Nintendo controller into a computer mouse

[zieak]

I know that this is more of a "case mod" than a craft but i feel pretty crafty with the dremel, hot glue, and soldering iron out.  I turned a classic Nintendo game controller into a mouse for my computer.

Before:



After:





(edit 8/28/2005) Since this made the featured project list i thought i'd add some better pictures and more of a write up.


If you go to this page in flickr i put some notes on the image about the modifications i had to make.

You need the following:

• A Nintendo controller
• An optical mouse (note: they are not called lasers)
• Small screwdrivers
• Superglue
• Hot glue and glue gun
• A soldering iron (or a wood burning tool)
• Solder intended for electronics
• A few inches of telephone cord or other small wire.
• Wire cutters and strippers
• Replacement buttons.  Tiny ones.
• A Dremel tool or other rotary tool.  You could do it with pliers, knives, and other tools - but invest in a Dremel - you'll be glad you did.

This is how it is used.  Not very intuitive to drop your finger down o right click.


I wrote up a bit of the story on my personal site - here.

[burpingbedpost]

wow! that's incredibly awesome... wish I had such a controller at my disposal... I've got this old vintage boom box you could carry on your shoulder that I'm planning on wiring and installing an iPod dock into the speakers... why pay $150 for one of those crappy white ones when you could have an even cooler old skool one... Do you know much about electronics? (ive got a couple questions about the project)...

[rosered]

Very cool. I love mouse mods so much. This one is really fantastic!

[kmsmaverick]

that is hysterical. i was just junkin' on saturday and i came across a super mario cartridge for NES. it made me nostalgic.

that is a top drawer mod!

[candycanechild]

Majorly cool! Wow... that's so awesome. If it doesn't take you too long, you shoould definatly sell those. I know that millions of people would want them if they got one look at them.

[MADness323]

*gasp* gimmie that! thats so awesome!

[ragamufyn]

That rawks!

[lamamarco]

That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen on Craftster. I love NES!

[juli]

Do the buttons work like a normal 2-button mouse?

[zieak]

Do the buttons work like a normal 2-button mouse?

The "A" button is like the left mouse button and the "B" is the right.  None of the other buttons do anything but the 4 way pad does move like normal.