RSS
Archive: Gaming
May 5, 2008
Dance dance make-olution
These custom built dance pads cost under $2 USD a tile and can be hooked up to almost any console systen you can think of. This maker connected them up to his computer and the booty shaking title "StepMania". Check out the detailed instructions at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
May 5, 2008 05:00 AM
DIY Projects, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 29, 2008
Passively Multiplayer Online Game @ Maker Faire
The Passively Multiplayer Online Game, which has been in a closed beta since February, is launching an interactive tutorial for new users to coincide with the game's appearance at Maker Faire.
Members of the team, including game designer Merci Victoria Grace, will be hosting a PMOG salon where they plan to play board games and give away presents. The team will be dressed as characters from the steampunk-themed world. - PMOG.com
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 29, 2008 03:00 PM
Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
April 28, 2008
Guitar Hero "Slashbot" shreds meatbot players
A Guitar Hero-playing robot, with the awesome moniker "Slashbot," created by four Texas A&M University undergrads.
Slashbot: The Guitar Hero Robot [via]
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 28, 2008 11:00 AM
Gaming, Robotics |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
April 25, 2008
Homemade XBox 360 arcade controller
Xbox live has a bunch of classic arcade games that you can download via XBox Live. Wouldn't it be great if you had a classic joystick controller too? Obviously some other people think so too, and here is a great example of a homemade Xbox arcade controller.
Related:
Make An Xbox360 Arcade Joystick
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Apr 25, 2008 03:00 AM
Electronics, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 24, 2008
Audio ping pong
Mike made an audio-only version of pong - looks like a lot of potential fun!
When you put on the headphones, you hear a sound that is cycling through a sequence indicating its approach. The sound is somewhere on the left-right axis in the headphones. If the sound is to your left, you have to tilt your head to the left until the sound is centered. If you tilt your head (the paddle) to the right position in time, you hit the ball an continue, the ball’s approach speeding up each time. If you fail to hit the ball a buzzer and light go off to punish you and the game is over.Warning: playing audio ping pong in public while using a bluetooth headset will most likely make you appear quite insane - awesome. Audio Ping PongI am interested in using senses differently and getting people to focus on their senses in novel, interesting and engaging ways.
My first implementation is very rudimentary. My sound generation capabilities are limited to square waves at full volume so there isn’t true panning - just left, right and centered. In addition to real panning, I would like volume control to indicate the ball’s approach rather than the tone sequence I have now. I need to figure out what kind of RC circuit would smooth the PWM output to act like volume control, or use a digital potentiometer.
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 24, 2008 01:00 PM
Arduino, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
HOW TO - Make memory cards for the Hydra Game Console
This instructable author did some experimental trial & error development in order to produce his own additional game/memory cards for the Hydra console -
You will need more serial flash chips. Although 24LC256 and 24LC1024 are mentioned by the author of the Hydra manual, I've used 24LC512, which has 64K of bytes on it. Almost all of the hydra software I've seen runs in 32K, and therefore which ever chip is most readily available or cheapest is recommended. Also recommended is getting DIP chips instead of surface mount if it's available, even if they cost a little bit more.This is just about as 'DIY' as game development gets - (that being said, someone will now show up rolling their own resistors for game hardware dev) - How to Make more game memory / cards for the Hydra Game ConsoleYou can obviously use up your experimenter's card to make another game card, but I saved mine. You can easily etch a single sided board or not even etch it. I had a stale bottle of ammonium persulfate that did not etch, so I cut away the excess copper with a dremel tool after etch failure.
(Note to self: Ferric Chloride etchant has a much longer shelf life.)
The boards can be single sided because all of the pins used for memory are on the back side of the board.
In the Maker store:
HYDRA Game Console
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 24, 2008 06:00 AM
Gaming, Instructables |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
April 23, 2008
AutoGuitarHero - HOW TO - Cheat at Guitar hero, the maker way
Michael wins the best Guitar hero hack of all time! He created a circuit that takes in composite video, performs signal processing, and then correctly “hits” buttons on the guitar hero controller based upon what’s on the screen - AutoGuitarHero via Bunnie.
What is the story?
