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Gamerpunch

Gamerpunch
Gamerpunch: a directory of video game craft, art and DIY. For the crafty gamer in all of us.

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GET: Nintendosoup poster
2007-07-05 08:21:00
Ben Fry has a unique game poster available for download. The images were created by extracting and rebuilding the code from a number of Nintendo titles.This piece examines the unpacking of a Nintendo game cartridge, decoding the program as a four-color image, revealing a beautiful soup of the thousands of individual elements that make up the game screen.The full poster is available as an 84 x 120cm .pdf and contains 4-color reconstructions of Contra Force, Double Dragon, Dr. Mario, Galaga, Galaxian, Bump n' Jump, Joust, Ninja Gaiden, Punch-Out, RBI Basketball, Burger Time, Super Mario, Yoshi, Super Mario 3, and Zelda II - Adventures of Link. The poster contains more than a hundred panels like the one pictured above, extracted from the Double Dragon cartridge.[mariosoup, poster link at bottom]
More About: Poster , Tendo

MAKE: Street Fighter Xbox 360 controller
2007-07-05 03:24:00
Everyone is modding controllers lately. If there isn't a controller modding community called 'Control Freaks', well, there really should be.The above pic shows a custom Xbox Street Fighter controller shell with buttons and joystick wired to the circuit board of an Xbox 360 controller. With it, you could be the coolest Street Fighter on Xbox Live.Dreams of Street Fighter coolness aside, you probably won't/shouldn't try this one at home. I know I certainly don't own a custom Xbox Street Fighter controller, nor could I touch a circuit board without breaking it. That doesn't mean I can't admire the work of another - even if I don't understand it.Note: I see an Xbox 360 stacked on top of other electronics. Naughty.[Street Fighter Joystick for the Xbox 360 at AlfredChow.com]
More About: Make

USE: BioShock Achievements
2007-07-05 03:05:00
Xbox360Achievements.org has all 50 BioShock achievements with a total of 1000 points. The achievements are, overall, a mixture of your standard fare with some interesting additions, like:Take at least one Research Photo of a Splicer.Successfully invent at least 100 items.Complete the game without harvesting any Little Sisters.Hit the jackpot at a slot machine.Photography, invention, gambling, morality... Would we expect any less from BioShock ?Each achievement icon is animated in a neat retro style which fits perfectly with the style of the game. When developers pay attention to details like that you can bet the game is going to be a quality product.[BioShock Achievement List at Xbox360Achievements.org]
More About: Xbox Live , Xbox 360

HACK: Overcome gamer frustration
2007-07-04 10:24:00
It happens to the best of us. A race, a boss, a level, a puzzle, a mission or a quest that seems impossible to beat. We try a dozen times in one sitting, swear at the screen, pull the plug and go do something else while we cool off.This feeling can severly impede our enjoyment of a game, and it's most of the reason why walkthroughs and FAQs get written. Below are a number of tips to help get over the feeling and conquer the obstacle giving you trouble.1. Recognize the signsHow do you know you're suffering from gamer frustration? Symptoms may include: yelling, swearing at inanimate objects (electronic devices, the game itself), incoherent screaming, muttering, throwing of controller, mashing keyboard, hitting of monitor or TV screen, throwing of mouse. If you start pulling out your hair, seek immediate medical attention.2. Immediate responsePause or open the main menu. This will give you a chance to gather your thoughts, calm down, and decide what to do next.3. AnalyzeFrustration i...
More About: Gamer , Hack , Overcome , Rust

USE: Replacementdocs, for pdf. game manuals
2007-07-04 10:07:00
Most gamers have lost a game manual (or two) at some point, but you might just have hope of finding it yet - albiet with a bit of a format change. Replacementdocs has thousands of full-color game manuals in .pdf format for download. If you own the game the manual comes with then I'm pretty sure the service is legal, too.The site could also be useful if you buy the bargain-bin editions of certain games, which often don't come with a manual. I bought Deus Ex for $9.99 at my local gaming store. The only downside? It didn't come with a manual. Just under two megabytes later and the problem is solved.[replacementdocs]
More About: Manuals , Game , Manu , Lace , Manual

