The PlayStation Portable (PSP) combines a big screen, Sony marketing savvy, and almost unbelievably bad PSP controls. The tiny thumb stick might not entirely be their fault; you can only do so much while keeping the PSP portable, and other people have inconveniently patented control systems which actually work. Despite this however, they could learn a lot from these incredible PSP modders:
PS2 Controller
The fact is Sony already has the best controller outside of the original SNES pad, with the DualShock 2 holding a special place in the hearts of gamers worldwide. Especially the poor schmucks who had to handle early PS3 controllers. Acid modder (requires an account to view) F00 f00 made the design decision that the actual original owners didn’t, building a DualShock right into his PSP. Sure, the resulting “portable” is slightly more than double the original size – and wouldn’t even fit into the Hulk’s pockets, let alone your little pants – but it’s got to feel far better.
PSP Mouse
PSPFreak-er “TokyoDrift” certainly lives up to the first part of his description, building a mouse for his PlayStation Portable out of what looks like three circuit boards and half a Dalek. It’s an inventive solution to the primary-PSP problem – the horrible little “nub” analog controller – and while it’s slightly less portable than the sunken Titanic it’s an awesome bit of engineering. This is the kind of mouse MacGyver would make if he was trapped in an elevator with a Sony executive, and defusing the bomb (of course there’s a bomb, it’s MacGyver) depended on accurate hand-control of a computer program.
PSP Full Keyboard
Back with the acid-modders, folklord36 has beat Sony’s staff at their own game – and done so in ways that would give them seizures. He’s built an entire laptop PSP out of two PSPs (so at least their sales division loves him) and an XBox chat keyboard (so their lawyers don’t). This unholy amalgamation of mortally opposed hardware ends up looking pretty awesome, and while the PSP Go might have little advantages like “error-testing” and “not requiring a degree in programming and electrical engineering” to use it’ll have to work hard to out-cool this.
It’s still more “in progress” than a boat without a waterproof bottom, but it’s an incredible effort. What’s worse is how many Sony executives would be against this sort of thing, which makes you ask: if your fans love your hardware this much, and are this creative, and do all this stuff for free, maybe it’s time to realize modders can be good as well as bad?
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