“I knew the only way I was going to beat my son Alex at Guitar Hero was to cheat”
-Michael ( January 1, 2008)
After seeing a demonstration of Guitar Hero at my sisters house, my son and I went online and purchased the game and two guitars for our Wii. You see, my son is 16 and I’m, well, older. Any opportunity to hang out together is welcomed. The first few hours were a lot of fun. We both had our sessions set to ‘easy’ and traded top position on the leader board back and forth. Of course, as the week went by, I watched as my son’s scores improve as mine languished. That was 12 weeks ago. Now he plays on the expert level and I’m stuck at medium. He had his initials at the top of the players list on every song.
What's a Dad to do?
After hours of hacking away at that plastic guitar I topped out at medium. Moving on to hard and adding that 5th key when I only have 4 fingers is just beyond my ever slowing ability to do that 'eye/hand' thing. It just wasn't working. I realized that to get my name at the top of the players list, practice alone was not going to get me there. I was going to have to cheat.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 23, 2008 01:00 PM
Culture jamming, DIY Projects, Electronics, Gaming, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
WiiMan Super Hero - A costume that -is- a Wii controller
WiiMan is a full action figure costume of a super hero that functions as a Nintendo WiiMote remote.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 23, 2008 09:00 AM
Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Flea market finds - Unreleased Atari EPROMS
Gism Butter's finds at a local flea market via Waxy.
Today, we went to the Laney College Flea Market. As usual. I know I’ve written about the amazing things I’ve found at this swap meet. In the past, I got a Game & Watch, and oodles of rare old console games. But today, I found a never published Atari game. I am not kidding. This is the holy grail of videogame collecting.Normally, identifying unreleased games is not easy. But these are...
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 23, 2008 06:00 AM
Gaming, Retro |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
How To: Dual Drum Pedals in Rock Band
We have seen a lot of Rock Band hacks and mods, and this is no different. If you want to beat your friend's high score, this little electronics project should help. This is a really clever way of getting around mono plug that is supplied with the pedal.
The game ROCK BAND has a drum set complete with a Bass drum pedal. Because there is only so fast you can work the pedal with your foot, if you want real speed you need TWO pedals - one for each foot.
How To: Dual Drum Pedals in Rock Band
Related:
Rock Band drum dampening tutorial
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Apr 23, 2008 02:00 AM
Electronics, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 18, 2008
Tetris armwrestling?
As Alan on HackedGadgets says:
I could see a Tresling machine in pubs across the country.
Tresling: Tetris + Arm Wrestling [via]
Related:
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 18, 2008 04:00 PM
Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Pacman game path arranged into audio tape
This project, "Nam June Paik Man" by Irish artist, Ivan Twohig, is an homage of sorts to Korean artist Nam June Paik, where Twohig employs the technique used by Paik of running a tape head over recorded audio tape to produce sounds. The difference is that Twohig's tape is arranged in the labyrinth shape of a game of Pac Man he played and the recorded audio is from the game as well, so you can literally follow the path the artist took around the game and listen to it as well.. Pretty cool way to re-imagine video games through physical interfaces.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 18, 2008 07:00 AM
Arts, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 17, 2008
Draw with Vectrex
Sebastian developed a method for displaying vector images on the classic Vectrex gaming console -
A few days ago, i began working on a Max/MSP patch that lets one draw vector-based images. The images are output as text files containing relative co-ordinate pairs in such a way that they can be easily incorporated into Vectrex assembly code.Perhaps I can use this for the Spike & Molly fan flick I've been planning. - Let's draw with Vectrex!