BUZZ: Racism is everywhere. Even Forza 2.
2007-07-04 05:47:00
This 1957 Mercedes 300SL is just one of several vehicles emblazoned with user-designed hate speech available for purchase through Forza 2 's online auction mode.The debate around an appropriate reaction is pretty evenly split between three points of view:This kind of stuff shouldn't make it to auction and the user responsible should be banned.Yeah it's offensive but the user is entitled to their opinion. If you don't like it, don't buy it.Who cares? I'm not pro-Nazi but that's a nice paint-job.I've been arguing the first case and I'd like to paraphrase some of my comments over at Joystiq to explain why.Put yourself in the shoes of a Jewish person who's ancestors have been executed during the holocaust. The car would make you feel physically sick with disgust and outrage. Why should such people have to experience that just so some idiot with nothing to contribute to the world can voice his valueless hate speech?Others have argued that the car should remain on auction because...
More About: Buzz , Racism , Where

PLAY: 700 free indie games
2007-07-04 04:55:00
While not every single game available at the Independent Gaming Review Archives is full-version, most are, and best of all, they're all free. Games can be sorted by genre or alphabetical order and most are small downloads. Those who enjoy casual games should find a lot to like here.With the release of WiiWare in 2008 we might just see a few of these indie titles make it big. If you have a play through some of the games, let us know which ones you think could work on the Wii.[Independent Gaming Free ware Database]
More About: Play , Freeware , Indie

GET: E3 at home via Xbox LIVE
2007-07-04 04:28:00
Via Gamerscore comes this list of Microsoft's E3 coverage over Xbox LIVE:Microsoft?s E3 2007 press conference ? beginning at 8:30 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, July 10 ? will be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace in high definition later in the week Video updates direct from the show A selection of game trailers, themes, gamer pictures and demos will be available from the hottest E3 titles such as these: Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.) Assassin?s Creed (Ubisoft) BioShock (2K) Blue Dragon (Microsoft Game Studios) Burnout Paradise (Electronic Arts Inc.) CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE (Activision) FIFA Soccer 08 (Electronic Arts) Guitar Hero III (Activision/RedOctane) Lost Odyssey (Microsoft Game Studios) Madden NFL 08 (Electronic Arts) NCAA Football 08 (Electronic Arts) Need for Speed: ProStreet (Electronic Arts) Project Gotham Racing 4 (Microsoft Game Studios) The Simpsons Game (Electronic Arts) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (El...
More About: Xbox Live , Xbox 360 , Home , Live

HACK: 6 ways to keep your electronics cool this summer
2007-07-03 02:45:00
You could rig up something like the above - sure - but you could also follow a few basic steps listed below. Steps that don't require a degree in mechatronic engineering.The list is a summary of an article over at Of Zen and Computing, with headings as follows:Don't stack electronicsIs your Xbox sitting on top of your DVD player? Stacked electronics means heat is shared between devices, rather than disappating away.Keep vents clearIs air-flow to and from your electronic devices blocked in any way? Give them some space to breathe.Position electronics away from heatTreat your electronics like vampires and don't let them sit in the sun. Keep them near a fan or air-conditioner if possible.It's never too late for spring cleaningClean dust from the interior and exterior of your PC or consoles with canned air, available at any good office supply store.In case of emergency, shut downIf you think one of your devices might be over-heating, turn it off and disconnect the power supply. Leav...
More About: Electronics , Summer , Cool , Hack

MAKE: Wiimote USB stick
2007-07-03 02:33:00
Engadget reader Ryan Kruska created this Wii USB stick using a toy Wiimote from Wendy's, a stanley knife, a USB thumb drive and a little bit of paper.The best bit? His creation comes complete with step-by-step instructional photos. Sure, the photography may not be great - but we still love your work, Ryan.[How to: make a toy wiimote USB drive via Engadget]
More About: Make , Stick , Mote

GET: Oh Canada, Oh Canada
2007-07-03 02:19:00
If you're a Canadian resident and hooked into Xbox Live treat yourself to some free gamer pics and a theme to celebrate Canada Day. And yes, I don't think the bat and squirrel gamer pics are part of the Canada Day bonus. Unless... Microsoft, what are you trying to say about Canadians, exactly?The freebies are only available for a limited time so get your patriotic self into it. And yes, the first one is clearly the best.[Canada Day 2007 Themes and Gamerpics via Opposable Thumbs]
More About: Xbox 360

MAKE: Noir 360 wireless controller
2007-07-02 06:39:00
From the short-lived Alcaron's Projects comes this moment of brilliance: detailed instructions on how to make your own dark controller for the Xbox 360 .What you need: Xbox 360 controller (wired or wireless), screwdriver (phillips head for a wired controller, or a security torx for a wireless controller), vinyl dye and latex gloves.Cost: $5Difficulty: You can probably imagine.[Noir 360 - wireless controller instructions at Alcaron's Projects]
More About: Wireless , Make , Controller

