Ben Heck crams wireless Xbox 360 controller into original Xbox controller

Yeah, we doubt that summary rolled off the average tongue, but regardless, modder extraordinaire Ben Heck has managed to stuff the guts of an Xbox 360 wireless controller into the frame of an original Xbox controller. Often dubbed "The Duke," the massive device actually proved rather hard to work with, though one may assume that you could actually cram the entire Xbox 360 into this beast with all that room. Nevertheless, the final product actually looks fairly unscathed, save for the tiny, recessed Sync button on the rear, the added Guide button on the front and the headset port at the base, but it sounds like this may be the only one to ever be created by the hands of Mr. Heck. You know what that means -- get your bid in or live with unimaginable regret.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

[chadow @ Sep 20th 2007 9:59AM]

I think its great that he shows it can be done, for those who like the giant Xbox controller. Myself, I cant stand to even hold that old thing after using the 360 controller.

[Trevor @ Sep 20th 2007 4:00PM]

Considering the original XBOX controller is bigger, I would hardly call it "cramming."

[Jason @ Sep 20th 2007 10:07AM]

Microsoft should consider a limited run of 360 dukes. I personally hated it, but many of my friends would play with nothing else.

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 20th 2007 10:09AM]

Ben "Boomy" Heck, Plastic Bending Master! You Sir are a Mad Genius ;^)...

[o29 @ Sep 20th 2007 10:16AM]

Whenever I play Xbox, I always use the old duke controller. Sure I have a smaller controller too, but I just can't get used to it at this point.

I'm also 6'3", so maybe there is a correlation between hand size and controller preference.

[Homeboy @ Sep 20th 2007 10:19AM]

Great idea. Unlike all the Asians who hated the Xbox controller because of it's gigantic size, I loved it. My feet are large, so is my wiener and hands. The controller worked magic for me even though the 360 controller is a bit more universal.

Over all it's much better than the PS3 controller which is terrible to use for FPS games because of the stupid location of the analog sticks. It's very uncomfortable and terrible to use, especially for people with big hands.

[Herbert Neal @ Sep 20th 2007 12:40PM]

"so is my wiener"

Sure it is. Some one protests too much.

[TA @ Sep 20th 2007 3:03PM]

I liked how your "large wiener" and "large hands" go together.

[Shane @ Sep 20th 2007 10:21AM]

Ben needs a new hosting provider...Every time his site gets mentioned on Engadget it suffers the /. effect and I can't read the story.

[Steve Jobs @ Sep 20th 2007 10:23AM]

What does your height have to do with your hand size o, I too am 6'3" and I prefer the smaller controller. I can understand liking it if you're one of the few people that has monstorouly large hands (the dude that works where I buy my gas could probably palm the the death star) but I'd say from big the whole way down to small hands the 360 controller kicks ass.

[Biff Superman @ Sep 20th 2007 10:26AM]

doesnt thay guy get pissed when people call him Heck

[HineyWipe @ Sep 20th 2007 10:28AM]

Kudos to Ben. In other news, Xbox D-Pad sucketh.

In other news, one size does NOT fit all.

(I also prefer the S-Controller. The original was way too big and buttons skewed)

[roc ingersol @ Sep 20th 2007 10:34AM]

I -love- The Duke.
This is cool - but someone needs to put out a true 360 Duke with the guide button and shoulder buttons.

[Paragraph @ Sep 20th 2007 10:43AM]

people like me who have larger-than-average hands loved the giant Xbox controller of yore... if i had a 360 i would have probably allready tried this myself ;)

very good, clean too, great job mr heck.

[Crockett @ Sep 20th 2007 10:44AM]

I miss you 'Duke'!!!

[Se?Diddy @ Sep 20th 2007 10:45AM]

They say he carved it from a bigger spoon!

[mike @ Sep 20th 2007 10:46AM]

That thing looks about as responsive as my wife!

[Andy S. @ Sep 20th 2007 10:46AM]

Of course, it's important to note that "crams" is perhaps not the best word here, as the original Xbox controller is quite capacious, and installing the innards of a 360 controller into it would be about on par with installing a 360 controller's guts into a refrigerator box.

[Tim Brown @ Sep 20th 2007 11:03AM]

I miss the old "Duke". I have large hands and the smaller 360 controller often causes me issues when I need to get to the D-pad (my arthritis prevents my thumb from bending that far back) especially when trying to change ammo type in bioshock with a tonne of splicers trying to tear me apart.

[teej @ Sep 20th 2007 11:04AM]

HOLY CRAP...i emailed Ben Heck a few months ago to make one of these for me!@# I love the Duke, and my Halo pwnage has suffered since attempting to transition to a 360 controller :-\

[Jacob @ Sep 20th 2007 12:14PM]

The Duke was one of those things that you absolutely loved, or absolutely hated. The majority of people (myself included) hated it, but the Duke still has a strong following.

[ryaninc @ Sep 20th 2007 12:40PM]

Wow, and I thought I was the only one who liked the original big controller. Good to know there are others who miss the ol' guy.

[daniel @ Sep 20th 2007 12:42PM]

i never had a problem with the size but those face buttons are horrible, i always came away with sore thumbs after playing burnout

[Charlie J @ Sep 20th 2007 1:43PM]

Yes, i too loved the duke. I have big hands so it just fit great. the s was WAAAAY too small. the 360 controller is ok, but still cramped more often than not.

[Thomas Gernon @ Sep 20th 2007 3:03PM]

always amazed

[jroc @ Sep 20th 2007 3:05PM]

Who the Heck does this?

[Aron @ Sep 20th 2007 4:45PM]

It also doubles as a coffee table!

[Andrew H. @ Sep 20th 2007 5:12PM]

dont you mean "get your bid in and live with unimaginable regret."?