12 Hacked Nintendo Controllers

Geeks love classic Nintendo and since many techies are also handy at hacking electronics, it’s no surprise that there are tons of mods for old Nintendo controllers.  Whether you’re a big fan of Mario, Zelda, Contra or Bomberman, these classic Nintendo controller hacks are sure to remind you of the good ol’ days of gaming.

Doorbell

Ding-dong. Who’s there? Does it really matter when you have an awesomely geektastic doorbell like this? When I posted this one on Neatorama last year, we got quite a few notable comments, some wondering if hitting the right button code would make the secret door in your house open up and others desperately hoping that the ring would be the theme song for Mario. Whatever the specifics though, this thing is pretty darn cool.

Rear Bike Light

If you’re looking for a Nintendo controller mod that could save your life, then try this LED bike light made from a controller. While it’s own creator seems to hate it, saying, “I had yet to see an NES controller bike flasher, and what could be more tacky then modding it with ultrabright LEDs,” it still is both functional and far more stylish than standard rear bike lights.

Cell Phone

If you think people look at you crazy when you use a Bluetooth, just imagine how insane they’ll think you are when they see you talking into a Nintendo controller. Fortunately, you can do so without actually losing your mind if you just follow the tutorial on DIY Happy that shows you how to turn your controller into a cell phone.

iPod Controller

Sure you can control your iPod directly using their patented click wheel, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, owners of 3^rd and 4^th gen iPods can hack a Nintendo controller into being a wired remote control. Sure it’s a bit pointless, but not everyone has mastered the art of blending style with functionality.

iPhone dock

Perhaps you don’t have a 3^rd or 4^th generation iPod though, don’t worry, you can still play with your Apple toy with a Nintendo attachment if you simply build yourself a cool docking station like this one. While it was made specifically for the iPhone, it seems like it would also work for any iPod with minimal adjustments.

Mp3 Player

But why just dock or control an iPod with a controller when you could, instead make your controller into the mp3 player? This one is great because every button actually does something and the device can plug directly into your computer. Plus, you can even attach it to these sweet cartridge speakers for even more rocking old school gaming fun.

Memory Card Reader

Card readers are incredibly handy, but man are they boring to look at. If you want to spice up your desk area, then the instructions on this blog post can teach you how to combine the inside of your favorite card reader with the outside of a Nintendo controller. I haven’t tried this myself, but it does look incredibly simple, which is always a plus.

4-port USB hub

With all these mods that can be hooked into a USB-port, it seems only logical to go ahead and make a hub for all of them. Of course, I would recommend adding a slightly longer cord to yours, but that’s just me.

Flash drive

Now that you have 4 ports of Nintendo goodness, why not go ahead and make a flash drive out of a controller? The best part of this one is the fact that the drive has a security feature that makes it operate only after the user has entered the Konami code. I know you Neatonauts love that idea.

Computer Mouse

What better way to open the files on your Nintendo USB drive that’s hooked into a Nintendo USB hub than with a Nintendo computer mouse? While this optical mouse looks neat, it can’t move around as well on your desk and it certainly isn’t very ergonomic. I guess that’s the price you pay for computer fashion.

Belt Buckle

Speaking of fashion, maybe you’re not so good at working with electronics but you still want to show off your love of the Nintendo controller. In that case, the NES belt is a perfect choice for you to show off your fashion geekery without having to learn about all the inner workings of the controller itself.

Zip-up Wallet

For those who aren’t into hard plastic belt buckles, there is still hope for your Nintendo fashion needs. While making a Zip-up controller wallet is bound to be a little more difficult, it’s still a great place to hold on to your change.

Giant Controller Turned Coffee Table

While the rest of the controllers included here are actual Nintendo controllers hacked into serving other functions, this is a hand-made giant Nintendo controller that can not only operate as a coffee table, but is also wired up to work on a classic Nintendo system. It even opens up to reveal a nice storage space where you can put away your games when you’re done playing. Talk about functional! Have any of you tried modding a Nintendo controller or do you plan to try any of these ideas out? Tell us about it in the comments.