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L4D mod 'Dead Before Dawn' recreates Dawn of the Dead remake

by David Hinkle { Nov 3rd 2009 at 10:30PM }

The Left 4 Dead modding community is really kicking decomposing zombie butt lately. We've seen Raccoon City, some of our favorite Super Mario 64 spots, and even Shaun of the Dead's Winchester pub all realized in the game's zombie apocalypse framework. Now we bring you another mod that pays homage to a zombie film: 'Dead Before Dawn,' a mod based on the 2004 remake of George A. Romero's classic, Dawn of the Dead.

The new mod opened to public beta this Halloween and features a variety of locales stripped from the movie, along with its own snazzy campaign poster. The folks behind the mod even went so far as to create their own title sequence (though their version features far less Johnny Cash than the movie's). You can shamble on past the break to check it out.

[Thanks, Gutfree!]

Gallery: Dead Before Dawn

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Happy Halloween! You're banned from Xbox Live.

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 31st 2009 at 6:00PM }

We hope your recent forays into piracy merely involve you donning a hook and eyepatch for a debaucherous costume party, or else you likely received a message from Microsoft like the headline of this post. The company recently dispatched a wave of bans to owners of modded Xbox 360s who've been playing pirated copies of games. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to IGN that "we have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs."

The spokesperson went on to explain that this batch of console bans wasn't conducted on any particular time frame, and that the company was merely following up on its standing policy against piracy. In other words, Microsoft isn't trying to ruin your Halloween weekend -- it just, you know, worked out that way.

[Image]

Quickdev16 cart opens up wonderful world of SNES homebrew

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 26th 2009 at 7:30PM }

Has your homebrew SNES masterpiece, Secret of Manilow, been trapped within your computer for a decade or so due to technological restraints? Time to dust off your old ROM file -- the Quickdev16 SNES developer cartridge has all you need to get your brainchild up and running on Nintendo's Super console. The cart includes an Atmel AVR ATmega644 with boot loader, a USB connection with which to upload a ROM, 16 megabits of SRAM, and an RS232 converter.

We're assuming that if you possess the technical know-how to craft custom SNES games, then you probably know what all that stuff means. We're also assuming that you'd be more inclined to pony up for the cart's $120 price tag than we are. That's just a tad too steep for an SNES cart -- or rather, an SNES cart that isn't a sealed, mint condition copy of Chrono Trigger.

[Via Engadget]

NES controller flash drive is Konami Code-protected

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 15th 2009 at 3:30AM }

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start. It's a powerful string of commands capable of garnering its invoker thirty lives, a gaggle of power-ups or other potent in-game bonuses. However, a technomancer from ProtoDojo.com has figured out a way to give the Konami Code practical applications in real life -- it can now be used to unlock one gigabyte of LOLCat JPEGs, German techno covers of Billy Ocean songs or, well, smut.

This little slice of realized magic is possible due to a 1GB flash drive embedded into a hollowed-out NES controller. Entering the Konami Code into the controller unlocks it, allowing you to browse its contents on your compy. To see how this technological feat was made possible, watch the video after the jump. After that, start pondering what this guy could put into a Power Glove. Perhaps -- dare we say it -- a two gigabyte flash drive?

[Via The Tanooki]

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See Left 4 Dead fan-made mod 'Mushroom Massacre' in action

by David Hinkle { Oct 13th 2009 at 5:00PM }

Remember that Mushroom Kingdom mod DoritoClock was working on for Left 4 Dead? Well, he's making progress and now has some new areas of the campaign to show off: the exterior of Peach's Castle and Super Mario 64's first world, Bob-omb Battlefield. He even added the latter's Chain Chomp!

It seems DoritoClock has also been reading our diary, because he's compiled a 10+ minute video walkthrough of all the areas. You can find that video past the break, but if you're anxious to see that Chain Chomp munching on a few undead carcasses (like we are), prepare to be disappointed. It's a work in progress, folks.

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The Conduit Wii case mod much cooler than actual game

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 6th 2009 at 5:45PM }

If you own more than one console, there's a sizable chance that you found The Conduit underwhelming. A commendable effort, sure, but not the world-rending behemoth we were all hoping for. That said, if you own multiple consoles, you probably also have enough money to afford a sweet custom rig. Thus we present a custom Wii dedicated to High Voltage's good ol' college try.

While it might appear to be little more than a Wii with a face painted one side and a logo plastered on the other, the real magic happens when you turn it on, causing it to light up so very prettily. See it all in the detailed (and vaguely sensual) video after the break.

[Thanks, John]

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Here's that second PSP analog stick you wanted

by David Hinkle { Oct 6th 2009 at 5:15PM }

Tim Magoolaghan is quite the modder and has made a Frankensteinian PSP. Aside from the second analog nub he slapped on this custom PSP-2000, he's also added a built-in camera, 32GB of Flash memory (eliminating the UMD slot) and a dedicated charging port that allows USB charging no matter what the handheld is currently doing. In the video interview where he shows off his creation (video past the break), there's also some emulation stuff going on due to the custom firmware, but we don't condone that kind of thing.

Tim's whole motivation behind this custom PSP is that he wants to show consumers the older model can do wonderful things that the new PSP Go cannot. He says Sony's new device isn't very consumer friendly and while we think he has something there, it's overshadowed by the fact that he's sitting next to the most annoying woman on the planet.

[Thanks, Robin!]

