Two joysticks and 40 buttons: Steel Battalion controller as VJ tool

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 Too epic to throw away, too outdated to use.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/