Wiimotehack -- Engadget

wiimotehack posts

Left 4 Dead PC Wiimote hack for the gamer who has it all, hates zombies

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jan 21st 2009 at 10:37AM

Sometimes inspiration hits when you're shooting zombies -- and often times, that inspiration is in the form of new, better ways to shoot zombies. Since this sort of thing (shooting zombies) is one of our passions here, we were pretty psyched when we ran across this video. Summoning all of his worldly resources -- including GlovePIE, PPJoy, and about a gazillion lines of code -- this guy is able to rock Left 4 Dead PC in split-screen mode with two Wiimotes. He's even added shake controls for reloading and spinning 180 degrees. The only catch? As it stands, the only way to power the sensor bar is by turning on the Wii -- a condition that should be remedied shortly. Hit the read link for instructions and code, and be sure to check out the video after the break.

[Via Nowhere Else]

Continue reading Left 4 Dead PC Wiimote hack for the gamer who has it all, hates zombies

Wiimote and skateboard hacked into a controller, Gator not impressed

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jan 20th 2009 at 1:01AM

Real Virtual Skater is a controller mod that sees a Wiimote liberated from its case and placed inside a box strapped to the underside of a skateboard. Thanks to The Bluetooth, as the player gleams "the cube" (or his "living room", as the case may be) all his movements are used to control his avatar in the magical world of Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Just the thing for a kid that already has the board, the Vans, the Jams, a Lance Mountain t-shirt, and a JFA cassette -- but no real desire to leave his parent's basement. Technical details are few, but we do have a chest-pounding video of the thing in action after the break.

[Via Feng Gui]
[Thanks, Pegasus Unicorn]

Continue reading Wiimote and skateboard hacked into a controller, Gator not impressed

Wiimote repurposed into theremin, Vincent Price's ghost perks up

by Jacob Schulman, posted Dec 1st 2008 at 10:29AM

Both practical and not-so-practical applications for the Wiimote have been around since Nintendo's console launched, but this latest hack is quite possibly the oddest thus far. Ken Moore, tinkerer extraordinaire, has inexplicably converted the controller into a new-fangled theremin. By coupling IR-infused gloves with a JV-1080 synth and the Wiimote's built-in Bluetooth, he's been able get his PC to recognize the left hand position as volume, and the right hand position as pitch. Once the IR camera in the Wiimote sends the positioning info back to the PC, MIDI sends it to the synthesizer to create sound. Now, you could just pick up a copy of Guitar Hero or Rock Band if you wanted to casually riff on some classics, but if you've got an intrinsic urge to perform a rendition of the original Star Trek theme, this might be your speed. Peep the setup in video action after the break.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Wiimote repurposed into theremin, Vincent Price's ghost perks up

Wiimote used to control robotic arm, effectively this time

by Donald Melanson, posted May 21st 2008 at 6:47PM

Sure, it's been done before, but that doesn't make the idea of a robotic arm controlled by a Wiimote any less exciting, especially when the arm is actually responsive. That feat is aided considerably by the fact that this latest setup was developed by an engineer from National Instruments, who made use of some of the company's LabVIEW hardware and a specially-designed Bluetooth adapter to control the arm at the flick of a wrist (or using the Wiimote's buttons). Check it out in action in the video after the break -- don't worry, no one gets hurt.

Continue reading Wiimote used to control robotic arm, effectively this time

DIY head-tracker takes Wiimote hacking to dizzying new heights

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 21st 2007 at 5:44PM

DIY virtuoso Johnny Chung Lee has already more than proven himself with his Wiimote whiteboard and finger-tracking hacks (to say nothing of the famous $14 steadycam), but he now looks to have vaulted himself into a whole new league with his latest project, which uses a Wiimote for a full-on VR head-tracking system. As with his other recent hacks, the Wiimote and a sensor bar substitute swap their usual positions, with a pair of IR-equipped safety glasses stylishly getting the job done in this case. Toss in some custom-made software (available at the link below) and you've got a setup that's sure to make anyone's jaw drop. Whatever you do, be sure to hit up the video after the break (and watch 'till the end), as the image above certainly doesn't do it justice.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading DIY head-tracker takes Wiimote hacking to dizzying new heights

Wiimote repurposed for multi-point interactive whiteboard

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 10th 2007 at 12:31PM

While certainly there's been no shortage of Wiimote hacks, the number of genuinely useful ones has been considerably more limited. It looks like you can now add one more to that list, however, as Johnny Chung Lee (he of the Wiimote finger-tracking hack) has now upped the usefulness even further with a makeshift multi-point interactive whiteboard. There's a bit more involved with this one than just a Wiimote, however -- namely, an IR-emitting pen (or two), which the Wiimote tracks while relaying all the necessary information back to a PC. That, as the video after the break shows, allows you to turn any surface into a multi-point whiteboard with the use of a projector, or turn any LCD screen into a touchscreen, of sorts. Best of all, Johnny has kindly provided the necessary software free of charge, so hit up the read link below if you want to give it a shot.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading Wiimote repurposed for multi-point interactive whiteboard

The Wiimote drum machine

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 7th 2006 at 7:31PM

We're not going to cover every Wiimote hack that comes down the pipe (especially given the rate they now seem to be flooding in), but this one's just too good to pass up. Building on earlier Wiimote developments, Bob Somers took up the less practical but equally daunting task of turning the humble Wiimote into a one-handed air drumming machine. As the video after break clearly shows, Bob was not only successful, but able to bust out a decent tune as well, complete with 80's-style electronic drum sounds. What's not so clear, however, is whether you can use two Wiimotes for some full-on drumming action, though it would seem to be within the realm of possibility (assuming you can get your hands on second one). While Bob has made the necessary software freely available for download, it seems that (as of this writing) his site has been temporarily shut down by his hosting provider in the face of the barrage of Phil Collins wannabes. In the meantime, it looks like you're only options are to keep checking in or hope that a mirror pops up.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading The Wiimote drum machine

Wiimote mouse control gets sensor bar boost

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 7th 2006 at 12:16PM

At the rate all this Wiimote hacking is going, it looks like Nintendo's soon going to have more than just Wii users to contend with in its attempts to keep the darn things in stock, with this latest development sure to attract more than few curious PC users. The big advance here is support for the Wii's sensor bar (or candles, we suppose), which'll give you far greater control than previous Wiimote-only hacks have allowed, actually making it a decent alternative to a mouse for some tasks. Still skeptical? Check out the vid after the break and judge for yourself.

[Via The Edge of I-Hacked, thanks Felix T]

Continue reading Wiimote mouse control gets sensor bar boost