That's cool and all, but where are the drivers?
I would love to be able to plug mine up to my PC for Mechwarrior or somesuch.
Considering the mac gui I saw, them releasing drivers wouldn't help me much.
XLM @ Nov 18th 2009 11:33PM
Mmmmmm, here?
http://vt.beckament.net/
Sly @ Nov 18th 2009 11:12PM
"VJ tool"
too easy. i'm not gonna go for the easy joke.
N1ghtbl4z3 @ Nov 18th 2009 11:39PM
i remember Steel Battalion...only played once at a buddy house. Its to bad the controller wasn't really utilized in other games.
But now its being used for art, which is cool i suppose lol
Sir Kero @ Nov 19th 2009 12:10AM
So that's what I can do with this one I've got lying around here... and here I was just planning to use it for Mechwarrior or something.
n0thx1ng @ Nov 19th 2009 5:09AM
I remember laughing at the price of $200 for the game back when it was released.
Time has changed ;_;
capt_carl @ Nov 19th 2009 8:46AM
I've never seen the controller in actual use, so I had no idea there were so many lights on it. Just awesome.
Gemini Ace @ Nov 19th 2009 10:08AM
What the hell was he doing? What's VJ? (guess I'm old).
Teph @ Nov 19th 2009 11:15AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VJ_%28video_performance_artist%29
OrganicMeatbag @ Nov 20th 2009 6:14PM
Was I the only one who got the Weebl "Badger Badger" song in his head, to the beat of this video?
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/badgers/