Wireless Guitar Hero Redux

jeffb writes "I just finished a DIY project and thought you guys would enjoy a look. An improved upon idea: a redux of the wireless guitar hero controller, this time with perfectly functioning whammy bar, rechargeable NiMH pack onboard which can be charged from the PS2's built-in USB ports (for charging, and/or playing while docked), wireless link/activity indicator, and assembled with a nod towards a clean, and professional looking job. Complete how-to with parts list included. Best regards, rock out, and happy soldering! " The original piece on this as well.

Hey! thats not the original wireless mod!

[jkerman]

the last link to the story isnt to the original wireless mod which i did and posted over at make: http://forums.makezine.com/comments.php?Discussion ID=33 [makezine.com], its to the guy who made the self-contained music playing guitar. i dont believe that functioned at all as a controller for the game like mine did.

rock on! I *love* the battery pack idea! top of my list for revision two :)

Re:Call me crazy...

[badmammajamma]

Because learning to actually play a real guitar takes a very, very long time...

I probably spend more time learning to play a single song than this guy spent building his custom guitar-hero guitar.

Cool, some things to think about...

[ursabear]

First and foremost, it is a game controller, not a gig guitar... so I think it is important to separate two different "threads" of thought here...

As a guitar, well, it's not like a real guitar. That's OK, because if you'd like to learn guitar, you can get yourself an inexpensive set up like this [musiciansfriend.com] or this [music123.com], or for left-handed folks, this [musiciansfriend.com]. I don't think comparing the controller to a real guitar or learning to a real guitar is relevant. Not everyone that has dreams of wailin' on a guitar or spankin' the plank [wikipedia.org] with some down-home (your favorite kind of music here), but lots of folks would enjoy the fun of playing guitar without the trappings of learning two hands, many strings, and 18-24 frets.

Games are supposed to be entertaining - I don't think that the comparison to real-world instruments is relevant (beyond their entertainment value).

So far as the hack... It seems pretty neat to me. Doing hardware hacks is a lot like candy - it doesn't have to have a point - it's just fun.

"Guitar Hero" is nothing new

[just_forget_it]

In the early 90's there was a PC game called "Quest for Fame" that included a "virtual pick" that connected to a joystick/game port (a 15-pin serial port made for joysticks & gamepads specifically, before the days of USB). Basically you had to strike something with the pick in time with the music. The whole object of the game was to play gigs and eventually be a guest guitarist at an Aerosmith show. It's kind of funny to think about it now but also sad that no one can think of original ideas anymore.

Re:Damn!

[Creedo]

He didn't have to spend years and years practicing the opening melody of "nothing else matters"
For those of you who didn't find this damn hilarious, the beginning of "Nothing Else Matters" is all open strings, that is, no fretwork involved.

Re:Tutorial with howto/parts list?

[Anonymous Coward]

The complete parts list and how-to are posted in a comment at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffb/sets/7205759409 4739914/comments/ [flickr.com]

Found while poking around. There are some curiously interesting pics in there.