Comments on: USB Gaming arm band o’ pain

By: jeffrey Friesen

jeffrey Friesen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:49:29 +0000

If you are going to hack this and make your own I would STRONGLY suggest that you make sure you use an inverter to convert AC to DC. Even 1/10th of a volt in AC can cause myocardial arrhythmia – i.e. a heart attack.

Just sayin’.

On the other hand some of you faux macho bastards seem intent on making your gaming experience more “real.” Might I suggest using high voltage AC and a triggering system for some random placed guns and explosives in your house. THAT should get the adrenalin pumping.

By: Will Sizemore

Will Sizemore — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:02:30 +0000

So beyond the obvious point that this is a commercial product, no hack has been published for it, and no technical specifications have been provided for proprietry reasons...

Don't be so narrow-minded. I check this website almost daily. I am interested, and I don't really have the knowledge, or the time, to contribute with any personal hacks. But I do read what is posted, and I learn some useless trivia from them.

I like to look at what is sent in, and I like to think about the hacks that could come from them.

So with this particular "'hack", I see a USB controller desinged to emit a said voltage/amperage to a single output source, based upon a particular feedback from any compatible software.

Where is the potential for a hack? Animal training (or torture if you're a flaming PETA liberal), certain medical applicatons, practical joke (shocker-in the chair), 'security' at your gaming station by way of feedback on failed password attempts, human torture, BSDM via webcam using multiple appliances (how many USB ports does your computer have, potentially?, and my personal favorite: invocation of jealousy because this was such a simple concept that really seems like a malfunction gone right. I'm sure that this thing won't be legal because the FCC will probably ban it.

By: keiron d

keiron d — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:24:04 +0000

yes, this would be fun for multiplayer, but it could have a more serious use.
you could condition yourself to play better by expecting a shock when you get shot, and thus become a better gameplayer just so you don’t get shot…
barbaric but it could work.

By: Mongocrush

Mongocrush — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:51:05 +0000

Ya that is a really great idea, hook this armband to a Microsoft controled PC. Wonder what would happen if you got the BSOD while wearing this armband.

By: Will O\\\'Brien

Will O\\\'Brien — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:38:02 +0000

Good recall guys. My usuall vetting search didn’t turn this thing up – but I did check for it. I’ll try to come up with something extra for Saturday.

By: AlphA

AlphA — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:25:26 +0000

What was hacked in order to create this?

Can I start using hackaday for free advertising too?

What seperates hackaday from other technology sites is the "how it works" aspect. A hack is not worth reading about without design/schematics/source code, etc. In my opinion, if they don't want to explain what they've done, then they have no business being on hackaday.

This case is even more severe, since it's not even a hack to begin with.

By: qDot

qDot — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:25:13 +0000

Not a commercial product, you say?

Might want to tell the Mindwire v5 guys that: http://www.mindwire-v5.com/

Also, many years ago, G4 build the DIY XShox controller, which is a similar idea, except using a original xbox controller:
http://www.xbox-modchips.com/tutorials/xshok.htm

Finally, the masters of pain gaming are, of course, //////////fur////:
http://www.fursr.com

By: HappyPinguin

HappyPinguin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:07:43 +0000

“In any case it is not advised to use the Trakonya Mutator for over 10 minutes”

Hum.. I wonder which Unreal Tournament Game session takes less than 10 minutes.

By: dane

dane — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:01:26 +0000

yep, it was posted in 07.

http://www.hackaday.com/2007/04/25/my-motors-finally-came-extra/

labeled "enjoy pain"
i think its hilarious that so many of us can recall a link from almost a year ago.

-Dane

By: Aquify

Aquify — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:38:46 +0000

This was on here before was it not?

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:50:32 +0000

I think this is posted here to inspire a hack based on it. You know, you change it so that it zaps you when you’re hit and then actually kills you when you get killed. Okay, maybe not…. That’s a really bad idea.

By: bgugi

bgugi — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:40:23 +0000

wasn’t this on this site before?

i’m sure that i’ve seen it before…

By: wyvez

wyvez — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:13:28 +0000

Regardless of whether he wants to release the design or not, he should at least give details on user safety (if there is any). Is there any isolation circuitry?

By: vampyre

vampyre — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:33:23 +0000

this appears to be a commercial product.
I agree, this is no hack. I’m a bit disappointed to see it here.

But lame? I like the idea of pain when you get shot in a game. it would add some sense of danger, make them much less dull. it would make multi-player a lot more fun if you play with someone you know. in fact, i may build one of my own.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:18:06 +0000

Lame!!! Is Hack-A-Day losing its purpose? This is not a hack.. And the idea is very lame…