DIY tilt-sensor for the next-gen gamer on the go

Tilt sensing isn't quite the novelty it once was, with all these new-fangeled controllers and laptops flooding the market, but as much as the execution might lack, or our child-like joy wane, we've always got room for one more tilt-enabled doohickey at the Engadget HQ. This time around it's the Nintendo DS sporting the fancy functionality (again), via a homemade tilt sensor which plugs into that handy mini-USB port. Unfortunately for the bleeding edge types, the actual use of this thing is an exercise in frustration, since the control is merely digital -- full left or full right, none of those fancy degrees. Still, if your mom and her gal pals have commandeered your Wii for the afternoon, you've just gotta get some Nintendo-flavored tilt-sensing action on, and you can't find your Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble cartridge anywhere, then it sounds like this DS hack is the hack for you. Alternatively, you can apparently plug this thing into your PSP, but we don't have any video evidence to back that up. Keep reading to see the DS in action.

[Via DS Fanboy]

[Alcaron @ Dec 18th 2006 4:54PM]

If they released a rumble pack, why not slap those lovely and tiny sensors into a GBA cart and release a tilt pack for the DS?

[Aaron @ Dec 18th 2006 5:46PM]

i dont see much of a productive use for this unless it is or becomes analog.

and what mini-USB port?

[Pedro @ Dec 18th 2006 5:48PM]

He added one ;)

[Kaze @ Dec 18th 2006 5:56PM]

I miss Kirby Tilt and Tumble ): I loved that game.

[Pain @ Dec 1st 2007 10:16AM]

how do you make a tilt sensor board ?
i would love to make one