The Engadget Show: Inside Ben Heck's magic kingdom
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Oct 19th 2009 12:22PM
posted Oct 19th 2009 12:22PM
If you're a reader of Engadget (and let's be honest -- you're reading this, right?) then you surely know Ben Heck's work. The master modder has been the source of some of our favorite tweaks, hacks, and flat-out crazy gadget manipulations over the years. We recently had a chance to take a peek inside his workshop and hear straight from Ben about what drives him to create the madness we've see on our pages. It's a phantasmagoric adventure you won't likely forget -- so sit back, crack a cold one, and enjoy the ride!
Note: Don't forget, our next full length Engadget Show is happening this Thursday, and our guest is Steve Ballmer!
Update: Video is now live! Sorry about that!
Host: Nilay Patel
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Music by: Bit Shifter
Titles by: Julien Nantiec
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Wait, he's in Madison? I should pay him a visit. Or something.
yeah i'm sure he'd love that...
That's what I was thinking, maybe he could turn my Amiga A500 into a portable...
Same here. I could have met Ben and Engadget staff at the same time.
At the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc some time in March (was the 21st and 22nd last year) is the Midwest Gaming Classic. I'm pretty sure this year he's going to have a booth again like last year, so yeah. He's a pretty cool guy, and attract swarms of people with his projects.
...the dude found... the cake...
the cake exists! the cake exists!
Shit, if I had know that he was there I totally would have gone. I had no idea he was from Wisconsin!
Speaking of whoring it up, who does the music for the Engadget show intro? I love it, I think he writes the music for my keygens.
dude has an MC Escher poster, nice.
Benheck knows how to whore it up!
Whore up Engadget's background music, Ben. They need it.
That Crystal Head Vodka he was sippin' is intense!
Somebody make it into a shirt!
Ben Heck FTW
He's way beyond cool! :)
Whore me up Ben!
wait..
can you imagine him getting kidnapped for a secret meeting and a MS exec came out of the shadows and said:
"I heard you know how to whore it up."
That was pretty cool I liked it.
Would it be wrong for me, as a straight man, to propose to Ben?
nilay should talk more, he's too static. and the short shows should be longer-like 10 minutes.
and they totally need to whore it up.
ben heck of all people deserves an HOUR
Doesn't the fact that the straight guy gay comment is highest rank just make your head hurt.
haha hilarious, is he drinking brandy near the end there?
"i know how to whore something out, and make it cool, you know what i'm saying?" haha
I think maybe it's his coffee cup?
Looked like Crown Royal to me..
Looks like the bottle from Crystal Head Vodka, which Dan Aykroyd has been hawking.
Crystal Head Vodka bottle, but it wasn't vodka in the bottle. The liquid was dark in color.
We all need to whore it up more!
Lol @ his tshirt :D
What does it says? The cake is a lie?
It's this shirt: http://www.jinx.com/men/shirts/video_games/the_cake_is_a_lie.html
Anyway you guys could check the RSS M4V feed? I'm not able to add it into my podnova account.
thanks for the great show,
-Scott
duh duh duh duh duh duh eeeep burp eeeeep burp eeeeep burp THAT THEME TUNE IS SO CATCHY! the end ruins it tho :D
Well, you should really check out more of Bit Shifters music, it's all really catchy http://bit.shifter.net/audio.php
The visual in the intro may be a bit, different... but for some reason i love it.
He is always doing some amazing mod, one after another. Pretty impressive stuff.
*in butter's voice*
"Yes, I do believe I know what you are saying."
XD
DAMMIT
meant for cjwild
haha just watched that episode last night dude. golden.
Maybe he should be called Ben Hack!!
groan!
Meant hack in a good way. You know, moding and hacking. Ben Heck, Ben Hack? Get IT???
One of the many reasons I heart Engadget. Keep it up, dudes!
I'd love to purchase a 360 laptop from him.. for reals.
Ben Heck - Whoring It Up Before Whoring It Up Was Cool!
ben heck is the pooo..take a whiff...bill paxton pinball snip was epic
Thanks for making available on Zune.
Seconded.
ben heck whore's it up ftw!
What camera was this shot with?
I'm still laughing, that was epic!
What's that purple drink he's holding?