We love alternative inputs. They can revitalize an old classic or add a twist to most any mundane task. Here, we see a perfect example where the game Punch Out for the NES is being controlled by a punching bag type thing. The impact sensors were made by hand, and wired to a PC game pad. They were mounted on some foam, allowing for a nice mushy punching surface. There’s some feedback too, when your character is hit, a custom script detects the change in the sprites color and sends a signal to an Arduino. Right now, it just lights an LED, but the goal is to signal a strobe to make you flinch. This looks like it would be fun to play with, especially if you were to make it a little more high impact. You can see a video of them lightly assaulting it after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdkJcZNeyPg]
that’s cool. I’d love to play the game w/ one of those. Awesome idea
If someone really wants to be cool they would hook it up to one of those workout punching bags shaped like a human you could break out the old nintendo powerpad(or some foil) and make step pads to block and lean.. now that would be a fun workout!!
embed a 10″ screen into a punching bag, motion sensing pad beneath. thatd be sweet. like a giant angry chumby.
“Right now, it just lights an LED, but the goal is to signal a strobe to make you flinch”
…or convulse if your prone to do so.
Very cool none the less!
Pretty clever idea. I’d love to see a full-sized punching bag loaded with sensors, and turn this into a boxing game. Of course, the punching bag would have to move and fight back…