Related:
Retro gaming - The Vectrex (video)
In the Maker store:
Xgamestation Pico Edition
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 17, 2008 05:00 AM
Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 15, 2008
4-in-1 retro console
What happens when 4 classic consoles are bombarded with gamma rays? - perhaps the Super Genintari gives us some clue -
This 4-in-1 Atari 2600/NES/Genesis/Super NES combo system actually began its life sometime circa early 2002, and at the time it only consisted of a Sega Genesis/32X and Super NES. Soon after accidentally destroying the 32X (no big loss) and moving to the smaller Genesis 3 board, I decided to throw an NES into the mix, making it a 3-in-1 system. It went through a few redesigns before I finally chose to go all out and add the Atari as well since i'd already spent so much time on it. I worked on it on and off for several years (taking sanity breaks for several months at a time) and finally have a finished machine to show you! This is to date the most involved and time-consuming project I've ever worked on, and I'm happy to finally call it done.Looks like a retro-gaming force to be reckoned with - the case was custom formed from acrylic with a strip heater - excellent combo with those orange LED buttons. - Super Genintari
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 15, 2008 03:00 PM
Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Numbers station bingo
Numbers Station Bingo a game using the mysterious shortwave radio broadcasts via Waxy.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 15, 2008 01:00 PM
Gaming, Telecommunications |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Jug Hero @ Maker Faire
Longing for a more collaborative play dynamic in music games, Kevin Lim and Shawna Hein came up with a new direction to take the genre - straight toward the land of jug band. Jug music has strong social and even humorous connotations - a perfect antidote to the solo button-racing so prevelant around the time of this project's development -
Two players are assigned one jug instrument each, which they blow puffs of air into to score points. Players also "clink" their instruments together in a social "cheers!" that allots them bonus points. Each jug includes a microphone to sense resonant puffs of air in the mouth of the jug, and a force-sensor to sense social "clinking" of two jugs at the side of the instruments. The interaction is kept both simple and social. Also, because the tempo of jug band music varies widely, the arbitrary "easy/medium/hard" trichotomy is removed in favor of a foot pedal, which allows the players to choose a difficulty level much more intuitively. At any point in the game, either player can tap the pedal slower or faster to play a song with the corresponding speed. Finally, the game includes a simple "keyboard" for bonus musical effects. Keys on a laptop are mapped to sound-snippets. To allow the keyboardist creative expression, she is not told what to do, and can simply play sounds as she feels fit, which adds points to the team's total score.Sorry, passing out from lack of air does not currently enhance your score - but cleaning your spittle from the jug-troller most likely should!
Unique hardware interface ideas can be inspiring to learn of - but they're all about experience firsthand - So bring that hand (and the other one too) to the Bay Area Maker Faire and commence the jugging!
- read more @ Jug Hero
UPDATE: Kevin, a Jug Hero developer writes -
Just wanted to update, that we're only going to make it on the SundaySo, if you're planning on gettin' juggy with it, be sure to come on Sunday, ya hear?
(may 4) of Maker faire... because of a prior engagement.
Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset May 3rd and 4th at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, CA (Upcoming.org). It's for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things. Buy tickets now and save, discount ticket sales end on April 25th, 2008.
If you're in the Bay Area, or plan to attend Maker Faire add "makerfaire" to your Twitter, we'll be giving away tickets and will have updates before and during Maker Faire!
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 15, 2008 04:00 AM
Gaming, Maker Faire |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
April 14, 2008
Turn your flight simulator game into a mini cockpit training set
This custom built throttle project shows you how to add a more realistic gaming experience to your boring flight simulator game. Pretty simple construction notes at the link below.
How to Build Dual Throttles For Your Flight Simulator
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 14, 2008 09:00 AM
Flying, Gaming |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Nintendo DS MIDI sequencer keeps the beats alive
Here's a Nintendo DS sequencer project / hack that comes with source code. Really simple interface using the touch screen and a pretty cool way to lay down the tracks live.
DStep V2 DS MIDI Sequencer [via]
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 14, 2008 07:00 AM
Gaming, Music |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
April 13, 2008
The Multari
Marshall writes -
The Multari is a portable Atari 2600 with 32 built-in games built by myself, Marshall. It features a vacuum-formed styrene plastic case, 5" LCD, and no big cartridges to carry around.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Apr 13, 2008 03:00 AM
Gaming, Retro |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
April 11, 2008
Make your own arcade-style game gun
This Instructables shows how one gamer built his own FPS gun for playing Halo 2 and Deus Ex on his big screen home entertainment system.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 11, 2008 05:00 PM
Gaming, Instructables, Toys and Games |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Features and more @ MAKE!
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Kip Kay
Video Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
Current Podcast
The Best of Maker Faire 2008
Check out all the fun and excitement at this year's Maker Faire in San Mateo, California. People from all over the world came to experience this amazing event. Take a look at some of the highlights and make plans...
More...