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Ben Heck's PS3 laptop getting raffled off by Tennessee retailer

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 6th 2009 at 1:10PM }

Remember how dejected we were when we realized that Ben Heck's recently crafted PS3 Slim laptop would never appear in our quivering, wanting hands? That script just got irrevocably flipped by Franklin, Tennessee-based gaming retailer/event organizer The Score, who is raffling the modded console off to anyone who purchases their goods or employs their party planning prowess from now until mid-December.

The full list of rules and regulations for the raffle can be found on The Score's site, but it basically breaks down to "the more you spend, the more chances you have to win." This process is impeded by the fact that the store has no online support, but does allow for over-the-phone shopping. Yes, it's a lot of hassle for a quazi-portable PS3 -- but that extra effort is what really separates the men from the fanboys.

[Thanks, Bradley.]

Dreamcast controller turned into decoration for iPhone dock

by JC Fletcher { Oct 6th 2009 at 2:00AM }

Deciding that the Dreamcast controller had too many input methods and not enough screens, Flickr user jayhauf removed the D-pad from the device and made the whole thing into an ornamental iPhone dock.

We're pretty sure you can try this one at home, if you've got a (preferably broken) Dreamcast controller: just pull out the D-pad and the cord, and thread your iPhone connector through. Just like that, you've got a telephone sticking out of the left side of your controller! It's certain to be a conversation piece, inspiring questions from your friends like "Why did you do that?" and "How are we going to play Power Stone now?"

[Via Engadget]

Ben Heck's PS3 Slim laptop fills us with jealous rage

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 1st 2009 at 4:59PM }

You know what? Screw you, Ben Heck. Every time you come around, you bring these awesome, portable-ized consoles with you. From your corner of the internet, you wave these scintillating creations under our noses, then withdraw them from our lives. Sure, occasionally you'll provide us with tutorials to re-create your projects, but we don't possess your otherworldly, Forge-esque proclivity for technology. We are but simple folks whom you've chosen to tease at your leisure with glimpses of the future. It's just mean. You're a mean guy.

Oh, but your most recent creation -- a laptop built around a PS3 Slim (demoed in a video after the jump) -- is pretty remarkable. Rarely do these modified Frankenconsoles look this good. We can't wait to get our hands on ...

Aw, damn it.

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Newell pays way to Australia, donations go to Child's Play

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 1st 2009 at 4:30PM }

Despite the internet's best efforts to pay Valve prez Gabe Newell's way to Australia, the man simply won't take it. Posting on Fly Gabe Newell, the now infamous Australian Left 4 Dead modder "Joe W-A" says that not only are Newell and Valve project manager Erik Johnson heading down under next week, but they've paid their own way. "All the money accumulated will be going to the Child's Play charity," which Joe W-A tells Joystiq totals $3,099.54 from 233 donations.

Said Valve's Newell in an official statement, "The power of the gaming community and their ability to rally around a cause -- be it serious or fun in nature -- is amazing." And Newell's no stranger to both sides of it, having recently invited the creators of a Left 4 Dead 2 boycott to visit Valve's studios, sparking the joke email thread between Newell and Joe W-A that eventually resulted in the trip to Australia.

We'll have more on the visit next week; hopefully including a promised video from the Australian modder hosting Newell.

Septagon Xbox 360 case mod keeps it clean, simple

by David Hinkle { Sep 28th 2009 at 10:15AM }

Even though the above mod isn't the flashiest or covered in all kinds of figures, we must say we enjoy the simple tastefulness of the Septagon'd Xbox 360. Created by Aron (via Hawty McBloggy), the mod also features a new silver color for the console and some built-in LED lights for a cooling and calming effect. And while any one of us would undoubtedly be satisfied with the above mod, Aaron has plans to keep going with the mod and will eventually add some plexiglass.

We have just one suggestion, Aaron: move the Xbox 360. How are you going to play any games with that thing in front of your TV?

[Via Bungie]

Fallout 3's Laser Rifle escapes the Capital Wasteland

by David Hinkle { Sep 24th 2009 at 5:00AM }

Remember Harrison Krix, that talented mofo that made the Portal gun and that crazy awesome Big Daddy costume? Well, Krix has done it again, this time recreating the early-level staple of Fallout 3, the Laser Rifle. He's provided his usual ridiculously long step-by-step process on the creation of the almost-a-firearm, so give it a gander if you're so inclined. Now if only he'd make some replica Mirelurks for us to pretend-shoot at ...

[Via BethBlog Twitter]

Ben Heck moves Dualshock's shoulder buttons to the front

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 18th 2009 at 2:00PM }

Can shoulder buttons still be called "shoulder buttons" when they no longer sit perched upon the Dualshock 3's shoulders? Could they be more aptly described as "hip buttons?" Regardless, the onus for renaming these toggles now rests upon modder extraordinaire Ben Heck, who made the controller's L1, L2, R1 and R2 buttons "easier to get at" by placing them on the front of the controller (at the cost of the peripheral's rumble motors).

We're perfectly contented with the shoulder buttons' current location, but we suppose folks who lost their index digits in a terrible Chinese Finger Trap incident may find this mod useful.

[Via Engadget]

Put your Fear Factor GBA cartridge to good use (turn it into a thumb drive!)

by David Hinkle { Sep 18th 2009 at 1:45PM }

Look, we all buy crappy games every now and then ... it just happens. But instead of hiding those titles under a pile of dirty clothes or trading them in at GameStop for almost nothing, you can now convert them into thumb drives. That is, if they're the right size and shape, like the Advance Wars 2 cartridge you see above (via Go Nintendo). We don't know why someone would ruin that game to do this, so we suggest you target Fear Factor: Unleashed instead.