Xbox 360 controller ingeniously hacked for NES use

Hey, it's just what you've always wanted: to use your Xbox 360 controller on your old NES. Using a Cortex M3 processor left over from a school robotics project, Francois Gervais managed to rig his wireless pad to control something decidedly less advanced than a game of Modern Warfare 2. There's a video of the controller in action after the break, and you can grab some of the code being used in the Google link below -- perhaps one of you brainiacs will finally hack the Wiimote to control a Jaguar. A tech writer can dream...

[Devin Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:10PM]

Are we ever going to get the European controller w/ the improved D-Pad? Please?

[SamUK Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:40PM]

@Devin

We have a different d-pad in europe? Never new that.

[acme64 Posted Nov 30th 2009 9:37PM]

@SamUK
special edition, in red, sold with PES

[MC Double Def DP Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:16PM]

Using a 360 controller to play NES games is an improvement? Or did he want a greater challenge?

[jodorowsky00 Posted Nov 30th 2009 7:06PM]

@MC Double Def DP you seem the only one that know what your talking about

[Martin C Posted Nov 30th 2009 10:25PM]

Yeah, the games back then were hard enough without a shitty d-pad.

[Ryback Posted Dec 1st 2009 5:26AM]

@MC Double Def DP
My thoughts exactly! Don't copy that floppy!

[gsanluis Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:22PM]

that explain what xbox 360 could bring on the table for any other purposes. they are ready for modfuns

[Lectronsect Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:23PM]

So sad to see the sacred NES controller on the dirty floor.

[Jaylittles531 Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:25PM]

FAKE! Anyone else notice the Yellow Ethernet Cable plugged into the NES System? Not a Hack just a Case mod of some type.

[pohatu771 Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:33PM]

Looks more like there's a PlayStation 2 or something similar sitting underneath the NES.

[haskili Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:35PM]

@Jaylittles531

You do realize that the ethernet is plugged into the laptop on which the NES stands, right?

[Jaylittles531 Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:50PM]

Now that I am watching it on a better computer with a better back light on the screen. I see its a Laptop.

[Special Agent Steve Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:52PM]

@Jaylittles531
This isn't an impossible mod. Get over it. IT"S NOT FAKE!

[SamUK Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:54PM]

@Jaylittles531

Dont blame the computer, blame the twat using them.

[EddieN Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:26PM]

Just looking at that old NES console brings back some great childhood memories... "sniff"

[htd Posted Nov 30th 2009 11:35PM]

he's probably using a PC NES emulator and tv output, or he should do that.

[dlr Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:40PM]

I can't seem to bring up the NES dashboard...any help on this would be great!

[Titanium Man Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:47PM]

Super Mario Bros may be 25 years old but it's 25 times more fun than Modern Warfare 2. Who will still play MW2 in 25 years?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2009 9:11PM]

@Titanium Man Who will still be playing it next year?

[Soultics Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:50PM]

There is a PS2 "slim" under the NES. Thats where the ethernet cable is going to.

[blackmagic01 Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:58PM]

kinda like tearing out a 207 Benz steering wheel to put on 93 Honda Civic.

[LAY Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:58PM]

Hacked?!?

I just plugged the damn thing into my computer's USB port and fired up the NES emulator.

[danG Posted Nov 30th 2009 7:08PM]

@LAY
This is:
A: Wireless
B: Directly connected to the NES controller port.

[LAY Posted Nov 30th 2009 8:06PM]

@danG

So?

Result is playing NES with an Xbox controller, isnt it?

[mrfrankmrfrank Posted Nov 30th 2009 7:05PM]

I'd have to say that this is a completely pointless fail. I have the same thing using my microsoft wireless xbox 360 usb receiver and an emulator. If anything I've been looking at buying some nes to usb adapters so I can use the original nes controllers on my pc.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 30th 2009 7:08PM]

Did you notice how fast he beat that first Mario Brothers level?

[The Albatross Posted Nov 30th 2009 7:24PM]

If you ever want to really impress me: put an entire NES inside a 360 controller, and have it play roms on an SD card.

[Levi Posted Dec 1st 2009 7:11PM]

@(Unverified)
Actually, more than one guy has stuffed NES emulators and ROMs into NES controllers and retrofitted the controller with a USB connection, or A/V connectors.

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=14764

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/20/modder-shoves-emulator-roms-into-actual-nes-controller/

[acme64 Posted Nov 30th 2009 9:38PM]

how could you play any oldschool games with that shitty dpad?

[jodorowsky00 Posted Dec 1st 2009 4:53AM]

@(Unverified) thats worse than playing megaman with the power pad, the 360's dpad worse ever dpad ever made!

[theghost Posted Nov 30th 2009 9:57PM]

our hearts are now rejoiced,lets see a ps3 controller do that

[asdfasdf34 Posted Dec 1st 2009 12:06AM]

"A tech writer can dream..."
Haha, don't you mean tech blogger?

[bighap Posted Dec 1st 2009 1:38AM]

Shitty xbox controller = somehow getting hit on the first level of Mario.

[dwight Posted Dec 1st 2009 2:06AM]

why

[Hobsie Posted Dec 1st 2009 4:36AM]

Why would you want to do this? Clearly D-pads have all been crap since we left the Snes/Mega drive days...

[bapsfrick7 Posted Dec 1st 2009 4:37AM]

the old nes controller used to shred my thumb

[IBneel Posted Dec 1st 2009 7:08AM]

Nintendo thumb be damned!

[FiB3R Posted Dec 2nd 2009 6:34AM]

We'll be playing NES/SNES games directly on the 360 very soon. Great mod though :)