CLICK: Blogging Zelda
2007-07-02 06:08:00
Following in the footsteps of Blogg ing Ultima and Blogging Dragon Quest comes Blogging Zelda , a journal dedicated to sharing one gamer's experiences playing through the entire Zelda series. The blog, written by Grownup Gamer, is some of the way through Zelda II. Plenty of games and lots of Zelda goodness to go.Here's a hot tip: start Blogging Final Fantasy before someone else does. Go on. Get cracking.[Blogging Zelda]
More About: Click

CLICK: GeeVee
2007-07-01 03:13:00
GeeVee is a new service which provides free hosting and viewing of gameplay videos. A YouTube for gameplay, in other words, but it seems to have a few advantages over its mega-popular counterpart: videos are larger and higher-res, video comments aren't full of spam and there's a digg-style ratings system (cool / lame) which adds an extra element of democracy to whether a video gets popular or not.If you're looking for a place to host your gameplay videos with a bigger display and higher resolution than YouTube, GeeVee might be worth a look.[GeeVee]
More About: Click

GET: Free Eternal Sonata faceplate with pre-order
2007-07-01 02:13:00
The official Eternal Sona ta website is live and bearing good news: the game is available for pre-order at EB Games/GameStop. The 'good' bit is that you receive one of the above Eternal Sonata faceplates with your pre-order. Not sure if you get to choose, but either way, that's a pretty neat bonus.[via Kotaku]
More About: Free , Late , Order

CLICK: BethBlog
2007-06-30 02:42:00
It's almost as if the people at Beth esda Game Studios just want to be liked. Their efforts began on the Fallout 3 forums, and they've now colonized a little speck of the blogsphere. I predict we'll be hitting up Todd Howard's MySpace in a week or two.Pete Hines is apparently responsible for the newest iteration of Bethesda's quest to be loved by all. Not that he'd admit it:This (blog) is something I?ve wanted to do for a while now, but I didn?t have the time to do it on my own with everything else going on (that ?Oblivion? thing, for one).Yeah, now you've only got that "Fallout 3" thing going, so you have a lot more free time? Way to win over the skeptics, Pete!Let's face it: Todd Howard and co. are treating disgruntled fans like the new kid at school who just wants to be your friend. I think it's sweet. I don't think it's going to work. I think a lot of fans will be saying that time spent making affable blog posts could be better spent, ahem, elsewhere.[Bethesda Blog via...
More About: Click

EDIT: How to install Ubuntu on the PS3
2007-06-30 02:39:00
What is Ubuntu and why should I install it? The PS3 allows you to install alternative operating systems (once you have partitioned the hard drive). A neat candidate would be Ubuntu, which is free, Linux-based, and regularly updated. The OS comes in several different flavors, including Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu. They're each slightly different -- Google 'em.Are there any limitations? You can still watch Blu-ray DVDs and use Ubuntu, but not at the same time.Where do I start? There are detailed instructions at the Community Ubuntu Documentation project. It actually doesn't look too tricky, so let us know if you get it working![Playstation 3 Ubuntu documentation via Lifehacker]
More About: Software , Operating System , Edit

EDIT: Ergonomic DS Lite stylus
2007-06-29 04:33:00
Ergonomic in the sense that it totally maximizes productivity while reducing operator fatigue and discomfort, etc. And it's free. As opposed to the other styli* out there, which cost money. And let's face it - nobody wants to pay money for a slip of plastic. It just feels wrong.Sal Cangeloso, unhappy with the ergonomicality (-ness? Yes, I am making up words) of the stock stylus decided a little DIY was in order, pictured above.My version is actually a stock DS Lite stylus cut down to the right size and placed in a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto pen. I also put in a little bit of rubber from the grip from an old pen so that the stylus tip has a little bit of give. It ended up taking about 5 minutes to put together and it was free, which is always nice. I used an old stylus which, as any DS Lite user knows, starts to fall out of the holder when the little stopper ridge wears out. The extra size makes the stylus a lot more comfortable and the added width helps as well. I should be easy enough...
More About: Edit , Ergonomic , Stylus

MAKE: Notebook photo frame
2007-06-29 04:22:00
Alright, so it's not quite game related, but it could be. Whack a photo of Mario in there and we can call that problem solved.So, what is it? A notebook re-assembled inside plexiglass with the LCD screen facing outwards. Turn it on and it displays an image via the LCD screen, like some sort of crazy science-fiction photoframe. Because that's what it is. Crazy.Steve at Skivinator has done a write-up of the process with some accompanying visuals. Unless you're a genius at taking apart and re-assembling notebooks you should probably keep the screwdrivers in the drawer for this one.[Wicked Awesome Photo Frame at Skivinator]
More About: Notebook , Make

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